Follow Us :

Recently MCA has prescribed eForm DIR-3 KYC which needs to be filed annually by every DIN holder and non-filing or delayed filing of which results in Penalty of Rs. 5000. In view of this surrender of DIN become very important by those DIN holders who are not neither Director in any Company and nor Designated Partner in any LLP and also not intending to do so in near future. Further it is also important to Surrender Duplicate or additional DIN if any.

As per amendment every person holding DIN have to file e-form DIR-3 KYC every financial year till 30th April. Even if such person not holding any Directorship in any company and not intend to get appointment in future still required to file e-form DIR-3 KYC.

However, many professionals/ individuals having question in mind i.e. “Whether a person can surrender his DIN” in case he don’t want to use it in future.

Legal Language:

As per Section 153:

Every individual intending to be appointed as director of a Company shall make an application for allotment of Director Identification Number to the Central Government in such form and manner and along with such fees as may be prescribed.

As per Section 155:

Prohibition to Obtain More than One Director Identification Number

No individual, who has already been allotted a Director Identification Number under section 154, shall apply for, obtain or possess another Director Identification Number.

Rule 11 Surrender of DIN:

The Central Government or Regional Director (Northern Region), Delhi or any officer authorised by the Regional Director may, upon being satisfied on verification of particulars or documentary proof attached with the application received along with fee as specified in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014] from any person, cancel or deactivate the DIN in case:

a) the DIN is found to be duplicated in respect of the same person provided the data related to both the DIN shall be merged with the validly retained number;

b) the DIN was obtained in a wrongful manner or by fraudulent means;

c) of the death of the concerned individual;

d) the concerned individual has been declared as a person of unsound mind by a competent Court;

e) if the concerned individual has been adjudicated an insolvent:

f) on an application made in Form DIR-5 by the DIN holder to surrender his or her DIN along with declaration that he has never been appointed as director in any company and the said DIN has never been used for filing of any document with any authority, the Central Government may deactivate such DIN.

As per Section 159:

If any individual or director of a Company, contravenes any of the provisions of Section 153, such individual or director of the Company shall be punishable with

  • imprisonment for a tem which may extend to Six month or
  • with fine which may extend to Rs. 50,000/- and
  • Where the contravention is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to Rs. 500/- for every day after the first during which the contravention

Food for Thought:

A. Whether an individual (DIN holder) can surrender his DIN, If Such DIN never used?

B. Whether an individual (DIN holder) can surrender his DIN, If Such person not holding any directorship at present, but held directorship in past?

Discussion on Provisions:

As per Section 155, it is clear that if a person holding DIN then such person can’t apply for another DIN. If he does so It shall be punishable u/s 159 of Companies Act, 2013.

Grounds for Surrender of DIN:

Regional Director can cancel / surrender DIN on the basis of situation mentioned in Rule 11.

Rule 11 (a-e) mentioned the situation for surrender of DIN Like (unsound mind, Death, Insolvent etc).

However, Rule 11(f) states that “on an application made in Form DIR-5 by the DIN holder to surrender his or her DIN along with declaration that he has never been appointed as director in any company and the said DIN has never been used for filing of any document with any authority, the Central Government may deactivate such DIN”

Note:

As per Rule 11(f) – when a person made application in DIR-5 for surrender of his DIN to RD has to ensure following conditions:

– That he has never been appointed as director in any company; and

– The said DIN never been used for filing of any document with any authority.

FAQ’S – Surrender of DIN

FAQ’s are based on Section 153 and other Relevant Sections of Companies Act, 2013 relevant to Surrender of DIN.

Q.1. Whether it is allowed to have more than one DIN by an individual?

As per Section 155: No individual, who has already been allotted a Director Identification Number under section 154, shall apply for, obtain or possess another Director Identification Number

However, one can opine that if a person has applied or got second DIN then it shall be considered as non compliance of Section 155.

Q.2 What shall be penalty on individual if a person having two DIN?

As per Section 159: If any individual or director of a company, contravenes any of the provisions of section 152, section 155 and section 156, such individual or director of the company shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and where the contravention is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day after the first during which the contravention continues.

However, one can opine that it is default on the part of individual and such individual shall be punishable with file as mentioned above.

Q.3. If a person having two DIN, then whether such person can surrender DIN?

As per Rule 11 of The Companies (Appointment and qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 “The Central Government or Regional Director (Northern Region), Noida or any officer authorised by the Regional Director may, upon being satisfied on verification of particulars or documentary proof attached with the application received alongwith fee as specified in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 from any person, cancel or deactivate the DIN”.

However, one can opine that Rule 11 allowed an individual to surrender of DIN if having more than 2 DIN.

Q.4. In case of 2 DIN, First DIN shall be surrender or Second DIN shall be Surrender?

In Another Word First Din obtained in 2006 and second DIN obtained in 2010, and then which DIN no. can be surrender.

As per provisions of Companies act read with relevant rules and Updation on the MCA website “ in respect of an individual who is in possession of Duplicate/Multiple DINs, he can retain the Oldest DIN only. DINs obtained later have to be surrendered.”

However, one can opine that DIN taken on later on (means second DIN) shall be surrender by individual. Surrender of First DIN is not at all allowed.

Q.5. – If a person having 2 DIN. Such person having directorships by second DIN, but no directorship on first DIN. Then whether he can surrender second DIN. If yes, what shall be status of Directorship?

As per CA, 2013 and from above mentioned question it is clear that, second DIN can’t be retain by the individual in any of situations.

Therefore, Individual has to surrender the Second DIN. But what shall be status of directorships?

As per Act, in above mentioned situation following shall be done:

  • Individual has to surrender Second DIN Only.
  • RD shall migrate directorship of Second DIN on First DIN.
  • After migration second DIN shall be surrender

Q.6. If a person having Single DIN only, whether he can surrender his DIN?

Regional Director can cancel / surrender DIN on the basis of situation mentioned in Rule 11.

Rule 11 (a-e) mentioned the situation for surrender of DIN Like (unsound mind, Death, Insolvent etc).

However, Rule 11(f) states that “on an application made in Form DIR-5 by the DIN holder to surrender his or her DIN along with declaration that he has never been appointed as director in any company and the said DIN has never been used for filing of any document with any authority, the Central Government may deactivate such DIN”

Note:

As per Rule 11(f) – when a person made application in DIR-5 for surrender of his DIN to RD has to ensure following conditions:

  • That he has never been appointed as director in any company; and
  • The said DIN never been used for filing of any document with any authority.

Therefore, one can opine that Single DIN which never used by the applicant can be surrender. But if it is used ever then can’t be surrender.

In Simple Words:

  • Single DIN never used can be surrender.
  • Single DIN ever used can’t be surrender.

Q.7. Whether Surrender of DIN is enough or it is mandatory to file COMPOUNDING APPLICATION also with surrender?

As discussed in question no. 2 in case of double din penalty shall be as per Section 159.

As per practical situation, after filing of documents/ forms for Surrender of DIN Regional Director is asking for the acknowledgement of Compounding Petition.

Therefore, one can opine that along with surrender of second DIN, compounding Is mandatory.

Q.8. Which Regional Director having power of Surrender of DIN?

Regional Director Northern Region, Delhi having power to deal with all the matters of DIN. Power to cancel DIN is also vested with RD Northern Region.

Conclusion:

As per rule 11(f), a person can apply for surrender of DIN only in the situation when “DIN is unused and never used for appointment as director in any Company” (except situations like unsound mind, death, and insolvent).

Therefore, one can opine that, if a person held directorship in any company during his life using such DIN, that DIN can’t be surrender by filing of e-form DIR-5.

Author Bio

CS Divesh Goyal is Fellow Member of the Institute of Companies Secretaries and Practicing Company Secretary in Delhi and Steering Voice in the Corporate World. He is a competent professional having enrich post qualification experience of a decade with expertise in Corporate Law, FEMA, IBC, SEBI, View Full Profile

My Published Posts

Stamp Duty on Transfer of Shares under Indian Stamp Act, 1899 Stamp Duty on Gift of Shares under Indian Stamp Act, 1899 Is a Company Required to Have Three Individuals as KMP? Section 186 of Companies Act, 2013: NBFC Applicability, Exemptions & Key Points Centralized Approval of ROC Forms: All You Need to Know View More Published Posts

Join Taxguru’s Network for Latest updates on Income Tax, GST, Company Law, Corporate Laws and other related subjects.

23 Comments

  1. Ram Lakhan Sharma says:

    Hi, I have a DIN of pvt. Ltd company which was established in Aug, 2018 only on papers and no amount desposited in the current account.
    I haven’t used the DIN from that moment and it is still active on MCA portal, we never filed any GST or anything in that pvt.ltd company and now I want to surrender this. Can I do this considering never used situation. Please help me with the steps and contact person as well.

  2. Himanshu Garg says:

    Dear sir/mam,
    i want to know that i was a director in i private limited company unlisted by shares but at present my din was not in use neither a director nor to be used in any application and now i want to surrender my din can i surrender my din. If yes then what the process for it, and if no then it is mandatory to file DIR-3 KYC form on yearly basis.

  3. Rakesh Jain says:

    It is indeed a very strange situation that DIN which has been used earlier but is not to be used or required in future cannot be surrendered. In my opinion one should be allowed to surrender DIN at anytime.

  4. RB says:

    Hello, Need your advice.
    If my DIN is de-activated due to not doing KYC, can it be re-activated? If yes, how much are the fees for activating the DIN?
    Thanks/RB

  5. Vikas says:

    Sir,
    If a person DIN is deactivated due to KYC not done and he want to wish not continue with directorship and wish to surrender his DIN.

    In that case what he has to do.

  6. Kamal soni says:

    Dear sir
    A director who have multiple DINs wants to surrender his newest DIN and retain old one.
    Both of DIN are deactivated due to non filling of KYC.

    My question is that whether he have to complete KYC for both the din or only for retained din (old one).
    For KYC of both din he required two DSC.

    And for filling DIR-5 we need activated DINs which is possible only by doing kyc.

    Kindly help sir

  7. Kamal says:

    Dear sir,
    A director who have multiple din want to surrender his newest din and retain old one.
    KYC on both DINs are pending and due to non KYC both the DINs are deactivated and due to deactivation of doth din he is unable to file dir-5.
    My question is this that is this compulsory to complete KYC of both din or only for retaining din.

    If we do the KYC of both we need two DSC of the same person..

    Kindy give the solution thanks in advance

  8. Kamlesh183 says:

    Dear Sir

    If a person is director on Second DIN than how he surrender Second DIN while he used this DIN my means how declaration that he has never been appointed as director in any company is satisfied.
    DIN once used can’t be surrender by filing of e-form DIR-5 if a person held directorship in any company during his life using such DIN, that DIN can’t be surrender by filing of e-form DIR-5

  9. Kamlesh Agarwal says:

    Dear Sir

    A Person Having two DIN On First DIN he appointed director and now he resign from this DIN. he obtain second DIN and incorporate company and appointed director also promoter. now my query is that how he surrender second DIN while Declaration and rule says that DIN Never used can be surrendered that if we file DIR-5 than how he give declaration while he is director with second DIN.

  10. Manohar says:

    Dear Sir,
    My DIN as been approved in 2015. Since 2015 i am not director to any company till now.

    Is it necessary to submit kyc.
    I am not having digital signature also.

    is it mandatory to submit KYC from side.

    Please let me

  11. Padmanabh Ranchhoddas Merchant says:

    a person who has never been appointed as director in any company and the DIN held in his name has never been used for filing of any document with any authority, is required to file DIN – 5, for its surrender. But DIN – 5 is to be digitally signed. If the person holding DIN has not obtained digital signature device, how he is expected to file DIN – 5? Please advise.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search Post by Date
March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031