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Blogs & Articles

Expert Insights on Tax, GST & Indian Compliance.

Written by practising Chartered Accountants. Practical, current, India-specific.

Corporate compliance filing documents and MCA portal
Article
Compliance

MCA Annual Filing Checklist: Every Deadline a Private Limited Company Must Meet

Missing MCA annual filings attracts ₹200/day late fees and can lead to director disqualification. This checklist covers every ROC, MCA, and related statutory filing deadline for a Private Limited Company.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
5 Apr 20258 min
CFO reviewing audit documentation on tablet
ArticleFeatured
Audit

Audit Trail Requirements Under the Companies Act: A Board-Level Implementation Guide

MCA's audit trail mandate requires all accounting software used by companies to maintain a tamper-proof record of every transaction. Non-compliance is grounds for a qualified auditor's report. Here is how to implement it.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
28 Mar 20259 min
Stock options certificate and financial documents
Article
Tax

ESOP Taxation in India: A Complete Guide for Employees and Employers

ESOPs appear simple on the surface but have significant tax consequences at exercise and at sale. Get this wrong and employees face unexpected tax bills — while employers lose the deductibility of the perquisite.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
5 Mar 20259 min
Cargo containers at a port representing customs duty and import compliance
Article
Regulatory

Customs Duty Optimisation in India: EPCG, FTA Routes, and Legitimate Savings

Indian importers often overpay customs duty by ignoring legitimate avenues like EPCG, advance authorisations, and FTA preferential tariffs. This guide walks through each mechanism with eligibility criteria and real savings calculations.

Cogent Tax & Customs Team
1 Mar 202512 min
Board meeting reviewing related party transaction disclosures
Article
Audit

Related Party Transactions: Audit Requirements, Disclosures, and Board Responsibilities

Related party transactions are normal in Indian business structures — but inadequately documented RPTs are a primary audit finding and ITC/expense disallowance trigger. Here is the compliance framework every company must follow.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
28 Feb 202510 min
Cargo containers at Indian port representing import compliance
Article
GST

IGST on Imports and ITC: How to Claim Your Customs Integrated Tax Credit Correctly

IGST paid at customs is ITC-eligible, but many importers either miss the claim or claim it incorrectly. The ICEGATE-GSTN integration automatically populates your GSTR-2B — understanding this flow prevents both under-claiming and errors.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
14 Feb 20259 min
CFO reviewing transfer pricing documentation on laptop
Article
Finance

Transfer Pricing Documentation: A Practical Checklist for Indian CFOs

Transfer pricing is no longer just a multinational concern. Any company with related-party transactions above ₹1 crore must comply with India's TP documentation rules. Here is what your CFO must prepare — and by when.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
10 Feb 202511 min
Business owner reviewing GRC risk and compliance framework
Article
Compliance

GRC Framework for Indian SMEs: Building Governance, Risk, and Compliance Without an In-House Team

Large enterprises have entire GRC departments. Indian SMEs and mid-sized businesses cannot afford that — but they still face the same compliance universe. Here is a lean, practical GRC framework that works for businesses with 20–200 employees.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
25 Jan 202511 min
International business documents and foreign currency representing FEMA compliance
Article
Regulatory

FEMA Compliance for Indian Startups Receiving Foreign Investment

Receiving foreign investment without proper FEMA compliance can result in penalties of up to 3× the transaction amount. Here is your complete framework for staying on the right side of RBI's foreign exchange regulations.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
20 Jan 202512 min
Virtual CFO consulting with business team on financial strategy
Article
Finance

Virtual CFO Services: When to Hire One, What to Expect, and How to Evaluate

A full-time CFO costs ₹25–60L annually. A Virtual CFO delivers the same strategic finance capability at 20–30% of the cost. Here is how to decide if you need one and what to expect.

CA Gorantla Butchibabu
8 Jan 20258 min