The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has formally approached the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), urging an extension of the statutory deadlines for filing annual returns for the financial year 2024–25 citing recurring technical disruptions and operational deficiencies reported on the MCA-21 V3 portal.
In its representation addressed to Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, ICSI flagged widespread grievances faced by company secretaries, chartered accountants, and other corporate compliance professionals while attempting to meet filing requirements under the Companies Act, 2013.
Portal Glitches Hampering Statutory Compliance
ICSI noted that despite multiple upgrades, the MCA-21 V3 portal continues to suffer from serious technical shortcomings, particularly during the peak annual filing season. These issues, according to the institute, are materially affecting the ability of companies to file mandatory returns within prescribed timelines.
Stakeholders have reported repeated system errors, validation failures, incorrect downloads, and prolonged downtime—making compliance both uncertain and time-consuming.
Key Issues Reported in Annual Return Filings
The representation details several form-specific and system-level problems being encountered by users:
AOC-4 Filing Issues:
Users are facing difficulty in generating PDF copies of AOC-4 forms post-submission. In many cases, the system throws validation errors during processing, while some users report that incorrect company forms are being downloaded from the portal.
AOC-4 XBRL and CSR-2 Upload Failures:
While filing AOC-4 XBRL, the portal frequently displays a “File Validation Failed” error, instructing users to contact system administrators. Additionally, the portal is currently not allowing uploads of Form AOC-4 XBRL and Form CSR-2 for FY 2024–25.
MGT-7 Filing Difficulties:
Users attempting to file Form MGT-7 are encountering issues such as incorrect Excel utilities being auto-selected by the system, repeated upload failures, and unexplained validation errors.
Systemic Performance Concerns
Beyond form-specific issues, professionals have also highlighted broader performance problems with the MCA-21 V3 portal:
Frequent Slowdowns and Timeouts:
The portal reportedly becomes extremely sluggish during peak hours, particularly between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM, when most professionals attempt filings. This often results in session timeouts and incomplete submissions.
Intermittent Website Inaccessibility:
On several occasions, users have been unable to access even the homepage of the MCA portal. When access is possible, frequent crashes, internal server errors, and unexpected logouts disrupt the filing process.
ICSI’s Request for Deadline Extension
Taking into account the cumulative impact of these technical challenges, ICSI has urged the MCA to grant a comprehensive extension of the due date for filing annual returns for FY 2024–25. The institute has specifically requested that the deadline be extended until December 31, 2025, to provide adequate relief to companies and professionals striving to remain compliant despite system constraints.
Need for Administrative Relief
ICSI emphasized that the issues being faced are beyond the control of filers and, if left unaddressed, may result in unintentional non-compliance, penal consequences, and increased litigation. The institute reiterated the need for administrative intervention to ensure that statutory compliance does not become punitive due to persistent technological shortcomings.
The MCA is yet to issue an official response to the request. Stakeholders across the corporate and compliance ecosystem are now closely watching for a clarification or notification providing relief ahead of the approaching deadlines.
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