All About MCA Companies Fresh Start Scheme (CFSS) 2020

The entire economy of the nation is stagnant due to the current lockdown announced by the ruling to protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic. All the government-authorized regulatory bodies are doing their best to provide relief to the individuals residing in India. One such organization is the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) which has come up with a brand new scheme named Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020 (CFSS) in favour of businesses in India.

Apart from that, MCA has given relaxations to the LLPs by introducing some statutory changes in the LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020. The main purpose of changes in the scheme is to give additional time and financial relief (in terms of compliance) to a certain extent to all the generous companies. 

Latest Update on Companies Fresh Start Scheme

• “The last date of filing CFSS e-forms 2020 under the Companies Act shall be 31/03/2021”. Check Circular

In the prolongation of the Ministry’s General Circular No. 12/2020 dated 30.03.2020, with the context of the disruption affected due to COVID-19, and after pending examinations it is decided to extend the scheme till 31st December 2020. The other provisions in the circular will not be changed. Read General Circular No 30/2020

Contents in the Companies Fresh Start Scheme (CFSS) 2020

All the registered companies operative in India are obliged to follow certain norms directed by the government that include Annual Return filing, filing of Financial Statements, books of accounts and other business-related documents and statements that are asked by the government. By any chance, if the company fails to abide by such norms then as a punishment they are charged a penalty or interests. Such companies are categorized as ‘Defaulting Companies’. 

Talking about CFSS, the scheme is taken out by the MCA to give relief to the companies from heavy compliance and is valid from 1 April 2020 to 31st March 2021. Check Circular

Here are the Provisions Under CFSS 2020

1. For the Defaulting Firms:

• Such companies will be obliged to pay the nominal fees that are prescribed by the Companies Act 2014 for all the filings on MCA 21. No surcharges. 
• Exemption from prosecution and proceedings related to penalties only if the penalty applies to the delayed filing of returns. No other case is covered.  
• In case there is any statutory appeal filed by the company related to any notice, order or complaint issued regarding delayed compliances then:

(A) The company must withdraw the appeal before enrolling itself under the CFSS 2020. 

(B) While applying for registration under CFSS, the concerned company must furnish a copy of the appeal withdrawal along with the application. 

• Any order, notice or complaint has been passed by the court by no appeal in response has been filed. 

(A) In such a case, the company is allowed 120 days to file the appeal. 

(B) Until then, no action will be taken against the non-compliant company (if it is related to delay in filing of returns).

• A company can file CFSS-2020 to avail of the benefits of the scheme:

(a) The company will be immune until 6 months from the date of closure of CFSS 2020.

(b) No fees are charged for filing Form CFSS-2020. 

(c) Immunity certificates will be granted to companies that have their registrations under the scheme. 

• Immunity will be not given to the companies if:

(a) An appeal is pending for the company. 

(b) If any disputes (related to the company) are pending with the court. 

If any order is passed by the court is not replied to by the company by the way of an appeal.

• For DIN holders, the due date for filing DIR-3/DIR-3KYC has been extended by MCA. All the directors of the companies (DIN holders) can activate their DIN by filing the form between 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020. Filings after the due date will attract a fine of Rs. 5000. 

2. For the Non-Operative Firms:

The inactive or defaulting firms can also apply for CFSS 2020 and file their due compliance without any hassle. Apart from that, they can do the below-mentioned tasks:

• Apply for Dormant Status u/s 455 of the Companies Act, 2013 by filing MSC-1 along with the prescribed charges. 
• Apply for excluding the name of the company from the Register of Companies (ROC).
• Due dates of filing e-form ACTIVE extended till 30 September 2020. The firms liable must file the form on or before the due date else there is a fine of Rs. 10,000 per filing after the due date.  

List of Forms Which Can Be Filed Under CFSS 2020

CFSS 2020 is Not Applicable If

• The final notice for removing the company name from The Companies Act 2013 has already been issued by the concerned authority. 
• If the company has already applied remove the name of the company by filing STK-2 along with prescribed fees with the Registrar of Companies (ROC).
• Companies have merged under some arrangement or compromise. 
• Insolvency
• Companies that are marked for the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process or Liquidation.

• In any of the cases following are involved:-
  – Increase in the Authorised Capital (Form SH – 7)
  – Charge related documents (CHG – 1, CHG – 4, CHG – 8, CHG – 9)

View CFSS 2020 – General Circular No.12/2020

Modifications Introduced Under LLP Settlement Scheme 2020

• LLP Settlement Scheme 2020 is valid only from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020. 
• For defaulting LLPs, the due date for filing all the belated documents is 31 August 2020. 
• There are no additional fees other than the normal application fees for filing. 
• There will be no prosecution by the Registrar against the defaulting firms that have filed all the belated compliances on or before 30 September 2020. 
• The norms are non-applicable for LLPs that have nominated their company name to be removed from the Registrar of Companies as per LLP rules 2009. View general circular number 13/2020