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Problems & solutions · MCA V3 portal errors

MCA V3 portal errors and how to fix them

Since company and LLP filings moved to the MCA V3 portal, many filings get stuck on technical problems rather than legal ones. Typical problems are a DSC that will not associate, a signing utility that is not detected, or a payment that left the bank but never reached the SRN. Below are the problems founders and professionals hit most often, with the order in which to try fixes. MCA changes the portal regularly, so where a screen differs, follow the current MCA help material.

9 problems solvedFor founders, CAs, CSs and accountantsLast reviewed: 5 October 2026

Jump to your problem

  1. DSC will not register or associate with the MCA V3 user ID
  2. emSigner is not detected, or signing fails when affixing the DSC
  3. Fee paid and money debited, but the SRN still shows "Pending for payment"
  4. Cannot find a form marked for resubmission, or the SRN status is unclear
  5. Attachment upload fails because of file size or format
  6. The form pre-fills old or wrong company data
  7. Form says "user is not authorised" or "DIN is not associated with the company"
  8. Professional certification is not accepted: membership number or role error
  9. A form is blocked because of the company's status on MCA
Founders & professionals

DSC will not register or associate with the MCA V3 user ID

What you see

The "Associate DSC" step fails, or the portal says the DSC is invalid, expired, or already associated with another user.

Why it happens

  • The name in the DSC does not match the name as per PAN, or as per the DIN record.
  • The DSC has expired or been revoked.
  • The same DSC is already associated with a different MCA user ID, for example an old login created by a previous consultant.
  • The signing utility (emSigner) is not running, so the portal cannot read the token.

How to fix it

  1. Check the DSC validity and the exact name in the token software.
  2. Start the emSigner utility and keep only one DSC token plugged in.
  3. Log in with the user ID that holds the DIN or membership details, and associate the DSC from the profile section.
  4. If the DSC is tied to an old user ID that nobody can access, raise a ticket on the MCA helpdesk with the DSC and DIN details.

Avoid it next time

Each director and professional should keep one MCA user ID of their own, and renew the DSC before it expires.

Law: MCA V3 user and DSC registration process Annual compliance service → #
Founders & professionals

emSigner is not detected, or signing fails when affixing the DSC

What you see

Clicking "Sign" shows no certificate list, a message that the signer service is not running, or a hang with no response.

Why it happens

  • The emSigner service is not installed, not running, or is an older version.
  • The token driver (ePass, Proxkey, HyperPKI and others) is not installed on this computer.
  • Several tokens are plugged in, or the browser is blocking the local signing service.

How to fix it

  1. Download the current emSigner from the MCA portal, install it and start it as administrator. Then reload the form page.
  2. Install the token's own driver and confirm that the certificate is visible in the token manager.
  3. Plug in only the one token you need, use an up-to-date Chrome or Edge, and allow the local signing service if the browser prompts.
  4. Restart the browser after any installation. Try another computer if the token works there.

Avoid it next time

Before a deadline, test signing on the exact computer you will file from.

Law: MCA V3 e-filing technical requirements #
Founders & professionals

Fee paid and money debited, but the SRN still shows "Pending for payment"

What you see

The bank account or card shows the debit, but the MCA application still asks for payment, or the SRN is not marked as paid.

Why it happens

  • Payment confirmation from the gateway has not yet reached MCA.
  • The payment session timed out after the money was debited.

How to fix it

  1. Do not pay a second time immediately. Wait, then check the transaction or SRN status on the portal.
  2. If the status stays unpaid, raise a ticket on the MCA helpdesk with the SRN, the date, the amount and the bank reference number.
  3. Track the ticket. Failed or unreconciled amounts are usually reversed to the source account by the bank or gateway.
  4. If a statutory due date is close, keep proof of the attempt and the ticket number.

Avoid it next time

Pay well before the last day. End-of-month due dates are when gateway and portal congestion is worst.

Law: MCA fee payment process #
For professionals

Cannot find a form marked for resubmission, or the SRN status is unclear

What you see

MCA has sent an email about resubmission or a defect, but the form does not appear where you expect.

Why it happens

  • The form is under the application history of the user ID that filed it, not the director's or company's own login.

How to fix it

  1. Log in with the user ID that originally filed the form and open the application history or "My Applications" section.
  2. Use the SRN to track the status, and open the resubmission from there.
  3. Note the resubmission deadline, and finish within it.

Avoid it next time

Keep a simple register of SRN, user ID, filing date and status for every form you file.

Law: Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules 2014 #
Founders & professionals

Attachment upload fails because of file size or format

What you see

Error messages about the file type, file size, or total attachment size during upload.

Why it happens

  • The scan is a large colour image, or the PDF is password-protected or corrupted.
  • Several large files push the form over its total attachment limit.

How to fix it

  1. Save each attachment as a plain PDF without a password, scanned in black and white or greyscale at a moderate resolution.
  2. Compress large PDFs, and merge related pages into one file instead of attaching duplicates.
  3. Check the size limit shown on the form itself and stay within it.

Avoid it next time

Scan documents for MCA once, correctly, and reuse the same files.

Law: MCA e-form attachment requirements #
For professionals

The form pre-fills old or wrong company data

What you see

The address, capital, directors or email that the form pre-fills from the company master data are out of date.

Why it happens

  • An earlier event-based form, such as INC-22, SH-7 or DIR-12, was never filed or was not approved.
  • The change was made in the company's records but not reported to MCA.

How to fix it

  1. Download the company master data and compare it with the company's records.
  2. File the pending event-based form first and wait for its approval.
  3. Then file the annual or other form, which will pre-fill the updated data.

Avoid it next time

File every change form within its 30-day limit so that MCA data never falls behind.

Law: Event-based filings under the Companies Act 2013 How to download company master data → #
Founders & professionals

Form says "user is not authorised" or "DIN is not associated with the company"

What you see

The director cannot sign or submit the form for the company, even though they are a director.

Why it happens

  • The director's DIN is not linked to the MCA user ID being used.
  • The DIN is deactivated because DIR-3 KYC is pending.
  • The director's appointment (DIR-12) is not yet approved in MCA records.

How to fix it

  1. Link the DIN to the user ID from the profile section, then associate the DSC.
  2. If the DIN is deactivated, file DIR-3 KYC Web first.
  3. If the appointment is missing, file or follow up the pending DIR-12.

Avoid it next time

Every director should have their own user ID with the DIN and DSC linked before annual filing season.

Law: Section 152 and Rule 12A, Companies Act 2013 and rules DIR-3 KYC guide → #
For professionals

Professional certification is not accepted: membership number or role error

What you see

The CA, CS or CMA cannot certify the form, or the membership number fails validation.

Why it happens

  • The professional's user ID is not registered with the correct professional role and membership details.
  • The certificate of practice details have not been verified, or the DSC is not associated with that user.

How to fix it

  1. Update the professional profile on MCA with the membership number and certificate of practice details, and wait for validation.
  2. Associate the professional's own DSC with that user ID.
  3. Certify from the same user ID that is linked to the membership number.

Avoid it next time

Complete professional profile verification before the filing season, not on a due date.

Law: MCA V3 business user registration for professionals #
Founders & professionals

A form is blocked because of the company's status on MCA

What you see

The company master data shows a status such as "Under process of striking off", "Strike off" or "Active non-compliant", and some forms will not proceed.

Why it happens

  • The ROC has started or completed strike-off proceedings for non-filing or for not carrying on business.
  • An earlier one-time compliance was missed, leaving the status flagged.

How to fix it

  1. Read the status and any notice (such as STK-1) carefully, and note the reply dates.
  2. Bring all pending annual filings up to date.
  3. For a struck-off company, restoration needs an application under section 252. Take professional advice quickly, because time limits apply.

Avoid it next time

Check the company master data status every year, after annual filing.

Law: Sections 248 and 252, Companies Act 2013 Received an STK-1 notice → #

Stuck on one of these right now? Send us the SRN, the notice or a screenshot of the error. We will tell you the fix and the deadline, and file it for you if you want.

Get help with this problem

More problems and fixes

Company registration11 problems solved After incorporation10 problems solved Annual compliance12 problems solved GST registration11 problems solved Director, office and capital changes9 problems solved Startup India and Udyam10 problems solved All problem areas72 problems in one library

This library gives general guidance on Indian company, GST and MSME rules as they stood on the review date. Portals and rules change. Check the current form instructions, or ask a professional, before acting on a deadline or a notice. Related: Founder help centre · Company Annual Compliance · How To Download Company Master Data From Mca Step By Step Guide

Last Note

If your startup could only get one thing right, make it the registration.

That is what we help you decide. Then we file it, register it, and keep it compliant year after year — from Ahmedabad, for Ahmedabad.

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