Outsourced accounting for a small business in India means a team outside your payroll keeps the books and files the returns that depend on them: GST returns by the 11th and 20th of each month (quarterly filers by the 13th and 22nd or 24th), TDS deposits within 7 days of each month end with quarterly statements, and the yearly ROC and income tax filings. Ofin provides outsourced bookkeeping with GST, TDS and ROC compliance for a fixed fee, agreed after a review of your books.
What outsourced accounting services cover for a small business
A complete service covers the books and every statutory return that draws on them. The table shows the recurring work for a GST-registered company or LLP with staff; a smaller business may need only some rows.
| How often | Task | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Bookkeeping and bank reconciliation | Ongoing, closed each month |
| Monthly | TDS deposit | Within 7 days of the month end; March by 30 April |
| Monthly | GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B | 11th and 20th of the next month |
| Quarterly (QRMP) | GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B | 13th, and 22nd or 24th depending on the state |
| Monthly | PF and ESI contributions | 15th of the next month |
| Quarterly | TDS and TCS statements in Forms 138, 140, 144 and 143 | 31 July, 31 October, 31 January, 31 May |
| Yearly | GSTR-9 (turnover above ₹2 crore), GSTR-9C (above ₹5 crore) | 31 December |
| Yearly | Accounts for audit, ROC filings and the income tax return | AGM by 30 September; audited returns by 31 October |
The GST return due date calendar lists each GST date for your state, and the annual MCA work is described under company annual compliance and LLP annual compliance.
Bookkeeping rules that apply to small businesses in India
The law sets how books are kept and how long they are kept, and the rules differ by business type. Whoever keeps your books has to meet the strictest rule that applies to you.
- Companies keep books at the registered office on accrual basis under double entry, with vouchers, for at least eight financial years (section 128 of the Companies Act 2013).
- LLPs may use cash or accrual basis, but under double entry, and preserve books for eight years (section 34 of the LLP Act and rule 24 of the LLP Rules).
- GST-registered businesses keep accounts at the principal place of business and retain them for 72 months from the due date of the annual return for that year (sections 35 and 36 of the CGST Act 2017).
Example. The GST annual return for FY 2025-26 is due by 31 December 2026, so a registered business must keep that year's GST records until at least 31 December 2032, 72 months later.
Outsourced accounting vs an in-house accountant
The choice turns on workload and control. A business with modest monthly volumes may not need a full-time accountant, while one with daily billing, stock and cash may need someone on site, sometimes alongside an outsourced reviewer.
| Point | Outsourced team | In-house accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fixed fee for agreed scope | Salary, plus PF and ESI where they apply |
| Review | At Ofin, accountants work under a chartered accountant | Depends on the person hired |
| Continuity | The team covers leave and exits | Work stops when the person leaves |
| Statutory knowledge | Tracks GST, TDS and MCA changes across clients | Must be trained and updated |
| Presence | Works from shared documents online | On site every day |
Where PF applies, the employer adds 12% of wages, and from 17 September 2026 PF covers employees earning up to ₹25,000 a month, so an in-house hire costs more than the salary alone.
How outsourcing your accounting works, step by step
Most of the setup effort goes into the first month, when the provider learns your business and fixes what is behind. After that the cycle repeats every month.
- Review. Share registrations (PAN, GSTIN, TAN, professional tax), the previous year's accounts and the current state of the books.
- Catch up. Pending entries, reconciliations and overdue returns are cleared first, oldest deadline first.
- Set the document flow. Sales invoices, purchase bills, expense receipts and bank statements arrive on fixed dates each month through a shared folder.
- Monthly close. Books are updated, the bank is reconciled, and GST and TDS are worked out and paid by their dates.
- Quarterly statements. TDS and TCS statements are filed by their due dates.
- Year end. Accounts are finalised for the statutory or tax auditor, then the ROC filings and income tax return follow.
What it costs when books fall behind
Late books turn into late returns, and each return has its own fee and interest. The amounts below are the main ones, and the TDS late fee and interest calculator and GST late fee calculator work out exact figures.
- GST. A per-day late fee on GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B, capped by turnover, plus 18% a year interest on tax paid late. A return cannot be filed at all more than three years after its due date.
- TDS. ₹200 a day until the statement is filed, up to the tax deducted, plus interest of 1% a month for late deduction and 1.5% for late deposit. A penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 can follow, unless everything is paid and the statement filed within a month of the due date.
- Tax audit. From tax year 2026-27, missing the tax audit costs a fixed ₹75,000 for a delay of up to one month and ₹1,50,000 after that.
- ROC. AOC-4 and the annual return attract ₹100 a day each until filed.
Choosing an outsourced accounting provider
Look past the monthly fee to who does the work and what is included. A low fee that excludes returns usually costs more once the first deadline is missed.
- A chartered accountant reviews the books and returns, not only a data-entry team.
- GST, TDS, payroll deductions and ROC filings are in scope, or priced upfront.
- The books stay in software you can access, and you get the data back if you leave.
- Documents are exchanged through a secure shared folder, with a named contact.
- The provider confirms each filing with the acknowledgement or challan.
Changes in 2025 and 2026 your accountant must handle
The biggest change is the Income-tax Act 2025, in force from 1 April 2026, which replaces the assessment year with the tax year and renumbers forms. Several smaller changes alter routine monthly work.
- TDS forms. Quarterly statements move to Forms 138, 140, 144 and 143 under rule 219 of the Income-tax Rules 2026, and TCS statements now share the TDS due dates.
- Partner payments. Since 1 April 2025 a firm or LLP deducts 10% TDS once remuneration or interest to a partner exceeds ₹20,000 in a year.
- GST annual return. No GSTR-9 is needed for turnover up to ₹2 crore.
- Payroll. The four Labour Codes apply from 21 November 2025, and the PF wage ceiling rose to ₹25,000 from 17 September 2026.
How Ofin handles outsourced accounting
Ofin's accountants work under qualified chartered accountants. They keep and reconcile your books so they are ready for GST, TDS, income tax and ROC filings, and the returns themselves can be included. Everything runs online, and we reply within 24 hours. You pay a fixed fee for an agreed scope, quoted after we see your books. Get a fixed-price proposal.
