A One Person Company (OPC) is treated as a separate legal entity and must file its income tax return every year using Form ITR-6, regardless of whether it made a profit or a loss. The standard due date for OPC tax filing is 31st October of the assessment year if a tax audit applies, or 31st July if it does not. OPC income is taxed at a flat rate of 25% (plus surcharge and cess) when annual turnover is up to ₹400 crore. Taxocity has helped thousands of founders stay 100% compliant — from registration to annual filings.

• OPC must file ITR-6 every year, even with nil income.
• Tax audit under Section 44AB is mandatory if turnover exceeds ₹1 crore (or ₹10 crore for digital transactions).
• Late filing penalty can go up to ₹10,000 under Section 234F.

What is Income Tax Return for a One Person Company?

An OPC incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 is treated as a domestic company for income tax purposes. It must file an annual income tax return disclosing its total income, deductions, and tax payable. Unlike a sole proprietor who files ITR-3 or ITR-4, an OPC always files ITR-6 since it is a company. This obligation exists even if the company has zero turnover or is dormant.

The return is filed on the Income Tax e-filing portal using a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the authorised director. Manual or unsigned filing is not accepted for companies.

What is the Tax Rate for an OPC in 2026-27?

As of the Assessment Year 2026-27, a One Person Company is taxed as a domestic company. The applicable rate depends on the company's turnover and the tax regime it opts into.

Regime	Condition	Base Tax Rate	Surcharge	Effective Rate (approx.)
Regular (Section 115BA)	Turnover ≤ ₹400 crore	25%	7% (income > ₹1 cr)	~26% + 4% cess
New Manufacturing Regime (Section 115BAB)	New domestic mfg. company	15%	10%	~17.01%
Concessional Regime (Section 115BAA)	Any domestic company	22%	10%	~25.17%
Regular (Turnover > ₹400 crore)	Higher turnover OPC	30%	7-12%	~31.2%+

Health and Education Cess of 4% is applicable on base tax plus surcharge in all regimes. Most newly formed OPCs with turnover below ₹400 crore pay an effective rate of around 26% under the regular regime.

Note: As the Direct Tax Code 2025 comes into effect, taxpayers should verify the applicable slabs for AY 2026-27 with a professional advisor, as structural changes may alter the rate applicability.

Which ITR Form Does an OPC File?

An OPC must always file ITR-6. This form is designed for companies that do not claim exemption under Section 11 (income from property held for charitable or religious purposes). Since an OPC is a for-profit entity, ITR-6 is the applicable form in all cases.

Key Schedules in ITR-6 for OPCs

• Schedule BP: Business income computation
• Schedule DPM / DEP: Depreciation on plant, machinery, and assets
• Schedule MAT: Minimum Alternate Tax (if applicable)
• Schedule TDS: Tax Deducted at Source details
• Schedule FSI / TR / FA: Foreign income and assets (if applicable)
• Schedule SH: Shareholding pattern of the company

What are the Due Dates for OPC ITR Filing?

The due dates for filing an OPC's income tax return depend on whether the company's accounts are required to be audited under the Income Tax Act or the Companies Act.

Scenario	Due Date (AY 2026-27)
OPC not liable for tax audit	31st July 2026
OPC liable for tax audit (Section 44AB)	31st October 2026
OPC with international / specified domestic transactions (Transfer Pricing)	30th November 2026
Belated / revised return	31st December 2026

Missing the original due date attracts a late filing fee under Section 234F: ₹5,000 for returns filed after the due date but on or before 31st December, and ₹10,000 thereafter. For companies with gross total income below ₹5 lakh, the maximum fee is capped at ₹1,000.

When is Tax Audit Mandatory for an OPC?

A One Person Company must get its accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant under Section 44AB if its total turnover or gross receipts exceed ₹1 crore in a financial year. However, if at least 95% of all transactions (both receipts and payments) are carried out digitally, this threshold is raised to ₹10 crore.

Additionally, all OPCs are also mandatorily required to get their financial statements audited under the Companies Act, 2013 through a statutory auditor, irrespective of turnover. The income tax audit (Form 3CA/3CB + 3CD) is a separate requirement from the statutory audit.

Presumptive Taxation: Can an OPC Opt In?

No. Presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD and 44ADA apply only to individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and partnerships. An OPC, being a company, cannot opt for presumptive income computation. It must maintain full books of accounts under Section 44AA and get them audited if the turnover threshold is crossed.

What are the Annual Compliance Requirements for an OPC?

Income tax return filing is just one part of an OPC's annual compliance calendar. A compliant OPC must also fulfil the following obligations every financial year.

Compliance	Form / Requirement	Due Date
Statutory Audit	Audited financials by CA	Before AGM (or as applicable)
Annual Return (MCA)	Form MGT-7A	60 days from AGM
Financial Statements (MCA)	Form AOC-4	180 days from FY close
Income Tax Return	ITR-6 (with DSC)	31st October 2026 (if audit)
Tax Audit Report	Form 3CA + 3CD	30th September 2026
TDS Returns (if applicable)	Form 24Q / 26Q	Quarterly (July, Oct, Jan, May)
GST Returns (if registered)	GSTR-1, GSTR-3B	Monthly / Quarterly

Need help with GST as well? Explore GST Filing services by Taxocity to keep all your indirect tax obligations in check.

Does an OPC Need to Pay Advance Tax?

Yes. If the total income tax liability of an OPC exceeds ₹10,000 in a financial year, it must pay advance tax in four instalments. The schedule for individuals and companies is the same.

• 15th June: At least 15% of estimated tax
• 15th September: At least 45% of estimated tax (cumulative)
• 15th December: At least 75% of estimated tax (cumulative)
• 15th March: 100% of estimated tax (cumulative)

Failure to pay advance tax on time attracts interest under Section 234B (for shortfall) and Section 234C (for deferment of instalments) at 1% per month on the outstanding amount.

Does MAT Apply to an OPC?

Yes. Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) under Section 115JB applies to an OPC if its normal tax payable is less than 15% of its book profits. In such cases, the OPC must pay MAT at 15% of book profit (plus applicable surcharge and cess). The MAT credit can be carried forward for up to 15 years and set off against future normal tax liability. Companies opting for the Section 115BAA or 115BAB concessional regimes are exempt from MAT.

How to File Income Tax Return for OPC: Step by Step

1. Complete the statutory audit: Get financial statements audited by a registered CA and obtain the audit report in Form 3CA and Form 3CD (if turnover exceeds the audit threshold).
2. Compute taxable income: Prepare the profit and loss account and compute income under the head "Profits and Gains of Business or Profession" after allowable deductions.
3. Calculate advance tax paid and TDS credits: Reconcile tax already paid via advance tax challans and TDS deducted by clients with Form 26AS / AIS / TIS.
4. Prepare ITR-6: Fill in all applicable schedules including BS (Balance Sheet), P&L, MAT, TDS, and shareholding details.
5. Upload on the e-filing portal: Log in at the Income Tax e-filing portal, select "File Income Tax Return," and upload the prepared JSON file.
6. Verify with DSC: Companies must mandatorily e-verify their return using the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of an authorised director. No other mode of verification is valid for companies.
7. Pay any remaining tax: Pay the self-assessment tax (if any) before filing using Challan ITNS 280.

Looking to get your OPC registered first? Learn more about One Person Company Registration and the end-to-end support Taxocity provides.

How is OPC Taxation Different from Sole Proprietorship?

Parameter	One Person Company	Sole Proprietorship
Tax return form	ITR-6	ITR-3 / ITR-4
Tax rate	Flat 25% / 22% (company rates)	Individual slab rates (5%-30%)
Basic exemption	Not applicable	Up to ₹3 lakh (new regime)
Surcharge	7% on income > ₹1 crore	10%-37% depending on income
Presumptive taxation	Not available	Available (Sec. 44AD / 44ADA)
Mandatory audit	Yes (statutory + tax audit)	Only if turnover exceeds threshold
Verification method	DSC mandatory	EVC, Net Banking, Aadhaar OTP

For a deeper comparison of these two structures, read Income Tax Return for Sole Proprietorship to understand how the filing differs.

Why Choose Taxocity for OPC Tax Filing?

Taxocity has been helping entrepreneurs and businesses stay compliant for over three decades. With a trust rating of 4.8/5 from more than 5,000 reviews, our team of real human experts handles your entire annual compliance calendar — from statutory audit coordination to ITR-6 filing — so you never miss a deadline.

• 100% compliance guarantee backed by expert review at every step
• End-to-end support covering registration, annual filings, GST, TDS, and ROC compliance
• Dedicated CA and CS professionals assigned to your OPC
• Transparent pricing with no hidden charges
• Support from company incorporation to business scaling

Also explore our related services: GST Registration and Income Tax Return for Startups.

Key Takeaways

1. An OPC is a domestic company and must file ITR-6 every year using a DSC.
2. The standard tax rate is 25% for OPCs with turnover up to ₹400 crore (plus surcharge and 4% cess).
3. Tax audit under Section 44AB applies if turnover crosses ₹1 crore (₹10 crore for digital-heavy businesses).
4. The ITR filing due date is 31st October for audited OPCs and 31st July for non-audited ones.
5. Advance tax must be paid in four instalments if total tax liability exceeds ₹10,000.
6. MAT at 15% of book profit applies unless the OPC has opted for Section 115BAA or 115BAB.
7. OPCs cannot opt for presumptive taxation schemes (44AD / 44ADA) — full bookkeeping is mandatory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an OPC required to file ITR if there is no income?

Yes. An OPC must file ITR-6 every year regardless of whether it earned any income. Nil filing is mandatory to avoid penalties and maintain good compliance standing with the Income Tax Department.

Can an OPC director claim salary as a deduction?

Yes. Salary paid to the director (who is also the sole member) is a deductible business expense in the OPC's hands, provided it is reasonable and supported by a formal employment contract and payroll records. The director must include this salary as income under the head "Salaries" in their personal ITR.

What is the penalty for not filing OPC ITR?

Late filing fees under Section 234F can go up to ₹10,000. Additionally, the Income Tax Department can levy interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C. In extreme non-compliance cases, prosecution under Section 276CC may apply. For companies, non-filing can also trigger MCA scrutiny.

Does an OPC need to file GST returns separately?

Yes. GST compliance is entirely separate from income tax filing. If your OPC is registered under GST, it must file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B monthly (or quarterly under QRMP). Taxocity offers integrated GST Filing support for OPCs.

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Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice, legal advice, or professional consultation. Tax laws and due dates are subject to change. Please consult a qualified tax advisor or chartered accountant before making any financial or compliance decisions specific to your One Person Company.