Guides

Hiring a chartered accountant is one of those decisions most people make once, with very little information, and then live with for years. These guides are written to close that gap. They are about how the profession actually works in India - not tax advice, and not a sales pitch for any firm.

Before you hire

How to choose a CA firm in India Working out what you actually need, why firm size matters more than prestige, and the reference check most people skip. Questions to ask before you hire Fifteen questions, what a good answer sounds like, and which answers should make you keep looking. What CA firms charge, and why quotes differ How fees are structured, what pushes a quote up, and how to get one you can hold a firm to. Warning signs when hiring a CA firm The signals worth taking seriously, and the common worries that are not signals at all.

Checking credentials

What an ICAI Firm Registration Number is What the digits and the trailing letter mean, how to verify one free in two minutes, and how it differs from a membership number and a UDIN.

Understanding the work

What a statutory audit actually involves What auditors ask for and why, what the different opinions mean, and how to make the process cheaper. GST compliance: what a CA firm does for you The monthly cycle, why input tax credit is where things go wrong, and what stays on your side.

For CA students

Choosing a firm for your CA articleship Large firm versus mid-size versus small practice, what you learn in each, and how to approach firms so they reply.

These guides are general information about how the profession works. They are not tax, legal or financial advice, and nothing in them is a statement about any particular firm listed on this site. For advice on your own position, speak to a chartered accountant.