DSC for a Partnership Firm
A firm is not a separate legal person the way a company is, and that changes whose name the certificate goes in.
Whose name it goes in
A partnership firm can hold an organisation certificate with an authorised partner named as the signatory. Which partner that is has to come from the partnership deed or a written authorisation signed by all partners — not from whoever happens to be handling the paperwork.
Where the deed is silent on who may sign, that gap has to be closed first. An authorisation signed by the person authorising themselves is the version that gets queried.
What to get right
- The firm's name must be consistent across the deed, PAN, GST and bank. A firm registered one way and banking under another is a problem to fix before applying.
- The authorisation must name a person and be signed by the partners who have authority to appoint them.
- The named partner does the video KYC. It cannot be delegated.
- A partner leaving means the certificate needs replacing, not transferring.
Written 5 September 2026. Government requirements and portal behaviour change — message us to confirm before you rely on any date or figure here.
Which partner, and what the deed has to say
A partnership firm is not a body corporate, so the certificate is issued in a partner’s name with the firm shown alongside — not in the firm’s name alone. That single fact answers most of the questions people arrive with.
- Pick the partner who will actually sign. Convenience at issue becomes inconvenience later if that partner is rarely available at filing time.
- The deed should authorise them. Where the deed is silent on who signs, banks and portals ask, and an authority letter signed by all partners fills the gap.
- It does not transfer. If that partner leaves, the certificate goes with them and a new one is needed — which is worth remembering before a partner exit.
- The firm PAN goes on the application where the certificate is used for the firm’s filings. Getting this wrong means the certificate works for the individual and not for the firm.
Common questions
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Tell us how the firm is registered and which partner will sign.
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Other certificate questions people arrive with, and the portals they need one for.