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Branch Office

Branch Office Setup in India allows a foreign company to establish a business presence for conducting commercial activities and expanding operations in the Indian market.

PROCEDURE FOR SETTING UP BRANCH OFFICE:

Any foreign company intending to establish a Branch Office in India is required to obtain a prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through Authorized Bankers(AD), which may take up to 3-6 weeks. Approval is usually not required to be renewed but in some cases RBI gives approval for only 2-3 years and it has to be renewed on expiry.

Branch Office

foreign companies or MNC’s who are interested to expand their business outside their home country can start full-fledged business by opening a branch office in India. However, BO is not allowed to directly carry out manufacturing activities though it is permitted to sub-contract these services to an Indian manufacturer. Normally, The Branch Office is engaged in the activity in which the parent company is engaged. The name must be same as that of the foreign parent company and for each new office of such a branch office, a fresh approval is required from RBI with justification. Profits earned by the Branch Offices are freely remittable from India, Subject to payment of applicable taxes.
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Activities permitted by Liaison office
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To engage in Export / Import of Goods
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To engage in Professional or Consultancy Services
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To act as a buying or selling agent in India or represent the parent/group company
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Authorized representative for foreign shipping or airline company in India
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Provide technical support services for goods/services supplied by parent company
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Carry out research work in areas where parent company is engaged
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Software development or IT-related services
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Promote technical or financial collaboration between Indian companies and parent company

Eligible companies to open branch office:

A foreign company must fulfill two primary conditions before qualifying for the establishment of a branch office:
They must have a 5-year record of profitable business in the home country; and,
They must have a minimum net worth of US$100,000 verified by the most recent audited balance sheet.

Following Documents are required to submit for approval

  • English version of certificate of incorporation
  • Charter or Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA and AOA)
  • A copy of the parent company’s latest audited balance sheet, clearly showing the net worth
  • List of Directors in Parent Company
  • List of Shareholders in Parent company
  • Net worth certificate attested by Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Banker’s Report from the applicant’s banker in the host country
  • Power of Attorney in favor of authorized signatory, who is going to be in charge of liaison office in India.
  • Authorized persons Visa, Passport, photos, ID proof and Address proof-all 5 copies.
  • Latest Address Proof of Branch Office (Bank Statement/ Electricity/ Water Bill/ Phone Bill)

Branch Office Registration of a foreign Company $ 1499/-

All Inclusive Professional Fee and Out of Pocket Expense | Pay Govt. fee on Actual Basis.
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Documentation Support
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PAN & TAN Number for the Company
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Filing of FNC Form to RBI through AD Bank
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Bank Account Opening Support
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Digital Signature for Authorized Signatory
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GST Registration
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Registration of Foreign Company with ROC
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Import Export Code (IEC)
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Registration with Local Police
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Government fee & Taxes on Actual Basis

Approval process

After proper scrutiny, AD category – I bank shall forward the application in form FNC together with their comments/ recommendations to the RBI for its approval and allotment of Unique Identification Number (UIN) to BO. After receipt of the UIN from the Reserve Bank, the AD Category-I bank shall issue the approval for establishing BO in India.

Cases in which prior approval of RBI required:

  1. Where the applicant is a citizen of or is registered/incorporated in Pakistan;
  2. the applicant is a citizen of or is registered/incorporated in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Hong Kong or Macau and the application is for opening a branch office in Jammu and Kashmir, North East region and Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
  3. the principal business of the applicant falls in the four sectors namely Defence, Telecom, Private Security and Information and Broadcasting:
  4. The applicant is a Non-Government Organization, Non-Profit Organization, Body/ Agency/ Department of a foreign government.
    Such applications shall be forwarded to the Reserve Bank, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office Cell, New Delhi by the Authorized Dealer Category-I bank and be considered in consultation with the Government of India.

Exceptions:

  • No branch office shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank in case of:
  • A banking company resident outside India if such company has obtained necessary approval under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • An insurance company if such company has obtained necessary approval under the provisions of the (IRDA) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
  • A company resident outside India willing to establish a branch office in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to undertake manufacturing and service activities, subject to the conditions that:
    -such branch offices are functioning in those sectors where 100% FDI is permitted;

-such branch offices comply with Chapter XXII of the Companies Act, 2013; and

-such branch offices function on a stand-alone basis.

After Approval

Every Branch office registered with RBI shall have to get itself registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The MCA will allot Corporate Identity Number (CIN) to such company. Now a days CIN is allotted along with Permanent Account Number (PAN) & Tax Deduction Number (TAN). Once PAN is allotted, it should open the bank account as well.

Validity of Approval:

After the approval, BO has to establish its office within six months. The approval shall elapse, in case the office is not set up in six months. Companies looking for any further extension of time shall require prior approval of RBI.

Registration with State Police:

Finally, after the approval from RBI, the Branch office needs to register it with the state police office. The application must be accompanied by the RBI approval copy and KYC of all authorized persons in India and the foreign company.

GST Registration & IEC

Once Branch office Bank Account is opened and cheque book is received , it would need a copy of the cheque for making application for GST Registration and Import Export Code for the Branch Office of the foreign Company in India.

General Conditions:

  • Partnership/Proprietary concerns set up abroad are not allowed to establish Branch in India.
  • Branch Offices are allowed to open non-interest bearing current accounts in India. Such Offices are required to approach their Authorized Dealers for opening the accounts.
  • Transfer of assets of Branch Office to subsidiaries or other Branch Offices is allowed with specific approval of the Central Office of RBI.
  • A BO or any other place of business by whatever name called is required to register with the Registrar of Companies (ROCs) once it establishes a place of business in India if such registration is required under the Companies Act, 2013.

Shifting of Office:

AD banks are now authorized to grant approval to shift office to another city in India. In case the office change is within the same city, no such approval shall be required. Only filing of an intimation of the new address with the AD bank would be required.

Name Change:

AD bank may permit change in name of BO if there is no change in the ownership of foreign company. However if the change in name is due to merger/acquisition/change in ownership of the parent company, then the closing of existing BO shall be required. Also, fresh approval would be required for the same.

Compliance requirements by Liaison Office:

A. Branch Offices have to file Annual Activity Certificates (AAC) certified from Chartered Accountants, at the end of March 31, along with the audited Balance Sheet on or before September 30 of that year. In case the annual accounts of the BO are finalized with reference to a date other than March 31, the AAC along with the audited Balance Sheet may be submitted within six months from the due date of the Balance Sheet to the designated AD Category I bank and a copy to the Directorate General of Income Tax (International Taxation), New Delhi along with the audited financial statements including receipt and payment account.

B. File form 49C as per Section 285 of the Income Tax Act, 191 together with prescribed documents.
C. Branch Office may be required to withhold tax from certain payments and hence to comply with the requisite tax withholding requirements under the domestic tax law
D. The Branch office may require to comply with GST obligation under reverse tax mechanism for availing certain services, if applicable.
E. The Branch office may have to comply with various Labour laws of India, if there are any employees in LO.
F. Filing of Various forms and certificate from Chartered Accountant at the time of closing of LO.

HOW AVS & Associates can assist you in:

  • Obtaining approval of RBI for Establishment of Branch office in India.
  • Getting Branch office registered with Registrar of Companies.
  • Obtaining CIN of Liaison Office
  • Obtaining PAN / TAN, GST, IEC and registration under Labour Laws.
  • Maintenance of Financial books of Accounts of Branch office.
  • Payroll Processing of Branch office.
  • Filing of Withholding Tax Returns / GST Returns on monthly / Quarterly basis.
  • Annual Audit of Books of accounts.
  • Issuance of Annual Activity Certificate (AAC).
  • Getting all Statutory Compliances with regard to Labour laws within timelines.
  • Reporting of Branch office on annual basis with concerned authorities like MCA, Police Department, Income Tax Department, AD Banker.
  • Issuance of Various certificates as may be required by BO in regular course.

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