Alkesh Patel and Company

A Chartered Accountant is a qualified professional recognised under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Chartered Accountants are authorised to carry out statutory audits, conduct tax audits, certify financial statements, represent clients before tax and regulatory authorities, provide financial advisory, and carry out a range of other attest and non-attest functions. Their role spans financial reporting, taxation, corporate finance, compliance, and business advisory across virtually every sector of the economy.

A Chartered Accountancy firm provides structured support across the compliance and financial management requirements that every business must meet. This includes ensuring timely and accurate tax filings, maintaining statutory records, conducting audits, advising on business structure and transactions, and managing regulatory correspondence. Beyond these operational functions, a professional CA firm can identify financial risks, highlight planning opportunities, and provide forward-looking advice that enables management to make better-informed decisions.

Tax and corporate laws in India are detailed, frequently updated, and carry significant consequences for non-compliance. The Income Tax Act, 1961, the GST legislation, the Companies Act, 2013, and RERA provisions each contain requirements that are easy to misapply without professional knowledge. A Chartered Accountant brings both technical expertise and practical experience to ensure that obligations are met correctly, available reliefs are properly claimed, and the client is professionally represented in the event of any dispute or assessment. When searching for tax planning services near me, working with a qualified CA ensures your strategy is both lawful and optimised for your specific circumstances.

Every Private Limited Company must file its Annual Return (Form MGT-7) and Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) with the Registrar of Companies each year. Additionally, the company must hold its Annual General Meeting within six months of the financial year end, maintain statutory registers, and ensure all board meeting minutes are recorded. Failure to comply attracts late filing fees that increase with every day of delay, and persistent non-compliance can lead to director disqualification and striking off of the company. The firm manages the complete annual compliance cycle so that no deadline is missed.

A tax audit is conducted under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and is required for businesses and professionals whose turnover exceeds the prescribed thresholds. Its purpose is to verify the correctness of income declared and deductions claimed. A statutory audit is conducted under the Companies Act, 2013, and applies to all companies. Its purpose is to express an independent opinion on whether the financial statements present a true and fair view of the entity's financial position. Both serve important but distinct regulatory purposes and are often conducted concurrently.

The right structure depends on several factors: the number of founders, the nature of the business, the liability protection required, the funding plans, and the long-term exit strategy. A Private Limited Company offers the strongest liability protection and investor credibility but carries the highest compliance burden. An LLP is well-suited to professional services firms and multi-founder businesses seeking flexibility without the full compliance load of a company. An OPC suits a solo entrepreneur who wants corporate identity and limited liability. A partnership firm or proprietorship is simpler to set up and maintain but offers no liability separation. The firm provides structured guidance on the most appropriate choice and walks you through the entire business registration process based on your specific circumstances.

For most small businesses, GST compliance involves obtaining registration once turnover exceeds the applicable threshold, issuing tax invoices in the prescribed format, filing monthly or quarterly returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B), reconciling input tax credit, and filing the GSTR-9 annual return. Businesses that fail to comply on time are subject to late fees, interest, and in serious cases, cancellation of registration. The firm manages the complete GST compliance services cycle, ensuring all filings are accurate and timely. If you are looking for GST filing services near me, we handle everything from return preparation to final submission.

A Virtual CFO provides the strategic financial oversight and advisory functions of a Chief Financial Officer on a retainer or part-time basis, rather than as a full-time employee. It is particularly suited to growing businesses, startups approaching scale, and promoter-led businesses whose financial complexity has outgrown the capacity of bookkeeping alone but does not yet justify the cost of a full-time CFO. The service covers financial planning, cash flow management, compliance oversight, banking liaison, investor reporting, and strategic financial advisory. These comprehensive financial advisory services are designed to give your business the strategic direction it needs to scale effectively.

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 requires promoters of real estate projects above specified size thresholds to register their projects with the RERA authority, maintain a designated escrow account for project funds, submit quarterly progress updates, and have their project accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant. Non-compliance carries penalties and can result in suspension of project registration. Chartered Accountants play a specific role in RERA audit and certification, which the firm provides as part of its RERA advisory services.

Confidentiality is both a professional obligation under the ICAI Code of Ethics and a practical commitment of the firm. All information provided by clients in the course of any engagement is treated as strictly confidential and is not disclosed to any third party except as required by law or with the client's explicit consent. This obligation applies to every member of the team and continues beyond the conclusion of the engagement.

Do not ignore the notice. Notices are issued for many reasons, including routine data verification, requests for additional information, intimations of mismatches, and formal assessments. Review the type of notice and the response deadline carefully, gather the relevant documents, and seek professional guidance promptly. The firm analyses each notice, explains its implications clearly, prepares a complete and accurate response, and manages all correspondence with the department until the matter is resolved.

Chartered Accountants are authorised to represent clients before Income Tax Authorities including the Assessing Officer, Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. For GST matters, representation is undertaken before the GST Authority and the Appellate Authority. The firm prepares structured submissions, assembles documentary support, and manages procedural aspects of hearings and correspondence throughout the process.

The Shop and Establishment Certificate is a state-level registration required for all commercial establishments, including shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, and theatres, within 30 days of commencing business. It is also required for home-based businesses and sole proprietors. The certificate regulates working hours, leave, employment conditions, and record-keeping. It is frequently required by banks as proof of business existence when opening a current account, and by investors during due diligence. The firm handles the complete application and follows up with the local municipal authority until the certificate is issued.