From incorporation to your first audit, with one team in Kochi
In short: A. George & Associates helps US, European, Middle Eastern and Asian companies set up and run Indian subsidiaries, particularly technology and development centres in Kochi. We handle incorporation, foreign investment reporting, tax and GST registrations, payroll, accounting, transfer pricing, statutory audit and annual filings, so head office deals with one accountable firm.
Setting up in India means dealing with company law, foreign exchange rules, tax, GST and employment law at the same time, each with its own registrations and deadlines. Most delays come from doing these in the wrong order, or from missing an early foreign investment filing that becomes expensive to fix later.
Kochi has become a strong base for development centres and back offices, with Infopark, SmartCity and a deep talent pool. We have worked with foreign-owned companies in Kerala for years and explain Indian requirements clearly to overseas management.
Sound familiar?
"Our US team wants to hire in India next quarter, and we do not know which registrations come first."
"We sent share capital to India, and now someone says it has to be reported to the RBI within a deadline."
"Head office wants one firm accountable for India, not five different consultants."
"Our Indian entity is set up, but nobody owns the compliance calendar."
We take the Indian side off your plate, from day one.
What we handle
Choosing the right structure
Advice on a wholly owned subsidiary, joint venture, LLP, branch, liaison or project office, depending on the activity, sector rules on foreign investment, and how profits will be repatriated.
Incorporation
Name approval, incorporation of the company, directors' identification numbers, registered office documents, and the constitutional documents, coordinated with your legal advisers.
Foreign investment (FDI) reporting
Receipt of share capital through banking channels, reporting of share allotment to the Reserve Bank of India within the time limit, and the annual return on foreign liabilities and assets.
Registrations and banking
PAN, TAN, GST, professional tax, shops and establishments, PF and ESI registrations, and support with opening the company's bank account. For SEZ or STPI units, see our SEZ and STPI services.
Accounting, payroll and tax
Monthly bookkeeping, payroll and statutory deductions, TDS, GST returns and refunds on exports, and monthly reporting in the format head office needs.
Transfer pricing and audit
Inter-company agreements and pricing, benchmarking, the accountant's report, and the annual statutory and tax audit. See audit of foreign subsidiaries.
What you get
A clear entry plan
Structure, steps and timelines in writing before you start.
Filings done in order
Incorporation, FDI reporting and registrations sequenced correctly.
One accountable firm
Accounting, payroll, tax, transfer pricing and audit under one roof.
Reporting head office trusts
Monthly numbers in the format and timetable your parent needs.
How we set you up
- Discovery call: We understand the activity, timelines, headcount plans and how head office wants to report.
- Entry plan: A written plan covering structure, registrations, the sequence of steps and estimated timelines.
- Incorporation and registrations: Company formed, capital received and reported, and tax, GST and employment registrations completed.
- Go-live: Bank account, payroll, accounting and the compliance calendar set up before the first hire.
- Run: Monthly compliance, year-end audit, transfer pricing and annual filings.
Read more: setting up or acquiring a US subsidiary in India, registering a foreign subsidiary in Kerala.
Setting up a subsidiary in India: checklist
The main steps in order, from structure and incorporation to RBI reporting, registrations and annual compliance.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a subsidiary in India?
It depends on document readiness, especially notarised and apostilled documents from the parent, and on the registrations needed. We give an estimated timeline in the entry plan once we know the structure and activity.
Does a foreign company need an Indian director?
Every Indian company must have at least one director who meets the residency requirement under the Companies Act, 2013. We explain the options when planning the structure.
What has to be reported to the Reserve Bank of India?
Foreign investment received for shares must be reported after the shares are allotted, within the prescribed time, and the company files an annual return on foreign liabilities and assets. Late filings attract fees and can delay later transactions.
Can you run accounting and payroll for us after setup?
Yes. Most of our foreign-owned clients use us for monthly accounting, payroll, GST and TDS as well as the year-end audit and transfer pricing.
Why set up in Kochi?
Kochi offers IT parks such as Infopark and SmartCity, a large graduate talent pool, and lower operating costs than larger metros. We work with companies there every day.