The best international tax work is boring in the right way: documented facts, clear positions, and clean working papers that will hold up under scrutiny. Your evaluation of a CA firm should focus on process quality — not just credentials or price.
10 Questions to Ask Before Engaging
- Do you provide a document checklist upfront? (Process discipline starts here)
- How do you handle DTAA claims — will you share the treaty article and your working paper?
- What is your turnaround time and how will I know the status?
- Do I get a reviewed copy before final filing? Who reviews it — CA or staff?
- How do you handle AIS/26AS mismatches?
- What happens if there is a notice after filing — are you available for support?
- Are you experienced with my specific country's treaty with India?
- Can you handle Schedule FA (foreign assets) and Schedule FSI (foreign source income)?
- What is your fee — fixed or variable? Any additional charges for revisions?
- Do you have ICAI registration that I can verify?
Red Flags to Watch Out For
- Promises specific refund amounts before reviewing documents
- No mention of DTAA documentation (TRC, Form 10F) in their process
- Unusually low price without scoping call — probably cutting corners
- Cannot explain which treaty article applies to your specific income type
- No written scope or engagement letter before starting
What Good Process Looks Like
- Clear scoping: List of your income sources, countries, and scenarios
- Document checklist: Specific to your case — passport, TRC, Form 10F, AIS, etc.
- Secure document sharing: Encrypted link, not email attachments
- Written working notes: Shows the position taken and the treaty article relied on
- Draft for review: You should see the ITR before it's filed
- Post-filing support: At minimum, they should respond to basic notices arising from their work