5 articles
AIF Annual Compliance: Form N, Form N-2, SEBI Audit & CA Certificate Requirements
AIF sponsors must navigate multiple compliance layers annually: SAT reporting via Form N, scheme-level returns via Form N-2, statutory audit under SEBI AIF Regulations 2012, and mandatory CA certificates. Missing deadlines or filing errors attracts penalties and regulatory action.
Read article →PPM and LPA Drafting for AIFs: SEBI Mandatory Disclosures, Co-Investment Rights, and the Key-Man Clause
Read →AIF Taxation in India: Category III Pass-Through, STCG Surcharge & Investor Reporting
Read →Gift City IFSCA AIF: Setup, LRS Investment by Residents, and Tax Neutrality Under Section 10(4D)
Read →6 articles
Internal Audit Under Section 138 of Companies Act 2013: Who Must Do It and What It Must Cover
Section 138 of the Companies Act 2013 mandates internal audit for certain companies based on turnover and paid-up capital thresholds. This post clarifies who must comply, what the audit scope covers, and the statutory obligations for audit committees.
Read article →Forensic Audit in India: When Courts & Lenders Require One, What Evidence Counts, and Your CA's Liability
Read →Tax Audit Under Section 44AB: Threshold, Forms 3CB vs 3CD, and Rs.1.5 Lakh Penalty
Read →Bank Branch Audit Under RBI Guidelines: LFAR, NPA Classification & IRACP Norms
Read →5 articles
SME Credit Ratings: How CAs Build the Financial Package That Wins CRISIL Ratings and Lower Borrowing Costs
A strong credit rating from CRISIL can slash your SME's borrowing costs by 1-3% per annum. Learn how the CRISIL SME rating process works, what financial documentation your CA must prepare, and why the quality of your numbers matters more than the size of your balance sheet.
Read article →Working Capital Finance: CC vs OD vs Bill Discounting, DSCR Calculation & What Banks Check in Audited Financials
Read →NBFC Registration with RBI: Category A vs B, Rs. 10 Crore NOF, and Annual Compliance Checklist
Read →Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) for Private Companies: Legal Framework, SEBI Rules & TDS Obligations
Read →11 articles
SEBI Exemption Order for Waaree Energies: What Listed Companies Should Know
SEBI has issued a specific exemption order in the matter of Waaree Energies Limited. While the full scope of the exemption requires review of the complete order, this development signals important compliance considerations for listed companies and their boards.
Read article →SEBI's New Rules on Handling Client Unpaid Securities
Read →SEBI's Proposed Common Ad Code: What It Means for You
Read →SEBI Settlement Helpdesk: What Listed Companies, NBFCs & AIFs Need to Know
Read →35 articles
Lending Between Your Own Group Companies: Section 185 or Section 186? What the Companies Act Actually Requires
Founders assume moving cash between two companies they own is their own business. The Companies Act disagrees. Section 185 and Section 186 both govern inter-corporate loans, they overlap where directors are common, and you must satisfy both — special resolution, board unanimity, G-Sec-linked interest and MGT-14 filing — or face fines up to Rs 25 lakh plus an adverse CARO remark on your permanent MCA record.
Read article →"We charge our UK parent whatever is convenient": What arm's-length pricing actually requires
Read →Leaving Form AOC-2 blank: What the Companies Act actually requires for related-party disclosure
Read →Related party transactions: when board approval is enough and when you need shareholders (Section 188)
Read →11 articles
MSME Form 1 Half-Yearly Return: October 2026 Due Date and Who Must File
Every company that receives goods or services from MSME suppliers and has outstanding dues older than 45 days must file Form 1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs twice a year. The October 2026 filing covers the April–September 2026 period.
Read article →FEMA Non-Debt Third Amendment 2026: What Changed for Foreign Investors in India
Read →FEMA Compounding Under the 2024 Rules: How RBI Self-Reporting Now Works
Read →ClearTax vs MakeItLegit: Which Compliance Platform Actually Helps Founders Stay Legal?
Read →4 articles
Standard Costing for Manufacturers: Bridging Product Costs and Transfer Pricing Under Section 92C
Manufacturers face a twin challenge: keeping product costs accurate via standard costing while simultaneously defending transfer prices to tax authorities. Section 92C demands robust documentation. Form 3CEB requires certified cost accounting records. This post shows how to make standard costing serve both objectives.
Read article →DPCO Compliance for Pharma: Cost Statement Format, Ceiling Price Reporting & NPPA Rules
Read →Stock Audit for Bank Borrowers: RBI Guidelines, Ind AS 2 Valuation, and LFAR Findings
Read →Cost Audit Under Section 148, Companies Act 2013: Mandated Industries, CRA-3 Report & CRA-4 Filing
Read →6 articles
EOU and IGCR Compliance: Duty-Free Imports Under Customs Rules 2017
Export Oriented Units (EOUs) are permitted to import capital goods, raw materials, and consumables without customs duty under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate) Rules 2017. This concession is subject to strict compliance conditions and end-use verification by Customs authorities.
Read article →Customs Duty in India: BCD, IGST on Imports & the ITS Explained
Read →Anti-Dumping Duty in India: DGTR Investigation, Provisional vs Final Duty, and High Court Challenge
Read →HSN Classification Disputes at Customs: SVB, Related-Party Pricing, CAAR Advance Ruling & CESTAT Appeal
Read →43 articles
"The new regime is always cheaper": What the break-even math actually says for AY 2026-27
Everyone says the new tax regime is always cheaper. For most salaried filers it is — but not all. Whether it wins for you comes down to one number: your total deductions. Here is exactly where the break-even falls at every income level for AY 2026-27, with worked math.
Read article →ITR Form Selection Guide for AY 2026-27: Who Must File ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, and ITR-4
Read →TDS on Salary Under Section 192: Why Employers Get It Wrong and How to Cross-Check Your Form 16
Read →Section 54 Exemption on House Sale: The One-Property Rule, 54EC Bond Limits, and the 2-Year Deadline Trap
Read →5 articles
SEBI BRSR ESG Reporting: What Top 1000 Listed Companies Must Do Now
From FY 2024-25, India's top 1000 listed companies face a hard regulatory deadline: BRSR ESG reporting with third-party assurance is now compulsory under SEBI LODR. Scope 3 emissions must be disclosed. Here's what boards and CFOs need to action immediately.
Read article →Insolvency Resolution Under IBC 2016: The 330-Day CIRP Timeline, Section 29A Eligibility, and CoC Voting Rights
Read →Crypto and VDA Tax in India: Section 115BBH, 30% Flat Tax, and TDS Rules
Read →Real Estate Tax in India: Section 45(5A) Joint Development, TDS 194-IC & GST on Under-Construction Flats
Read →6 articles
FEMA Export Realisation: The 9-Month Rule, Write-Off, and Section 13 Penalties Explained
Exporters must realise export proceeds within 9 months under FEMA Notification 23(R). Failure invites penalties under Section 13 of FEMA. This post covers the realisation rule, write-off eligibility, penalty mechanics, and compliance steps.
Read article →Advance Authorisation under Foreign Trade Policy: Routes, SION Norms, and Closing Export Obligation
Read →Software Exports and SOFTEX Filing: STPI, FEMA 23(R), and the Non-Negotiable CA Certificate for Section 10AA
Read →EPCG Scheme: Zero-Duty Capital Goods Import & Export Obligation Calculator Under FTP 2023
Read →14 articles
"Just Invoice the Indian Subsidiary a Management Fee": What Transfer Pricing Actually Requires
Foreign parents assume a management fee to the Indian subsidiary is routine. India's transfer pricing rules disallow fees that fail the benefit test.
Read article →"We're too small for transfer pricing rules": What India's Income-tax Act actually requires
Read →Repatriating Profits From India: What FEMA Actually Requires on Dividends, Royalties, and Technical Fees
Read →"My Indian company is Indian, so it can invest freely": What FEMA actually requires for downstream investment
Read →7 articles
GSTR-3B vs GSTR-1 Mismatch Notices: Why They're Issued, How to Reconcile, and the Penalty Exposure
The GST system compares GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B automatically every month. A mismatch triggers an ASMT-10 notice. Here is why mismatches occur, how to reconcile them step by step, and what Section 73 vs 74 means for your penalty exposure.
Read article →Input Tax Credit Blocked Under Section 17(5): The Complete List With the Cases That Catch Businesses Off Guard
Read →GST Registration Threshold in 2026: ₹20L vs ₹40L vs ₹10L — Which Limit Applies to Your Business
Read →RoDTEP Rate Chart 2025-26 for Indian Exporters — Scheme Guide, Eligible Categories & How to Claim
Read →5 articles
Form 10BD and 10BE: Donor Statements, May 31 Filing, Section 271K Penalty, and Donation Certificates
Not-for-profit organisations must file Form 10BD and 10BE by May 31 with detailed donor information. Miss the deadline and face Section 271K penalty. Here's what triggers penalties, how to compute them, and best practices for issuing donation certificates to maintain compliance.
Read article →CSR Compliance Under Section 135: The Rs.40 Lakh Threshold, Form CSR-2, and the 2% Unspent Transfer Rule
Read →ITR-7 for Charitable Trusts: Schedule VC, Form 10B Audit, and Section 115TD Exit Tax
Read →Section 12A and 80G Registration for NGOs: Form 10A, Provisional vs Final Registration, and Donor Deductions
Read →36 articles
US-India DTAA Article 15 vs Article 16: What ITA 2025 Actually Says About Your Salary
Most salaried NRIs treat the India-US treaty as one blanket exemption and assume Article 15 (employment income) and Article 16 (directors fees) work the same way. They do not. Article 15 follows where you physically work; Article 16 follows where the company is resident. This guide separates the treaty rules from the WhatsApp folklore, runs the Article 15(2) three-part 183-day test, and maps it all to ITA 2025 forms (26AS to 168, 15CA to 145, 15CB to 146) so you claim the right relief and avoid mismatched TDS notices.
Read article →Form 10F is not an email attachment: what ITA 2025 actually requires NRIs to file online
Read →"My UAE residency exempts my Indian income": What ITA 2025 actually says
Read →"NRIs don't pay advance tax": What ITA 2025 actually says about deadlines and penalties
Read →5 articles
Working Capital Management: Cash Conversion Cycle, Credit Terms & TReDS Invoice Discounting
Working capital management isn't about juggling; it's about moving cash intelligently. Learn to decode your cash conversion cycle, negotiate supplier and customer terms that don't strangle your business, and use TReDS platform effectively for invoice discounting under RBI framework.
Read article →Financial Projections for Fundraising: 3-Statement Model, Ind AS 115 Revenue Recognition & Board Approval Under Section 179
Read →MIS Reporting for Growing Businesses: P&L, Cash Flow & KPI Dashboards
Read →CMA Report for Bank Credit: What Banks Look for in Form CMA and How to Prepare a Winning DPR
Read →4 articles
RWA Audit & Accounting: Receipts & Payments, Sinking Fund, and Statutory Requirements
Residential Welfare Associations must file statutory audits and maintain compliant accounts under the Societies Registration Act. This guide covers receipts and payments preparation, sinking fund accounting, and audit requirements that RWA secretaries and treasurers must follow.
Read article →Income Tax for Resident Welfare Associations: Mutuality, Exemptions, and ITR-5 Filing
Read →TDS Obligations for RWAs: Section 194C & 194J, and Monthly Form 26Q Filing
Read →GST on RWA Maintenance Charges: The Rs.7,500 Threshold and ITC Compliance
Read →5 articles
Trademark Registration in India: The 4-Step Process Under Trade Marks Act 1999, Class 35 for Service Businesses, and Why a CA Should Handle the IP Audit
Trademark registration in India follows a four-step statutory process under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Service businesses use International Classification Class 35. A CA's IP audit protects your intangible assets and ensures tax compliance.
Read article →Copyright Registration Under Section 44 of the Copyright Act 1957: Why Software Companies Need It
Read →Trademark Objection Reply Under Rule 45: Common Grounds and Winning Strategies
Read →IP Due Diligence in M&A: Valuing Trademarks, Checking Encumbrances & Schedule III Disclosures
Read →5 articles
Succession Planning for Family Businesses: HUF Partition, Buy-Sell Agreements, and Tax-Neutral Exits
Family business succession demands more than emotional handovers. Section 171 HUF partitions, properly structured buy-sell agreements, and Section 47(xiii) exemptions are the legal and tax toolkit that protects wealth across generations while minimizing capital gains tax.
Read article →Capital Gains Optimisation for HNIs: Section 54, 54EC Bonds, and 54F Before March 31
Read →Estate Planning for HNIs: Will vs Trust, Gift Tax Under Section 56(2)(x), and Why Your CA Must Lead
Read →ESOP Wealth Planning for Startup Founders and Employees: Tax Deferral and Post-Vesting Strategies
Read →8 articles
DPT-3 due 31 July 2026? The MCA fire-relief extension founders are dangerously misreading
A founder reads "MCA extended DPT-3 to 31 July 2026" and assumes two things — that she has an extra month, and that DPT-3 does not apply because her company never took deposits. Both are wrong, and both are expensive. General Circular 02/2026, issued after the 5 June MCA data-centre fire, does not move the statutory 30 June due date; it only waives the Section 403 additional fee if you file by 31 July. And DPT-3 is an annual return for every company except government companies — it captures director loans, inter-corporate loans, and share application money as "exempted deposits", not just public deposits. This piece explains what the form actually requires, the exact penalties that revive on 1 August (up to 12x fee plus Rule 21 penalties), and a step-by-step filing checklist to close before the window shuts.
Read article →ESOP dilution during funding rounds: What the Companies Act actually requires to protect your employee pool
Read →"We'll do a SAFE or convertible note": What the Companies Act and FEMA actually require in India
Read →MCA just extended your compliance deadline to 31 August: what the CCFS-2026 relief scheme actually covers
Read →4 articles
"The NDI Rules govern my India investment": What RBI's draft FEMA Foreign Investment Rules 2026 actually change
RBI's draft Foreign Investment Rules 2026 will replace the NDI Rules 2019 — what changes, what stays, and what foreign founders should do now.
Read article →"A Transfer Pricing Dispute in India Ends in Indian Courts": Why MAP Under DTAA Is the Bilateral Exit Most Foreign Groups Miss
Read →"It's just a cost reimbursement, not income": What Indian transfer pricing law actually requires for cost-sharing agreements
Read →"We'll just lend the Indian subsidiary money at whatever rate": What FEMA and transfer pricing actually require on intercompany loans
Read →7 articles
"A Power of Attorney lets me sell my Indian property tax-free from abroad": What the law actually says
NRIs are told a Power of Attorney lets a relative sell their Indian flat with no tax and no paperwork. In reality a POA is an execution tool, not a tax shelter: capital gains, Section 195 TDS, registration under the Registration Act, and Form 145/146 all still apply. Here is what the law actually requires.
Read article →"Gifts to family in India are always tax-free": What ITA 2025 actually says about NRI gift tax
Read →"A will alone transfers my parent's Indian assets": What the law actually says for NRI heirs
Read →"The buyer only deducts 1% TDS": What ITA 2025 actually says about NRIs selling ancestral property
Read →1 article