Limited liability companies (LLCs) operating in states other than the one in which they were originally registered may need to apply for foreign LLC status in those states. “Foreign Company” means any company or legal entity incorporated outside India that is a reason to operate as a holding company with separate domestic companies, are possible liability issues, such as in facilities that have high potential liability in case of accident or malfunction. Thus, in the event of a dispute, only the assets of the company concerned in the respective State are at risk, as opposed to the assets of the entire business unit. In some cases, due to ownership rules, the laws of a jurisdiction may require separate companies to be operated by subsidiaries in order to protect the subsidiary`s operations from the operations of the parent company. This is most often the case for subsidiaries that are banks or public utilities such as electricity companies. In India, a foreign company is required to comply with special or changed regulations compared to a domestic company. For example, a foreign company must comply with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) when investing in India or opening an office. When the foreign company sells goods or provides services, it must comply with Indian tax laws. There was an urgent need to close the same gap before foreign companies could use the same gap to avoid complying with legal requirements. This issue was finally addressed by the Companies (Amendment) Act 2017. [6] The Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, define the term “business” in Rule 3. The definition of “commercial activity” is identical to that of “electronic mode”.
Rule 3 provides that any company, including a foreign company, that operates electronically, whether its main server is located in India or abroad, is considered to be operating in India. States need to know who is doing business in the state for reasons of public safety and public interest, taxes and other considerations. As a result, all states require companies that “do business” within their borders to register with the state. Such a registration is called a “foreign registration” and such a company becomes a “foreign company” in such a state. If it is determined that your business did business in a state where it was not properly registered, the state could charge penalties and other costs. States want every dollar of tax they are entitled to, so if you do business outside of your home state (or where your LLC was originally registered), it is imperative that you register as a foreign LLC in that jurisdiction. Not all states require formal registration as a foreign LLC for companies to do business in their jurisdiction. A quick online check or a call to the government agency that oversees business registration can provide this information. Or contact a licensed attorney in the state where you can apply for foreign LLC status to determine if formal registration is required. In addition to paying for the initial deposit, renewal fees are likely to be charged on an annual basis. (e) “Director Identification Number” (DIN) means an identification number assigned by the central government to a person who intends to be appointed as a director or to an existing director of a company in order to identify him or her as a director of a company; The only difference is that the definition of “electronic mode” in the Companies Rules 2014 (specification of details of definitions) applies only to foreign companies, while “business activity” under the Companies (Registrars and Fees) Rules 2014 applies to all types of companies.
Forming an LLC is a great way for business owners to limit their liability for corporate debt. Here is a step-by-step guide to forming an LLC. In addition, the second part of the definition of a foreign company refers to any other “commercial activity” which now includes media and broadcasting companies, such as Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited, which have foreign subsidiaries such as Asia Today Limited providing satellite services in India, or Indian asset management companies with foreign subsidiaries in countries such as Singapore and Mauritius that invest in Indian securities or Indian investment funds. This will have a huge impact on these businesses as they have the burden of complying with legal requirements under the Companies Act 2013. It was not clarified whether Chapter 22, which refers to “enterprises incorporated outside India”, applies to all foreign enterprises. A simple examination of the provisions makes it clear that, according to a complete definition of the concept of “foreign companies”, the legislator did not intend to limit the scope of Chapter 22 to a particular category of companies. The place of business is a place where there is a physical or visible indication that the company can be contacted there. Indian courts have emphasized the need to establish a physical presence in India for a foreign company to be considered domiciled in India and thus classified as a “foreign company” under the Companies Act 1956. In Willis Europe BV v Willis India Insurance Brokers (P) Ltd.[2], the Bombay High Court held that”. Paragraph 591(1)(a) does not apply to companies doing business in India, but to businesses that establish an establishment in India. Section 379 of the 2013 Act states that if at least 50% of the paid-up capital of a foreign company is held by one or more Indian citizens or companies/companies incorporated in India, that company must comply with the provisions of Chapter 22 and other provisions of the 2013 Act.
as may be prescribed, in respect of its business in India, as if it were a company incorporated in India. 2 – If a foreigner (individual) becomes a partner in an LLP – this LLP automatically becomes a foreign company? A “foreign enterprise” is defined as an entity incorporated outside India but having a registered office in India or carrying on business in India. The exact definition of a foreign company is given in the Companies Act 2013, although the concept of “foreign company” was also present in the old law. The 2013 Act and recent amendments have greatly clarified the scope of the definition of “foreign companies”. Nevertheless, there are still gaps in the definition given. The Company Law Committee stated in its 2016 report[7] that the definition of “foreign company” in the Companies Act 2013, combined with the definition of “electronic mode”, could result in trivial electronic transactions on the Internet by a company incorporated outside India, without an appropriate relationship with Indian customers, and that no establishment in India would be considered to fall within this definition. The Committee also considered that it would not be possible to register electronically companies incorporated outside India that merely have a presence in India without the actual intention of establishing a registered office in India.