Refund & Cancellation Policy
Understanding our cancellation, refund, and service credit framework
Effective Date: May 9, 2024 | Last Revised: May 9, 2024
1. Scope & Applicability
1.1. This Refund & Cancellation Policy ("Policy") governs all services provided by BlackPapers (a brand operated by Tributaries Unicorn LLP), including but not limited to company registrations, annual compliances, trademark filings, tax advisory, GST services, FSSAI licensing, import-export code registrations, and all other professional services listed on our Platform.
1.2. By purchasing any service from BlackPapers, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy.
1.3. This Policy must be read in conjunction with our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
2. Nature of Services
2.1. BlackPapers provides specialised professional services that involve significant intellectual effort, document preparation, government interactions, and statutory filings. The nature of these services is fundamentally different from physical goods and standard e-commerce products.
2.2. Each service engagement typically involves multiple stages, including:
- Stage 1 — Consultation & Scope Definition: Understanding your requirements and defining the service scope.
- Stage 2 — Document Collection & Verification: Collecting necessary documents, verifying their accuracy, and preparing them for submission.
- Stage 3 — Drafting & Review: Preparing legal documents, applications, or financial statements for your review.
- Stage 4 — Government Filing & Submission: Submitting applications/forms to the relevant government authority and paying statutory fees.
- Stage 5 — Follow-Up & Completion: Following up with the authority, responding to queries, and delivering the final output (certificate, registration number, etc.).
2.3. Refund eligibility depends on which stage the service has reached at the time of your cancellation request.
3. Strictly Non-Refundable Components
The following charges are strictly non-refundable under all circumstances:
- 3.1. Government Fees: All statutory fees paid to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Income Tax Department, Goods & Services Tax Network (GSTN), Trademark Registry (IP India), FSSAI, DGFT, RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, RERA, or any other regulatory body on your behalf. These fees are paid directly to the government and are non-recoverable.
- 3.2. Stamp Duty: Payments made towards judicial or non-judicial stamp papers, e-stamps, or franking charges required for legal documents.
- 3.3. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Costs incurred for the issuance of Class 2/Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates from licensed Certifying Authorities. Once issued, DSCs are non-transferable and non-refundable.
- 3.4. Director Identification Number (DIN): Fees paid to MCA for DIN applications. Once a DIN is allotted, the fee is non-refundable.
- 3.5. Name Reservation Fees: Fees paid for RUN (Reserve Unique Name) or SPICe+ name reservations with MCA or trademark search fees.
- 3.6. Third-Party Professional Fees: Fees already disbursed to Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Advocates, or Registered Valuers who have commenced work on your engagement.
4. Refund Eligibility Matrix
Professional service fees (excluding non-refundable components above) are governed by the following matrix:
| Cancellation Timing | Service Stage | Refund Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Within 24 hours of payment | No work initiated | 100% of professional fees |
| 24–48 hours after payment | Stage 1 (Consultation only) | 90% of professional fees |
| 48 hours – 7 days | Stage 2 (Documents collected) | 50% of professional fees |
| After 7 days | Stage 3+ (Drafting begun / Filing done) | No refund |
| Any time | Government fees already paid | No refund |
5. Cancellation by the Client
5.1. You may request cancellation of a service by emailing connect@blackpapers.in with the subject line "Service Cancellation Request — [Your Order ID]."
5.2. Cancellation requests must include: (a) Your registered name; (b) Order/Transaction ID; (c) Service name; (d) Reason for cancellation.
5.3. Upon receipt, our team will assess the current stage of the service and respond within 48 business hours with a determination on refund eligibility.
5.4. Important: If you fail to provide required documents within 30 days of placing an order despite repeated follow-ups, the order will be considered abandoned. No refund will be issued for abandoned orders, as our team's time and resources have been allocated to your engagement.
6. Cancellation / Rejection by BlackPapers
6.1. BlackPapers reserves the right to cancel a service engagement if: (a) The client provides false, misleading, or fraudulent documents; (b) The client's request involves illegal activity; (c) The service becomes impossible due to changes in law or government policy.
6.2. In such cases, BlackPapers will refund the professional fee (after deducting government fees already paid and work already completed) within 15 working days.
6.3. If a government application filed on your behalf is rejected by the authority (e.g., name rejection by MCA, trademark objection by the Registry), this does not constitute a failure of service by BlackPapers. Government fees paid for rejected applications are non-refundable. However, we will assist you in re-filing at a discounted professional fee.
7. Service Credits & Re-Allocation
7.1. In lieu of a monetary refund, BlackPapers may offer Service Credits of equivalent or higher value, which can be applied towards any other BlackPapers service within 12 months.
7.2. Service Credits are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
7.3. If you wish to switch from one service to another before work has begun, we will accommodate this as a Service Re-Allocation at no additional cost (provided the new service is of equal or lesser value). Any price difference for a higher-value service must be paid upfront.
8. Refund Processing
8.1. Approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method (bank account, UPI, or card) via our payment gateway partner, Razorpay.
8.2. Refund processing timelines:
- UPI / Wallets: 3–5 business days
- Debit / Credit Cards: 5–7 business days
- Net Banking / NEFT: 7–10 business days
8.3. Refund timelines are dependent on the policies of the issuing bank or payment processor. BlackPapers is not responsible for delays caused by third-party financial institutions.
9. Delays Due to External Factors
9.1. Delays in service delivery caused by the following factors do not constitute grounds for a refund:
- Government processing times (MCA portal downtime, GSTN server issues, Trademark Registry backlogs).
- Delay or failure by the client to provide required documents, signatures, or approvals.
- Additional queries or objections raised by the government authority requiring supplementary documentation.
- Force majeure events including natural disasters, pandemics, government orders, or systemic internet failures.
9.2. In cases of genuine government-side delays, we will keep you informed of the status and provide estimated timelines.
10. Subscription & Recurring Services
10.1. For subscription-based services (e.g., annual compliance packages, virtual CFO retainers), cancellation must be requested at least 15 days before the next billing cycle.
10.2. Cancellation after the billing date will not result in a refund for the current billing period, but the subscription will not renew for subsequent periods.
10.3. Any compliance filings or returns already initiated within the current billing period will be completed regardless of cancellation.
11. Dispute Resolution
11.1. Any disputes regarding payments, refunds, or service delivery must first be raised with our customer support team at connect@blackpapers.in.
11.2. If unresolved within 7 working days, the complaint may be escalated to our Grievance Redressal Officer.
11.3. All disputes shall be governed by Indian law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in New Delhi, India.