Cross-Border Trademark Licensing and Royalty Compliance in Mumbai — How it works with CorporateWalla®
Licensing a brand across a border is two jobs, and most providers only do one of them. There is the trademark side — the agreement, the registered user filing, the quality control that keeps the mark enforceable. Then there is the money side: GST on the royalty, withholding tax, Form 15CA and 15CB, and transfer pricing. Get the first right and the second wrong and you have a valid licence with a tax problem attached.
Mumbai is the financial capital of India and home to the highest concentration of CA firms, ROC offices (Mumbai + Pune bench), and banks. Most registrations are filed through the Mumbai (city) or Pune bench of NCLT. Stamp duty on share capital is governed by the Maharashtra Stamp Act and is among the highest in India. The Maharashtra Ready-Reckoner (circle rate) is used for property valuation, and Mumbai property rates are the highest in the country, which directly impacts valuations on Net Worth Certificates and FDI structuring.
Trademark Licensing in Mumbai — local notes
IP India registry for Mumbai
All trademark + IP filings are processed at the IP India head office. The IP Facilitation Centre accepts e-filings from any city. Mumbai trademark attorneys file directly via the ipindiaonline.gov.in portal. Our team includes a TM agent with 10+ years of experience in handling objections + oppositions.
Trademark Licensing pricing in Mumbai
3-tier transparent pricing. Government + GST included. Mumbai clients can pay via UPI, card, NEFT, or Razorpay. Maharashtra professional tax is ₹200 (Feb) + ₹250 (Mar) for salary earners; ₹2,500 for businesses with turnover > ₹25L.
starter
Timeline: 2 weeks
standard
Timeline: 3 weeks
- TM-U registered user filing
- Licence agreement drafting
- Quality control and termination clauses
- Territory, term and royalty terms drafted
- GST position on royalty, including reverse charge
- ×Withholding rate and treaty analysis
- ×Form 15CA and 15CB on each remittance
- ×Transfer pricing position for related parties
pro
Timeline: 4 weeks
Step-by-step Trademark Licensing process
- 1
Draft the agreement
Four terms carry the weight and the Registry expects all of them: quality control, territory, term, and royalty. Then exclusivity, sub-licensing, enforcement and change of control.
- 2
File Form TM-U
Proprietor and proposed user apply jointly under Section 49, supported by the written agreement and an affidavit by the proprietor stating the degree of control over permitted use.
- 3
Set the tax position
Reverse charge GST where the licensor is outside India, treaty withholding rate with a valid TRC and Form 10F, and an arm’s length royalty rate where the parties are related.
- 4
Form 15CA and 15CB
Required on each remittance. The 15CB certificate is issued by a Chartered Accountant, which is why doing this inside an accounting firm rather than alongside one is faster.
Documents required for Trademark Licensing in Mumbai
Standard checklist. We help you prepare any missing item — for Mumbai residents, this can be done entirely on WhatsApp + email.
Why choose CorporateWalla® for Trademark Licensing in Mumbai?
The only page with both halves
The trademark work and the withholding, reverse charge and 15CA/15CB work on one engagement. Most IP firms cannot do the tax side and most tax firms cannot do the Registry side.
Registration is optional, useful anyway
An unregistered licence is recognised as permitted use where there is a written agreement and the proprietor’s consent. A registered entry gives you a recorded position, which matters when someone files a rectification alleging non-use.
Quality control keeps the mark alive
The most important clause and the one most often left thin. A bare licence with no quality control invites the argument that the mark no longer indicates a single trade source, which puts the registration itself at risk.
Reverse charge catches Indian licensees
Where the licensor is outside India, the Indian licensee accounts for GST under reverse charge. Nobody issues them an invoice with GST on it, so they assume none is due.
Treaty rate needs a TRC on file
The treaty rate usually beats the domestic withholding rate, but only with a valid Tax Residency Certificate and Form 10F. Producing them afterwards means claiming a refund instead.
Cancel the entry when the licence ends
A registered user entry can be varied or cancelled under Section 50. An entry that outlives the licence is a live inaccuracy sitting on the register.
Areas we serve in Mumbai
Trademark Licensing services across Mumbai’s key business districts. On-site visit available for bulk / corporate clients.
Frequently asked questions — Trademark Licensing in Mumbai
Q: Do I have to register a trademark licence in India?
A: No. Unregistered licences are recognised as permitted use where there is a written agreement and the proprietor’s consent. Registering as a registered user gives a recorded position that is easier to prove.
Q: What is the fee for Form TM-U?
A: ₹4,500 by e-filing, ₹5,000 physical.
Q: Does GST apply to trademark royalty paid to a foreign company?
A: Yes. The Indian licensee accounts for GST under reverse charge where the licensor is outside India.
Q: How do I get trademark licensing in Mumbai?
A: Get trademark licensing in Mumbai in 3 steps: (1) WhatsApp or call us at +91 72783 76654 with your requirement, (2) we send a checklist + quote + collection link, (3) our CA team files the application in 2 to 4 weeks. We serve all of Mumbai — including Andheri, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Lower Parel, Nariman Point and surrounding areas.
Q: Is Trademark Licensing online possible for Mumbai residents?
A: Yes — 100% online. Mumbai clients can submit documents by email / WhatsApp / Google Drive, and the application is filed electronically on the relevant government portal (MCA / GSTN / IP India / DGFT / FoSCoS, as applicable). You do not need to visit our office. We also do on-site visits for bulk / corporate engagements in Mumbai.
Trademark Licensing in other cities
We deliver trademark licensing services across all major Indian metros. Other high-search cities:
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