Certificate with UDIN for ₹1000, Tax Audits for ₹2500: A Serious Threat to CA Profession
On one side, some people are providing services at unreasonably low rates, and on the other, legitimate professionals need to defend their reasonable and fair fees to customers who compare them with these bargain hunters
Certificate with UDIN – UDIN – Tax Audits – Threat to CA Profession – taxscan
Certificate with UDIN – UDIN – Tax Audits – Threat to CA Profession – taxscan
A social media post has been doing the rounds with certificates with UDIN (Unique Document Identification Number) being provided for a mere ₹1000 and tax audits for ₹2500. This type of under-charging of fee is a huge threat to the whole CA ( Chartered Accountant ) professionals irrespective of tier of cities.
Mr. Dinesh Wadera, in his ‘x’ account has shared the screenshot of the company which is providing the consultancy services. The screen shot lists the following fee:
“1- CA Certificate with UDIN @ Rs 1000
2- Tax Audit & Statutory Audit @ Rs 2500
3- CA / CS DSC Affix at RoC / MCA Forms @ Rs 800
Instant Services / No Hidden Charges Payment After Works Done”
Chartered Accountants (CAs) in India go through one of the most rigorous professional paths, with grueling examinations, years of training, and a strict ethics code. Their professional charges mirror not just the effort and time they put in but also the liability and responsibility they assume with every certification and audit they affix their signature to.
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Practices of undercharging fees do more than just undercut genuine professionals, they erode public trust, compromise the reliability of financial and tax reporting, and threaten the credibility of the entire ecosystem. It is giving a tough situation for the genuine CAs who charge according to the instructions set by the ICAI.
Also read: CBDT Notifies Revised ITR-5 Form for AY 2025-26
On one side, some people are providing services at unreasonably low rates, and on the other, legitimate professionals need to defend their reasonable and fair fees to customers who compare them with these bargain hunters. This unnecessarily burdens the profession, taking the spotlight away from the value, skill, and accountability that professional services necessarily bring. Chartered Accountants do not need to justify their charges just because there are some who wish to undervalue themselves at the expense of ethics and quality.
These so-called businesses who provide audit services, promote cheap certification fees and audit work frequently do so merely to generate leads and not to actually perform quality work at that rate. After the client has been lured in and basically stuck in their web, these companies then shift their position, stating that the work is heavier or more complicated than initially estimated.
Consequently, they end up demanding fees that are commensurate with the typical market fees commanded by legitimate Chartered Accountants. Such behavior constitutes nothing but solicitation of business, which not only deceives clients but also hurts the image and dignity of the CA fraternity.
ICAI’s Minimum Fee Requirements for Tax Audits
The minimum fee recommended by the ICAI for tax audits in Class 'C Cities is ₹22,000 & above. So, it's absolutely jaw-dropping when some companies say they can provide tax audits for as little as ₹2,500. For Class A and B cities, the ICAI has fixed a minimum fee of Rs. 40,000 & above and Rs. 30,000 & above respectively.
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Read More: How Much Can a CA Charge for a Tax Audit? Know ICAI’s Minimum Fee
Such drastically discounted services not only dilute professional standards but also often lead to sub-standard work, which in turn leaves clients at risk of government notices or regulatory action for non-compliance.
Stakeholders including clients, regulators, and fellow professionals must stay vigilant and recognize that unsustainably low fees often come at the expense of quality, compliance, and ethics.
If there are too many such low-cost, unmonitored services floating around the market, the damage will not only be to individual CAs, but also to the reputation of the profession in general. It's high time to reaffirm the message: professionalism, integrity, and skill command a reasonable price and never need to be short-changed. The ICAI has to take strict measures for the well-being of the members of all in the fraternity.
Also read: ITR Forms Notified: Here’s What CAs Can Charge for Filing Returns by Category
As the adage goes, "costly things never happen without a price”. Nobody today gives anything free or very low-cost without taking some corners short somewhere and more often than not, the largest expense is integrity and quality. Every service underpriced has a larger purpose behind it, to devalue a profession or disrupt a marketplace that has been functioning well and ethically.
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