New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) - The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) announced on Tuesday that it has extended the deadline for submitting financial statements and annual returns as mandated by the Companies Act to January 31, 2026. This extension aims to provide companies with additional time to fulfill their obligatory submissions.

The previous deadline of December 31 had to be postponed following numerous complaints from users regarding technical difficulties on the MCA portal.

Filers experienced repeated timeouts, glitches, and system errors, complicating the process of uploading documents and completing their filings on schedule.

This extension is relevant for annual filings pertaining to the financial year 2024–25, which companies are legally required to submit each year under the Companies Act.

These submissions encompass critical disclosures concerning a company’s financial performance and compliance with statutory regulations.

In a formal announcement, the ministry indicated that, in response to concerns raised by stakeholders, the competent authority has opted to allow companies to finalize their annual filings by January 31, 2026, without incurring any extra fees.

The MCA emphasized that any filings completed within this new deadline will not attract late fees.

The adjusted timeline includes several significant e-forms, such as MGT-7, MGT-7A, AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS), and AOC-4 (XBRL).

The ministry further clarified that all other stipulations outlined in its earlier General Circular No. 06/2025 will remain intact, with only the filing deadline being adjusted.

MCA filing is the essential procedure through which companies and LLPs submit legal documents, financial statements, and returns to the Registrar of Companies via the MCA portal.

These filings are crucial for regulators as they monitor a company’s financial stability, governance framework, and compliance status, thereby ensuring the legal standing of the enterprise.

This decision follows a wave of concerns expressed by numerous professionals and company filers on the social media platform X.

Many users reported challenges in completing their filings due to portal issues as the December 31 deadline loomed.

As grievances mounted, the phrase “Extend Due Date Immediately” trended on X, with users appealing to the ministry for assistance to enable companies to file accurate returns without the risk of penalties resulting from technical issues.