CA fees for ITR filing in India for FY 2025-26 typically range from ₹500–₹1,500 for a simple salaried return (ITR-1), ₹3,000–₹5,000 for capital gains cases (ITR-2), and ₹4,000–₹10,000 for freelancers or business income (ITR-3). Online platforms like FirstReports start at ₹999 for salaried ITR filing with full CA review. If a CA quotes ₹3,000+ for a basic salaried return with one Form 16 and no capital gains, that is above market rate for FY 2025-26.
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What CAs Typically Charge to File Your ITR in India
The cost of CA-assisted ITR filing in India varies widely — from ₹500 for a simple return at a local tax preparer to ₹20,000+ for complex HNI situations. Here are realistic market benchmarks for FY 2025-26:
Simple Salaried Return (ITR-1)
- Local CA / tax agent: ₹500–₹1,500
- Online platforms: ₹999–₹1,499
- Big accounting firms: Typically do not offer individual salaried returns; they focus on business clients
A simple salaried ITR (one employer, no capital gains, no foreign income, Form 16 available) should cost you no more than ₹1,500 anywhere. If a CA quotes ₹3,000+ for a basic salaried return, that is above market rate.
ITR-2 — With Capital Gains or Multiple Income Sources
- Online platforms: from ₹2,999 (major platforms like ClearTax start at ₹3,999 for capital gains plans)
- Practising CA: ₹3,000–₹5,000 depending on complexity
Capital gains cases involve more work: the CA must compute STCG/LTCG scrip by scrip, apply FIFO matching for equity, and correctly apply the new 20%/12.5% rates from Budget 2024. This justifies a higher fee than a basic salaried return.
ITR for High Income (Above ₹50 Lakh)
- Online platforms: ₹1,999–₹3,999
- Practising CA: ₹3,000–₹10,000
HNI returns involve Schedule AL (assets and liabilities), surcharge computation, and sometimes foreign income or DTAA. This requires more expertise and more time, and the fees reflect that.
Freelancer / Business Income (ITR-3 or ITR-4)
- Online platforms: ₹2,499–₹2,999
- Practising CA: ₹4,000–₹8,000
If a tax audit is required (turnover above ₹1 crore for business, ₹50 lakh for professionals under certain conditions), costs rise to ₹10,000–₹25,000+ as the CA must certify the audit report under Section 44AB.
ICAI Recommended Minimum Fees
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) publishes recommended minimum fees for ITR filing. These are not mandatory, but they give you a sense of what the profession considers a fair floor:
- Class A cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, etc.): ₹8,000 and above
- Class B cities: ₹6,000 and above
- Class C cities: ₹4,000 and above
In practice, most individual CAs and online platforms charge significantly below these recommendations — especially for simple salaried returns. The ICAI figures are a ceiling expectation, not a floor you should blindly pay.
Why Do Prices Vary So Much?
The variation comes from several factors:
- Complexity of income: One employer + Form 16 = simple. Multiple brokers + rental income + ESOP = complex.
- Geography: Metro CAs charge more than tier-2 city CAs, even for identical work.
- CA seniority and reputation: A CA who is a partner at a firm charges more than a fresh practitioner.
- Urgency: Filing in June is cheaper than filing in the last week of July.
- Platform vs. individual CA: Online platforms achieve lower prices through standardisation and scale.
What Should Be Included in the Fee
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A fair ITR filing fee should cover, at minimum:
- Review of Form 16 / income documents
- New vs old regime comparison and selection
- Income computation and ITR form preparation
- E-filing on the income tax portal
- E-verification
- ITR acknowledgement provided to you
Some CAs charge extra for e-filing, verification, and the acknowledgement — these should ideally be bundled. Always ask what is included before agreeing to a price.
Red Flags to Watch For
- "We will file a revised return if anything goes wrong" — charged separately: A revised return should be a standard service. If the error was the CA's fault, it should be free.
- No written engagement letter: Any professional engagement should have a clear scope in writing, even if it is just a WhatsApp message confirming what is included.
- Asking for your income tax portal password: A CA can file using their DSC or an OTP-based process. They should not need your portal login credentials. If they insist, be cautious — this creates a security risk.
- Promising a refund that seems too high: A CA cannot "create" refunds. Any refund you receive is your legally entitled TDS credit. Be skeptical of promises like "we will get you ₹50,000 refund" unless your Form 26AS shows that TDS was actually deducted.
- Charging by refund percentage: Some practitioners charge a percentage of the refund they "obtain" for you. This is not illegal, but it is an incentive structure that may not align with accurate filing.
Self-Filing vs. CA: When Is It Worth Paying?
Self-filing (free on the portal) makes sense if:
- You have one salary, Form 16 in hand, no capital gains, no foreign income
- You are comfortable with the income tax portal
- Your income and deductions are straightforward
A CA is worth the fee if:
- You changed jobs during the year (dual Form 16, potential tax shortfall)
- You have capital gains from stocks or mutual funds
- You have income above ₹50 lakh
- You have foreign income, ESOP, or RSU income
- There is a TDS mismatch in your Form 26AS
- You received a notice from the IT Department
The fee-saving on errors alone — a wrong regime choice or a missed TDS claim — can easily exceed ₹5,000 for a mid-income earner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a CA charge to file ITR in India for FY 2025-26?
Typical market rates: ₹500–₹1,500 for a simple salaried ITR-1 (one employer, Form 16, no capital gains); ₹3,000–₹5,000 for ITR-2 with capital gains; ₹4,000–₹10,000 for freelancers or business income (ITR-3). Online platforms like FirstReports charge from ₹999 for salaried returns with full CA review.
What is a fair CA fee for ITR filing with capital gains?
₹3,000–₹5,000 is a reasonable range for capital gains cases in FY 2025-26. Capital gains require FIFO cost matching, STCG/LTCG classification at the new 20%/12.5% rates (Finance Act 2024), and populating Schedule 112A with scrip-wise data — this justifies a higher fee than a basic salaried return.
What should be included in a CA's ITR filing fee?
A fair fee should include: review of all income documents (Form 16, AIS, capital gains statements), new vs old regime comparison, income computation, ITR preparation, e-filing on the income tax portal, e-verification, and delivery of the ITR acknowledgement. Ask specifically — some CAs charge extra for e-filing and verification.
Should I share my income tax portal login with my CA?
No. A CA can file your return using their own DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) or an OTP-based process. You should never need to share your IT portal password. If a CA insists on your password, it is a red flag — it creates a security risk and is not necessary for legitimate filing.
What are the ICAI recommended fees for ITR filing?
The ICAI recommended minimum fees (non-binding) are: ₹8,000+ in Class A cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru), ₹6,000+ in Class B cities, and ₹4,000+ in Class C cities. In practice, most individual CAs and all online platforms charge significantly below these figures — especially for salaried returns.
When is it worth hiring a CA instead of filing ITR myself?
A CA is worth the fee when you have: multiple Form 16s (job change), capital gains from stocks or mutual funds, income above ₹50 lakh (Schedule AL required), foreign income or ESOP/RSU, a TDS mismatch in Form 26AS, or if you've received an IT Department notice. For a straightforward salaried case with one employer and no capital gains, self-filing on the portal is free and feasible.
What are red flags when hiring a CA for ITR?
Watch out for: charging extra for e-verification (should be included); asking for your IT portal password; promising unusually high refunds (a CA cannot "create" refunds beyond your actual TDS credit); charging a percentage of your refund amount; no written confirmation of what's included in the scope.
What FirstReports Charges
At FirstReports, we believe CA-assisted filing should not cost a fortune for straightforward returns:
- Income below ₹50 lakh (ITR-1/ITR-2): from ₹999 (₹799 with our current launch discount)
- Income above ₹50 lakh (ITR-2/ITR-3): from ₹1,999 (₹1,599 with our current launch discount)
- Advance tax calculation: from ₹999 (₹799 with our current launch discount)
All plans include full CA review, regime comparison, portal filing, e-verification, and ITR acknowledgement. Fixed pricing, no hidden add-ons. View detailed pricing →