Quick answer
What is the process for a company name change in India?
A company name change starts with reserving the new name on form RUN on the MCA portal. Shareholders then pass a special resolution, the company files it on MGT-14 within 30 days and applies on INC-24. The change takes effect only when the ROC issues a fresh certificate of incorporation in the new name.
- RUN: name reservation fee ₹1,000
- Approved name is held for 60 days
- Special resolution filed on MGT-14 within 30 days
- INC-24 application, then certificate in INC-25
- Pending annual filings block the change
What is a company name change and when do you need one?
A company name change is a formal alteration of the name clause in the memorandum of association, approved by the Registrar of Companies under section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013. Until the ROC issues the fresh certificate, the old name stays the legal name, whatever your signboard says.
The reasons we see most often in Delhi:
- Rebranding. The business has grown past its first name, or the founders want a name that works online and as a trademark.
- A trademark clash. Someone holds a registered mark close to your name and has sent a notice. Pair the change with trademark registration for the new name.
- New owners. After a buyout, the incoming promoters want the name to reflect their group.
- Change of activity. A name with "Exports" or "Software" no longer fits what the company does. That usually also needs an objects clause change.
- Conversion. A private company becoming public, or the reverse, changes the "Private" part of the name.
Two things do not change: the company's CIN, PAN and legal identity stay the same, and existing contracts, loans and licences continue in the new name.
Who can change its name, and what blocks a name change?
Any company can apply, but Rule 29 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 blocks a company that has not filed its annual returns or financial statements due with the ROC, or has not repaid matured deposits or debentures or interest on them. Once the pending filings or payments are made, the change is allowed.
Before we file RUN, we pull the company's MCA master data and filing history. In practice the blockers are:
- One or more years of AOC-4 or MGT-7 not filed, which our annual compliance for private limited companies work clears first.
- A company marked inactive, or directors whose KYC has lapsed, which stops forms from being signed.
- A name that is too close to an existing company, LLP or registered trademark, which the Central Registration Centre will reject.
- Words that need approval or are restricted, such as names suggesting a government link.
The only case that skips approval is adding or deleting the word "Private" when a company converts between public and private. Section 13(2) exempts that change.
Need help with company name change? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
What documents are needed for a company name change?
For a company name change you need the board resolution and notice for a general meeting, the special resolution and its explanatory statement, the altered memorandum and articles in the new name, the minutes of the meeting, and the ROC name approval letter. Directors need valid DSCs to sign.
| Document | Prepared by | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| Two to six proposed names with meaning or significance | Promoters with us | RUN |
| Trademark search note or NOC from a trademark owner if a name is close | Us, owner if needed | RUN |
| Board resolution approving the change and calling a general meeting | Board | Company records, MGT-14 attachment |
| Notice of general meeting with explanatory statement | Company secretary or us | MGT-14 |
| Certified copy of special resolution | Company | MGT-14, INC-24 |
| Altered MoA and AoA showing the new name | Us | MGT-14, INC-24 |
| Minutes of the general meeting | Company | INC-24 |
| Valid DSC of a director | Director | Signing all forms |
Checklist prepared by CA in Delhi from Rule 29 and the current forms, November 2026. The portal may ask for more where the name contains restricted words.
How to change a company name: step by step
The order cannot be shuffled: INC-24 asks for the service request number of the MGT-14 filing, and MGT-14 needs the special resolution, which needs an approved name. A clean file usually moves through each stage without resubmission.
- 1
Health check
We confirm annual returns, financial statements and director KYC are up to date, since Rule 29 blocks defaulting companies.
- 2
Name search
We search the MCA company and LLP index and the trademark registry for each proposed name and drop risky ones.
- 3
File RUN
We file the web form RUN with up to two names and the ₹1,000 fee. If the CRC points out a defect, the form can be resubmitted within 15 days.
- 4
Board meeting
Once a name is approved, the board approves the altered MoA and AoA and calls a general meeting.
- 5
Special resolution
Shareholders pass a special resolution, which needs votes in favour of at least three times the votes against.
- 6
MGT-14
The resolution is filed with the ROC on MGT-14 within 30 days of passing it.
- 7
INC-24
We file INC-24 with the MGT-14 reference, minutes and altered documents, inside the 60-day name reservation.
- 8
Fresh certificate
The ROC issues a new certificate of incorporation in form INC-25. The new name is legally effective from that date.
What are the government fees and timeline for a company name change?
Government fees for a company name change are ₹1,000 for RUN, a filing fee for MGT-14 that runs from ₹200 to ₹600 depending on nominal share capital, and a separate INC-24 fee shown by the MCA fee calculator. Professional fees are separate, and you get a fixed quote before work starts.
| Item | Government fee | Time limit or period |
|---|---|---|
| RUN name reservation | ₹1,000 | Approved name held for 60 days from approval |
| MGT-14 (special resolution) | ₹200 (capital below ₹1 lakh) to ₹600 (₹1 crore or more) | Within 30 days of the resolution |
| INC-24 (application for name change) | As per MCA fee calculator for your capital | Within the 60-day reservation |
| Late MGT-14 | 2x normal fee up to 30 days late, rising to 12x after 180 days | Plus penalty risk under section 117 |
| Fresh certificate (INC-25) | No separate fee | Issued after INC-24 approval |
Sources: Companies Act section 4(5) and Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 as compiled at ca2013.com; exact fee on the MCA portal fee calculator. Checked 10 November 2026.
What must you update after a company name change?
After a company name change, update the GST registration within 15 days through REG-14, then PAN, TAN, bank accounts, Udyam, IEC, trademark records, licences, contracts, the website and stationery. For two years the company must also show its former name next to the new one on letterheads, bills and outside its offices.
That two-year rule comes from section 12(3) of the Companies Act and is the step most often missed. A simple line such as "formerly known as ..." under the name is enough.
| Record | Where it is updated | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GST registration | GST portal, REG-14 (legal name is a core field) | Within 15 days; officer approves on REG-15, effective from the date of change |
| PAN and TAN | Income tax department correction process | Number stays the same, name changes |
| Bank accounts and loans | Your bank branch | Fresh certificate, resolution, updated KYC |
| Udyam, IEC, FSSAI, Shops and Establishment | Respective portals | Name field amendments |
| Trademark applications or registrations | IP India | Record the change of proprietor name |
| Signboards, letterheads, invoices, website | In-house | Show former name for two years |
GST rule: CGST Rule 19, checked 10 November 2026. Our page on GST amendment covers the REG-14 steps.
Why does the ROC reject a new company name?
The ROC rejects a proposed name mostly because it is identical or too similar to an existing company, LLP or registered trademark, or because it uses restricted words without approval. Other rejections come from missing meanings for coined words, defaulting filings and documents that do not match the approved name.
- Plural or spelling tricks. Adding an "s", changing a vowel or inserting "The" does not make a name new.
- Generic names. A name made only of common words, such as "Delhi Trading", is weak.
- Group names without consent. Using a well-known group's name needs that group's no-objection.
- Mismatched altered documents. If the MoA attached to INC-24 still shows the old name anywhere, the form comes back.
We test every name against the company index and the trademark journal before filing, which is where most resubmissions are avoided.
What is changing in MCA forms for a name change in 2026?
On 8 April 2026 the Ministry of Corporate Affairs published draft amendments to the Incorporation Rules that propose merging INC-4, INC-22, INC-23 and INC-24 into a single web form called E-CHNG. As of November 2026 we have not seen the final rules notified, so INC-24 remains the form in use.
If the merged form goes live while your application is in progress, we file on whatever version the MCA portal accepts on the filing date. The legal steps stay the same: name approval, special resolution and ROC approval before a fresh certificate. Source: report on the MCA draft rules, checked 10 November 2026.
Who handles a company name change at CA in Delhi?
We take on name changes for companies across Delhi from our office at Netaji Subhash Place, next to the metro station. You send us the current MCA details, three to six names you like and the reason for the change. We send back a name check, the meeting papers ready to sign, the filed forms and, at the end, the fresh certificate and an update checklist.
- Moneymji lists ROC compliance among its services and suits small private companies making a one-off change.
- Greenwolf Advisors handles regulatory filings and entity governance, useful when a name change is part of a group restructuring or a new investor coming in.
Trademark work on the new name sits with Khubchandani & Co. Chartered Accountants, whose listed services include trademark registration. Compare the listed firms on our page of chartered accountant firms in Delhi. Businesses around Rohini can also read about a CA in Rohini, and if you are still searching locally, our CA near me page explains how to choose. Every job gets a fixed quote before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a company name change take?
It depends mostly on name approval and how quickly shareholders meet. A first-time name approval and clean INC-24 can move within a few weeks; a rejected name or a short-notice meeting that needs member consent adds time. The approved name is held for 60 days, so the meeting and both filings must fit inside that window.
Does the CIN or PAN change after a company name change?
No. The corporate identity number, PAN, TAN and GSTIN stay the same. Only the name on those records changes. The company remains the same legal person, so existing contracts, bank loans and licences continue, but each record still needs a name update.
Can a company with pending ROC filings change its name?
Not until it catches up. Rule 29 stops a name change where annual returns or financial statements due are unfiled, or matured deposits or debentures are unpaid. Once those filings are made or the dues paid, the application can go ahead. We usually clear the backlog and file RUN in the same month.
How many names can be proposed in form RUN?
RUN accepts up to two proposed names in one application, along with their meaning or significance. If both are rejected, a fresh RUN with a new fee is needed. We run searches on more names beforehand so that the two filed are the strongest.
Is a special resolution compulsory for changing a company name?
Yes. Section 13 requires a special resolution of shareholders, meaning votes in favour must be at least three times any votes against. The resolution is filed with the ROC on MGT-14 within 30 days. A board resolution alone is not enough.
Can an LLP change its name the same way?
No. An LLP changes its name under the LLP Act and LLP Rules using LLP-specific forms, and the LLP agreement needs amending. The idea is similar, a name check and partner consent first, but the forms and fees differ. Tell us it is an LLP and we will scope that process instead.
Do we need to show the old name after the change?
Yes, for two years. Section 12(3) requires a company that changed its name in the last two years to display the former name along with the new one outside its offices and on business letters, bills and similar documents. "Formerly known as" under the new name is the usual format.
Should we register a trademark before changing the company name?
Searching first is essential, and filing a trademark application soon after name approval is wise. Name approval from the ROC does not give trademark rights, and a third party's registered mark can still force a later change. Running both together protects the new brand from day one.
Do directors need to visit the ROC office in Delhi?
No. RUN, MGT-14 and INC-24 are all filed online on the MCA portal and signed with directors' DSCs. Meetings can be held at your premises or ours, and documents can be signed and scanned from anywhere, including abroad.