One of the most misunderstood provisions in Indian corporate law involves lending money to directors. Companies routinely handle inter-company transactions, but the moment a loan flows towards a director or a connected person, the legal landscape shifts dramatically. The loan to directors rules under the Companies Act, 2013 exist to prevent misuse of company funds by those in positions of control.
Section 185 of the Companies Act imposes strict restrictions on such transactions. Violating these provisions can result in hefty penalties for both the company and the director involved. Whether you are a promoter, a finance head, or a company secretary managing compliance, understanding these restrictions thoroughly is not just advisable. It is essential.
What Does Section 185 Actually Prohibit
Section 185 of the Companies Act, 2013 restricts a company from directly or indirectly advancing any loan to its directors. This prohibition extends to providing any guarantee or security in connection with a loan taken by a director from another person or entity.
The restriction applies not only to directors of the lending company but also to directors of its holding company. For instance, if Company A is a subsidiary of Company B, Company A cannot give a loan to a director of Company B.
Additionally, Section 185 covers loans or guarantees given to any person in whom the director is interested. This includes relatives of the director as defined under the Act, any firm in which the director or a relative is a partner, any private company of which the director is a director or member, and any body corporate whose board of directors, managing director, or manager acts on the advice or instruction of the borrowing director.
Key Exceptions Under Section 185
The law recognises that not every loan to a director is problematic. Section 185(2) carves out specific exceptions where such lending is permissible, provided certain conditions are met.
A company can give a loan, guarantee, or security to a managing director or whole-time director as part of the conditions of service extended by the company, or under any scheme approved by a special resolution of the shareholders.
Loans to any person in whom a director is interested are also permitted if the company obtains prior approval through a special resolution in a general meeting, and the loan is utilised by the borrowing entity for its principal business activities.
Quick Reference: Permitted vs Prohibited Loans
| Scenario | Permitted? | Condition |
| Loan to a director of the company | No (general rule) | Prohibited under Section 185(1) |
| Loan to MD/WTD as part of service conditions | Yes | Must be part of employment terms |
| Loan under a scheme approved by special resolution | Yes | Requires special resolution |
| Guarantee for director's relative's firm | Yes (conditionally) | Special resolution + used for principal business |
| Loan to holding company director | No | Same restrictions apply |
| Loan by banking company in ordinary course | Yes | At prevailing market rate and terms |
Banking companies and companies engaged in the business of financing are exempt from section 185 loan restrictions when granting loans in the ordinary course of business, at rates and on terms not more favourable than those offered to the general public.
Section 185 vs Section 186: Understanding the Difference
Many directors and finance professionals confuse Section 185 with Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013. While both deal with loans and investments, their scope and application differ significantly.
Section 185 specifically addresses loans to directors and persons connected to them. It is a governance safeguard focused on preventing conflicts of interest. Section 186, on the other hand, governs inter-corporate loans, investments, guarantees, and securities provided by a company to any other body corporate. Section 186 applies broadly and requires board approval for amounts within prescribed limits, and shareholder approval through a special resolution when the aggregate exceeds 60% of paid-up share capital and free reserves, or 100% of free reserves, whichever is more.
If a transaction involves a director or a connected entity, you must comply with both sections simultaneously. Overlooking either can trigger separate penalties.
Penalties for Violating Loan to Directors Rules
Non-compliance with section 185 loan restrictions carries severe consequences for multiple parties involved in the transaction.
The company that advances the prohibited loan is liable to a fine ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh. The director to whom the loan is granted, or on whose behalf it is facilitated, faces imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 25 lakh, or both.
Any other director or person who authorises the contravention is also subject to the same penalty. This means the entire board that approves an unlawful loan could face prosecution. The financial and reputational damage can be devastating, particularly for growing companies seeking investor confidence.
Companies that have received private limited company registration must be especially careful, as private companies are the most common structure where such transactions arise due to the close relationship between promoters and directors.
Compliance Steps for Companies
Step 1: Identify the Nature of the Transaction
Before processing any loan, guarantee, or security, determine whether the recipient is a director, a director's relative, or an entity in which a director holds interest. This analysis must be thorough and documented.
Step 2: Check Applicability of Exceptions
Verify whether the proposed transaction falls within the permissible exceptions under Section 185(2). If the loan is part of the managing director's employment terms or falls under an approved scheme, it may proceed after satisfying the specified conditions.
Step 3: Pass the Required Resolutions
For transactions covered under Section 185(2), a special resolution must be passed at a general meeting. The explanatory statement annexed to the notice of the meeting must disclose full particulars of the loan, the purpose for which it will be used, the repayment terms, and the interest rate.
Step 4: Ensure Proper Documentation
Execute a formal loan agreement specifying the amount, interest rate, repayment schedule, and other terms. The company must maintain records of all such transactions in its books of accounts and disclose them in the financial statements.
Step 5: Statutory Filing and Disclosure
Disclose the details of the loan in the Board's Report as per Section 134. File the special resolution with the Registrar of Companies through Form MGT-14 within 30 days of passing. Maintaining timely filings is critical. Directors should also ensure their annual Director KYC is updated to avoid any compliance overlap.
Impact of Companies (Amendment) Act 2017 on Section 185
The 2017 amendment brought significant changes to Section 185. Before the amendment, the provision was an absolute prohibition with very narrow exceptions. The amended version introduced Section 185(2), which expanded the scope of permissible loans to persons in whom directors are interested, provided the company obtains approval through a special resolution.
This change acknowledged the commercial reality that many legitimate business transactions involve entities connected to directors, especially in closely held companies. However, the relaxation comes with stringent conditions. The loan must be used for the borrowing entity's principal business activity, and the borrowing entity must not further lend or invest the amount.
For companies looking to restructure or convert their entity type to better manage governance requirements, options like LLP to private limited conversion provide a structured pathway with clear compliance frameworks.
Practical Scenarios and Examples
Consider a scenario where Mr. Sharma is a director in ABC Pvt Ltd. His wife runs a partnership firm that requires working capital. If ABC Pvt Ltd wishes to give a loan to this firm, it falls under Section 185 because the firm includes a relative of a director as a partner. The company must pass a special resolution, and the firm must use the funds solely for its principal business.
In another example, a whole-time director requests a housing loan from the company as part of her compensation package. If this benefit is documented in her employment terms and approved by the board, it qualifies under the Section 185(2) exception for service conditions.
A common mistake occurs when a company provides a guarantee for a loan taken by a director's relative from a bank, without realising that guarantees are also covered under Section 185. Even if no actual money leaves the company, the guarantee itself triggers compliance requirements.
Conclusion
The loan to directors rules under the Companies Act, 2013 exist to safeguard company assets from potential misuse. Section 185 draws a clear boundary around financial transactions involving directors and their connected persons. While the 2017 amendment introduced meaningful flexibility through Section 185(2), the conditions attached to permissible loans are strict and demand thorough compliance.
Whether you are evaluating a loan request from a director's relative or structuring a whole-time director's compensation package, every step must be documented, approved, and filed within the prescribed timelines. Engaging a qualified Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary at the outset can prevent costly mistakes.
If you need assistance with corporate compliance, accounting services, or regulatory filings, Patron Accounting provides end-to-end support for businesses at every stage.
