MSME Registration Benefits
MSME stands for micro, small and medium enterprises, and these are the backbone of any developing economy. To support and promote MSMEs, the Government of India through various subsidies, schemes and incentives promote MSMEs through the MSMED Act. To avail the benefits under the MSMED Act from Central or State Government and the Banking Sector, MSME Regitration is required.
MSME Registration
MSME stands for micro, small and medium enterprises and any enterprise that falls under any of these three categories. MSME enterprises are the backbone of any economy and are an engine of economic growth, promoting equitable development for all. MSME Enterprises are typically more labour intensive than large corporates and provide tremendous employment potential at a very low capital cost. MSME also share a major portion of industrial production and exports in India and play a pivotal role in the development of industrial economy.
Therefore, to promote and develop MSMEs; the MSMED Act of India facilitates promotion and development of enterprises through many incentives, schemes and subsidies. To obtain the benefits under MSMED Act, MSME Registration is a must.
BENEFITS OF MSME REGISTRATION
The MSME registration is not statutory. However, the MSME registration process in India has been conceptualized to provide maximum benefits to all types of enterprises. After registration, any enterprise becomes qualified to reap the benefits offered under the MSMED Act. Some of the benefits from Central Government include easy sanction of bank loan (Priority sector lending), lower rates of interest, excise exemption scheme, exemption under Direct Tax Laws and statutory support such as reservation and the interest on Delayed Payments Act.
State Government and Union Territories also have complied their own package of facilities and incentives for MSMEs. Some of the benefits provided by State Govenement for MSMEs include development of specialized industrial estates, tax subsidies, power tariff subsidies, capital investment subsidies and other support. Both the Centre and the State, whether under law or otherwise, target their incentives and support packages generally to units registered with them.
Banking Laws, Excise Law and the Direct Taxes Law have incorporated the word MSME in their exemption notifications. Therefore, the registration certificate issued by the registering authority is seen as proof of being MSME and is required to avail the benefits sanctioned for MSMEs.
MSME Definition
For Enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production, processing or preservation of goods, the definition is as follows:
- Micro Enterprise: An enterprise where investment in plant and machinery does not exceed Rs. 25 lakh.
- Small Enterprise: An enterprise where the investment in plant and machinery is more than Rs. 25 lakh but does not exceed Rs. 5 crore.
- Medium Enterprise: An enterprise where the investment in plant and machinery is more than Rs.5 crore but does not exceed Rs.10 crore.
In case of the above enterprises, investment in plant and machinery is the original cost excluding land and building and other items as specified by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries.
For Enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services, the definition is as follows:
- Micro Enterprise: An enterprise where the investment in equipment does not exceed Rs. 10 lakh.
- Small Enterprise: An enterprise where the investment in equipment is more than Rs.10 lakh but does not exceed Rs. 2 crore.
- Medium Enterprise: An enterprise where the investment in equipment is more than Rs. 2 crore but does not exceed Rs. 5 crore.
