Registering your company is only the beginning. Under the Companies Act 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) requires companies to keep their public record current through two core statutory returns - Form A (the annual return) and Form 29 (changes in management). Miss the deadlines and the fees stack up quietly until, in the worst case, your company is struck off. This guide walks through both forms and the compliance rhythm every director should know. If you are still at the setup stage, start with our guide to registering a company with SECP.
Form A and Form 29 at a glance
The two forms answer different questions. Form A tells SECP the annual state of the company; Form 29 tells SECP the moment something in the boardroom changes.
| Form A (Annual Return) | Form 29 | |
|---|---|---|
| Governing section | Section 130, Companies Act 2017 | Section 197, Companies Act 2017 |
| Purpose | Yearly snapshot of the company | Report a change in directors / officers |
| Who files | Companies with share capital (Form B if no share capital) | All companies, when an officer changes |
| Trigger | Annual General Meeting (AGM) | Appointment, resignation or change of details |
| Deadline | Within 30 days of the AGM | Within 15 days of the change |
Form A: the annual return explained
Form A is filed under Section 130 by every company that has a share capital. (A company limited by guarantee without share capital files Form B instead.) It is a snapshot of the company as on the date of the AGM - or, where no AGM is held or concluded, as on the last day of the calendar year. The return captures:
- The chief executive, directors, chief financial officer, secretary, legal adviser and auditors;
- The registered office address;
- The list of members (shareholders) and shares held; and
- The authorised and paid-up share capital.
No change since last year? Where an eligible company has had no change in its particulars since the last annual return, it may file a shorter declaration confirming "no change" rather than the full Form A. Listed companies file the complete return regardless.
Form 29: reporting changes in management
Form 29 is the return of particulars of directors and officers under Section 197. The word "officer" here is broad - it covers the director, chief executive officer, company secretary, chief financial officer, auditor and legal adviser. You file Form 29 whenever any of the following happens:
- A director or officer is appointed;
- A director or officer resigns or ceases to hold office; or
- The particulars of an existing officer (name, address, CNIC, designation) change.
The officer must give their particulars to the company within 10 days, and the company then has 15 days to file Form 29. Because board changes often happen at the AGM, Form 29 and Form A are frequently filed close together - but they remain two separate obligations with two separate clocks. Once directors are appointed, remember that many actions also need a documented board resolution on file.
Filing deadlines by company type
The AGM timing drives the Form A deadline. Here is the practical timetable most companies work to:
| Company type | Form A (annual return) | Form 29 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed company | Within 30 days of AGM (extendable to 45 days by the registrar) | Within 15 days of change |
| Private limited company | Within 30 days of AGM, or of the date the AGM was due | Within 15 days of change |
| Single Member Company (SMC) | Within 30 days of the date the AGM would fall due (SMCs need not hold an AGM) | Within 15 days of change |
Managing more than one filing calendar? Our SECP and FBR compliance calendar maps every recurring deadline in one place.
How to file Form A and Form 29
Both returns are submitted online through the SECP eServices portal - paper filing has been phased out. The process, in outline:
- Log in to SECP eServices with your company user ID and password.
- Open the Company Filings section and select the relevant return - "Annual Return (Form A/B)" or "Form 29".
- Complete the form: verify directors, members and capital for Form A; enter the appointment or change details for Form 29.
- Sign digitally using the authorised signatory's PIN / e-signature.
- Pay the filing fee through the generated challan and submit. Keep the acknowledgement for your records.
Filing fees depend on the company's authorised capital and the form, and they change from time to time - confirm the current fee on the SECP fee schedule or ask us before you file.
Penalties for late filing
SECP does not usually issue a single flat fine for a late annual return - instead it charges an additional (late) filing fee that escalates the longer you delay, often to a multiple of the normal fee. If default persists, the registrar can issue a show-cause notice and impose penalties on the company and every officer in default. The figures below are indicative ranges only; actual amounts vary by company type and current SECP notifications.
| Situation | Typical consequence |
|---|---|
| Short delay (within ~30 days late) | Additional filing fee on top of the standard fee |
| Extended delay (beyond 90 days) | Higher multiples of the fee; risk of daily accrual |
| Show-cause / continuing default | Penalty on company and officers; possible daily fine |
| Persistent non-filing | Company struck off the register - loss of legal existence |
The real cost is not the fee. A company in default cannot cleanly issue shares, transfer ownership, open certain banking facilities, or wind up without first clearing its filings. Staying current is far cheaper than curing a backlog. Because exact penalties shift with SECP notifications, treat the table above as a guide and confirm your position with us before relying on any figure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Form A the same as filing accounts?
No. Form A is the annual return - who owns and runs the company. Financial statements (accounts) are a separate filing. Both are annual obligations under the Companies Act 2017.
Does an SMC have to file Form A?
Yes. A single member company has share capital, so it files Form A. It need not hold an AGM, so the deadline runs from the date the AGM would otherwise fall due.
What if only the auditor changes - which form?
An auditor is an "officer" under Section 197, so a change of auditor is reported on Form 29 within 15 days.
Can I file both forms together?
They are separate returns but are often filed together after the AGM when the board is reconstituted. Each still has its own deadline.
Who signs off on the filings?
An authorised signatory - typically a director or the company secretary - files using their SECP eServices credentials and digital signature.