Director Identification Number
What is Director Identification Number (DIN)?
In accordance with Sections 153 and 154 of the Companies Act of 2013, an individual who is appointed as a director of a company is given a DIN, which is a unique identification number. When a new company is formed, an application for the allocation of a DIN must be made exclusively using the SPICe eform.
Who is authorized to allot the DIN?
Anyone who wants to join an existing company’s board of directors must submit Form DIR-3, which is handled by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Additionally, the approving authority (Central Registration Centre) will issue a DIN to the individual who has been appointed as a director upon filing form SPICe (INC-32).
What is the procedure of obtaining DIN?
- At the time of incorporation, anyone who wants to become a director for a new company must apply for a Director Identification Number through SPICe eform. Anyone who wants to join an existing company as a director must submit an application in eForm DIR-3 for the assignment of a DIN and complete the steps below:
- Include your photo and a scanned copy of the required supporting documents, such as your attested proof of identity and your attested evidence of residency.
- Form DIR-3, which the applicant is required to sign and have digitally validated by a company secretary who works full-time for the business or by the managing director, director, CEO, or CFO of an existing business where the applicant is hoping to be appointed as a director, must be signed by the applicant.
- Make the eForm DIR-3 filing fee payment after upload. The only accepted methods of payment for the fees are electronic (Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, Pay Later, and NEFT). Only until the DIN application cost has been paid can the eForm DIR-3 be handled.
- In the event that the information on the eForm has not been recognized as potentially duplicate, an approved DIN will be generated after a successful payment. In the event that the information on the eform is discovered to be a possible duplicate, a provisional DIN must be generated. The receipt will contain an appropriate informational note for the user in this regard.
Who can sign e- Form DIR-3
The applicant must digitally sign the e-Form DIR-3, and it must be digitally verified by the company secretary who works full-time for the business or by the managing director, director, CEO, or CFO of an existing company where the applicant is hoping to be appointed as a director. A Chartered Accountant, a Company Secretary, a Cost Accountant in full-time practice, a Company Secretary (member of ICSI), or a Director of an existing company in which the Applicant is proposed to be the Director must certify the e-Form DIR-3 after it has been digitally signed by the Applicant.
What precautions should be taken while filing Form DIR-3?
Please be aware that Indian applicants must provide their Income Tax PAN. Therefore, the applicant’s information (name, father’s name, and date of birth) must match the PAN information. The details supplied in the supporting documents that are submitted with the DIN application should correspond with the information entered in form DIR-3. Any discrepancy will result in the DIN application being rejected.
What documents/scanned documents are required to be attached with eform DIR-3?
- High resolution photograph of the applicant to be affixed within the eForm
- PAN is mandatory in case of Indian national. So attested copy of PAN is mandatory for identity, name, father’s name and date of birth. Proof of father’s name is not required in the case of foreign nationals
- Attested copy of passport is mandatory as an identity proof in the case of foreign nationals.
- Duly attested present Address proof (not older than 2 months)
What are various precautions to be taken while submitting supporting documents?
Please ensure the following before attaching supporting documents with DIN application:
- The given documents are up-to-date and valid.
- You can send documents from LIC as proof of your date of birth and address.
- Passport, driver’s license, voter identification card, and Aadhar card as address evidence.
- Utility bills, such as those for the phone, mobile, and energy, that are provided as residence verification are solely in the applicant’s name and are no older than two months.
- All supporting documents submitted with form DIR-3 must be properly attested, either by the applicant or by a Public Notary, a Government Gazette Officer, or the CEO, CFO, or Managing Director of the Indian company where the applicant is proposing to serve as a director.
What are the grounds for rejection of DIN application?
Only after careful examination of the supporting documentation a temporary DIN is approved. Common errors made by applicants that result in the rejection of the DIN application include the following:-
Non-submission of supporting documents
- The proof of identity of the applicant is not submitted.
- The proof of father’s name of the applicant is not submitted.
- The proof of date of birth of the applicant is not submitted.
- The proof of residential address of the applicant is not submitted.
- The copy of passport (for foreign nationals) is not submitted
Invalid Application/supporting Documents
- The supporting documents are invalid or expired.
- The proof of identity submitted has not been issued by a Government Agency.
- The application/enclosed evidence has handwritten entries.
- The submitted application is a duplicate DIN application and already one application of that applicant is pending or approved.
- The submitted application does not have photograph affixed.
- The signatures are not appended to the prescribed place.
- The applicant’s name filled in application form does not match with the name in the enclosed evidence. The applicant’s father’s name filled in application form does not match with the father’s name in the enclosed evidence.
- The applicant’s date (DD/MM/YY) of birth filled in application form does not match with the date of birth in the enclosed evidence.
- The address details filled in the application do not match with those contained in the enclosed supporting evidence.
- The gender is not entered correctly in Form DIR-3.
- Identification number entered in application does not match with the identity proof enclosed.
- If enclosed documents are not self-attested.
Which procedure has to be followed, if there is any change in particulars of Director?
For these revisions, the director must download and complete eForm DIR-6 and upload it using the same standard procedure as described above for eForm DIR-3. On verification of the proof included with the application form, the desired alteration is taken into consideration. If the applicant’s name changes, form DIR-6 and gazette notification are required. Women who are married and have identification bearing their maiden name may submit the marriage certificate with their application.
Whether provisional DIN can be used for e-Filing?
No, the particulars of the person with the provisional DIN number cannot be filled in the eforms and the person cannot sign as a director.
Whether applicant without last name can apply for DIN?
In accordance with Rule 9(4) of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, the applicant’s father’s or grandfather’s surname must appear in the last name if the applicant’s name lacks a last name. As a result, the first and last names of the applicant for a DIN must match. If PAN details are out of sync, the PAN database must first be updated with the new information.
Whether any fee is payable along with application for allotment of DIN?
Yes, DIN application fee is Rs. 500/-.
How to enquire about the status of the payment made for Form DIR-3?
Status of the payment made for Form DIR-3 can be enquired from ‘Track Payment Status’ link on the services section of www.mca.gov.in
My DIN application has been identified as Potential Duplicate. What does it mean?
The DIN Cell will consider this application as a potential duplication case if the information provided in the DIN form matches with any information provided by another person holding a valid DIN.
My DIN application has been put under Resubmission. Am I required to obtain a fresh DIN application?
No. If the DIN application is marked as a resubmission, for example due to the following reasons, you have 15 days from the day it was indicated as a resubmission to provide additional papers for correcting the DIN application.
- Identity or residency documentation is missing or out of date.
- No documentation of the date of birth is included.
- Not adequately authenticated are the supporting documents.
- failure to submit an affidavit when one is needed.
If all the documents are deemed to be in the correct order as indicated in the resubmission, the same DIN will be accepted after resubmitting with the extra documents.
For those seeking to serve as directors of a Company, applying for a Director Identification Number (DIN) is an essential first step. Aspiring directors can ensure a simple and straightforward application procedure by being aware about the DIN applications procedure. It is critical to give accurate information, complete the proper paperwork, and follow the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ standards, to properly obtain and update your DIN.
