Tax Consultant

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Who Is a Tax Consultant?

Tax planning is the part of financial planning that focuses on managing one’s tax liabilities. The main goal of tax planning is to minimise an individual’s or business’ tax liability while staying within legal bounds. And that is what a tax consultant helps with. A tax consultant or a tax planner is a professional who creates personalised strategies that help you save as much of your hard-earned money as possible, legally. They assess your financial goals and situation and make sure these strategies are aligned with your long-term financial plan. Let’s take a look at the role of a tax advisor in more detail. 

Understanding Tax Advisor

There are different types of tax advisors. A tax planner can help individuals and businesses with long and short-term tax planning by suggesting relevant tax-saving investments. On the other hand, a Chartered Accountant (CA) is an expert in accounting, auditing, and tax laws, and can provide a variety of tax advisory services. An online tax advisor also offers many services, like quickly and easily filing one’s taxes. A tax attorney represents clients in tax disputes. Property tax advisors help clients understand and manage their property tax obligations. So the role of a tax advisor is diverse. Different advisors have different specialisations, and each of these professionals can guide you through the complexities of the tax world effectively.

How to become a registered Tax consultant?

One can follow these steps to start a career as a certified tax consultant:

  • A tax consultant must have an educational background in finance or tax-related fields such as commerce, law, accounting, or banking. This means getting a bachelor’s degree in any law or finance-related discipline. It does not matter whether the individual pursued science or arts during their secondary education (classes 11th and 12th).
  • To become a certified tax consultant, one has to complete specialised programmes and certifications from relevant institutions, such as Chartered Accountant (CA) certification by passing all levels of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) programme. Other such programs include Cost and Management Accountancy (CMA) from the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India (ICMAI) and Company Secretary (CS) from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
  • A sought-after trait of a registered tax consultant is work experience. One can begin an internship while finishing any of the above programmes, and start working with experienced professionals to understand the practical application of what they’ve learnt.
  • With enough experience, one can start their own practice or work in a tax firm as a registered tax consultant. The learning process continues as tax laws are often changed by the government. One has to stay updated with the latest tax regulations to provide up-to-date advice to clients.
  • Other than the above criteria, tax advisors can benefit greatly from certain skills that may not be mandatory but are highly advantageous. These skills are effective communication, attention to detail, proficiency in maths, and problem-solving abilities. These skills will develop over time, but having them can greatly enhance a tax advisor's effectiveness in providing valuable advice to clients.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Tax Consultant

Some important responsibilities of a Tax advisor in India are as follows:

  • A certified Tax planner devises tax plans to legally minimise the tax liabilities of an individual. They do so by suggesting tax-saving investments such as Equity-Linked Savings Schemes, and by making use of deductions such as deduction on home loan interest under Section 24 (B).
  • While making these plans, tax advisors make sure that their advice is tailored to their client's unique financial situation and goals.
  • Tax advisors make sure that no laws are broken accidentally or intentionally, and protect their clients from punishments and litigations by complying with all tax regulations.
  • Tax advisors help clients file their taxes every year. They make sure their clients avoid errors and late filing which can also lead to penalties.
  • Taxes can feel complex and overwhelming. With a tax advisor by one’s side, one can not only save precious time but also a lot of stress and confusion that comes with tax planning.
  • Using the services of a Tax planner online is convenient, and saves a lot of effort running around the CA’s office. An online tax advisor also offers advice on various tax issues such as GST, income tax, direct and indirect tax, property tax, and investment taxation.
  • Tax regulations are often amended. It is the tax advisor’s duty to keep up with these changes and to communicate these changes to their clients if they are relevant.
  • To claim tax deductions, documentation is required at the time of tax filing. This documentation acts as proof and it is also the tax planner’s duty to maintain proper documentation to support the claims.
  • A tax advisor also represents the client should the client face litigation from tax authorities. They provide guidance and advocate on behalf of their clients during legal proceedings.

Tax Advice and Regulation

  • In India, most of the tax advice is given by tax planners, lawyers, chartered accountants, cost and management accountants, and company secretaries. These tax professionals are monitored by independent regulatory bodies.
  • This regulation is important as it protects taxpayers from unethical advisors and makes sure that they receive trustworthy and ethical guidance.
  • A professional tax consultant makes sure all tax filings are done on time and legally.
  • The tax-saving options suggested by an online tax advisor must also be legal.
  • An online tax planner must have valid documentation to support claims at the time of tax filing.
  • Tax advisors should also respect the confidentiality and privacy of their clients.

Services Provided by Tax Consultant

A professional tax advisor offers a wide variety of tax advisory services such as:

Income Tax Planning – 

A certified tax advisor can help salaried individuals and business owners identify tax-saving opportunities in the form of investments, deductions, and exemptions. They make sure you maximise your tax savings while complying with tax laws.

Tax Filing – 

You can consult with an online tax expert to make the tax filing process much easier. An advisor can make sure that you have the necessary documents for filing and claiming deductions, your filings are accurate to avoid penalties, and identify deductions that you might be eligible for. They can make sure everything is done before the deadline and within the legal framework.

Capital Gains and Losses Tax Consulting – 

When you sell your investments, the profit earned on them is called capital gain. Capital gain is taxable, and its taxability varies from asset to asset. A  trusted tax advisor can clearly explain the implications of short-term and long-term gains so tax can be saved and returns can be optimised. 

Tax Planning – 

A certified tax planner creates short and long-term tax strategies for individuals and businesses. These strategies take full advantage of the many deductions and exemptions in the Income Tax Act, which maximises tax savings and ensures compliance with the Income Tax Department. A tax planner offers personalised solutions based on one’s financial goals and situation. 

For example, rather than suggesting any investment solely for its tax benefits, they will make sure that their recommendations align with your goals while offering tax advantages. This can help you maximise tax savings while also staying focused on realising your financial dreams.

General Tax Advice – 

Tax advisors stay on top of changes in the tax laws, so if there are any changes to tax regulations, an advisor can inform you of the tax implications and recommend appropriate adjustments to your tax strategy.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Consulting – 

A certified tax specialist helps businesses understand and comply with GST regulations. This includes GST registration, filing of GST returns, and offering guidance on GST audits. They can easily address any GST-related queries or legal disputes to ensure your business remains compliant and avoids any penalties.

faq's

Tax consultants are well-versed in tax regulations and use their knowledge and experience to help you save taxes legally each year. They can also create strategies that optimise your long-term tax savings so that you benefit from the most efficient tax planning. Throughout this process, they ensure full compliance with tax authorities so you can rest easy and stay protected from any legal issues in the future.

Yes! Tax consultancy can be a lucrative career. Tax planning is a huge part of financial planning, and the demand for tax planners and consultants goes up, especially during the filing season. Moreover, a tax consultant can be self-employed, working for a firm, or serving in the government sector. The growth potential in this field is also high as the services provided by tax consultants are always in demand. After all, who doesn’t want to save as much tax as legally possible? Also, as your skills and experience increase, your income will too. 

A tax consultant holds a relevant graduate degree in fields such as banking, accountancy, law, maths, commerce, or other finance-related disciplines. Other than a bachelor’s degree, tax consultants can further specialise by obtaining certifications from institutions like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). These certifications showcase the consultant’s expertise and boost their reputation and career prospects.

Yes, you can be a tax consultant without being a CA. A tax consultant must hold a special certificate, such as a Company Secretary (CS) from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) or similar credentials from recognised institutions. 

A tax saving advisor’s fee depends on different factors such as the advisor’s experience and reputation, what the client needs help with, and how complex the situation is. So the cost of hiring a tax advisor varies.