Chartered Accountant · ICAI M.No. 153926 · FRN 136869W
Step 1 — get DPIIT recognition first
You can’t apply for 80-IAC without DPIIT recognition, so that’s the gateway. Recognition is quick and carries no government fee; it makes you eligible to apply for the holiday but doesn’t grant it — the holiday is a separate approval. Get recognised first, then move to the 80-IAC application.
Step 2 — file the 80-IAC application for IMB approval
On the Startup India portal, complete the 80-IAC form with your financial statements, board and shareholding details, and a clear write-up (with pitch deck) on how the business is genuinely innovative or scalable. It goes to the Inter-Ministerial Board, which meets periodically and issues the eligibility certificate. Thin evidence of innovation is the usual reason applications are turned down, so make this part strong.
Step 3 — choose and claim your 3 years
Once approved, you pick any 3 consecutive financial years within your first 10 and claim a 100% deduction of eligible profits for them — ideally timed for when you turn profitable. For example, a startup incorporated in 2024 that becomes profitable in its fourth year might claim years 4–6. You claim it in the income-tax return for those years. Note: MAT/AMT can still apply during the holiday, and eligibility is limited to startups incorporated within the notified window — confirm the current cut-off and conditions per the latest Finance Act. See our 80-IAC & DPIIT guide.