What is ITR-6?
ITR-6 is the Income Tax Return form exclusively for companies registered under the Companies Act — both private limited and public limited companies. It is mandatory for all companies to file ITR-6 every year, regardless of whether they have any income or tax liability. Companies claiming exemption under Section 11 (charitable/religious trusts) use ITR-7 instead.
ITR-6 requires complete submission of financial statements including Profit & Loss account and Balance Sheet, along with detailed disclosures on related party transactions, ICDS adjustments, and Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) calculations.
Who Files ITR-6?
| Entity | Must File |
|---|
| Private Limited Companies (Pvt Ltd) | Yes — ITR-6 |
| Public Limited Companies (Ltd) | Yes — ITR-6 |
| One Person Companies (OPC) | Yes — ITR-6 |
| Companies with Zero Revenue / Dormant Companies | Yes — ITR-6 (mandatory) |
| Companies claiming Section 11 exemption | No — must file ITR-7 |
Corporate Tax Rates (FY 2024-25)
| Company Type | Base Tax Rate | Surcharge | Effective Rate (approx.) |
|---|
| Domestic Companies (general) | 30% | 7% (income 1–10 Cr), 12% (above 10 Cr) | ~25.17% to 34.94% |
| Domestic Companies (Section 115BAA — optional concessional) | 22% | 10% | ~25.17% |
| New Manufacturing Companies (Section 115BAB) | 15% | 10% | ~17.01% |
| Foreign Companies | 40% | 2%/5% | ~41.6% to 43.68% |
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT)
If a company's regular tax liability is less than 15% of its book profits (computed under Schedule MAT in ITR-6), it must pay MAT at 15% of book profit (plus surcharge and cess). The excess MAT paid can be carried forward as MAT Credit for up to 15 years.
Tax Audit — Mandatory for All Companies
All companies are mandatorily required to have their accounts audited under Section 44AB regardless of turnover. The Statutory Audit by a CA is a separate requirement under the Companies Act. Both audit reports must be filed before the ITR-6 due date (31st October of the Assessment Year).
