If you incorporated a company in India before 2020, you likely remember a process involving several separate forms — DIR-3 for director identification, INC-7 for incorporation, INC-22 for registered office, and separate applications for PAN and TAN. SPICe+ replaced all of that with a single integrated form. Here's what actually changed for Chennai founders incorporating today.
What SPICe+ actually is
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating a Company Electronically Plus) is a single web-based form split into two parts. Part A handles name reservation. Part B handles the incorporation application itself, along with linked forms for PAN, TAN, EPFO registration, ESIC registration, Profession Tax registration (in applicable states), and opening a bank account — all submitted together rather than as separate, sequential applications.
Before vs. after: what changed
| Step | Before (pre-2020) | With SPICe+ |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | Separate INC-1 filing | SPICe+ Part A |
| Incorporation | INC-7 + supporting forms | SPICe+ Part B |
| PAN & TAN | Applied separately after incorporation | Auto-generated with incorporation, no separate application |
| EPFO / ESIC registration | Separate post-incorporation applications | Included in SPICe+ filing via linked forms |
| Typical timeline | 3–5 weeks across multiple approvals | 7–12 working days as a single integrated approval |
What hasn't changed
- You still need Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for all proposed directors before filing.
- Name availability rules are the same — no conflict with existing companies, trademarks, or prohibited words.
- Drafting the Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA/AoA) is still required, now submitted as e-MoA/e-AoA within the same form.
Practical implication for Chennai founders
The consolidation means fewer separate touchpoints with the MCA, but it also means a single rejection (e.g. a name conflict or incomplete director KYC) can delay the entire bundle rather than just one form. Getting documentation right before filing matters more now, not less — see our full walkthrough on Private Limited Company Incorporation in Chennai for the complete document checklist and step-by-step process.