Form ADT-1 is the statutory MCA form through which every Indian company intimates the Registrar of Companies (RoC) of the appointment of its statutory auditor under Section 139 of the Companies Act 2013 read with Rule 4 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules 2014. Once shareholders appoint or re-appoint the statutory auditor at the AGM, the company must file Form ADT-1 with the RoC within 15 days of the AGM — capturing details of the auditor (firm name, FRN, partner-in-charge, ICAI membership, address), tenure of appointment, written consent under Sec 139, and certificate of eligibility under Sec 141. Non-filing or late filing of ADT-1 attracts additional fees per day and exposes the company and officers to penalties under Section 450 — and in serious cases, to scrutiny over the validity of the audit itself, with implications for the financial statements, AOC-4, MGT-7, and tax-audit framework.
Our ADT-1 filing services handle every auditor-related MCA event for Pvt Ltd, Public Ltd, OPC, Section 8, NBFC, IFSC unit, listed entities, and group structures — first auditor appointment under Section 139(6) within 30 days of incorporation by the Board (or within 90 days at members' meeting if Board fails), regular appointment of auditor under Section 139(1) for a 5-year tenure, auditor rotation under Section 139(2) (mandatory rotation after one term of 5 years for individual auditors and two terms of 5 years for audit firms in prescribed listed / public-interest companies, with a 5-year cooling-off), casual vacancy filling under Section 139(8) (within 30 days by Board for resignation; ratification by members within 3 months), re-appointment at every AGM, removal of auditor under Section 140 read with Rule 7 (Form ADT-2 with Central Government / Regional Director approval), resignation of auditor under Section 140(2) and Rule 8 (Form ADT-3 within 30 days), cost auditor appointment in CRA-2, and secretarial auditor appointment (MR-3 framework) — with full Sec 141 disqualification scan, Sec 144 prohibited-services check, and NFRA / ICAI compliance overlay.
Sec 139
Companies Act 2013
5 + 10 Yrs
Rotation – Indv. / Firm
Provisions & Forms We Work Under
Sec 139(1) – Regular
Sec 139(6) – First Auditor
Sec 139(8) – Casual Vacancy
Sec 139(2) – Rotation
Sec 140 – Removal / Resign
Sec 141 – Eligibility
Sec 144 – Prohibited Svc
Form ADT-1 / 2 / 3
NFRA / ICAI
FAQs on ADT-1 Filing
What is Form ADT-1?
Form ADT-1 is the MCA form used to intimate the Registrar of Companies of the appointment of statutory auditor under Sec 139 of the Companies Act 2013. It must be filed within 15 days of the AGM at which the auditor is appointed.
When must ADT-1 be filed?
Within 15 days of the AGM (or general meeting) where the auditor is appointed or re-appointed. For first auditors appointed by Board under Sec 139(6), ADT-1 is also filed within 15 days of the Board appointment per practice / portal requirement.
Who appoints the first auditor?
Under Sec 139(6), the Board appoints the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation. If Board fails, members appoint within 90 days at EGM. Tenure runs until conclusion of the first AGM.
What is auditor rotation under Sec 139(2)?
For listed and certain prescribed companies, individual auditor can serve max 1 term of 5 years, and audit firm max 2 terms of 5 years (10 years). After completion, a 5-year cooling-off period applies before re-appointment.
How is a casual vacancy handled?
Under Sec 139(8), the Board fills the vacancy within 30 days. If the vacancy is due to resignation, members must ratify the appointment within 3 months at a general meeting. Fresh ADT-1 is filed for the replacement.
What is the difference between ADT-1, ADT-2 and ADT-3?
ADT-1: company files for appointment / re-appointment. ADT-2: company files application for removal of auditor before tenure end (with Central Government / RD). ADT-3: auditor files resignation within 30 days with reasons.
What is the penalty for late ADT-1 filing?
Late filing attracts additional fees per day and Sec 450 penalty (up to ₹10,000 + ₹1,000 per day of continuing default). Beyond fees, the audit's validity may be questioned, with downstream impact on AOC-4 and tax audit.
Auditor Appointed. ADT-1 Filed. Sec 139 Compliant. Independence Locked.
Partner with our ADT-1 filing specialists for first auditor, regular appointment, casual vacancy, rotation, ADT-2 removal, ADT-3 resignation, NFRA filings, and Sec 141 / 144 independence scans.
Talk to an ADT-1 Filing Expert