The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued General Circular No. 07/2025, dated 27th October 2025, granting significant relief to companies regarding the filing of Form CRA-4 (Cost Audit Report in XBRL format) for the financial year ending 31st March 2025.
This relaxation comes as a welcome move for companies and cost auditors facing challenges due to the deployment of the new CRA-4 form on the MCA V3 portal. The Ministry’s decision reflects its proactive approach to address practical difficulties faced by stakeholders during system transitions and its commitment to ensuring smooth compliance processes.
Key Highlights of the Circular
According to the circular, any filing of Form CRA-4 for the financial year ended 31.03.2025 made up to 31st December 2025 will not attract any additional fees. This effectively provides a fee waiver period of several months, giving companies sufficient time to adapt to the updated filing process on the MCA V3 portal.
The circular further clarifies that:
- Filings made after 31st December 2025 will be subject to payment of all applicable fees, including additional fees, as prescribed under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
- The additional fees will be calculated from the original due date of filing, as per Rule 6(6) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014.
This means that while companies have been granted temporary relief until the end of December 2025, those who delay beyond this period will have to bear the financial consequences as per the statutory provisions.
Background and Context
Under Rule 6(6) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, every company required to conduct a cost audit must submit its Cost Audit Report in Form CRA-4 within 30 days from the date of receipt of the report from the cost auditor.
However, with the recent rollout of the new CRA-4 form on the MCA V3 portal, many stakeholders faced technical challenges and delays in filing. Recognizing these genuine difficulties, several representations were made to the MCA requesting an extension and relaxation of additional fees.
In response, the Ministry has acted promptly by issuing this circular, providing both clarity and temporary relief to affected companies.
What Companies Should Do Now
Companies are advised to take note of this relaxation and plan their filings accordingly:
- Complete filings before 31st December 2025 to avail the fee waiver benefit.
- Ensure timely coordination with cost auditors to finalize and submit the cost audit report.
- Monitor the MCA portal and official notifications for any further updates or clarifications.
- Avoid last-minute filings, as submissions made after the deadline will attract additional fees based on the original due date.
Conclusion
The MCA’s Circular No. 07/2025 is a thoughtful step that provides companies with much-needed breathing space during the transition to the updated MCA V3 filing system. By waiving additional fees for filings made up to 31st December 2025, the government has balanced compliance enforcement with practical considerations faced by businesses.
Companies should make the most of this relief window to complete their filings on time and maintain full compliance under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014.