Chartered Accountant · ICAI M.No. 153926 · FRN 136869W · Reviewed on 7 October 2026
The two clocks on startup status
DPIIT recognition lives while the entity is under 10 years old and under ₹100 crore turnover in every financial year so far. The moment a year’s turnover crosses ₹100 crore, status falls away even at age four; equally, a ₹2-crore business stops being a “startup” on its tenth anniversary. There is no renewal or extension — the certificate simply ceases to describe you.
What ending status actually changes
The self-certification conveniences, procurement relaxations and Fund-of-Funds doors close prospectively — nothing is clawed back. An 80-IAC holiday already granted for a chosen three-year block survives if the block has begun; that is why the timing of the block (pick loss years and the holiday is wasted) matters more than winning the approval. For incorporations, the 80-IAC window currently runs for companies incorporated up to 1 April 2030.
Planning the tenth year
Approaching either boundary, do three things deliberately: time the 80-IAC block against projected profits; bank the IPR fee rebates and pending facilitations while recognition lasts; and re-paper investor documents that reference “DPIIT-recognised startup” status. ESOP perquisite-tax deferral under section 80-IAC eligibility also dies with eligibility — employees exercising options need that calendar. Our startup practice maps the last two years of status so nothing lapses by accident.