Home India The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15(2)(fa) of ...
Date: 2025-07-25 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15(2)(fa) of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949)

Issued by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary: These are the Chartered Accountants Limit on Number of Tax Audits Guidelines, 2025, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India under Section 152fa of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. The guidelines define limits on the number of tax audit assignments a Chartered Accountant can accept and sign in a financial year, coming into effect on April 1, 2026. These guidelines supersede earlier guidelines on the subject from 1.4.2026 onwards. Key Points / Main Content: * **Short Title and Commencement:** * These guidelines are called "The Chartered Accountants Limit on Number of Tax Audits Guidelines, 2025". * They come into effect from April 1, 2026. * These guidelines are issued regarding the limit on the number of tax audit assignments under Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. * **Definitions:** * Defines "Act," "Chartered Accountant in practice," "Council," and "Institute" as per the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. * Terms not defined in the guidelines have the same meaning as in the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, and its related rules and regulations. * **Limit on Tax Audit Assignments:** * A Chartered Accountant in practice cannot accept and sign more than the specified number of tax audit assignments in a financial year. * The financial year in which the audit report is signed is considered for determining the specified number of tax audit assignments. * For firms, the limit applies to each partner. * If a partner is in multiple firms, the combined tax audit assignments across all firms cannot exceed the specified number. * Tax audit assignments accepted individually by a partner are also counted towards the aggregate limit. * **Exclusions from Limit:** * Tax audit assignments under clauses c, d, and e of Section 44AB related to persons under Sections 44AE, 44ADA, and 44AD are not counted towards the limit. * Revised tax audit reports are not counted. * **Specified Number of Tax Audit Assignments:** * For individual Chartered Accountants or proprietary firms, the limit is 60 tax audit assignments per financial year. * For firms, the limit is 60 tax audit assignments per partner per financial year. * Each financial year's audit is considered a separate assignment. * Assignments accepted singly or in combination with other Chartered Accountants/firms are counted. * Audit of head office and branch offices of an entity is considered a single assignment. * Audit of multiple branches of the same entity by one Chartered Accountant is one assignment. * A part-time practicing partner is not considered for reckoning the firm's tax audit assignments. * **Record Keeping:** * Chartered Accountants must maintain a record of accepted and signed tax audit assignments in the format provided by the Council. * **Superseding Earlier Guidelines:** * These guidelines supersede all earlier guidelines on this subject with effect from 1.4.2026 onwards. * Chapter VI of the Council General Guidelines, 2008 Council Guidelines No.1CA7022008 dated 8th August, 2008 shall continue to be valid till 31.3.2026. Impact Analysis: * **Chartered Accountants in Practice:** * *Impact:* Limits the number of tax audit assignments they can undertake in a financial year, potentially affecting their revenue and workload distribution. * *Action Required:* Need to track and manage their tax audit assignments to comply with the specified limits, and maintain records as per the Council's format. * **Firms of Chartered Accountants:** * *Impact:* May need to redistribute work among partners to ensure compliance with the per-partner limit on tax audit assignments. * *Action Required:* Monitor the assignments of each partner, especially those associated with multiple firms, and adjust workload distribution accordingly. * **Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):** * *Impact:* Responsible for enforcing the guidelines and providing clarification or addressing difficulties that may arise. * *Action Required:* Monitor compliance, provide necessary clarifications through circulars, and potentially update the guidelines based on feedback and practical experience.

Key Entities Referenced

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India: An organisation set up by an Act of Parliament, responsible for regulating the profession of chartered accountancy in India. It is the issuer of the guidelines discussed in the policy document. Chartered Accountants Act, 1949: An Indian legislation governing the profession of Chartered Accountancy and the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Section 152fa of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949: A specific section within the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 that grants powers related to the guidelines outlined in the document. The Chartered Accountants Limit on Number of Tax Audits Guidelines, 2025: The formal name of the guidelines being established to limit the number of tax audit assignments a Chartered Accountant can undertake. Incometax Act, 1961: An Indian legislation related to income tax. Section 44AB of this act is referenced in the guidelines. Section 44AB of the Incometax Act, 1961: A section of the Incometax Act, 1961 related to tax audit assignments, with guidelines impacting the number of assignments a Chartered Accountant can undertake. Council General Guidelines, 2008: Earlier guidelines that will be superseded by the new Chartered Accountants Limit on Number of Tax Audits Guidelines, 2025, with effect from 1.4.2026 onwards. New Delhi: The city where the notification regarding the Chartered Accountants Limit on Number of Tax Audits Guidelines, 2025 was issued.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-29072025-265051 xxxGIDHxxx CG-DL-E-29072025-265051 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग III—खण् ड 4 PART III—Section 4 प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 525] नई ददल्ली, िुक्रवार, िुलाई 25, 2025/श्रावण 3, 1947 No. 525] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025/SHRAVANA 3, 1947 भारतीय चार्टड ट अकाउंर्ेंट्स सस्ट्ं थान (संसद ्के एक अजधजनयम द्वारा स्ट्थाजित) अजधसचू ना नई ददल् ली, 25 िुलाई, 2025 फा. स.ं 1-सीए (7)/234/2025.— चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् अजधजनयम, 1949 (1949 का 38) की धारा 15(2)(चक) द्वारा प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, भारतीय चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंट्स संस्ट्थान की िररषद एतद्द्वारा जनम्नजलजखत ददिाजनदिे बनाती ह ै: सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ 1. इन ददिाजनदेिों का संजिप्त नाम चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् (कर लेखािरीिा संख्या की सीमा) ददिाजनदेि, 2025 ह ै । 2. ये ददिाजनदेि तारीख 01.04.2026 से प्रभावी होंगे । 3. य े ददिाजनदेि आय-कर अजधजनयम, 1961 की धारा 44कख के अधीन कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की संख्या की सीमा के संबंध म ें िारी दकए िा रह े ह ैं । िररभाषाए ँ 4. इन ददिाजनदेिों के प्रयोिन के जलए : (क) “अजधजनयम” से चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् अजधजनयम, 1949 अजभप्रेत ह ै। 5018 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] (ख) "व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर्" से ऐसा व्यजि अजभप्रेत ह,ै िो संस्ट्थान का सदस्ट्य ह ै और अजधजनयम की धारा 6 के अधीन िारी जवजधमान्य व्यवसाय प्रमाणित्र धारण करता ह ै। (ग) "िररषद" से अजधजनयम की धारा 9 के अधीन गरित संस्ट्थान की िररषद अजभप्रेत ह ै । (घ) "संस्ट्थान" से अजधजनयम के अधीन गरित भारतीय चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् संस्ट्थान अजभप्रेत ह ै । 5. अन्य सभी िब्दों और िदों, जिन्ह ें इसमें प्रयुि दकया गया ह ै ककंतु िररभाजषत नहीं दकया गया है, का वही अथ ट ह ै िो चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् अजधजनयम, 1949 और तदधीन बनाए गए जनयमों तथा जवजनयमों में उनका ह ै । 6. कोई व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेर् इन ददिाजनदेिों के जनबंधनानसु ार दकसी जवत्तीय वषट में "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" से अजधक लेखािरीिाओं को स्ट्वीकार और हस्ट्तािररत नहीं करेगा । स्ट्िष्टीकरण—यदद इन ददिाजनदेिों के अधीन लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों को स्ट्वीकार तथा उन िर हस्ट्तािर दकया िाना जभन्न-जभन्न जवत्तीय वषों में दकया िाता ह ै तो उस दिा में वह जवत्तीय वषट, जिसमें ररिोर्ट िर हस्ट्तािर दकए िाते ह,ैं "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" की संगणना के जलए जवचार में जलया िाएगा । 7. दकसी व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् फम ट की दिा में, "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" को फम ट के प्रत्येक भागीदार के जलए कर लेखािरीिा समनुदिे नों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या के रूि में माना िाएगा । 8. िहां फम ट का कोई भागीदार, व्यसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेर्ों की दकसी अन्य फमट या फमों का भागीदार भी ह,ै तो ऐसे भागीदार के संबंध म ें सभी फमों के जलए दकए िाने वाल े कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या कुल जमलाकर "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" से अजधक नहीं होगी । 9. िहां दकसी व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर्ों की फम ट का कोई भागीदार अिनी व्यजष्टक हजै सयत म ें एक या अजधक कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों को स्ट्वीकार करता ह,ै वहा ं उसके द्वारा इस प्रकार स्ट्वीकार और हस्ट्तािररत दकए गए समनुदेिनों की संख्या कुल जमलाकर "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" से अजधक नहीं होगी। 10. क्रमि: धारा 44कङ, 44कघक और 44कघ के अंतगतट आने वाले व्यजियों के संबंध में धारा 44कख के खंड (ग), खंड (घ) और खंड (ङ) के अधीन अिेिाओं से उद्भूत होने वाल े कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों को, इन ददिाजनदेिों के अधीन "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" की सगं णना के प्रयोिन स े जवचार में नहीं जलया िाएगा । 11. कर लेखािरीिा ररिोर्ट के िुनरीिण की दिा म,ें िुनरीजित कर लेखािरीिा ररिोर्ट "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" की संगणना के प्रयोिन के जलए जवचार में नहीं ली िाएगी । 12. स्ट्िष्टीकरण : उिरोि प्रयोिन के जलए, "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" से जनम्नजलजखत अजभप्रेत ह,ै - (क) दकसी व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् या चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् की दकसी स्ट्वतवधारी फम ट की दिा में, एक जवत्तीय वषट म ें 60 कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिन, चाह े वे जनगम या गैर-जनगम जनधाटररजतयों स े संबजं धत हों । (ख) दकसी व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर्ों की फम ट की दिा में, एक जवत्तीय वषट में, फमट में प्रजत भागीदार 60 कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिन, चाह े वे जनगम या गैर-जनगम जनधाटररजतयों से संबजं धत हों । 12.1 "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" की संगणना करते समय, प्रत्येक जवत्तीय वष ट की लेखािरीिा को एक िृथक समनुदेिन के रूि में जवचार में जलया िाएगा । 12.2 "कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की जवजनर्दटष्ट संख्या" की सगं णना में, ऐसे समनुदिे नों की संख्या, जिन्ह ें उसन े या उसकी फम ट के दकसी भागीदार न े स्ट्वीकार दकया ह,ै चाह े वे अकेल े या दकसी अन्य व्यवसायरत चार्टड ट अकाउंर्ेंर् या ऐसे चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर्ों की दकसी फम ट के साथ संयुि रूि से स्ट्वीकार दकए गए हों, को जवचार में जलया िाएगा ।[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािित्र : असाधारण 3 12.3 दकसी अजस्ट्तत्व के प्रधान कायाटलय और िाखा कायाटलयों की लेखािरीिा को एकल कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिन समझा िाएगा । 12.4 दकसी एक व्यवसायरत चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् द्वारा समान इकाई की एक या अजधक िाखाओं की लेखािरीिा को केवल एक कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिन समझा िाएगा । 12.5 दकसी फम ट में अंिकाजलक रूि से व्यवसायरत भागीदार के रूि में दकसी चार्टडट अकाउंर्ेंर् को फम ट की कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों की संगणना के प्रयोिन के जलए जवचार में नहीं जलया िाएगा । 13. कोई व्यवसायरत चार्टड ट अकाउंर्ेंर् प्रत्येक जवत्तीय वषट में, िररषद ् द्वारा यथाउिबंजधत प्ररूि में उसके द्वारा प्रत्येक जवत्तीय वषट में स्ट्वीकार और हस्ट्तािररत दकए गए कर लेखािरीिा समनुदेिनों का अजभलेख बनाए रखेगा । य े ददिाजनदेि तारीख 1.4.2026 से इस जवषय िर िारी दकए गए िूवटवती सभी ददिाजनदेिों को अजधक्रांत करेंगे । िररषद साधारण ददिाजनदेि, 2008 [िररषद ददिाजनदेि संख्या 1-सीए (7)/02/2008 तारीख 8 अगस्ट्त, 2008] का अध्याय VI तारीख 31.3.2026 तक जवजधमान्य बना रहगे ा । करिनाइयों को दरू करन े की िजि यदद इन ददिाजनदेिों के उिबंधों को प्रभावी करने में कोई करिनाई उत्िन्न होती ह ै तो िररषद ् दकसी साधारण या जविेष आदेि द्वारा िररित्रों के रूि में, िैसा दक आवश्यक या समीचीन हो, करिनाई को दरू करन े के प्रयोिन के जलए ऐसे स्ट्िष्टीकरण िारी कर सकेगी, िो अजधजनयम के उिबंधों से असंगत न हों । सीए. (डॉ.) िय कुमार बत्रा, सजचव [जवज्ञािन-III/4/असा./258/2025-26] THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA (Set up by an Act of Parliament) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 25th July, 2025 F. No. 1-CA(7)/234/2025.—In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15(2)(fa) of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949), the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India hereby makes the following guidelines: Short title and commencement 1. These guidelines may be called The Chartered Accountants (Limit on Number of Tax Audits) Guidelines, 2025. 2. They shall come into force w.e.f. 01.04.2026 onwards. 3. These Guidelines are issued in respect of limit on number of tax audit assignments under Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Definitions 4. For the purpose of these Guidelines: (a) ‘Act’ means the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. (b) “Chartered Accountant in practice” means a person who is a member of the Institute and holds a valid Certificate of Practice issued under Section 6 of the Act. (c) “Council” means the Council of the Institute constituted under Section 9 of the Act. (d) “Institute” means the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India constituted under the Act. 5. All other words and expressions used but not defined herein have the same meaning as assigned to them under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 and the Rules, Regulations made thereunder.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] 6. A Chartered Accountant in practice shall not accept and sign, in a financial year, more than the “specified number of tax audit assignments” in terms of these Guidelines. Explanation – In case acceptance and signing of the audit assignments under these Guidelines are spread over in two different financial years, then, the financial year in which the report is signed will be considered for the “specified number of tax audit assignments”. 7. In the case of a firm of Chartered Accountants in practice, the “specified number of tax audit assignments” shall be construed as the specified number of tax audit assignments for each partner of the firm. 8. Where any partner of the firm is also a partner of any other firm or firms of Chartered Accountants in practice, the number of tax audit assignments which may be taken for all the firms put together in relation to such partner shall not exceed the “specified number of tax audit assignments” in the aggregate. 9. Where any partner of a firm of Chartered Accountants in practice accepts one or more tax audit assignments in his individual capacity, the total number of such assignments which may be accepted and signed by him shall not exceed the “specified number of tax audit assignments” in the aggregate. 10. The tax audit assignments arising out of the requirements under clause (c), clause (d) and clause (e) of section 44AB, in relation to persons covered under section 44AE, 44ADA and 44AD, respectively, shall not be taken into account for the purpose of reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments” under these Guidelines. 11. In case of revision of tax audit report, the revised tax audit report shall not be taken into account for the purpose of calculating “the specified number of tax audit assignments”. 12. Explanation: For the above purpose, “the specified number of tax audit assignments” means - (a) in the case of a Chartered Accountant in practice or a proprietary firm of Chartered Accountant, 60 tax audit assignments, in a financial year, whether in respect of corporate or non-corporate assesses. (b) in the case of firm of Chartered Accountants in practice, 60 tax audit assignments per partner in the firm, in a financial year, whether in respect of corporate or non-corporate assesses. 12.1 In computing the “specified number of tax audit assignments”, each financial year’s audit would be taken as a separate assignment. 12.2 In computing the “specified number of tax audit assignments”, the number of such assignments, which he or any partner of his firm has accepted, whether singly or in combination with any other Chartered Accountant in practice or firm of such Chartered Accountants, shall be taken into account. 12.3 The audit of the head office and branch offices of an entity shall be regarded as single tax audit assignment. 12.4 The audit of one or more branches of the same entity by one Chartered Accountant in practice shall be construed as only one tax audit assignment. 12.5 A Chartered Accountant being a part time practicing partner of a firm shall not be taken into account for the purpose of reckoning the tax audit assignments of the firm. 13. A Chartered Accountant in practice shall maintain a record of the tax audit assignments accepted and signed by him in each financial year in the format as may be provided by the Council. These guidelines shall supercede all earlier guidelines on this subject with effect from 1.4.2026 onwards. Chapter VI of the Council General Guidelines, 2008 [Council Guidelines No.1-CA(7)/02/2008 dated 8th August, 2008] shall continue to be valid till 31.3.2026. Power to remove difficulties If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of these Guidelines, the Council may, by general or special order, issue clarification in the form of Circulars as may be necessary or expedient, which is not inconsistent with provisions of the Act, for the purpose of removing the difficulty. CA. (Dr.) JAI KUMAR BATRA, Secy. [ADVT.-III/4/Exty./258/2025-26] Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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