Set up in India without surprises.
Partner-led entry advisory for foreign parents — wholly-owned subsidiaries, LO/BO, FDI structuring, FEMA / RBI filings, transfer pricing and GST readiness. One coordinated desk from name approval to first tax return.
From name approval to first tax return.
Entity vehicle selection
Subsidiary vs LLP vs Branch / LO / PO — modelled against your activity, repatriation and exit strategy.
FDI structuring & FC-GPR
Sector caps, automatic vs approval route, DPIIT filings, FC-GPR / FC-TRS on RBI FIRMS portal.
FEMA & RBI compliance
ODI reporting, ECB filings, LRS, share allotments and Annual FLA return with the RBI.
Transfer pricing
Intercompany policy design, benchmarking studies, Local File, Master File and Form 3CEB.
GST registration & readiness
State-wise registration, ISD structuring, export refund positioning and e-invoicing setup.
Payroll & expatriate tax
PAN, TDS, Provident Fund, ESIC and DTAA residency planning for seconded employees.
Bank account & KYC
Coordinated onboarding with HDFC / ICICI / DBS / Citi and beneficial-ownership disclosures.
Statutory & tax audit
Section 44AB audit, Companies Act audit and Form 3CD once thresholds are crossed.
Repatriation planning
Dividend, royalty and buy-back routes modelled against your treaty position.
What foreign parents ask us most.
What's the fastest legal vehicle to enter India?
For most foreign parents, a wholly-owned subsidiary under the automatic route is quickest — typically 4–6 weeks from name approval to bank account, provided FDI conditions in the sector are met. LO / BO / PO routes exist but carry activity restrictions and RBI approval timelines.
How does the automatic vs approval FDI route work?
Sectors listed under the automatic route need no prior government approval — filings are made post-facto to RBI (FC-GPR). Approval-route sectors (defence, media, telecom above caps) require DPIIT sign-off before the investment. We map your sector on day one.
Do we need a resident director?
Yes — at least one director on the Indian board must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year. Nominee-director arrangements are common; we help structure and staff them.
How does transfer pricing apply to a captive Indian subsidiary?
Any transaction with the foreign parent — cost-plus services, IP licence, cost-sharing — is 'international' and subject to Section 92 TP rules. Local File, Master File and (if applicable) CbCR are mandatory. Cost-plus 12–17% is defensible for most captive service arrangements with a proper benchmarking study.
What is the effective tax rate for an Indian subsidiary?
Under Section 115BAA, most domestic companies pay 25.17% (incl. surcharge and cess) if they forgo specified exemptions. New manufacturing entities can elect 17.16% under Section 115BAB. GST at 18% typically applies to service exports but with full ITC / zero-rating relief.
How do we repatriate profits back to the parent?
Dividends (post 25.17% CT, plus 20% withholding subject to treaty relief), royalty and services fees (arm's-length, GAAR-tested), and capital reduction / buy-back are all viable. We model each route against your treaty position (typically 10-15% withholding under India-US, India-UK, India-Singapore DTAAs).
Ready to work with a partner-led firm?
Speak with a partner about your audit, tax, or advisory mandate. We respond within one business day.