Digital signature certificate
A digital signature certificate identifies the person who signs an electronic filing. Company Suggestion applies for a Class 3 certificate from a certifying authority licensed under the Information Technology Act, 2000. MCA, GST, and income-tax forms are signed with that certificate.
What is a digital signature certificate?
The Controller of Certifying Authorities licenses the certifying authority under section 24 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The certificate binds a name to a key. A form signed with it carries that person’s signature.
Class 3 is the certificate used for company incorporation, annual filings, GST returns, and income-tax returns that require a signature. The older Class 2 certificate is not what those portals accept for this work.
Who needs one?
Anyone who signs a government form in their own name.
- Each director who signs SPICe+ for a private limited company, and each person who signs a later MCA form.
- The authorised signatory of a GST return or an income-tax return where the portal asks for a signature.
- A company that files ITR-6 verifies that return with a director’s certificate.
The certificate is not a Director Identification Number. One does not replace the other.
Which papers does the application need?
The certifying authority verifies the person, not the company.
- PAN and Aadhaar of the applicant
- A photograph, a mobile number, and an email address
- A short video verification, which is the usual identity check
The validity is the period printed on the certificate. It is renewed before that date so a filing is not stuck on an expired key.
What are the steps?
Company Suggestion arranges the certificate in four steps.
- The applicant’s PAN and Aadhaar are matched.
- The certifying authority completes the video verification and issues the Class 3 certificate.
- The certificate is downloaded and registered on the MCA portal before the first form.
- It is renewed before the date printed on it.
Frequently asked questions
4 questions cover the rules that decide this registration.
Which class does MCA accept?
Class 3. MCA, GST, and income-tax filings are signed with a Class 3 certificate. A Class 2 certificate is not the one those portals accept for these filings.
Is a DSC the same as a DIN?
No. The certificate signs the form. A Director Identification Number identifies the director. SPICe+ can allot the DIN. It cannot be signed without the certificate.
How long is a certificate valid?
For the period printed on it, commonly one, two, or three years. It is renewed before that date. A form signed with an expired certificate is not accepted.
Can one certificate be shared?
No. The certificate is issued to one person after that person’s identity is verified. Another director cannot sign with it.