This Payments Policy sets out how fees are quoted, invoiced and collected by eAuditor Office Private Limited (“the Company”, “we”, “us”). It should be read together with our Terms and Conditions and our Cancellation and Refund Policy.
1. Quotations
1.1 Every quotation issued by the Company specifies the service engaged, the professional fee, whether government, statutory and third party costs are included or excluded, and confirms that the amount is payable in full in advance.
1.2 Unless expressly stated otherwise, a quotation is valid for fifteen (15) days from the date of issue and is subject to revision thereafter.
1.3 A quotation is issued for the specific service described in it. Where the Company is empanelled with any government or institutional platform, the applicable price is the price listed against that specific service. Prices listed against a different service on the same platform do not apply to the engagement.
1.4 Every quotation carries a link to these policies. Acceptance of a quotation, or payment of any amount against it, constitutes acceptance of these policies in full.
2. Components of the Amount Payable
2.1 The total amount payable comprises the following components, which are distinct and are treated differently on cancellation:
(a) Professional fees. Consideration for advisory time, technical expertise, document preparation, regulatory handling and professional judgement. Professional fees are not a reimbursement of the Company’s disbursements and are not computed by reference to them.
(b) Government and statutory fees. Amounts payable to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Registrar of Companies, tax authorities or any other authority, including filing fees, stamp duty and registration charges.
(c) Third party costs. Amounts payable to external vendors, including Certifying Authority charges for Digital Signature Certificates, notarisation, apostille, courier, translation and similar charges.
(d) Goods and Services Tax. GST at the applicable rate, charged in addition to professional fees.
2.2 Government fees, statutory charges and third party costs are collected on the Client’s behalf and remitted to the relevant authority or vendor. They are payable in addition to professional fees unless a quotation expressly states that they are included.
2.3 Government fees and statutory charges are subject to revision by the relevant authority without notice. Where a revision occurs after a quotation is issued, the revised amount is payable by the Client.
3. Payment Terms
3.1 All fees are payable 100% in advance. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, the entire professional fee, together with applicable GST and all government, statutory and third party costs, is payable in full before commencement of work.
3.2 Work commences only upon the full amount being credited to and cleared in the Company’s account.
3.3 The amount paid is consideration for professional work to be performed. It is not a refundable deposit and is not held in trust for the Client. It is treated as earned progressively as work is performed, in accordance with our Cancellation and Refund Policy.
3.4 Where government fees, statutory charges or third party costs cannot be quantified precisely in advance, an estimate is collected, and any shortfall is payable, or any excess refunded, upon the actual amount becoming known.
3.5 Instalments. The Company may at its sole discretion agree in writing to accept payment in instalments for larger or longer engagements. Where it does so:
(a) work proceeds only to the extent covered by amounts actually received;
(b) the balance becomes payable upon the Company completing the work within its control, and does not depend upon completion of a statutory filing or the grant of an approval where the same is pending on account of the Client’s default or on account of processing by an authority; and
(c) the Company may suspend work at any time if an instalment is not received when due.
3.6 Recurring engagements. For compliance, accounting, payroll, retainer and similar recurring engagements, fees are payable in advance for each period, on or before the first day of that period.
3.7 Additional scope. Any work outside the agreed scope, any change in the Client’s instructions requiring work to be redone, and any resubmission arising from information furnished by the Client being incorrect or incomplete, is chargeable separately and is payable in advance before that additional work commences.
4. Modes of Payment
4.1 Payment may be made by bank transfer (NEFT, RTGS or IMPS), UPI, or such other mode as the Company may notify.
4.2 Payment must be made only to a bank account or payment identifier confirmed in writing by the Company from an official email address. The Company will never request payment to an account communicated solely by telephone or messaging service. If you receive any such request, do not act on it and contact us immediately by email to verify.
4.3 Cash payments are not accepted beyond the limits permitted under applicable law.
4.4 Bank charges, payment gateway charges and transaction charges, where applicable, are borne by the Client.
4.5 Payment is treated as received only upon the funds being credited to and cleared in the Company’s account.
5. Invoicing and GST
5.1 A tax invoice compliant with GST law is issued for every professional fee received.
5.2 Amounts collected as government fees, statutory charges and third party costs are recorded separately in accordance with applicable law.
5.3 Where the Client requires input tax credit, the Client must furnish a correct and valid GSTIN before the invoice is raised. The Company is not responsible for the loss of input tax credit arising from an incorrect, invalid or belatedly furnished GSTIN.
5.4 Any discrepancy in an invoice must be raised in writing within seven (7) days of receipt, failing which the invoice is deemed accepted.
6. Overdue Amounts
6.1 Amounts remaining unpaid beyond fifteen (15) days from the date of invoice may attract interest at 1.5% per month or part thereof, from the due date until payment.
6.2 Where any amount remains outstanding, the Company reserves the right to:
(a) suspend all work on the engagement and on any other engagement of the same Client;
(b) withhold delivery of documents, work product, deliverables and materials in accordance with the right of retention set out in the Terms and Conditions; and
(c) decline to accept further engagements from the Client.
6.3 The Company reserves the right to recover all costs of collection, including legal costs, from the Client.
7. Retention Pending Payment
7.1 All documents, drafts, working papers, deliverables and materials prepared by the Company, and all instruments and tokens in respect of which the Company has expended cost, labour or skill, remain subject to the Company’s right of retention until all outstanding amounts relating to that engagement are settled in full.
7.2 Upon settlement, all such items are handed over or dispatched promptly, and tracking details are shared where dispatched by courier.
7.3 Where a Client wishes to take delivery before settlement, the Company may at its discretion offer handover on a payment on delivery basis, collection in person against payment, or such other simultaneous exchange mechanism as the parties may agree.
8. Disputed Amounts
8.1 Where the Client disputes any part of an invoice, the undisputed portion remains payable on the due date.
8.2 A dispute must be raised in writing by email, specifying the amount disputed and the grounds. The Company will respond within fifteen (15) working days.
8.3 Withholding payment of an entire invoice on account of a dispute as to part of it does not suspend the Company’s rights under Clauses 6 and 7.
9. Fraud Prevention
9.1 The Company issues all quotations, invoices and payment instructions only from its official email addresses.
9.2 Clients are advised to verify bank account details independently by telephoning the Company on its published number before making any first payment or acting on any communication indicating a change of bank details.
9.3 The Company accepts no liability for any payment made to an account not confirmed by it in writing from an official email address.
10. Contact
Questions relating to payments, invoices or GST may be addressed to:
EAUDITOR OFFICE PRIVATE LIMITED
CIN: U74140TZ2021PTC035806
46/3, 1st Floor, Swarnambika Layout, Ramnagar, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 009, India
Email: info@eauditoroffice.com
Grievance Officer: Mr. Karthick Subramaniam, karthicks@eauditoroffice.com
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Closed on public holidays and the fourth Saturday of each month.