The Limited Liability Partnership Act, of 2008, introduced the concept of LLPs in India. It gives a legal solution to the business formations a combine features of partnership and corporal firms. Additionally, there are various pvt ltd company near me that streamline operations and reduce compliance burdens, making LLPs a more attractive option for many businesses.
Separate Legal Entity: An LLP is an artificial legal entity and distinct from the partners.
Limited Liability: All the members’ liability is limited to their agreed capital contribution in the partnership.
Flexibility: LLPs enjoy flexibility in internal structure and management.
Perpetual Succession: An LLP's existence is not affected by changes in partners.
Designated Partners: At least two individuals must be designated partners, with one residing in India.
Limited Liability: Protects personal assets of partners.
Tax Benefits: Can be more tax-efficient than corporations.
Flexibility: Allows for customised partnership agreements.
Ease of Formation and Management: Simpler setup and management compared to corporations.
Partners: Minimum of two partners required.
Designated Partners: Responsible for legal compliances.
Partnership Agreement: Outlines rights, duties, and liabilities of partners.
Feature |
Partnership |
LLP |
Company |
Legal Entity |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Liability |
Unlimited |
Limited |
Limited |
Formation |
Simple |
Relatively simple |
Complex |
Management |
Shared by all partners |
Managed by designated partners |
Board of directors |
Taxation |
Partnership taxation |
Separate entity taxation |
Corporate taxation |
Registration and Incorporation
Capital Contribution
Partnership Agreement
Rights and Liabilities of Partners
Meetings and Accounts
Dissolution
A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) offers several benefits that make it an attractive business structure for many:
Limited Liability :
Protection of Personal Assets: This is in fact one of the main defining characteristics of limited liability partnership to differentiate it from ordinary partnerships. It affords a considerable degree of risk to partner’s individual resources.
Risk Mitigation: This feature particularly discourages partners from incurring more than necessary financial risk through stimulating capital investment.
Separate Legal Entity :
Distinct Identity: It means the LLP can sue and be sued and own and sell property without involving its partners in contracts as well as any legal process.
Perpetual Succession: It is the LLP that carries on its existence in spite of change of partners and addition of new ones.
Flexibility in Management :
Partnership Agreement: There are no Restrictions regulating on how partners in an LLP may structure and manage the LLP vs the partnership agreement.
Decision-Making: The style of decision-making can be chosen depending on the necessities of the company as well.
Tax Benefits :
Pass-Through Taxation: The income and expenses are not subject to taxation in corporation level but are reported by the individual partners.
Avoidance of Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT): One major advantage of LLP is they are not subjected to DDT like companies, therefore profit distribution is more taxes beneficial.
Ease of Formation and Management :
Simple Registration: In terms of procedure of formation, LLP is often easier and cheaper than incorporating a company.
Less Regulatory Burden: The corporate compliance burden is relatively lower for LLPs than it are for companies.
Increased Credibility :
Legal Entity Status: Comparatively, being a separate legal entity has the advantage of improving the LLP’s reputation in the market.
Investor Confidence: It can make an appeal to investors and customers who would prefer doing business with a well established company.
While LLPs offer several advantages, they also come with certain drawbacks:
Unlimited Liability for Some Partners :
Designated Partners: Hence, members of LLP with designated partners are unlimited in terms of responsibility being held for the LLP’s debts and obligations.
Increased Risk: This makes it subject these partners to personal financial responsibility meaning it is a general partnership.
Higher Formation and Maintenance Costs :
Registration Fees: Cost of forming an LLP includes registration costs as well as legal charges.
Compliance Costs: Other continuous compliance obligations including filing of annual returns and compliance certification entail other costs.
Limited Access to Capital :
No Equity Investment: This is a major drawback in the manner that LLPs cannot issue shares while they attempt to seek capital funding. To their disadvantage, LLPs cannot go out for the equity market for fund mobilization like corporate bodies. This is a distinct disadvantage for business firms especially if; they are in need of lots of capital for expansion or to undertake various projects.
Dependence on Debt or Partner Contributions: The LLP can use a significant amount of debt or issue additional capital calls to the current partners.
Public Disclosure of Financials :
Transparency: For this reason, financial statements of LLPs are filed with the Registrar of Companies which means that the information is available to the public.
Privacy Concerns: This may not be favorable for some firms.
Mandatory Indian Partner :
Operational Restrictions: One of the partners has to be a resident of India which place constraints on business activities in certain cases for overseas companies.
Not Suitable for All Businesses :
Large-Scale Operations: An LLP may not be suitable for large commercial activities that need heavy capital investment or for those firms who aspire to go for a public issue.
Complex Structures: Some disadvantages of LLPs could be noted when the ownership structure of the business is convoluted or the firm has a complicated problem of its financing.
LLP vs Partnership
Limited Liability Partnership
Separate Legal Entity
Limited Liability
Flexibility
Perpetual Succession
Designated Partners
Property Tax Benefits
Ease of Formation
Management
No Equity Investment
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