FY 2025–26 Updated · MCA V3 Compliant · Section 56 CA 2013

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Private Limited · Public Limited · OPC · NRI Shareholders SH-4 Deed · Stamp Duty · Board Resolution · PAS-3 Filing Expert CA/CS Assistance — Done in Just 5–7 Working Days

Section 56 Compliant
Form SH-4
Stamp Duty Covered
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What is Share Transfer in India?

FY 2025–26 Critical Update: As per MCA V3 portal migration and the Companies (Amendment) Act 2024, the return of allotment (Form PAS-3) post share transfer/allotment is now mandatory on the V3 portal. Physical SH-4 deeds must still be stamped before submission. Penalty for late or invalid transfer deed has been enhanced. SSATAX is fully equipped for V3 compliance.

Share Transfer Defined

Transfer of shares means the voluntary handing over of ownership rights in a company from an existing shareholder (Transferor) to another person or entity (Transferee) through a properly executed Share Transfer Deed.

Legal Requirement

Every share transfer in a registered Indian company must be executed via Form SH-4 (Share Transfer Deed), which must be duly stamped and signed by both parties before being submitted to the company within 60 days of execution.

Restrictions in Private Limited

Private Limited Companies have the right of first refusal in their Articles of Association (AOA) — meaning existing shareholders must first be offered shares before they can be transferred to an outsider. SSATAX ensures AOA compliance at every step.

Share Transfer vs Share Transmission What's the Difference?

Understanding these differences helps you plan your annual compliance calendar more effectively.

Feature / Compliance LLP (Form 11 / 8) Private Limited Company
Meaning Voluntary transfer of shares from one person to another Involuntary passing of shares due to death, insolvency, or lunacy of shareholder
Initiated By Shareholder (voluntary decision) Legal heir, nominee, or official receiver
Form SH-4 Required? ✔ Yes — mandatory ✘ No — notified via letter + legal proof
Stamp Duty? ✔ Yes — applicable ✘ Not applicable
Consideration (Payment)? May be with or without consideration (sale or gift) No consideration — happens by operation of law
Board Approval? ✔ Yes — required ✔ Yes — required
Documents SH-4, PAN, ID proof, share certificates Death certificate, succession certificate / probate, indemnity bond
Governed By Section 56, Companies Act 2013 Section 56 read with Rule 11, Companies Act 2013

All Types of Share Transfer We Handle

Sale of Shares

Transfer of shares in exchange for payment between two parties. Most common type — for investment exits, buyouts, or new investor entry.

NRI / Foreign National Transfer

Transfer involving NRI or foreign shareholders. Subject to FEMA, RBI approval (in some cases), and Form FC-TRS compliance.

Transfer to Family Members

Shares transferred to spouse, children, parents for succession planning. May attract gift tax above ₹50,000 FMV if not immediate family.

Transfer on Death (Transmission)

When a shareholder passes away, shares are transmitted to the legal heir or nominee via succession certificate, probate, or nomination.

Transfer in Merger / Acquisition

Bulk share transfer as part of M&A, business restructuring, or demerger under NCLT-approved schemes.

Complete Share Transfer Process in India 2025

1

Review Articles of Association (AOA)

Before initiating any transfer, SSATAX reviews the company's AOA for transfer restrictions, Right of First Refusal clauses, pre-emption rights, and approval requirements. This prevents invalid or void transfers.

Day 1
2

Offer Shares to Existing Shareholders (if Private Ltd)

If shares are being transferred to an outsider, existing shareholders must be given the right of first refusal as per AOA. SSATAX drafts the offer letter and records the response within the stipulated time period.

Day 1–2
3

Execute Form SH-4 (Share Transfer Deed)

Both Transferor (seller/donor) and Transferee (buyer/recipient) sign Form SH-4. The deed must mention share certificate numbers, folio number, number of shares, consideration paid, and date of transfer. SSATAX drafts the SH-4 in legally correct format.

Day 2
4

Pay Stamp Duty on SH-4

Stamp duty @ 0.25% (or state-specific rate) on the higher of consideration price or FMV is paid. The SH-4 must be physically stamped (adhesive stamp / franking / e-stamp depending on state) before submission. SSATAX guides on exact duty and stamping method for your state.

Day 2–3
5

Submit SH-4 and Share Certificates to Company

The stamped and signed SH-4, along with original share certificates and KYC documents of Transferee, are submitted to the company. This must be done within 60 days of execution of the deed.

Day 3
6

Board of Directors Meeting & Approval

The company's Board of Directors convenes a meeting, reviews the transfer documents, and passes a Board Resolution approving the share transfer. SSATAX drafts the Board Resolution in compliance with the Companies Act.

Day 3-5
7

Update Register of Members (MGT-1)

The company updates the Register of Members reflecting the new ownership. The Transferee's name replaces the Transferor's name against the transferred shares.

Day 5
8

Issue New Share Certificate to Transferee

New share certificates are issued to the Transferee within 2 months of Board approval. Old certificates are cancelled and new ones issued. SSATAX helps prepare and format the share certificates as per legal requirements.

Day 5-7
9

File PAS-3 with ROC (if Applicable)

If the transfer involves fresh allotment of shares, Form PAS-3 (Return of Allotment) must be filed with the ROC on the MCA V3 portal within 30 days. SSATAX files PAS-3 the same day Board approval is received.

Day 6-7

Stamp Duty on Share Transfer — State-Wise 2025–26

Understanding these differences helps you plan your annual compliance calendar more effectively.

State Stamp Duty Rate on SH-4 Notes
All States (General)0.25% of consideration or FMV (whichever higher)As per Indian Stamp Act
Maharashtra0.1% of consideration (min ₹100)State-specific rate
Delhi0.25% of consideration or FMVe-Stamping via SHCIL
Karnataka0.25% of consideration or FMVStamp paper / franking
Tamil Nadu1% of FMV (for gift transfers)Gift deed stamp
Gujarat0.25% of considerationAdjudication may be required
Rajasthan0.25% of consideration or FMVe-Stamp available
West Bengal0.25% of considerationPhysical stamp paper

NRI & Foreign Transfers

Share Transfer Involving NRI / Foreign Shareholders

NRI Share Transfer Rules 2025

Transfers involving Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Foreign Nationals, or Foreign Companies are subject to FEMA Regulations, 2000 in addition to the Companies Act.

  • FC-TRS (Foreign Currency — Transfer of Shares) form must be filed with Authorized Dealer Bank within 60 days of receipt of consideration
  • Pricing guidelines: shares transferred at or above FMV for resident to NRI transfers; at or below FMV for NRI to resident
  • Prior RBI approval required for certain sector-specific transfers (defence, telecom, insurance, etc.)
  • For NRI gift transfers between close relatives — Form FC-TRS still required; no monetary consideration but FEMA still applies
  • Annual reporting to RBI (FLA Return) if FDI is involved

Why This Is Complex

Many practitioners miss the FC-TRS deadline or incorrectly calculate the pricing, leading to FEMA penalties of up to 3× the amount involved — which can be crores for even moderate transfers.

  • SSATAX has handled 500+ NRI/foreign share transfers with zero FEMA violations
  • We coordinate between the company, AD Bank, and RBI/FEMA filings
  • Valuation of unlisted shares done by SSATAX's qualified CA team (NAV / DCF method)
  • Complete FC-TRS filing support included in our service
  • Post-transfer FLA return guidance provided

Documents Required for LLP Form 11

Keep these ready our team will collect and verify everything needed for a smooth, error-free filing.

📤 From Transferor (Seller / Donor)

PAN Card
Aadhaar / Passport
Original Share Certificate(s)
Signed Form SH-4
Address Proof
Proof of consideration received (for sale)

rom Transferee (Buyer / Recipient)

PAN Card
Aadhaar / Passport
Signed Form SH-4
Address Proof
Passport Size Photo
Bank Statement (Address Proof)

From the Company

Board Resolution approving transfer
Articles of Association (AOA) copy
Register of Members (MGT-1)
DSC of authorised director
CIN of Company
Share certificate format / template

Fast 5–7 Day Process

From document collection to new share certificate issuance — our streamlined process ensures completion in just 5–7 working days, not weeks.

Accurate FMV Valuation

Our qualified CAs compute Fair Market Value using NAV / DCF method to ensure correct stamp duty, and to protect you from Income Tax disputes under Section 56(2)(x).

NRI / FEMA Expert Support

Specialized team for NRI and foreign national share transfers — FC-TRS filing, RBI compliance, AD Bank coordination — all handled by our FEMA-expert CA team.

AOA Restriction Review

We review your company's AOA before initiating any transfer to identify pre-emption rights, RoFR clauses, and approval conditions — preventing void transfers.

Zero Hidden Charges

We give you a complete cost breakdown — professional fee + stamp duty + any government fees — before you pay. No shock invoices after the job is done.

Free Lifetime Post-Service Support

Questions about share certificates, tax implications, or future transfers? Call or WhatsApp us — free, forever. We don't abandon clients after billing.

100% Online — PAN India

From Jaipur to Mumbai to Bengaluru to Kolkata — we serve clients across all 36 states & UTs. No physical visits needed, ever.

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Nationally recognised for excellence in legal-tech services. 1.03 Lakh+ happy clients, 5,752+ five-star Google reviews — the trust speaks for itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Form SH-4 is mandatory for every transfer of shares in a private or public limited company in India under Section 56 of the Companies Act, 2013. It is the Share Transfer Deed that must be signed by both the Transferor (seller/donor) and Transferee (buyer/recipient), duly stamped, and submitted to the company within 60 days of execution. Without a valid SH-4, the transfer has no legal standing and cannot be registered by the company. SSATAX prepares the SH-4 in the legally correct format for you.
As per the Indian Stamp Act and the Companies Act, stamp duty on share transfer (Form SH-4) is payable at 0.25% of the consideration price or Fair Market Value (FMV) of the shares, whichever is higher. Some states like Maharashtra have specific rates (0.1%). The FMV of unlisted shares is computed using the NAV (Net Asset Value) method — essentially the book value per share from the latest balance sheet. SSATAX computes exact stamp duty and FMV, and guides you on the correct stamping method (e-stamp, franking, or adhesive stamp) applicable for your state.
No — unlike public companies, Private Limited Companies have restrictions on transfer of shares mandated by their Articles of Association (AOA). The most common restriction is the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) — existing shareholders must be offered the shares first, at a specified price, before they can be transferred to an outsider. If the AOA also contains approval requirements (board approval or shareholder approval), those must be fulfilled. Violating AOA restrictions can make the transfer void. SSATAX always reviews the AOA before initiating any share transfer.
Share Transfer is a voluntary act where a shareholder chooses to transfer their shares to another person, requiring Form SH-4 and stamp duty. Share Transmission is an involuntary event — it happens by operation of law when a shareholder dies, becomes insolvent, or is declared legally incompetent. Transmission does not require SH-4 or stamp duty — instead, the legal heir or nominee submits a death certificate, succession certificate, or probate to the company, which then updates the register of members. SSATAX handles both transfer and transmission.
Yes, shares can be gifted to family members through a Share Transfer Deed (SH-4) with nil consideration. However, tax implications must be considered: Under Section 56(2)(x) of the Income Tax Act, if the FMV of gifted shares exceeds ₹50,000, the recipient is taxed under "Income from Other Sources" — unless the transfer is to a specified "relative" (spouse, siblings, siblings of spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, or spouses of children). Gifts to these relatives are fully exempt. SSATAX provides complete tax advisory before gift transfers to ensure no unexpected tax liability.
Once the stamped SH-4 and share certificates are submitted to the company, the Board must register the transfer within 30 days (for private companies) or 60 days (for public companies) from the date of submission. If the company refuses to register the transfer, it must notify the transferor and transferee within this period. If the refusal is unjustified, the transferee can apply to the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) under Section 58 of the Companies Act, 2013 for rectification of the register.
NRI/foreign national share transfers require compliance under FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act), 1999, in addition to the Companies Act. Key requirements: (1) Pricing of shares must comply with RBI guidelines — resident to NRI at or above FMV; NRI to resident at or below FMV. (2) Form FC-TRS must be filed with an Authorised Dealer (AD) Bank within 60 days of receipt of consideration. (3) In some sectors (defence, insurance, telecom, media), prior RBI/FIPB approval may be required. (4) Annual FLA Return to RBI if FDI is involved. SSATAX has a dedicated FEMA team that handles all aspects of NRI share transfers end-to-end.
Form PAS-3 (Return of Allotment) is required when new shares are allotted — not for a simple transfer of existing shares between two parties. In a pure transfer, existing shares change hands; no new shares are created, so PAS-3 is not required. However, if the transaction involves issuing fresh shares to a new investor (allotment + transfer combination), then PAS-3 must be filed with ROC on the MCA V3 portal within 30 days of allotment. SSATAX determines whether PAS-3 is applicable for your specific transaction.
An unstamped or inadequately stamped SH-4 is inadmissible as evidence in court under the Indian Stamp Act. The transfer will be considered invalid and unenforceable. The transferee will have no legal ownership of the shares despite having paid consideration. Additionally, if the defect is discovered later, you may need to pay the deficient stamp duty along with a penalty of up to 10 times the deficient amount under the applicable state Stamp Act. This is why SSATAX always calculates and ensures proper stamping before any SH-4 is filed.
SSATAX's professional fee for share transfer service starts at just ₹1,999/- — which includes drafting Form SH-4, Board Resolution, offer letters to existing shareholders (RoFR compliance), share certificate format, and all guidance on stamp duty. Stamp duty itself is a separate government charge payable based on the share value (0.25% of consideration or FMV). For NRI transfers requiring FEMA compliance and FC-TRS filing, a slightly higher package applies. SSATAX gives you a complete, transparent cost breakdown before you pay — zero hidden charges.