Consultant & Independent Contractor Agreement
Agreements with freelancers, consultants and agencies
- 1ScopeWork, fees and IP agreed.
- 2DraftAgreement prepared.
- 3SignExecuted and stamped.
Share your details. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the next steps and a checklist.
Pick a plan — the fee is adjusted if you hire us within 30 days.
About Consultant & Independent Contractor Agreement
A clear overview, in simple terms — what it is, why it matters, and how we handle it.
A consultant or independent contractor agreement engages someone to deliver services without making them an employee. It defines scope and deliverables, fees and invoicing, TDS (10% on professional fees above ₹50,000 a year) and GST, IP ownership, confidentiality, and termination. If the relationship looks like employment in practice — fixed hours, supervision, integration into the team — labour law and tax authorities can treat it as employment regardless of the label.
Founders often engage early team members as consultants. That is lawful, but the agreement must match reality, and the IP the consultant creates must be assigned in writing — under the Copyright Act, an assignment that doesn't specify duration and territory is deemed to be for five years and for India only.
For freelancers, we draft agreements that protect payment: milestones, late-payment interest, kill fees and limits on liability.
| TDS on professional fees | 10% above ₹50,000 a year |
|---|---|
| IP | Written assignment needed; specify duration and territory |
| Misclassification risk | Control, hours and integration indicate employment |
| GST | Consultant charges GST if registered |
Who this is for
Common scenarios where this service is a good fit.
- Startups engaging consultants
- Companies hiring agencies
- Freelancers protecting their work and payments
What you get
Clear deliverables so you know exactly what's included.
- Agreement drafting
- IP assignment clause
- TDS/GST notes
- Revision round
Expert review before every submission — not just data entry.
Working notes and reconciliations you can rely on in future notices.
Resident Indians, NRIs, expats and cross-border businesses — all served.
Documents required
A practical checklist. We'll tell you if anything else is needed based on your case.
* This is a base checklist. After a quick pre-check, we may ask for additional items specific to your case.
Process
A simple, trackable workflow — designed to avoid back-and-forth.
Work, fees and IP agreed.
Agreement prepared.
Executed and stamped.
Get a quote
We share a clear quote on WhatsApp after a quick checklist pre-check.
- Fixed quote on WhatsApp after a short look at your facts and documents.
- Government fees, if any, are paid at actuals and shown separately.
| Factor | DIY | Indus Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Expert review | ❌ | ✅ |
| Notice risk reduction | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deduction optimisation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready records | ❌ | ✅ |
| AIS/26AS reconciliation | ❌ | ✅ |
Share your facts and deadline. We'll reply with the right checklist and a clear quote.
Fee adjusted against our service fee if you go ahead within 30 days.
- Priority CA Call-backSkip the queue — a CA calls you within 30 minutes.₹255
- RecommendedCA Consultation (30 min)Talk one matter through properly with a CA.₹755
- In-depth CA Review (60 min)Documents reviewed before the call, written action plan after.₹1,155
Call-backs run Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST. Booked outside these hours? We call you first thing the next working morning.
Compare the 3 plansFrequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions we get.
Official sources
Indus Tax is a private professional services firm and is not affiliated with any government authority. Rules and fees change — we confirm current positions before filing.
