Cheque Bounce Notice
Cheque Bounce Notice made simple. Get clear guidance on eligibility, forms, fees and turnaround time, plus expert filing support from I-Pro Solutions's compliance.
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About this service
Cheque Bounce Notice is a key regulatory filing administered by the relevant statutory authority. Filing is executed via No prescribed statutory form for the demand notice (s.138 proviso (b) prescribes contents — cheque particulars, dishonour date, demand for payment within 30 days). The complaint is filed under BNSS s.223 with the prescribed private complaint format (state-specific — e.g., Maharashtra: Form of Complaint under NI Act — Annexure to Bombay High Court Circular; Delhi — Delhi District Courts NI Act Complaint Format). under Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 — **s.138** (dishonour of cheque for insufficiency of funds / exceeding arrangement — offence), **s.141** (offences by companies — every person in charge of and responsible to the company for conduct of business — vicarious liability; non-obstante against directors not in charge), **s.142** (cognizance — no court shall take cognizance of any offence except on complaint in writing made by payee / holder in due course within 30 days of date of cause of action — Magistrate First Class), **s.143** (trial of summons cases — summary procedure), **s.143(1) proviso** (summary trial for cheque amount up to ₹5 lakh; summons cases for above ₹5 lakh — *M/S Meters & Instruments v. Kanchan Mehta* (2019) SC — mediation recommended); BNSS 2023 — s.210-216 (summons-cases trial), s.223 (cognizance by Magistrate — private complaint).. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.
Eligibility & thresholds
- Valid identity & address proof of applicant
- Active PAN & registered business premises
- Authorized representative authorization
- Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
- No pending statutory disqualifications
- Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions
- Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
- Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
- Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval
What's included
Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.
| Fee Component | Amount (₹) | Basis / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque Bounce Notice Statutory Fee | ₹50 | Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority |
| Total Government Fee | ₹50 | (for default assumptions stated below) |
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.
Required documents
Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.
- ›original bounced cheque with banker's endorsement "Insufficient Funds / Funds Exceeds Arrangement / — original bounced cheque with banker's endorsement "Insufficient Funds / Funds Exceeds Arrangement / Account Closed";
- ›**return memo** (Form B of Annexure to RBI Master Circular on Customer Service — issued by drawer's — **return memo** (Form B of Annexure to RBI Master Circular on Customer Service — issued by drawer's bank under Uniform Regulations for Bank Collections — clearance House Return Memo);
- ›demand notice under s.138 proviso — demand notice under s.138 proviso
- ›— containing cheque number, date, amount, dishonour date, return memo reference, demand for payment — — containing cheque number, date, amount, dishonour date, return memo reference, demand for payment within 30 days;
- ›**postal receipt + acknowledgement card** (RPAD / Speed Post / courier — proof of dispatch & deliver — **postal receipt + acknowledgement card** (RPAD / Speed Post / courier — proof of dispatch & delivery);
- ›statutory declaration / affidavit under s.142(1) — statutory declaration / affidavit under s.142(1)
- ›(inserted by Act 2 of 2017 — affidavit stating that the notice was dispatched & returned unserved / — (inserted by Act 2 of 2017 — affidavit stating that the notice was dispatched & returned unserved / served);
- ›KYC of complainant; — KYC of complainant;
- ›board resolution / partnership authorisation; — board resolution / partnership authorisation;
- ›lawyer's vakalatnama; — lawyer's vakalatnama;
- ›bank statement showing credit & debit entries for the cheque; — bank statement showing credit & debit entries for the cheque;
- ›invoice / contract underlying the cheque (to rebut "no legally enforceable debt" defence under s.138 — invoice / contract underlying the cheque (to rebut "no legally enforceable debt" defence under s.138 Explanation — *Basalingappa v. Mudibasappa* (2019) SC — legally enforceable debt / liability presumed from cheque).
How it works
Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.
- 1Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **Cheque presentation**
**Cheque presentation**: Payee presents cheque within 3-month validity (RBI Directive 2015) — through clearing house / collection. - 2I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **Dishonour**
**Dishonour**: Drawer's bank returns cheque with return memo citing reason (NI Act s.138 applies for "insufficiency of funds" / "amount exceeding arrangement" — does NOT apply for material alteration, signature mismatch, post-dated cheque presented early — *Sonalal v. State of Gujarat* 2018). - 3I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **Payee receives return memo**
**Payee receives return memo**: Payee / holder receives return memo from collecting bank — note date of receipt (limitation clock starts). - 4I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **Drafting demand notice (s.138 proviso (b))**
**Drafting demand notice (s.138 proviso (b))**: Advocate drafts demand notice within 30 days of receipt of return memo — cheque particulars, dishonour date, demand for payment within 30 days of receipt. - 5I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **Dispatch**
**Dispatch**: RPAD / Speed Post / courier + email + WhatsApp — to drawer's address per cheque / agreement / latest communication. Retain all postal receipts & acknowledgements. - 6I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **Waiting period**
**Waiting period**: 30 days from receipt of notice by drawer — within which drawer must make payment to avoid complaint. - 7I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **Affidavit (post-2017 amendment)**
**Affidavit (post-2017 amendment)**: Complainant executes affidavit under s.142(1)(b) NI Act — affirming dispatch of notice and sum unpaid. - 8I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **Complaint filing**
**Complaint filing**: Within 30 days of expiry of notice period — file complaint in Form of Private Complaint under BNSS s.223 before JMFC having territorial jurisdiction (presentation-bank jurisdiction per *Dashrath Rupsingh*). Attach: complaint + list of witnesses + affidavit + cheque + return memo + demand notice + postal receipts + vakalatnama. - 9I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **Pre-trial & summons**
**Pre-trial & summons**: Magistrate takes cognizance under BNSS s.223 — issues summons (Form 1 of First Schedule BNSS) to accused; accused appears & obtains bail (BNSS s.480 — bail bond); plea recorded (BNSS s.252-253 — guilty plea option). - 10Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **Trial & judgment**
**Trial & judgment**: Examination of complainant on affidavit (BNSS s.281); cross-examination; defence evidence; arguments; judgment — Magistrate may sentence up to 2 years imprisonment or fine up to 2× cheque amount or both (s.138). Compensation to complainant under s.357 BNSS (analogous to s.357 CrPC saved).
Post-registration compliance
What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.
| Filing | Form | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) | One-time mandatory | Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers | 5-year tenure | Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually) |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually) |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation | Annual | Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September |
Penalties for non-compliance
Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.
| Non-compliance | Provision | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) | One-time mandatory | ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) | 5-year tenure | Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) | Annual | ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation |
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.
- 1Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofsWhy: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
- 2Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leasesWhy: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
- 3Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity codeWhy: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.
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