What changes from state to state, and what does not.
Company law, GST and income tax are national. Several licences and registrations are decided by the state or the city. Here is how to tell them apart.
Where the rules differ
Rates, forms and deadlines can change, so we confirm each one before we file.
| Area | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Company and LLP registration | National | Done online with the MCA. The process is the same in every state. |
| GST | National law, state-wise registration | Rules are national, but you register in each state where you operate. |
| Income tax | National | The same rules and returns apply across India. |
| Stamp duty | State | Rates and rules for agreements and documents differ by state. |
| Shops and Establishments | State | Each state has its own Act, forms and deadlines. |
| Professional tax | State, in some states only | Levied by some states and not others, with different slabs and dates. |
| Trade licence | Local body | Issued by the municipal authority, with local rules and fees. |
| Clinical establishments and drug control | State | Registration standards and processes differ by state. |
| Labour welfare fund | State | Applies in some states, with its own contribution rates and dates. |
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
We specialise in the two regions where state-level rules matter most to our clients. In Tamil Nadu, businesses commonly deal with registration under the state's Shops and Establishments law, local body trade licences, professional tax administered by local bodies and paid half-yearly, and state-specific stamping of agreements. Puducherry, as a Union Territory, has its own set of rules and offices.
We work with founders in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Madurai, Trichy, Sivakasi, Salem, Erode and Hosur, among other places. Because the process for most registrations is fully online, your location does not need to match your registered office.
Which office handles what for a Tamil Nadu business
Most of these processes are online, but the office or authority behind each one depends on your registered or principal place of business.
| Registration | Office or authority | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Company and LLP registration | Registrar of Companies (MCA) | The MCA lists ROC offices at Chennai and Coimbatore for Tamil Nadu, and a separate office for Puducherry. Your company is registered with the office that has jurisdiction over its registered office. |
| Trademark registration | Trade Marks Registry, Chennai office (IP India) | The Chennai office covers Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. Applications are filed online. |
| GST registration | GST portal, with state and central tax authorities | Registration is state-wise, and a GSTIN for Tamil Nadu starts with the state code 33. |
| Stamp duty on company documents | State government | Set by each state. Our cost calculator includes Tamil Nadu. |
| Shops and Establishments, trade licence, professional tax | State department and local bodies | Each has its own forms, fees and dates. See the service pages listed above. |
Sources: MCA, Registrar of Companies offices and IP India, office locations. Last checked on 23 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Pan-India support
We support registrations and compliance in other states too. Before we start, we check that state's current rules, forms and fees, so the advice you get is specific to where you operate.
Operating in more than one state?
Tell us where you work and we will map out what applies in each.