Auditor Appointment & ADT-1 Filing

Appoint your statutory auditor and file Form ADT-1 with the Registrar of Companies, from the first auditor after incorporation to every appointment that follows.

₹1,500 All-inclusive professional fee
First auditor30 daysfrom incorporation, by the Board
ADT-115 daysfrom the date of appointment
Term5 yearsfor a subsequent auditor
Casual vacancy30 daysmembers approve within three months
PenaltyFrom ₹25,000plus officers in default

Appointing a statutory auditor is one of the first legal responsibilities after incorporating a company. Whether you need to appoint the first auditor or file Form ADT-1 with the Registrar of Companies, AMpuesto ensures complete compliance with the Companies Act, 2013 through an accurate and hassle-free filing process. We check the eligibility, draft the resolution, and file ADT-1 within the deadline, so your company starts its compliance record clean.

Highlights

  • First auditor appointed by the Board within 30 days of incorporation
  • ADT-1 filed with the ROC within 15 days of the appointment
  • Mandatory for both first and subsequent auditors
  • Handled and reviewed by a Chartered Accountant, fully online

What you will get

  • Eligibility check on the proposed auditor under Section 141
  • Board resolution drafted for the appointment
  • Form ADT-1 prepared with the consent and eligibility certificate attached
  • ADT-1 filed with the ROC inside the 15-day window
  • Filing acknowledgment for your records
  • A CA available for questions through the process

What is auditor appointment?

A statutory auditor is an independent Chartered Accountant who examines a company's accounts and reports whether they give a true and fair view. Every company in India must appoint one, whatever its size or turnover, because the Companies Act, 2013 makes an audit compulsory for companies.

The first auditor is appointed by the Board of Directors within 30 days of incorporation, and holds office until the first Annual General Meeting. At that AGM, the members appoint a subsequent auditor for a term of five years. Each appointment has to be intimated to the Registrar of Companies, which is where Form ADT-1 comes in.

What is Form ADT-1?

Form ADT-1 is the return a company files with the ROC to report the appointment of its auditor, under Section 139 of the Companies Act read with Rule 4. The company files it, not the auditor, within 15 days of the appointment, whether the appointment is made by the Board or at the AGM. The form carries the auditor's details along with their written consent and a certificate of eligibility under Section 141.

Since 14 July 2025, the first auditor needs ADT-1 too

Filing ADT-1 is now mandatory for the first auditor, not only for subsequent ones. A great deal of advice still online says otherwise, because the first appointment was widely treated as exempt before this.

Missing it leaves the appointment unreported and attracts rising additional fees and penalties. If you incorporated recently and nobody filed ADT-1 for your first auditor, that is worth checking now rather than at your first annual filing.

Who needs auditor appointment services?

  • Private limited company: must appoint an auditor from incorporation and at every AGM.
  • One person company: appoints a first auditor within 30 days, like any other company.
  • Public company: appoints and reports its auditor under the same rules.
  • Section 8 company: a not-for-profit company still needs a statutory auditor.
  • Producer company: must appoint an auditor and file ADT-1 as well.

An LLP is different. It has no statutory auditor requirement until it crosses the turnover or contribution thresholds, which is covered under LLP annual filing.

When is auditor appointment required?

  • After incorporation: the Board appoints the first auditor within 30 days of the company being formed.
  • At the AGM: the members appoint or reappoint the auditor for a five-year term.
  • On resignation: an auditor's resignation creates a casual vacancy that must be filled.
  • On expiry of tenure: a fresh appointment is made once the five-year term ends.
  • On a casual vacancy: the Board fills it within 30 days, with members approving within three months.

Documents required

DocumentPurpose
Company PANIdentifies the company
Certificate of IncorporationConfirms the company and its incorporation date
MOA and AOAThe company's charter and internal rules
Board resolutionRecords the appointment of the auditor
Consent letter from the auditorThe auditor's written consent to act
Certificate under Section 141Confirms the auditor is eligible and not disqualified
DIN of the directorsIdentifies the signing directors
DSC of a directorSigns the form for filing

Our process

  1. Consultation

    We confirm your company type, incorporation date, and the deadline that applies.

  2. Document collection

    We gather your company records and the auditor's consent and certificate.

  3. Drafting the board resolution

    We prepare the resolution appointing the auditor.

  4. Preparation of ADT-1

    We complete Form ADT-1 with the appointment details and attachments.

  5. ROC filing

    We file ADT-1 with the Registrar within the 15-day window.

  6. Acknowledgement delivery

    We hand you the filing acknowledgment for your records.

What non-compliance costs

Missing the auditor appointment or the ADT-1 filing carries real consequences. If a company does not appoint an auditor, the Registrar can act, and the company faces a penalty from ₹25,000 to ₹5,00,000, while every officer in default can be fined from ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 under the Companies Act.

A late ADT-1 also attracts rising additional fees, and improper or missed filings leave gaps in your compliance record that surface during annual filings and due diligence. Filing on time is far cheaper and cleaner.

Why timely auditor appointment matters

Appointing your auditor on time does more than tick a box. It builds a clean compliance history from year one, keeps ROC notices away, and makes your annual filings straightforward because the auditor is in place to sign off the accounts. It also strengthens your corporate governance, which matters to banks, investors, and buyers who look at your filing record. We keep the whole cycle on track, from the first appointment to each renewal.

Why choose AMpuesto

  • Experienced professionals: every filing is handled by qualified company-compliance experts.
  • Fast processing: we file well inside the statutory window, with no last-minute rush.
  • PAN-India service: we file for companies anywhere in India, entirely online.
  • Affordable pricing: a clear professional fee quoted upfront.
  • Dedicated compliance expert: one point of contact who tracks your dates and forms.
  • Fully online process: share your documents digitally and follow the filing to completion.

Appointing your auditor is one of two filings that fall due in your first months. The other is your commencement of business declaration in Form INC-20A, due within 180 days. Beyond that, auditor appointment is an event-based filing, so it sits alongside a change of director, a change in the MOA, or an issue of share capital. We also handle your income tax return and GST returns through the year.

CA Ashish Gambhir, practising Chartered Accountant at AMpuesto
CA Ashish Gambhir Practising Chartered Accountant · Founder, AMpuesto

Every appointment and filing here is handled and reviewed by CA Ashish Gambhir, a practising Chartered Accountant with 7+ years across company compliance, GST, and income tax.

Frequently asked questions

Is ADT-1 mandatory?
Yes. Every company files ADT-1 to intimate the ROC of an auditor's appointment, and since 14 July 2025 it is mandatory for the first auditor too.
Who appoints the first auditor?
The Board of Directors, within 30 days of incorporation. If the Board fails, the members appoint within 90 days at an EGM.
What is the due date for ADT-1?
Within 15 days of the auditor's appointment, whether by the Board or at the AGM.
Does the auditor or the company file ADT-1?
The company files it. The auditor only provides written consent and an eligibility certificate.
How long is a subsequent auditor appointed for?
Five years, from one AGM to the conclusion of the sixth, with no annual ratification needed.
Can the first auditor be changed?
Yes. The first auditor holds office only until the first AGM, where the members appoint an auditor for the full term.
What is a casual vacancy?
A mid-term vacancy, such as from a resignation, filled by the Board within 30 days and approved by members within three months.
Can ADT-1 be revised?
A filed ADT-1 cannot be edited. A correction is made by filing a fresh form with the correct details.
What happens if ADT-1 is filed late?
Rising additional government fees apply, and continued default can attract penalties under the Companies Act.
What documents does the auditor provide?
A written consent to act and a certificate under Section 141 confirming they are eligible and not disqualified.
Is ADT-1 required for an OPC or Section 8 company?
Yes. Every company must appoint an auditor and file ADT-1, including OPCs and Section 8 companies.
What is the penalty for not appointing an auditor?
Under the Companies Act, the company can face ₹25,000 to ₹5,00,000, and officers in default ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000.

Get your auditor on record

Send us your incorporation details and your auditor's consent. We check eligibility, draft the resolution, and file ADT-1 inside the window.

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