Flow — Hire a CA (paid user)

Summary

An unlocked user browses the CA marketplace, picks a CA + service category, pays, hands off documents, and the CA files the return on their behalf.

Audience

end-user (paid)

Entry

"Hire a CA" CTA on tax-review or direct link to the marketplace.

Steps

#	Step	Surface	Notes
1	Marketplace browse	ca-marketplace-browse	Filter by service category — ca-category-consultation / ca-category-itr-filing / ca-category-notice-defence
2	CA profile	ca-profile-detail	Pick a service category; see CA's price for that category
3	Hire confirm	ca-hire-checkout	Shows CA-set price; the 10% platform fee per 2026-06-10-marketplace-fee-10-percent is internal — user pays the CA's stated price
4	Pay & assign	payment-razorpay-checkout	Bypasses paywall if user already unlocked current AY
5	Engagement starts (user side)	tax-with-ca	"CA assigned" status; CA reads docs
6	CA chats with user	tax-with-ca-chat	Bidirectional messages + attachments via ca-portal-client-drill-in
7	CA runs pre-flight	ca-portal-preflight-checklist	6 checks must pass
8	CA files on portal	incometax.gov.in (external)	CA's own console
9	CA uploads ITR-V	ca-portal-client-drill-in	Engine extracts acknowledgement; AY marked filed
10	User rates & closes	tax-filed	Rating CTA; payout queues for Sunday batch per marketplace-economics and 2026-05-30-marketplace-90-10-split

Exit

CA marked the return filed; user rated the engagement; payout queued (90% to CA, 10% platform, 10% §194J TDS on CA's share).

Escapes

• Dispute path: user opens a dispute via ca-portal-disputes / admin-disputes queue.
• CA unresponsive: escalation routes to admin-disputes and admin-refunds.
• User changes mind pre-handoff: refund eligible if within 2026-06-14-refund-window-14-days and no CA work delivered — see refund-request.
• Already unlocked current AY: step 4 bypasses paywall; the hire fee is a separate marketplace charge per marketplace-economics.

Sources

• .context/wiki/flows/* § "Flow 5 — Hire a CA (paid user)"