trunk callHow to Find a Chartered Accountant Online (and What to Pay)
How to find a chartered accountant online for ITR, GST, and startup compliance — with realistic price ranges and what to ask before booking.
Hiring a CA used to mean a friend-of-a-friend recommendation, three unanswered calls, and finally settling for whoever picks up. The internet should have fixed this years ago and mostly did not — most "find a CA" sites are lead-gen forms that sell your number to whoever bid highest.
TrunkCall flipped the model: CAs list themselves with rates, ratings, and live availability. You pick one, you call, you pay for what you used. That is it.
When you actually need a CA
Not every tax question needs a CA. The free help on Income Tax India and a careful read of Form 16 cover most salaried filers. You need a CA when:
- You have capital gains beyond a single equity sale.
- You are claiming foreign income, RSUs, or ESOPs.
- You run a business or earn freelance/consulting income.
- You missed an ITR or got a notice (143(1), 139(9), 148).
- You are setting up a company or applying for GST.
How to evaluate a CA in five minutes
Three things to check before you book a call:
- Specialty. A CA who does GST for D2C brands all day is the wrong fit for an NRI tax question. The profile bio tells you what they actually do.
- Rating freshness. Look at the last 10 reviews, not the lifetime average. Recent activity matters more than a 5-star average from 2022.
- Response time. CAs who answer within an hour during business hours are the ones who will actually pick up when you have a notice on a deadline.
What it should cost
| Service | Realistic range | |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 (salaried, simple) | Rs 500 – Rs 1,500 | 15–30 min call |
| ITR-2 (capital gains) | Rs 1,500 – Rs 4,000 | 45 min – 1.5 hr |
| ITR-3/4 (business income) | Rs 3,000 – Rs 10,000 | 1–3 sessions |
| GST registration | Rs 1,500 – Rs 5,000 | One-time |
| Startup incorporation | Rs 8,000 – Rs 20,000 | 1–2 weeks elapsed |
| Quick doubt (per-minute call) | Rs 10 – Rs 25/min | Average call ~10 min |
How to brief your CA before the call
A CA who walks into the call with your context is faster and cheaper than one figuring it out live. In the booking note, include:
- Your filing form (ITR-1/2/3/4) and assessment year.
- Form 16 and any 26AS or AIS exception you spotted.
- A one-line description of the doubt: "Confused whether RSUs vest before sale need to be declared as ESOP perquisite or capital gains."
Find a CA right now
Browse verified chartered accountants by speciality, rating, and live availability.
Find a CA →Frequently asked
Are CAs on TrunkCall verified?
Yes. CAs verify their ICAI membership number during onboarding. Verified CAs show a green check on their profile.
Can I share documents with the CA on the call?
Yes. Calls support file sharing and screen share, so you can show your Form 16 or notice live without emailing it separately.
Do CAs file the return for me, or only advise?
Both options are common. Per-minute calls are typically advisory. Scheduled sessions often include the actual filing as part of the package — confirm in the booking note.
What if I get a tax notice after filing?
You can call the same CA again. Many keep notes from your earlier session and can respond to a notice in a single follow-up call.
Is the call confidential?
Yes. Calls are encrypted in transit, not recorded by default, and CAs are bound by ICAI confidentiality rules.