Key Highlight on AOC -4 on MCA V3 Portal | MCA V3 Update: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is launching a revised AOC-4 form on July 14, 2025, for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, on its new V3 portal. This updated form introduces several modifications to streamline the filing process and improve data accuracy. Significant changes include the elimination of separate PDF attachments for documents like the Directors’ Report and Auditors’ Report; these will now be integrated as linked forms within the MCA V3 system. Additionally, the CSR-2 and AOC-4 CFS forms will be linked, requiring their submission alongside the primary AOC-4. The new form will prefill previous year’s financial figures, with mandatory explanations for any modifications. Both online and offline filing options will be available, and redundant columns have been removed to simplify the form. The revised AOC-4 also mandates the disclosure of Secretarial Audit qualifications and enables filing for companies under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) or liquidation. Existing XBRL taxonomies will remain in use, ensuring consistency with previous financial data reporting.
1. No Need to Attach PDF Annexures
One of the most notable changes is that companies are no longer required to upload PDFs of key annexures such as:
- Directors Report
- Auditors Report
- AOC-1 (Details of Holding, Subsidiary, and Associate Companies)
- AOC-2 (Details of Companies under the same management)
These documents will now be integrated as linked forms within MCA V3. After submission, these annexures will be viewable as part of the linked form system, simplifying the filing process and reducing redundancy.
2. CSR-2 and AOC-4 CFS to be Linked Forms
The CSR-2 form (Annual Report on Corporate Social Responsibility) and the AOC-4 CFS (Consolidated Financial Statements) will no longer be filed independently. Both forms will be linked to the primary AOC-4 filing. This linkage means:
- CSR-2 must be filed along with AOC-4, ensuring consistency in reporting CSR activities.
- Companies cannot file AOC-4 without submitting Consolidated Financial Statements (CFS) through AOC-4 CFS, ensuring a holistic view of group financials.
3. Prefilled Previous Year Figures with Mandatory Change Explanation
To enhance ease and accuracy, the form will prefill the previous year’s Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account figures. While edits are allowed, any changes will require a mandatory explanation to be provided. This feature will help track changes and reduce errors.
4. Offline and Online Filing Options Available
The AOC-4 form can be filed both online and offline on the MCA V3 portal. The Offline filing process will initially require filling in basic company information, after which the form can be downloaded as an Excel sheet for detailed data entry and uploaded back. This hybrid approach provides flexibility to filers.
5. Streamlined Form with Reduced Redundancies
Several repetitive columns have been removed to simplify the form, improving user experience and reducing filing time.
6. Disclosure of Secretarial Audit Qualifications
The updated form mandates companies to explicitly disclose any qualifications made by the Secretarial Auditor in their report. This ensures greater transparency and accountability in corporate governance reporting.
7. AOC-4 Filing Enabled for Companies under CIRP / Liquidation
For companies undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) or liquidation, filing of AOC-4 has now been enabled on the MCA V3 portal, facilitating compliance during these processes.
8. Existing XBRL Taxonomies to Continue
The form will continue to use the existing XBRL taxonomies for financial data reporting, ensuring consistency and compatibility with earlier filings.
CONCLUSION
The MCA V3 update for AOC-4 reflects the Ministry’s efforts to make statutory filings more streamlined, integrated, and user-friendly. As professionals, staying abreast of these changes is crucial to ensuring timely and compliant submissions. Leveraging these enhancements will reduce compliance burden while improving data quality for stakeholders.
Author – CS Divesh Goyal, GOYAL DIVESH & ASSOCIATES Company Secretary in Practice from Delhi and can be contacted at csdiveshgoyal@gmail.com).
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this document have been prepared based on relevant provisions and as per the information existing at the time of the preparation. Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the information provided, I assume no responsibility, therefore. Users of this information are expected to refer to the relevant existing provisions of applicable Laws. The user of the information agrees that the information is not professional advice and is subject to change without notice. I assume no responsibility for the consequences of the use of such information.
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Thank u sir for the information.