Filing of Annual Return under the Factories Act Is Mandatory β File on Time to Avoid Heavy Penalties Despite being mandatory, many factory owners either miss the due date or file incorrect returnsβleading to penalties, notices, inspections, and prosecution. At Mera Registration, we assist factories across India with timely and accurate filing of Factory Annual Returns, ensuring full compliance and peace of mind. What Is the Annual Return under the Factories Act, 1948? The Factories Act, 1948 mandates every registered factory to file an Annual Return with the concerned Chief Inspector of Factories / Labour Department. The return provides details such as: Number of workers employed Working hours and shifts Wages paid Leave records Accidents (if any) Welfare and safety measures Details of occupier and manager π Legal Reference (Government of India):π https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1976 Is Filing of Factory Annual Return Mandatory? Yes. Filing of Annual Return under the Factories Act is compulsory. Every factory holding a valid Factory Licence, irrespective of whether it was operational for the full year or not, must file the annual return. Failure to file is treated as non-compliance, even if: No workers were employed Factory remained temporarily closed Due Date for Filing Annual Return under the Factories Act The due date may vary slightly from state to state, but most states require filing by 15th/31st January every year (state wise) for the preceding calendar year. β οΈ Missing the due date can attract penalties and prosecution. Penalties for Late or Non-Filing of Factory Annual Return Non-compliance under the Factories Act can result in: Monetary penalties Daily continuing fines Inspection notices Show-cause notices Prosecution of occupier and manager Suspension or cancellation of factory licence π https://labour.gov.in Common Mistakes Factories Make While Filing Annual Return β Missing the due dateβ Filing incorrect worker or wage detailsβ Mismatch with attendance or payroll recordsβ Not reporting accidents properlyβ Incorrect occupier/manager detailsβ Filing in wrong format or portalβ Assuming filing is not required if operations were minimal These mistakes often trigger inspections and notices. How Mera Registration Helps You Stay Compliant At Mera Registration, we provide end-to-end support for Factory Act compliance, including: β Annual Return Filing under Factories Act β Review of attendance, wage & accident records β State-specific form preparation β Online portal filing / physical submission (as applicable) β Handling of labour department notices β Factory licence registration & renewal β Ongoing labour law compliance support π https://meraregistration.com/factory-license/π https://meraregistration.com/compliance/ Why Timely Filing Matters for Your Factory Timely filing of Annual Return: Protects you from penalties and legal action Ensures smooth licence renewals Reduces inspection risk Builds a clean compliance record Helps during audits, tenders and bank funding Factories with clean compliance history face fewer disruptions and lower regulatory risk. Who Must File the Factory Annual Return? Manufacturing units Engineering & fabrication units Warehouses registered as factories Food processing units Chemical plants Garment & textile factories Any premises registered under the Factories Act If your establishment has a Factory Licence, filing is mandatory. Why Choose Mera Registration? β Labour law compliance expertsβ Experience with multiple state factory rulesβ Accurate, on-time filingβ Practical compliance guidanceβ Transparent pricingβ Dedicated compliance support team We ensure your factory remains legally compliant and penalty-free. The Annual Return under the Factories Act is not a formalityβit is a legal obligation. Delays or errors can cost your business time, money, and reputation. Donβt wait for a notice or inspection. π Need Help with Factory Annual Return Filing? Contact Us Today π Mera Registrationπ Call / WhatsApp: +91 8595483566π Website: https://meraregistration.com Our team will ensure your Factory Annual Return is filed correctly and on time, so you can focus on running your operations without compliance worries. Latest News Filing of Annual Return under the Factories Act Is Mandatory β File on Time to Avoid Heavy Penalties By admin / January 11th, 2026 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Registering an LLP in India (Complete Guide) By admin / January 11th, 2026 Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme: A Giant Leap for Job Creation and Workforce Formalization in India By admin / July 3rd, 2025 TOP 10 MISTAKES TO AVOID DURING GST REGISTRATION IN INDIA By admin / June 4th, 2025 Checklist for Company Registration in India: A Step-by-Step Guide by Mera Registration By admin / May 5th, 2025