🌱 Udyam Desk
Trade Licence Renewal Online in West Bengal 2026: Municipality Procedure and Fees
How to renew a Trade Licence (Certificate of Enlistment) online in West Bengal — portals of municipalities/corporations including Kolkata Municipal Corporation, required documents, fees and rules for clearing arrears — step by step.
Renewing the trade licence (Certificate of Enlistment) every year is mandatory to run a shop, office or small factory — and now, in West Bengal’s major corporations, it can be done from home, online. Not renewing invites penalty on top of the fee and, in extreme cases, even the sealing of the business.
Who issues the trade licence, and who renews it?
The trade licence is issued by your local civic body:
| Area | Where to renew |
|---|---|
| Kolkata | Kolkata Municipal Corporation — www.kmcgov.in |
| Sub-divisional bodies like Asansol/Howrah/Durgapur | The respective corporation’s own website or borough office |
| Small towns/villages | Municipality or panchayat office (directly at the office if there is no portal) |
The licence runs on the financial year — April to March. Renew at the start of the new year; delays attract surcharge.
Steps for online renewal (using Kolkata Municipal Corporation as an example)
- Open kmcgov.in → in the Trade License section, select ‘Online Renewal Application’
- Enter the old licence’s C.E. number — the system will show the renewal demand notice and total fee
- If there are arrears from earlier years, they will appear in the list too — pay the entire amount together via net banking/card/UPI
- On payment, download the renewed certificate and receipt PDF — print it and display it at the shop
The process is similar on other municipalities’ portals — C.E./licence number → demand → payment → certificate. If there is no portal, take the demand note to the ward/borough office and pay at the bank.
What you need
- The old trade licence / C.E. number
- Owner’s Aadhaar and PAN
- The shop’s property tax receipt or lease deed
- If the business’s nature/name has changed, those details (a fresh amendment is required)
How much is the fee?
The fee depends on the type of business, area and the size of the shop — generally falling between one and a few thousand rupees. The exact amount appears on the demand notice itself, so verify on the portal with your C.E. number. There is no ‘standard fee’.
What to do if arrears pile up?
- Entering the C.E. number on the portal shows arrears from earlier years together — clear the whole amount at once
- For large arrears, you can apply for instalments at the borough/ward office (rules vary by civic body)
- Reopening a business closed for a long time may require a fresh application
Keep in mind
- A trade licence is not a substitute for Udyam registration — one is a local permission, the other a central MSME registration. Having both helps in loan paperwork. Guide: Udyam registration
- If the business’s name, address or nature changes, get the amendment done before renewing
- Keep the annual renewal receipts in a separate folder — they come in handy in bank loans and GST scrutiny
Related guides: Udyam registration benefits and loan subsidy, GST return filing and Udyam portal.
🪜 Step-by-step guide
- Open your corporation's portal
In Kolkata it is kmcgov.in; in other cities, your municipality's official website — go to the Trade Licence/Certificate of Enlistment section.
- Fetch the demand note with your C.E. number
Entering the Certificate of Enlistment (C.E.) number of the old licence shows the renewal demand notice and fees.
- Clear the arrears
If there are arrears from earlier years, pay the total fee including them online (net banking/UPI/card).
- Download the receipt and renewed certificate
After payment, download the renewed certificate PDF and receipt and keep them at the shop.
❓ Frequently asked questions
When is the deadline for trade licence renewal?
In almost all corporations the licence runs on the financial year (April–March) and must be renewed at the start of the new financial year. Penalty/interest is added to the fee on delay, so renew in March–April itself.
Which documents are needed for renewal?
Generally the old trade licence (C.E. number), the proprietor/owner's Aadhaar-PAN, the shop's property tax receipt or lease deed, and, if required, a description of the nature of the business. For online renewal, in most cases the C.E. number alone suffices.
Is a trade licence the same as Udyam registration?
No. A trade licence is a local permission from the municipality — mandatory for running a business. Udyam registration is a central MSME registration — for loans and subsidies. The two are different; it is good to have both.