1Can a practising company secretary use 44ADA?
Yes — company secretaryship is a specified profession under 44ADA. With receipts within Rs 50 lakh (Rs 75 lakh where cash is 5% or less), declare 50% as income with no audit or detailed books.
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ArticleCompany secretaries in practice earn professional income from compliance, secretarial and advisory work, often after TDS from corporate clients. Here's how practising CS professionals can save tax and stay compliant.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Practising CS professionals earn professional income — so 44ADA, real practice expenses, NPS and advance tax are the levers. Here's how.
With professional receipts within Rs 50 lakh (Rs 75 lakh where cash is 5% or less), Section 44ADA lets you declare 50% of receipts as income — no audit, no detailed books. For most CS practitioners with modest costs, this is the simplest and most tax-efficient route.
If your real costs — office rent, staff, software and filing portals, professional memberships, travel — exceed 50% of receipts, keep books and claim actuals instead. You may then fall under audit requirements, so maintain proper records.
Corporate clients deduct TDS on your fees, which appears in your 26AS/AIS. Claim full credit for it against your final tax and report all receipts the AIS shows — unclaimed credit and under-reporting are both avoidable.
On your personal return, use 80C up to Rs 1,50,000, the extra Rs 50,000 NPS under 80CCD(1B), and 80D health insurance (Rs 25,000, plus up to Rs 50,000 for senior parents). Compare the total against the new regime each year.
With no employer TDS covering everything, pay advance tax across the four instalments if your tax exceeds Rs 10,000, to avoid 234B/234C interest. Estimate professional income early so a strong year doesn't create an interest bill.
Yes — company secretaryship is a specified profession under 44ADA. With receipts within Rs 50 lakh (Rs 75 lakh where cash is 5% or less), declare 50% as income with no audit or detailed books.
Yes — TDS is only an advance; the income is taxed at your slab. Claim full credit for the TDS in your 26AS and report all receipts your AIS shows.
Presumptive if real costs are below 50% of receipts; actual if higher. A staffed practice with high costs may do better on actual books, but must keep proper records.
Running a CS practice? Write to the firm and we'll set up your presumptive-vs-actual call and advance tax.