Sad days for CA Profession: Certificates with UDIN at Rs. 1000, Tax Audits at Rs. 2500:

A social media post is going viral, showing that certificates with UDIN are being offered for just Rs. 1000 and tax audits for Rs. 2500. Charging such low fees is a serious problem for the entire CA (Chartered Accountant) profession, no matter which city they work in. Mr. Dinesh Wadera has recently shared a screenshot of a firm offering consultancy services on a former Twitter (Platform 'X'). The screenshot mentioned the following details: “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"

If some people offering UDIN for ₹1000 and doing tax audits for ₹2500 that too without any verification, then tell me—what’s left in this profession? What’s left in traditional CA practice? pic.twitter.com/NgqUnNsQpJ

— Dinesh Wadera (@dineshwadera) May 2, 2025

Selecting for the Chartered Accountants (CAs) profession in India requires going through a long pathway including tough examinations, years of training and a difficult ethics code. The fees charged by Chartered Accountants reflect not just their time and effort, but also the big responsibility they take on with every certification and audit they sign. When some people charge very low fees, it doesn’t just hurt honest professionals—it also reduces public trust, makes financial and tax reports less reliable, and damages the reputation of the entire profession. This creates a tough situation for genuine CAs who follow the fee guidelines set by the ICAI. On one hand, some people offer services at very low rates. On the other, honest professionals have to explain and defend their fair charges to clients who compare them with these low-cost options. This puts unnecessary pressure on the profession and takes away attention from the real value, expertise, and responsibility that professional services require. CAs shouldn't have to justify their fees just because some others are willing to work for less, even if it affects ethics and quality. Many of these so-called service providers offer cheap certification and audit fees just to attract clients. They often don’t plan to do proper work for that low price. Once the client agrees and is caught in the process, they change their words, saying the work is more difficult than expected, and then demand higher fees, similar to what honest CAs charge. This kind of behaviour is basically a trick to get business. It misleads clients and harms the respect and image of the CA community.

ICAI's Minimum Fee Requirements for Tax Audits

The minimum fee suggested by ICAI for tax audit in Class 'C Cities is Rs. 22,000 and more. Therefore, it's truly shocking when some companies claim they can do tax audits for just Rs. 2,500. In accordance with the ICAI rules, the minimum fee for doing tax audits should be Rs. 40,000 or more in Class A cities and Rs. 30,000 or more in Class B cities. When CAs offer very low prices, this not only decreases the standards of their profession but also decreases the quality of work. This can create trouble for clients, as they may receive government notices or face action for not following the rules properly. All parties concerned, clients, regulators, and other professionals, must remain vigilant and realize that very low-cost services typically translate to a compromise in quality, appropriate compliance, and ethical standards. If too many of these cheap, unregulated services continue to proliferate in the market, it won't only harm individual CAs, but it will also harm the reputation of the CA profession as a whole. It's time to send a message: professionalism, integrity, and expertise deserve decent remuneration and must never be underpriced. The ICAI needs to take firm action to safeguard all its members and maintain the respect of the profession.