The cost of hiring a CA in India generally ranges from ₹1,500 to ₹25,000 for ITR filing and from ₹3,000 to over ₹1 lakh per month for ongoing accounting and compliance services. CA fees in India vary based on the service, transaction volume, business size, location, and level of expertise required.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)publishes a recommended scale of fees through its Committee for Members in Practice. The committee was previously known as the Committee for Capacity Building of Members in Practice. However, CAs and clients agree on the actual fee based on the scope of services and engagement terms.
This guide covers Chartered accountant fees for ITR filing, GST services, monthly retainers, audits, consultations, and other common services in 2026. The fee ranges exclude 18% GST on professional services where applicable.
Different Fees a CA May Charge for Your Business
A CA may charge fees based on the type of service and the scope of the engagement. Common fee structures include:
- One-time fees: For services such as ITR filing, GST registration, company incorporation, or specific consultations.
- Monthly retainers: For recurring services such as bookkeeping, GST returns, TDS filings, and payroll.
- Hourly fees: For professional tax consultations and advisory services.
- Engagement-based fees: For audits, business advisory, tax representation, and other complex assignments.
- Additional charges: For services or tasks that fall outside the agreed scope.
CA Fees for ITR Filing in India
Income Tax Return (ITR) filing generally costs ₹500 to ₹25,000, depending on the taxpayer’s income sources, ITR form, and level of tax-related complexity. A salaried taxpayer with a single source of income usually pays less than a freelancer, business owner, company, or NRI with multiple income sources.
The CA charges for ITR filing also increase when the return requires additional reconciliation, financial statement review, tax audit coordination, or analysis of capital gains and foreign income. The following table provides indicative CA fees in India for common ITR filing requirements in 2026:
| Taxpayer Type / ITR Form | CA Charges for ITR Filing (2026) | What Drives the Fee |
| Salaried, single employer, no capital gains (ITR-1) | ₹500 to ₹2,000 | Simple income and limited tax reporting |
| Salaried + capital gains or rental income (ITR-2) | ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 | AIS and Form 26AS reconciliation |
| Freelancer/consultant with business income (ITR-3) | ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 | Books of accounts and Schedule BP computation |
| Small business (ITR-3 with audit, turnover ₹1–5 Cr) | ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 | Tax audit coordination and financial statement review |
| Private limited company (ITR-6) | ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 | Corporate ITR, MAT, advance tax, and depreciation schedules |
| NRI with India-sourced income | ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 | Treaty analysis, TRC, DTAA claims, and additional reporting |
Timely ITR filing can help taxpayers avoid additional costs. For AY 2026–27 and earlier years, Section 234F imposes a late filing fee of ₹1,000 when total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh and ₹5,000 in other cases. Section 234A can also impose interest at 1% per month on unpaid tax. Businesses may also lose the benefit of carrying forward eligible losses when they miss the applicable filing deadline. Therefore, consider the cost of hiring a CA alongside the potential cost of delayed filing.
CA Fees for GST Registration and Return Filing
The CA fees in India for GST-related services vary based on the type of registration, return, and level of compliance involved:
1. GST Registration
CA fees for GST registration generally range from ₹500 to ₹3,000, depending on the application type and its complexity. The government does not charge a fee for GST registration, so the professional fee covers assistance with the application and documentation.
2. Monthly GST Return Filing
Businesses commonly file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B as part of their regular GST compliance. CA fees for GST return filing generally range from ₹500 to ₹2,500 for GSTR-1 and ₹500 to ₹2,000 for GSTR-3B per month. The fee depends mainly on invoice volume and reconciliation requirements. Many CAs offer both returns as a package for ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 per month.
3. GSTR-9 Annual Return
GSTR-9, the GST annual return, is mandatory for taxpayers with aggregate turnover above ₹2 crore per year. CA fees for GST return filing for GSTR-9 generally range from ₹1,500 to ₹8,000 per GSTIN, depending on the reconciliation and reporting involved. Businesses with GST registrations in multiple states may incur a separate fee for each GSTIN.
4. GSTR-9C Reconciliation Statement
CA fees for GSTR-9C filing generally depend on turnover, the number of transactions, and the level of reconciliation required. The fee can increase when the CA needs to reconcile detailed financial records with GST returns and prepare supporting statements for the applicable filing.
5. TDS Return Filing
TDS return filing generally costs ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 or more, depending on the number of deductees, transaction volume, number of returns, and reconciliation required. The CA may charge separately for preparing and filing quarterly TDS returns, correcting errors, or handling additional compliance requirements.
CA Monthly Retainer Fees for Ongoing Accounting and Compliance
CA monthly retainer fees generally range from approximately ₹3,000 to ₹1,00,000+ per month, depending on transaction volume and the accounting and compliance services included. Small businesses and startups often use a monthly retainer for bookkeeping, GST returns, and TDS filings:
| Business Type | Monthly Retainer Range (excl. GST) | Scope Typically Included |
| Sole proprietor/freelancer (low volume) | ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 | Bookkeeping, GSTR-1, GSTR-3B |
| Early-stage startup/small Pvt Ltd | ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 | Bookkeeping, GST, TDS, basic payroll |
| Growing Pvt Ltd / LLP (₹5–25 Cr turnover) | ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 | Full bookkeeping, GST, TDS, payroll, MIS |
| Mid-size company (₹25 Cr+) | ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000+ | Multi-state GST, complex TDS, MIS, advisory |
The monthly retainer usually covers recurring services, while annual or event-based services are charged separately. These may include statutory audits, tax audits, GSTR-9, ITR-6, and ROC annual compliance such as AOC-4 and MGT-7 filing. A growing private limited company paying ₹20,000 per month may incur an additional ₹60,000 to ₹1,50,000 annually for these services.
CA Charges for Statutory Audit and Tax Audit
The CA charges for statutory and tax audits vary based on turnover, transaction volume, accounting records, and the scope of the audit.
Statutory Audit
Every private limited company must appoint a Chartered Accountant registered with the ICAI as its statutory auditor under Section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013. Under Sections 141(1) and 141(2), a firm qualifies for appointment as an auditor where the majority of its partners practicing in India are chartered accountants, and only its chartered accountant partners can act and sign on behalf of the firm.
For a small Pvt Ltd with a turnover below ₹5 crore, the statutory audit fee generally ranges from ₹25,000 to ₹75,000. Companies with turnover between ₹5 crore and ₹50 crore typically pay ₹75,000 to ₹3,00,000. Under Section 144, the statutory auditor cannot provide bookkeeping, accounting, and certain specified non-audit services to the same company.
Tax Audit Under Section 44AB
A tax audit generally applies when business turnover exceeds ₹1 crore, subject to the higher ₹10 crore threshold for businesses meeting the prescribed conditions for digital transactions. CA fees for tax audit typically range from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 for small businesses and ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 for larger businesses with more complex accounts.
The ICAI-recommended scale of fees also guides charges for professional services. A failure to obtain and furnish a required tax audit report may attract a Section 271B penalty of 0.5% of turnover or gross receipts, subject to the statutory maximum of ₹1,50,000.
CA Consultation Fees and Hourly Rates
CA consultation fees generally range from ₹500 to ₹15,000 or more, depending on the type and complexity of the advice. Individual consultations may cost ₹500 to ₹3,000 per session, while hourly consultations with a practicing CA may range from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000.
Senior CA or partner consultations can cost ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per hour, while business advisory and representation services may attract higher engagement-based fees. The final fee depends on the scope of advice, time required, and any additional documentation or representation involved.
ICAI Recommended Scale of Fees
ICAI published the Revised Minimum Recommended Scale of Fees in February 2020 for professional assignments performed by Chartered Accountants. The scale sets recommended fees separately for Class A, Class B, and Class C cities.
The scale classifies major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad under Class A. Class B covers a broader list of cities, while Class C covers the remaining locations listed in the ICAI schedule.
The recommended scale covers several professional assignments, including:
- ITR filing and related tax services
- TDS and TCS returns
- Form 15G and Form 15H
- Scrutiny assessments and appeals
- Company law and LLP assignments
- Assignments for charitable trusts
ICAI also provides a Minimum Recommended Fee Calculator through its Members in Practice platform. The calculator follows the recommended fee scale and helps members determine fees for professional assignments.
The scale serves as a recommendation rather than a fixed fee for every CA engagement. ICAI allows members to consider factors such as the complexity of an assignment and the time required when determining professional fees. Therefore, the final fee can differ from the recommended amount based on the specific engagement and scope of online CA service.
How to Evaluate and Compare CA Fee Quotes?
When comparing Chartered Accountant fees, look beyond the quoted amount and check the exact scope of services. A written quotation or engagement letter should clearly state what the CA will handle and what will incur additional charges.
Before confirming an engagement, check the following:
- Scope of services: Confirm which filings, forms, accounting tasks, and transaction volumes the monthly retainer or package covers.
- Additional charges: Check whether statutory audit, tax audit, GSTR-9, ITR, ROC filings, payroll, or notice replies are included or billed separately.
- Out-of-pocket expenses: Confirm whether government fees, stamp duty, and portal charges are included or charged separately at actual cost.
- ICAI credentials: Verify the CA’s membership number and certificate of practice through the ICAI self-service portal.
- Urgency surcharge: Ask whether the CA charges an additional fee for work requested close to a filing deadline.
- Revision charges: Confirm whether revisions to financial statements, returns, or other documents are included in the quoted fee.
If you want to compare CA firms based on location and services, you can find CA consultants near you and review the available options before choosing a firm.
