Process of Strike off of Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

SHORT SUMMARY:

In this Flash editorial, the author begins by referring the provision of the LLP Act, 2008 concerning to Strike off of LLP. In case the LLP wants to close down its business or where it is not carrying on any business operations, it can make an application to the Registrar of Companies for declaring the company as defunct and removing the name of the LLP from its register of LLP’s.

The main thrust of the article, however, is upon the LLP Notification dated: 16^th May, 2017 with reference to LLP (Amendment) Rules, 2017.  These rules came into force w.e.f. 20^th May, 2017. Through this notification MCA has amend the provisiosn relating to strike off of LLP.

Introduction:

When a person moves toward decision on the subject of strike off of LLP, many questions lift up, like: Whether LLP have to complete Annual Fillings with ROC (E form LLP-8 and LLP-11), Whether LLP have to file LLP Agreement before strike off of LLP, if LLP fails to file at the time of incorporation or whether company have filed the Income Tax Returns with Department etc. The answers of all these questions have been given by MCA in its notification dated 16^th May, 2017.  In this editorial we will discuss the notification in relation to above mentioned questions:

Situation: 1

Regular e-forms Requirements & Other Requirements:

S. No.	Agenda	Particulars	e-forms	Due Date Form Filling
	STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT & SOLVENCY	A “Statement of Accounts and Solvency” in prescribed form shall be filed by every LLP with the Registrar every year. sub-section (3) of section 34	LLP-8	30th October
	ANNUAL RETURN	Every LLP would be required to file annual return in Form 11 with ROC within 60 days of closer of financial year.	LLP-11	30 May

A. Whether Company have to complete Annual Fillings with ROC (E form LLP-8 and LLP-11) before filling application for Strike off of LLP.

Statutory Provisions Contained Under the Act:

Provisions of Strike off of LLP are given in clause (b) of sub rule 1 of Rule 37 of LLP Rules 2008. As per rules, there is no provisions for exemption from the filing of e-form LLP- 8/ 11 for strike off of LLP. Therefore, every LLP have to complete annual filing before strike off of LLP.

However, by LLP Amendment Rules, 2017 situation has been changed. Extract of the Amendment Rules “The limited liability partnership referred to in clause (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 37 shall, file overdue returns in Form 8 and Form 11 up to the end of the financial year in which the limited liability partnership [1]ceased to carry on its business or commercial operations before filing of form for strike off”.

Interpretation Note:

As per the language of amendment rules LLP shall file overdue returns in Form 8 and Form 11 “up to the end of the financial year” in which LLP “ceased to carry on its business or commercial operation”.

Hence, considering the provisions of amendment rules one can opine that if a non operational LLP [2] desires to strike off it must complete the filing of Form 8 and Form 11 (Here after referred as “Annual Filing”) up to the end of the financial year in which the limited liability partnership ceased to carry on its business or commercial operations.

Like:  If a LLP Incorporated on 10^th April, 2010. It ceases / stops to carry on its business from 20^th February, 2013 (F.Y. 2012-13).

Situations: (i) LLP has completed filing of e-forms LLP – 8/11 till 31.03.2017. (ii) LLP has filed e-forms LLP – 8 / 11 for end of financial year 31^st March, 2013. (iii) LLP has not filed e-forms LLP – 8 / 11 since incorporation.

Situation Analysis:

(i) If LLP has completed Annual filing till the date of strike off, then no question arise in respect of completion of Annual Filing. LLP can go for strike off as per rule 37.

(ii) In this situation, LLP has filed annual filing form till the financial year ended 31.03.2013 (the last financial year in which LLP was operational). From 1^st April, 2013 LLP has not done any business or not carried any business.

Therefore, as per amendment rule, 2017 LLP can file application for strike off of LLP with ROC without completion of annual filing forms since financial year 2013-14.

(iii) In this situation, LLP has not filed annual form since incorporation. However, if LLP wants to apply for strike off under rule 37 then as per amendment rules it has to complete annual filing till the financial year 2012-13. [Late fee for completion of annual filing form is INR 100 per day till the date of filing of form].

 Check Points:

I. LLP should not be carrying any business or should be non operational at least for a period of one year.

II. Check – Whether LLP has filed annual forms till the date when it ceased to carry on its business or commercial operations.

B. Whether Company have to filed Initial LLP Agreement and any amendment in LLP Agreement (E form LLP-3) with ROC before filling application for Strike off of LLP.

Statutory Provisions Contained Under the Act:

LLP rules don’t provide any exemption from the filing of LLP agreement in e-form LLP 3 with ROC. Therefore, before filing of application for strike off it has to file LLP Agreement with ROC.

However, by LLP Amendment Rules, 2017 situation has been changed. Extract of the Amendment Rules “LLP file e-form 24 enclosed with copy of the initial limited liability partnership agreement, if entered into and not filed, along with changes thereof in cases where the Limited Liability Partnership has not commenced business or commercial operations since its incorporation.”

Interpretation Note:

As per the language of amendment rules LLP shall enclose copy of initial LLP Agreement “if entered into and not filed” “along with any change in agreement” “in cases where the Limited Liability Partnership has not commenced business or commercial operations since its incorporation

Hence, considering the provisions of amendment rules one can opine that if a LLP is non-operational since incorporation, it can file application for strike off without filing of e form LLP-3 with ROC.

Situations:  (i) If a LLP Incorporated on 1^st April, 2011. It ceases / stops to carry on its business from 10^th January, 2014 (F.Y. 2013-14). It has not filed LLP-3 with initial LLP Agreement. Whether it can apply for strike off without filing of LLP-3?

Situations: (ii) If a LLP Incorporated on 1^st April, 2011 and has not commence business since incorporation. It has not filed LLP-3 with initial LLP Agreement. Whether it can apply for strike off?

Situations: (iii)  If a LLP Incorporated on 1^st April, 2011. It ceases / stops to carry on its business from 10^th January, 2014 (F.Y. 2013-14). It has entered into amendment LLP agreement and not filed LLP-3 with such amendment Agreement. Whether it can apply for strike off without filing of LLP-3?

Situation Analysis:

(i) In this case the LLP has commenced business and forget to file the Initial LLP Agreement then as per amendment rule if the desires to apply for strike off its have to file LLP-3 with initial LLP Agreement.

(ii) In this case LLP has not commenced business or operation since incorporation and not filed initial LLP Agreement and any amendment in LLP Agreement.

Therefore, as per amendment rule, 2017 LLP can file application for strike off of LLP with ROC without completion of filing of forms LLP – 3.

(iii) In this Case LLP has commenced business, file the initial LLP Agreement with ROC but fails to file the amendment in the initial LLP Agreement. However, if LLP wants to apply for strike off under rule 37 then as per amendment rules it has to file Amendment in initial LLP Agreement in LLP-3 with ROC. [Late fee for filing form is INR 100 per day till the date of filing of form].

Check Points:

I. Check – Whether LLP has filed Initial LLP Agreement.

II. Check – Whether LLP has filed Amendment in initial LLP Agreement, if any.

III. If LLP not file any of above two agreements then Check – Whether LLP commenced any business or operation since incorporation.

Process – Strike Off LLP

In case the LLP wants to close down its business or where it is not carrying on any business operations for the period of one year or more, , it can make an application to the Registrar of Companies for declaring the company as defunct and removing the name of the LLP from its register of LLP’s. The procedure is given below: (clause (b) of sub rule 1 of Rule 37 of LLP Rules 2008)

An application is required to be made in e-Form 24 to the Registrar of Companies for Striking off the name of the LLP under Rule 37(1)(b) and 37(1A) of LLP Rules with following below mentioned documents:

File e-form 24 with following documents:

a) a statement of account disclosing nil assets and nil liabilities, certified by a Chartered Accountant in practice made up to a date not earlier than thirty days of the date of filing of Form 24.

b) Copy of acknowledgement of latest Income tax return- Self Explanatory

c) copy of the initial limited liability partnership agreement, if entered into and not filed, along with changes thereof

d) an affidavit signed by the designated partners, either jointly or severally, to the effect,—

(i) that the Limited Liability Partnership has not commenced business or where it commenced business, it ceased to carry on such business from ………….(dd/mm/yyyy);

(ii) that the limited liability partnership has no liabilities and indemnifying any liability that may arise even after striking off its name from the Register;

(iii) that the Limited Liability Partnership has not opened any Bank Account and where it had opened, the said bank account has since been closed together with certificate(s) or statement from the respective bank demonstrating closure of Bank Account;

(iv) that the Limited Liability Partnership has not filed any Income-tax return where it has not carried on any business since its incorporation, if applicable.

e) Copy of Detailed Application- Mention full details of LLP plus reasons for closure

f) Copy of Authority to Make the Application- Duly signed by all the Partners.

[1] The date of cessation of commercial operation is the date from which the Limited Liability Partnership ceased to carry on its revenue generating business and the transactions such as receipt of money from debtors or payment of money to creditors, subsequent to such cessation will not form part of revenue generating business

[2] As per Rule 37 of LLP Rules if a LLP wants to strike off it should not carrying on any business operations for the period of one year or more.

(Author – CS Divesh Goyal, ACS is a Company Secretary in Practice from Delhi and can be contacted at csdiveshgoyal@gmail.com)

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