CA Consultation

Documents required

• Relevant financials or notice
• PAN/GST/incorporation details as applicable
• A clear description of the question or transaction
• Any prior correspondence with authorities

Step-by-step process

1. Define the exact question — tax, GST, company law, audit or planning
2. Gather the relevant documents (returns, notice, financials)
3. Book a consultation and share the background in advance
4. Discuss the issue and options with the CA
5. Receive a clear recommendation and next steps
6. Get help executing the filing or reply if needed
7. Follow up on implementation and deadlines
8. Retain the advice and supporting notes for your records

Bring the documents, not just the question

A consultation is far more productive when the adviser can see the primary material rather than your summary of it. For a tax question that usually means the last two years' returns and computations, Form 26AS and the AIS, Form 16 or your books, and any notice with its enclosures. For a business question, the incorporation documents, the last audited accounts and the GST returns. Most of the first meeting is otherwise spent establishing facts you already had.

Ask what it costs and what is included, before you start

Professional fees vary widely and are not standardised. Agree the scope and the basis in advance: whether the fee covers only the filing or also the replies to any notice that follows, whether appeals are separate, what government fees and out-of-pocket costs sit on top, and how additional work will be charged. A written scope avoids the common misunderstanding where a filing engagement is assumed to include representation later.

Understand what a CA can and cannot certify

Chartered accountants audit, certify and represent in tax matters; advocates appear in courts; company secretaries handle MCA and corporate secretarial work. Some matters need more than one of them. Statutory audit, tax audit and various certificates can be signed only by a practising chartered accountant with a valid membership and UDIN — and you can verify a UDIN independently. Anyone offering to sign a certificate they are not entitled to sign is a warning rather than a bargain.

Keep your own credentials and your own records

Portal logins for income tax, GST and MCA should remain under your control, with the adviser given access rather than ownership. Registered email and mobile on those portals should be yours, because that is where notices go. Every year, obtain copies of what was filed on your behalf — returns, challans, acknowledgements and computations. Retrieving these after a relationship with an adviser ends is one of the more avoidable difficulties in small-business compliance.

Where research ends and professional judgement begins

Reading and AI-assisted research are genuinely useful for understanding your position, preparing questions and organising documents, and they make a consultation shorter and better directed. They do not replace judgement on contested facts, strategy in a live dispute, or anything requiring certification or appearance. Where the amount at stake exceeds what advice costs, or where penalty or prosecution provisions are cited, engage a professional early — the first reply usually frames everything that follows.

Frequently asked questions

When should I consult a CA?

Before a major transaction, when choosing a business or tax structure, on receiving a tax/GST notice, during audits, or whenever a compliance decision has significant financial consequences.

Can a CA represent me before the tax department?

Yes. A Chartered Accountant is an authorised representative under the Income Tax Act and can appear in assessments, respond to notices, and handle GST proceedings.

How much does a CA consultation cost?

A focused one-off consultation typically ranges from ₹500 to ₹3,000; ongoing advisory or compliance work is usually a monthly retainer based on scope.

Is an AI tool a substitute for a CA?

AI tools are great for understanding rules, drafting and first-pass calculations, but a licensed CA should review anything with legal or financial consequences before you file or sign.

What can a CA help with?

Income tax and GST planning and filing, company incorporation and ROC compliance, audits, TDS, notices and assessments, and financial and structuring advice.

More Compliance services

• EPF / PF Withdrawal
• Bookkeeping & Accounting
• HR & Payroll Management

Related reading

• DPDP Act 2023 Compliance Checklist for Small Business