Chartered Accountant Retainer
Ongoing chartered accountant support for finalisation, certification and advisory as matters arise.
A retainer arrangement gives you continuing access to a chartered accountant rather than transactional engagement each time something arises. It suits businesses that have outgrown ad hoc advice but do not need, or cannot justify, a finance function of their own.
The difference from a compliance engagement is the direction of the work. Compliance is reactive — returns filed, deadlines met. A retainer is meant to catch things before they become filings, which is where the value is.
What this costs
Basic - Upto 1 crore
₹47,500 plus GST
- Monthly Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Flash Reports
- Variance Analysis
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Annual Tax Consultation
- Income Notice Support
- GST Notice Support
- TDS Notice Support
What a retainer typically covers
- Review of monthly or quarterly financial results, with commentary
- Tax planning ahead of the year end rather than after it
- Advance tax computation and cash flow planning around it
- Structuring advice on transactions before they are executed
- Review of contracts for tax and withholding implications
- Certification work as it arises, within an agreed scope
- Coordination with your statutory auditor
- Availability for questions by phone and email through the year
Where it earns its cost
Most tax cost in a small business is incurred before the return is filed — in how a transaction was structured, whether tax was withheld on a payment, whether a statutory due was paid before the year end.
By the time the return is prepared, those decisions are historical facts and the accountant is recording an outcome rather than influencing it. A retainer moves the conversation earlier, which is the only point at which the position can actually change.
The independence line
A chartered accountant providing accounting, advisory or certification services to a company cannot also be its statutory auditor. Section 141 disqualifies them, and the prohibition is not waivable.
That means a retainer sits alongside your auditor rather than replacing them. We coordinate with the auditor and prepare what they need, but the audit opinion must come from an independent firm.
What is quoted separately
- Representation in a scrutiny assessment or before an appellate authority
- Transfer pricing documentation and benchmarking studies
- Due diligence for a transaction
- Valuation reports requiring a registered valuer
- Statutory audit, which must be independent
How we handle it
- 1 Understanding the business We review your structure, filings and current position so advice is grounded in your actual facts rather than general principles.
- 2 Scoping the retainer The scope, frequency of review and what falls outside it are agreed in writing at the start.
- 3 Periodic review Results are reviewed at the agreed interval, with commentary on what the numbers indicate.
- 4 Forward planning Tax planning and advance tax are addressed ahead of the year end while the position can still be influenced.
- 5 Transaction support Significant transactions are reviewed before execution for tax and withholding implications.
- 6 Year end We prepare what the auditor needs and coordinate the close, with the audit opinion coming independently.
Frequently asked questions
Can you also be our statutory auditor?
No. A chartered accountant providing accounting or advisory services to a company is disqualified from auditing it under Section 141. The two roles must sit with different firms.
How is this different from compliance filing?
Compliance records what has already happened. A retainer is meant to reach decisions before they become filings, which is the only stage at which the tax position can still change.
Is a retainer worth it for a small business?
It depends on whether you face decisions with tax consequences. A stable business with routine transactions may be better served by a compliance engagement; one that is growing, borrowing or restructuring usually is not.
What is not included?
Representation in assessments and appeals, transfer pricing studies, due diligence and valuation work are quoted separately, as is the statutory audit which must be independent.
Can we start mid-year?
Yes. We begin with a review of the position to date, which also identifies anything in the earlier part of the year that should be addressed before the close.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about Chartered Accountant Retainer
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
Request This Service
More in Accounting & Bookkeeping
Have a Legal or Documentation Need?
Talk to our experts today. Transparent pricing, fast processing and dedicated support.