Complex legal processes are best understood visually. The registration of your Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) via the eROC portal can be broken down into three distinct, interconnected phases. This sequential text guide is designed to accompany a visual infographic or flowchart.
Phase A: Pre-Application (Setup & Validation)
This phase focuses on identity and preparation, culminating in a ready-to-file application.
1. The Name Check $\rightarrow$ The Account
- Action: Conduct a free search on the DRC website to ensure your desired company name is unique.
- Flow: If available, proceed immediately to create your free member account on the eROC portal. This account is your permanent digital link to the Registrar.
- Result: You are now ready to reserve the name officially.
2. Name Reservation $\rightarrow$ Payment
- Action: Submit the formal name reservation via the eROC dashboard and pay the statutory fee of LKR 2,360.00 (incl. VAT).
- Risk Mitigation: The biggest risk here is a name that is too similar to an existing company. Using a service like 360 Accountants for pre-checking minimizes this risk.
- Result: Approval grants you the exclusive right to use that name for the next three months.
Phase B: E-Filing (Submission & Compliance)
This is the core phase where all legal details and documents are combined into the final submission package.
3. Data Input $\rightarrow$ Stakeholder Listing
- Action: Input all static company data (Registered Address, Objectives) and the full details for the required stakeholders (minimum 1 Director, 1 Shareholder, and the mandatory Resident Company Secretary).
- Crucial Step: This step dictates the information generated on your statutory forms (Forms 1, 18, 19). Accuracy is paramount.
4. Document Download $\rightarrow$ Sign $\rightarrow$ Scan/Upload
- Action: Download the auto-generated statutory Forms (1, 18, 19) and the Articles of Association (AoA). These must be manually signed by the relevant parties.
- Flow: The signed hard copies must be converted into high-quality, clear A4 PDF files (no merging or editing is permitted). You then upload each PDF to its corresponding field on the eROC portal.
- Risk Mitigation: If the uploaded documents are not perfectly compliant, the application is rejected, and the submission flow resets.
5. Final Payment $\rightarrow$ Certificate
- Action: Settle the remaining statutory fees (LKR 11,800.00 minimum incl. VAT) via the online payment gateway.
- Result: Once the payment is processed and the documents are accepted by the DRC, the Digital Certificate of Incorporation is issued and sent to your registered email address.
Phase C: Post-Incorporation (Activation & Law)
Your company is a legal entity, but activation requires two final steps.
6. Public Notice $\rightarrow$ TIN Registration
- Action: The Registrar of Companies (ROC) automatically handles the mandatory Public Notice (Gazette and newspaper publication). Simultaneously, you must register the company for a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) via the IRD e-services portal.
- Impact: The TIN is required to open a corporate bank account and begin tax compliance.
7. Bookkeeping $\rightarrow$ Annual Filing
- Action: Establish robust bookkeeping records (required by the Companies Act). Plan to e-file your Corporate Income Tax (CIT) return within eight months of your financial year-end.
- The 360 Accountants Advantage: We provide the expertise to manage your mandatory Company Secretary duties and ensure you transition smoothly from incorporation to full legal and tax compliance.
