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Dividends Declaration Compliance – Expertvuw
Profit Distribution

Declaring and Paying Dividends: Company Law Compliance

Last updated: 2 October 2026

Declaring a dividend involves more than a board decision — the source of profits, the approvals, the payment timeline, TDS and unpaid dividend rules all apply. Our team handles the process from the board meeting to the unpaid dividend account.

Overview

How dividends are declared and paid

Under section 123 of the Companies Act, 2013, a dividend can be paid only out of profits of the current year, profits of earlier years after depreciation, or both — and not out of capital.

  • Interim dividend is declared by the board during the year.
  • Final dividend is recommended by the board and declared by shareholders at the AGM.
  • The amount is deposited in a separate bank account within five days of declaration and paid within 30 days.
  • Dividend not paid or claimed within 30 days is moved to an Unpaid Dividend Account within the next seven days.
  • Amounts unclaimed for seven years — and the related shares — are transferred to the IEPF Authority.
  • Dividends are taxable in shareholders’ hands, and the company deducts TDS where the dividend to a resident shareholder exceeds ₹10,000 in a year; non-residents are subject to TDS at the applicable or treaty rate.

Based on sections 123–124 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Declaration and Payment of Dividend Rules, 2014 and the Income-tax Act, 2025. Last updated: 27 September 2026.

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What This Service Covers

What our dividend service covers

1

Checking distributable profits and conditions

2

Board resolution for interim dividend or recommendation for final dividend

3

AGM approval and shareholder notices

4

Separate dividend account, payment and TDS coordination

5

Unpaid dividend account and IEPF tracking

Key facts at a glance

Section 123

Provision on declaring dividends

5 days

To deposit the dividend in a separate account

30 days

To pay the dividend after declaration

7 days

To move unpaid amounts to the Unpaid Dividend Account

7 years

Unclaimed dividends then go to IEPF

₹10,000

Yearly dividend above which TDS applies for residents

Common Issues

Where dividend payments commonly go wrong

Late payment is an offence, so timelines matter.

Paid from wrong profits

Dividend paid out of capital or without providing for depreciation.

Payment late

Dividend not paid within 30 days of declaration.

Unpaid dividends ignored

Unclaimed amounts not moved to the Unpaid Dividend Account.

Related Services

Related services

Dividends link to IEPF and capital decisions.

IEPF Compliance

Unclaimed dividends.

Bonus Shares

Capitalising reserves.

Buy-back of Shares

Returning cash by buy-back.

TDS Compliance

Tax deduction on dividends.

Documents Required

Documents we need from you

Financial Documents

Shareholder Documents

Our Process

How we handle your dividend

1

Profits check

Distributable profits and conditions confirmed.

2

Approval

Board resolution or AGM declaration.

3

Deposit

Amount deposited in a separate account within five days.

4

Payment

Dividend paid within 30 days, with TDS.

5

Unpaid amounts

Moved to the Unpaid Dividend Account.

6

Records

IEPF tracking and statements for shareholders.

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Unpaid Dividends

Unpaid and unclaimed dividends

Unclaimed dividends have their own compliance trail.

Unpaid Dividend Account

Unpaid amounts moved within seven days after 30 days.

Website statement

Details of unpaid dividends published as required.

IEPF transfer

Amounts unclaimed for seven years transferred to IEPF.

Shares

Shares with seven years of unclaimed dividends also transferred.

Get in Touch

Share your query and our team will reply during business hours.






    FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can a company pay dividend out of capital?

    No. Dividends can be paid only out of profits, after providing for depreciation.

    Within 30 days of declaration.

    They are moved to an Unpaid Dividend Account and, after seven years, to the IEPF Authority.

    Yes, where dividend to a resident shareholder exceeds ₹10,000 in a year; non-residents are taxed at the applicable or treaty rate.

    Shareholders at the AGM, on the board’s recommendation.

    About Expertvuw

    Who handles your case

    CS Chetna Shoor, Company Secretary and Director, Expertvuw

    CS Chetna Shoor

    ACS – Director, Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd

    This work is handled by Expertvuw’s team, with filings made on the MCA portal. Certifications and audits required by law are issued by independent practising professionals engaged for your case.

    Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd