Vetri Audit - Other Compliances - Society Return Compliances

What Are Society Return Compliances?

Society return compliances refer to the statutory obligations that every registered society must fulfil to remain legally compliant. These include submitting annual returns, financial statements, and other prescribed documents to the Registrar of Societies or the relevant state authority. Timely and accurate compliance ensures transparency, accountability, and continued recognition under the respective State Societies Registration Act.

Common Return Filings and Compliance Requirements

Return/Compliance	Frequency	Description
Annual Return (Form 18)	Annually (within 6 months of AGM)	Includes details of managing committee, members, income and expenditure
Audited Financial Statements	Annually	Financial records audited by a Chartered Accountant and presented at the AGM
Minutes of Meetings	Ongoing (AGM/EGM as per bylaws)	Copies of all general meeting minutes must be recorded and sometimes submitted
Change Intimations	Within 30 days of change	Notify the Registrar regarding changes in office bearers, address, objectives
Income Tax Returns	Annually	File ITR even if society claims exemption under Sections 12A and/or 80G

Key Documents to Maintain and Submit

A well-governed society must maintain and, where required, submit the following documents:

Register of Members
Minutes of General Body Meetings (AGM/EGM)
Audited Financial Statements
Donation & Grant Records (if applicable)
Annual Report and Activity Summary

These documents not only aid in statutory compliance but also reinforce trust among donors, members, and authorities.

How to File Society Returns

1

Check State-Specific Portal:

Visit the Registrar of Societies’ website for your state to access online filing services and downloadable forms.

2

Prepare and Submit Forms:

Complete the Annual Return Form (e.g., Form 18) with necessary details and attach supporting documents such as financial statements and minutes of meetings.

3

Pay Applicable Fees:

Submit prescribed government fees either online or via demand draft depending on state regulations.

4

Income Tax Filing:

File separate IT returns through the Income Tax Department portal using appropriate forms (e.g., ITR-7 for societies claiming exemptions).

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Non-Compliance	Potential Consequences
Late or non-filing of annual returns	Monetary penalty and issue of show-cause notice by the Registrar
Failure to submit audited accounts	Risk of disqualification or temporary suspension
Non-reporting of structural changes	Registrar may freeze society operations or cancel registration
Not filing income tax returns	Loss of income tax exemptions and imposition of penalty under IT Act

Best Practices for Ensuring Compliance

Timely Conduct of AGM: Schedule and hold AGMs within the statutory period each year.
Record-Keeping: Maintain clean, updated, and verifiable records of all meetings, transactions, and communications.
Engage a Professional Auditor:Appoint a qualified Chartered Accountant to audit accounts and assist in financial reporting.
Prompt Notifications: Report any changes in office bearers, registered address, or objectives to the Registrar within stipulated time.
Documentation & Backup: Retain copies of all filed forms, acknowledgments, resolutions, and reports for future reference and audits.

Our Compliance Support Services

At VETRI AUDIT SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED, we offer end-to-end compliance support for societies including:

Preparation and filing of Annual Returns and Financials
Income Tax filing for exempt and non-exempt societies
Registrar liaison for change updates and document submission
Maintenance of statutory registers and reports
Audit assistance and advisory

Let us help you stay compliant, organized, and audit-ready.

Society Return Compliances