Form DPT-3: Due Date, Purpose & Applicability

You're building a product, managing a team, chasing investors, and juggling a hundred other things. The last thing you want is a surprise penalty from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a compliance form you didn't even know existed.

Meet Form DPT-3, one of the most commonly missed annual filings by early-stage startups in India. It is used to report the details of deposits, loans, and non-deposit receipts. It is mandatory for businesses to meet the deadline to avoid penalties. In this guide, we will break this form simply, from what is form DPT-3 to its applicability, purpose, due date, documents needed, etc.  

What Is Form DPT-3?

Form DPT-3 is an annual return form that companies file with the MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) to report all outstanding loans, deposits, and certain other financial receipts that your company has received.

This form was introduced under Rule 16A of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014, with the key goal of ensuring financial transparency and preventing undisclosed borrowings from flying under the radar.

In simple words: if your startup has taken any loans from a director, a shareholder, an investor via a convertible note (with exceptions), or any other source, there's a good chance you need to report it here every year.

Does DPT-3 Form Apply to Your Startup?

DPT-03 is applicable to your company, if you are registered as:

• Private Limited Company
• Public Limited Company
• One Person Company (OPC)

It is important to note that the government companies are not required to file this DPT-03 form. Also, there are few other companies which are exempt from DPT-03 filings, as per Rule 1(3) of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules 2014. It includes: 

• A Banking Company
• A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)
• A Housing Finance Company registered with the National Housing Bank
• Any other company may be notified under the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 73 of the Act.

What Transactions Need to Be Reported?

This is where founders often get confused. DPT-3 covers outstanding receipts of money or loans that are NOT classified as deposits, in addition to actual deposits. Essentially, the net you need to cast is wider than you might think.

Transactions you must report:

• Loans from directors or their relatives (in a private company)
• Inter-company loans
• Unsecured loans (with some exceptions for promoter loans)
• Any outstanding borrowings from non-institutional lenders

Form DPT-03 Due Date & Penalty 

Missing the deadline is not just an inconvenience, it carries real financial and legal consequences. Here’s the due date and penalty structure for delay in DPT-3 filing. 

Due Date: 

The Due Date for DPT-03 is 30th June every year. So, for FY 2025-26, your DPT-3 must be filed by 30th June 2026, and it will capture all outstanding amounts as on 31st March 2026.

Penalty: 

Failure to file Form DPT-3 on time can result in significant penalties under the Companies Act 2013. The penalties include:

1. Under Section 73: 

• A penalty of minimum 1 crore or twice the amount of deposits whichever is lower, which may extend to Rs. 10 crore. 
• For every officer who is in default imprisonment up to 7 years and with a fine not less than Rs. 25 lakhs which may extend to Rs. 2 crores. 

2. Under Rule 21:

• A flat penalty of up to ₹5,000 for the company.
• Additional daily fines of ₹500 per day for continued non-compliance.
• Any officer responsible for the filing may also be penalised with additional fines.

What You'll Need to File?

Before you sit down with your CA, gather the following:

Financial Details (as on 31st March):

• Net worth of the company
• Total outstanding loans and deposits
• Details of any charges or encumbrances on company assets
• Credit rating details (if your company has been rated)

Documents to Attach:

• Auditor's Certificate (if applicable)
• List of depositors (if applicable)
• Copy of Trust Deed (if applicable)
• Deposit Insurance Contract (if applicable)
• Copy of instrument creating any charge
• Details of liquid assets
• Any other optional supporting attachments

Conclusion

Form DPT-3 is one of those compliance boxes that feels invisible until it isn't. As a startup founder, you're probably not thinking about it in the middle of a fundraise or a product sprint. But skipping it can result in fines, legal exposure, and unnecessary scrutiny when you least need it, like right before a funding round when a VC's due diligence team starts digging through your MCA filings.