When it comes to corporate governance, meeting compliance requirements play a vital role in fostering transparency and upholding the trust of stakeholders. Among these critical requirements, is the filing of Form DPT 3 which caters to the depositors of a company. DPT 3 is an annual return of deposits filed to the Registrar of Companies to intimate the authority of all the deposit and non-deposit receipts a company has accumulated in a financial year.

How and When Did DPT 3 Originate?

Rule 16 of the Companies (Deposits and Acceptance) Rules, 2014 already established DPT 3 as an annual form for filing Return on Deposits accepted by applicable companies in a financial year. An amendment to these Rules in 2019 clarified that the applicable companies for this purpose includes all companies registered under the Companies Act, except Government Companies. Moreover, a provision was added in Rule 16A(3) which made it mandatory for all Companies other than Government Companies incorporated in India to file a one-time return of their deposits in Form DPT 3 encompassing all financial years from 2014-15 to 2018-19. From FY 2019-2020 onwards, the annual Filing of DPT 3 was to be continued as per Rule 16.

What is the Purpose of DPT 3 Filing?

Filing DPT 3 promotes transparency in financial transactions, and it holds companies accountable for their deposit-related activities. The disclosed information in Form DPT 3 is accessible to the public and other stakeholders, fostering trust and confidence in the company’s financial operations.