DIR-3 KYC Filing for LLP Designated Partners: Due Date, Penalty & Online Process

Last Updated on July 8, 2026

A compliance process established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is called the DIR-3 KYC Application for the purpose of KYC compliance by Directors holding a Director Identification Number (DIN) and designated Partners of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) having a DIN, and compliance to maintain identification records as active records. If you have recently completed LLP registration or are planning to register an LLP, understanding this compliance requirement is essential for designated partners. This article has been prepared for LLP designated partners, compliance personnel and business representatives who want to have clear guidance on the matters of: the most recent filing date of DIR-3 KYC; the process of filing; what documents are required to file; the amount of fee charged to file; and what will happen if a DIR-3 KYC Filing is not done on time.

This shift from annual to triennial compliance was introduced through the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2025 (Notification No. G.S.R. 943(E) dated 31 December 2025), effective 31 March 2026. For a detailed explanation of the revised DIR-3 KYC compliance framework, read our guide: DIR-3 KYC New Rules 2026

What is DIR-3 KYC?

The DIR 3 KYC is an MCA submission that verifies and updates the details of a DIN holder. The revised rules specify that DIR 3 KYC will now be submitted using the DIR 3 KYC Web Form and will no longer be required annually, unless there have been changes to the DIN-holder’s mobile phone number, email address or residential address. This filing is governed by Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014.

Specifically, in terms of how it impacts LLPs, any designated partner holding a DIN must file this with the MCA in order to ensure that the DIN remains active for compliance purposes. The LLP does not submit this on behalf of the designated partner, since the filing obligation applies solely to the holder of the DIN.

For LLP designated partners, this number is often called DPIN (Designated Partner Identification Number). DPIN and DIN are functionally the same 8-digit numbers issued by MCA. A designated partner with an existing DIN does not need a separate DPIN, and vice versa.

Why DIR-3 KYC Matters for LLP Designated Partners?

This filing is vital for maintaining compliance with DIN to ensure continued statutory compliance and avoid disruptions to MCA submissions. Failure of a DIN to remain active will create problems for the designated partner who relies on that DIN for compliance and regulatory matters. MCA has also established the revised framework to indicate the government’s desire for the records associated with the DIN to be current and easily traceable.

Who Must File DIR-3 KYC?

Anyone with a DIN is responsible for filing an annual KYC update according to the regulations that govern them, which will typically depend on their relationship to others in relation to Partnership Law. For Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), which designate partners are responsible for the appropriate use of their allocated DIN.

Eligibility for DIR-3 KYC Filing

To be KYC-compliant, your DIN must be valid as of March 31 (or whatever date that KYC becomes applicable per regulation), and you must provide a valid Identity verification method via the methods defined by the MCA. In addition, if you ever need to update your KYC, you have 30 days to file your update.

Every LLP must have a minimum of two designated partners at all times, and at least one must be a resident of India (present in India for 120+ days in the financial year). Each must independently maintain KYC compliance.

Required Documentation for KYC Filing

• Your DIN.
• Your PAN.
• Aadhaar Number (linked to the registered mobile number for OTP verification).
• Your Passport number (if you have one).
• Your Mobile Number & Email You Will Receive OTP Verification.
• Address Proof (e.g., Utility Bill / Tax Notice).
• The Document(s) Proving The Change(s) To Your KYC (if applicable).
• A Digital Signature Certificate and professional certification (CA/CS/CMA) are required only if you are updating your mobile number, email ID, or residential address during the cycle.

How to File DIR-3 KYC Online?

1. Check whether the DIN holder is covered in the current filing cycle.
2. Log in to the MCA website and open DIR-3 KYC Web.
3. Enter the DIN and verify the prefilled identity details.
4. Complete OTP verification for the mobile number and email ID.
5. Update residential details if there have been any changes.
6. Submit the form and save the acknowledgement for records.

Fees and Charges

Routine three-year DIR-3 KYC filing (with no change in details) attracts no government fee if filed on time. A separate ₹500 fee applies for updating the mobile number, email, or address outside the standard process. DIN reactivation after deactivation carries a flat ₹5,000 fee.

Timeline

Through the new rule, all records required by existing DIN holders are to be submitted no later than June 30 of any year that consecutively follows your 3rd fiscal year.

How the 3-year cycle is counted: The cycle is anchored to the financial year your DIN was allotted (not the date you last filed). For example, if your DIN was allotted in FY 2025–26 and you filed KYC that year, no filing is required for FY 2026–27 or FY 2027–28 (provided your details don’t change). Your next filing falls due between April and June 2028. Filing an update mid-cycle (e.g., changing your mobile number) does not reset this three-year clock.

Post-Filing Compliance

After filing, it is important to keep the individual details linked to your DIN updated and stay on top of your LLP annual compliance obligations. If you have changed your mobile number, email address, or residential address, the updated information must be filed within 30 days of the change. This means there will be both periodic KYC filing requirements (under the three-year rule) and event-based filings (within 30 days of any change), making timely compliance essential for LLP designated partners. Keeping track of these deadlines helps avoid penalties and ensures smooth LLP compliance throughout the year. Read our guide on the LLP Compliance Calendar to stay updated on all annual LLP compliance due dates and filing requirements.

Penalty for Late Filing and DIN Deactivation

It has become a common occurrence for the public to state that late DIR-3 KYC filing can incur a fine of ₹5,000. Non-compliance may result in the deactivation of your DIN, which could impact your ability to file other necessary documents and complete other compliance activities. This is the primary operational risk for LLP designated partners who fail to comply with the KYC filing deadline.

Under Section 9 of the LLP Act, 2008, designated partners are personally liable for compliance defaults, so a deactivated DPIN isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a personal liability exposure for that partner.

Common Filing Errors

• Write as if the LLP is filing DIR-3 KYC for itself.
• Using the outdated annual deadline of 30 September without including the new three-year rule.
• Confusing KYC intimation filing with Change-Updation filing.
• Using an inactive mobile number/email address.
• Waiting until the very last day only to miss the filing window.
• Assuming the two KYC forms (e-Form and Web) are still separate, they’ve been merged into a single unified DIR-3 KYC Web form.

Benefits of Filing on Time

• If the filing is done on time, your DIN will remain active, and you can avoid adding unnecessary friction to your compliance.
• Keeping accurate governmental records for the designated partner also enables you to continue to perform your statutory responsibilities without interruptions.
• As a business, you will experience fewer delays and fewer unnecessary problems with the filings.

Example / Practical Scenario

If an LLP has a designated partner who manages compliance and coordinates with banks, but the designated partner’s DIN is disabled (inactive) due to a KYC event, the LLP will have delays in all other compliance work until they get the disabled DIN is brought back into compliance after the KYC event. If the filing of the KYC has been timely, the LLP will not go through that type of operational disruption.

This risk is higher in two-partner LLPs than the minimum allowed, since a single deactivated DPIN can freeze Form 11 (Annual Return) and Form 8 (Statement of Account & Solvency) filings for the entire LLP until reactivated.

How can Kanakkupillai assist with DIR-3 KYC?

1. Eligibility Determination:

• Determine if the LLP designated partner needs to file based on the current compliance cycle and the DIN’s status.
• Determine if there is any need for routine filing or an update due to any changes to the partner’s details.

2. Document review and preparation;

• Before filing, we will review the PAN, mobile number, email ID, and address details.
• We will create an organised list of required documentation to help reduce the chance of a rejection or delay in the filing.

3. Online filing assistance:

• Assist with all aspects of completing the DIR-3 KYC Web filing through the MCA Portal.
• Oversee the entire process of verifying, submitting, and tracking receipt of the filing.

4. Deadline management and alerts:

• Track deadlines to not miss deadlines for compliance.
• Assists LLPs with more than one designated partner and regular compliance requirements.

5. Mistake correction and re-filing assistance:

• Help identify common mistakes when filing, like incorrect contact information or inconsistencies with previous filings.
• Reduce the likelihood of unnecessary rejections due to corrections being performed prior to filing.

6. Legal compliance services:

• A full-service approach from the review to the filing stage.
• Great for companies that would like to have a single contact for all of their legal, tax, and compliance needs.

7. Ongoing regulatory assistance:

• Assist the LLP in remaining compliant beyond DIR-3 KYC and with regard to other regulatory requirements.
• Best for companies that would like to receive support on an ongoing basis, not just once for filing assistance.

8. Assistance with deactivation of the DIN:

• Assist with re-establishing compliance where the DIN has been deactivated due to non-compliance with KYC.

9. DIN Surrender Assistance:

• Support with Form DIR-5 filing for designated partners who wish to permanently discontinue an unused DIN.

Conclusion

If a partner has a DIN and does not file for DIR-3 KYC within three years, the partner will be at risk of being penalised under the new KYC-mandatory MCA compliance framework on DINs. Under the new MCA framework, KYC compliance will be required to be filed every three years, and a delay in filing will attract a penalty of ₹5,000 and potentially lead to the deactivation of the partner’s DIN.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is DIR-3 KYC mandatory for LLP designated partners?

Yes, if the designated partner holds a DIN and is covered by the MCA compliance rule, the filing is mandatory for that DIN holder.

2. What is the current due date for DIR-3 KYC?

Under the amended rule, KYC intimation is due on or before 30 June of the applicable cycle following every third consecutive financial year.

3. What is the penalty for late filing?

Public reporting around MCA compliance continues to indicate a late fee of ₹5,000, and deactivation of DIN is also a key risk.

4. Can DIR-3 KYC be filed online?

Yes, the amended rule uses Form DIR-3 KYC Web and is filed through the MCA system with OTP-based verification.

5. What happens if the DIN is deactivated?

A deactivated DIN can create compliance blocks and prevent smooth statutory filings until the KYC issue is resolved.

6. Do all LLP partners need to file DIR-3 KYC?

No, the obligation applies to the individual DIN holder who falls under the rule, not automatically to every LLP partner.

7. What is the legal notification behind the new 3-year DIR-3 KYC rule?

The Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2025, were notified via G.S.R. 943(E) dated 31 December 2025, effective 31 March 2026.

9. Is a Digital Signature Certificate mandatory for the routine three-year filing?

No. DSC and professional certification are required only when updating mobile number, email, or address, not for a routine no-change filing.

10. Can a designated partner surrender their DIN instead of filing KYC?

Yes, via Form DIR-5. Once surrendered, no further DIR-3 KYC obligation applies to that DIN.