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Guide · Income Tax

Accounting Services for
Small Business & Startups

End-to-end books and compliance for a growing business — bookkeeping, GST and ITR filing, TDS, tax audit, AIS/26AS reconciliation and the MSME 45-day payment rule, handled by a dedicated CA-led team.

TaxClue Accounting Desk Updated 18 August 2026 5 min read 16 FAQs answered
Dedicated CA/accountant 100% remote across India GST + ITR + TDS + Books
Quick Answer

TaxClue provides end-to-end accounting for small businesses and startups — monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation, GST return filing (GSTR-1 & 3B), income-tax return filing, TDS deduction and returns, payroll, and monthly financial statements. A dedicated CA or accountant is assigned to each client, and everything is 100% remote — you share documents by WhatsApp, email or portal. We also flag statutory triggers like the tax-audit turnover limit and the MSME 45-day payment rule before they become a problem.

Bookkeeping Monthly
GST + ITR Filed
TDS returns 24Q/26Q
Model Remote
The full scope

What TaxClue Accounting Covers

One team keeps your books current and every statutory filing on time. Each module maps to a specific compliance obligation for a private limited company, LLP, firm or proprietor.

ModuleWhat we doFiling / output
BookkeepingRecord income & expenses, bank reconciliation, ledgers in Tally/ZohoMonthly trial balance
GST complianceGSTR-1 & GSTR-3B, ITC match with GSTR-2B, e-way billsMonthly / QRMP
Income taxAdvance-tax working, computation, business/proprietor ITRITR filed
TDS complianceDeduction, challan deposit, quarterly returnsForm 24Q / 26Q / 27Q
PayrollSalary processing, Form 16, PF/ESI, professional taxMonthly payslips
Financial statementsMonthly P&L & balance sheet, year-end financialsCA-reviewed

Government filing fees are charged at actuals. Annual GSTR-9/9C and statutory audit support available on higher plans.

Want a plan matched to your transaction volume?

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How it works

Your Monthly Compliance Cycle

A predictable monthly rhythm keeps books clean and filings on time. You share data once; we handle recording, reconciliation, filing and reporting.

Share dataBank statements, invoices, receipts
We recordEntries + bank reconciliation
ReconcileITC vs GSTR-2B, TDS, 26AS/AIS
File returnsGSTR-1/3B, TDS, advance tax
You get reportsP&L, balance sheet, due-date alerts

Before you file your income-tax return, we reconcile your books against the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS so reported income and TDS credits match the department's records — the single biggest cause of ITR notices.

Service tax no longer exists — it is GST now

If you are searching for "service tax on accounting" or professional service tax, note that service tax was abolished and subsumed into GST from 1 July 2017. Services are now taxed under GST (accounting/CA services at 18%). "Professional tax" is a separate small state-level levy on salaries and is unrelated to the old central service tax.

Know your triggers

Tax Audit & Registration Thresholds

Good accounting is not just bookkeeping — it is knowing which threshold your turnover is about to cross. These are the FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) limits we track for you.

TriggerThresholdRequirement
GST registration (goods)Rs 40 lakh*Register & file GST returns
GST registration (services)Rs 20 lakh*Register & file GST returns
Tax audit u/s 44AB — businessTurnover > Rs 1 croreAudit by a CA (Form 3CA/3CD)
Tax audit — cash ≤ 5%Turnover > Rs 10 croreHigher limit if cash receipts & payments ≤5%
Tax audit — professionReceipts > Rs 50 lakhAudit by a CA
Statutory audit (companies)Any companyMandatory under Companies Act 2013

* Rs 10 lakh in special-category states. The Rs 10 crore business limit applies only when BOTH cash receipts and cash payments are within 5% of totals. Verify current figures for your case with a CA.

Advance tax and TDS are where penalties hide

Missing an TDS return deadline or under-paying advance tax attracts interest under Sections 234B/234C and late fees under 234E. We track quarterly due dates and compute advance-tax instalments so you never pay avoidable interest.

Since FY 2023-24

The MSME 45-Day Payment Rule (Sec 43B(h))

Section 43B(h) of the Income-tax Act is a compliance trap for businesses that buy from small suppliers. If your vendor is a Udyam-registered micro or small enterprise, you must pay them within the MSMED-Act time limit — 15 days where there is no written agreement, or the agreed date subject to an outer cap of 45 days.

  • If unpaid by 31 March, the expense is disallowed for that year and only allowed in the year you actually pay.
  • Applies only to suppliers registered as micro or small on the Udyam portal — medium enterprises and unregistered vendors are outside its scope.
  • Udyam registration is free at udyamregistration.gov.in — beware fake fee-charging sites.
Collect Udyam status from your vendors

You cannot apply 43B(h) unless you know which suppliers are Udyam-registered micro/small units. Part of clean accounting is flagging vendor MSME status in the ledger and reconciling outstanding creditors before year-end so nothing is disallowed on your income-tax return.

Budget 2025 also reshaped the default new regime — zero tax up to Rs 12 lakh (Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried, via the Rs 75,000 standard deduction) under the Section 87A rebate, and the ITR-U updated-return window extended to 48 months. We factor these into your year-end planning. See our new tax regime and income-tax slabs guides.

Outsource accounting if

  • You are past 30–40 transactions a month
  • You have GST, TDS and payroll to run
  • Your turnover is nearing the audit limit
  • You want a CA reviewing books, not just software

DIY may be fine if

  • You are a freelancer below the GST threshold
  • Very few invoices and no TDS
  • No employees and simple ITR-1/4
  • You are comfortable reconciling AIS yourself

Not sure which thresholds apply to your business?

Talk to a TaxClue Accountant →
Government sourcesTax audit u/s 44AB: incometax.gov.in · MSME / Udyam registration: udyamregistration.gov.in · Section 43B(h): Income-tax Act 1961 (w.e.f. FY 2023-24) · GST: gst.gov.in · Budget 2025 new-regime rebate & ITR-U 48 months (Finance Act 2025)
People also ask

Accounting Services — Frequently Asked Questions

Scope & Basics
What is included in TaxClue accounting services?
End-to-end accounting for small businesses and startups: monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation, GST return filing (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B), income-tax return filing, TDS deduction and quarterly returns, payroll processing with Form 16 and PF/ESI, and monthly financial statements (P&L and balance sheet). A dedicated CA or accountant is assigned to each client and everything is delivered remotely.
Do I need an accountant if I already use accounting software?
Software automates the entries but does not ensure compliance. A CA or accountant checks for errors, reconciles ITC with GSTR-2B, matches income and TDS to your AIS and Form 26AS, optimises your tax position, files returns correctly and represents you if you get a notice. Software plus a professional accountant is the safest combination for most small businesses.
What is the difference between a CA and an accountant?
A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a licensed professional regulated by ICAI who can sign audit reports and give statutory certifications. An accountant handles day-to-day bookkeeping, ledgers and bank reconciliation. TaxClue provides both — CAs for audits, tax audit and certifications, and accountants for monthly bookkeeping and data entry.
How does remote accounting work?
You share bank statements, sales and purchase invoices and expense receipts each month by WhatsApp, email or secure portal. Our team records all transactions, reconciles accounts, files GST and TDS returns, computes advance tax and shares monthly reports. No office visits are needed — the entire engagement runs online across India.
GST & TDS
Can TaxClue handle GST for multiple states?
Yes. We manage GST registrations and monthly or quarterly filing across multiple states for pan-India businesses, including IGST/CGST/SGST segregation, inter-state reconciliation, ITC matching with GSTR-2B and annual GSTR-9/9C reconciliation.
What is the GST registration threshold for a small business?
For a service business, GST registration is generally required once aggregate turnover crosses Rs 20 lakh a year (Rs 10 lakh in special-category states). For a goods supplier the general limit is Rs 40 lakh. Inter-state supply, e-commerce and certain notified categories require registration regardless of turnover.
Is there still service tax on accounting or professional services?
No. Service tax was abolished and subsumed into GST from 1 July 2017. Accounting and professional services are now taxed under GST (typically 18%). The old service tax no longer exists — do not confuse it with professional tax, which is a separate small state-level levy on salaries and trades.
Do you handle TDS deduction and returns?
Yes. We track which payments attract TDS, deduct at the correct rate, deposit challans on time and file the quarterly TDS returns — Form 24Q for salaries, 26Q for other resident payments and 27Q for non-residents — and issue Form 16/16A. Missing TDS returns attracts a late fee under Section 234E, which timely filing avoids.
Audit & Thresholds
What is the tax audit limit for FY 2025-26?
A business must get a tax audit under Section 44AB if turnover exceeds Rs 1 crore. The limit rises to Rs 10 crore only when both cash receipts and cash payments are within 5% of the totals. For professionals the limit is Rs 50 lakh of gross receipts, with no cash relaxation. Companies also require a statutory audit under the Companies Act 2013 irrespective of turnover.
What is the difference between a tax audit and a statutory audit?
A tax audit under Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act applies when turnover or receipts cross the prescribed limits and results in Form 3CA/3CB and 3CD. A statutory audit is mandatory for every company under the Companies Act 2013 regardless of turnover, and for LLPs above prescribed limits. A business can be subject to both.
Why reconcile books with AIS and Form 26AS before filing the ITR?
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a comprehensive record of your reported financial transactions — TDS, interest, dividends, securities and SFT data — while Form 26AS is your tax-credit statement. If your books do not match them, the return can be flagged and TDS credits missed. Reconciling before filing prevents notices and ensures you claim every credit.
MSME & Registration
What is the MSME 45-day payment rule under Section 43B(h)?
If you buy goods or services from a supplier registered as a micro or small enterprise on the Udyam portal, you must pay within 15 days where there is no written agreement, or the agreed date subject to a 45-day cap. If the amount is unpaid at 31 March, the expense is disallowed for that year under Section 43B(h) and only allowed when actually paid — increasing that year's taxable income.
Is Udyam (MSME) registration free?
Yes. Udyam registration is completely free on the official portal udyamregistration.gov.in and needs only your Aadhaar and PAN/GSTIN. Beware of third-party sites that charge a fee for what is a free government service. MSME registration unlocks collateral-free credit, the 45-day payment protection, priority-sector lending and various subsidies.
What are the MSME classification limits?
A micro enterprise has plant and machinery up to Rs 1 crore and turnover up to Rs 5 crore; small is up to Rs 10 crore and Rs 50 crore; medium is up to Rs 125 crore and Rs 500 crore. Only micro and small suppliers are covered by the Section 43B(h) 45-day payment rule. Confirm the latest notified limits before relying on them.
Pricing & Data
How is accounting priced and are there hidden charges?
Pricing is plan-based and matched to your monthly transaction volume, entity type and compliance load — bookkeeping, GST, TDS, payroll and ITR. Every plan includes a dedicated point of contact. Government filing fees are charged at actuals with no hidden markups; you get a clear quote after a short onboarding call.
Is my financial data safe with TaxClue?
Yes. We use encrypted storage, secure client portals and signed confidentiality agreements with all team members, comply with applicable data-privacy laws, do not share client data with third parties, and retain records only for the period required for compliance.
If you would rather not do it yourself

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TaxClue for small business & startups

Accounting, GST, TDS & ITR — One CA-Led Team

Keep your books clean and every statutory filing on time. Our CA-led team handles bookkeeping, GST and TDS returns, tax audit, MSME compliance and ITR filing — 100% online, across India.