Chartered accountants for IT companies in Kochi and Ernakulam
In short: A. George & Associates is a Kochi-based chartered accountancy firm whose largest client group is IT and software companies in Ernakulam. We handle SEZ and STPI compliance, GST refunds on software exports and SEZ supplies, transfer pricing, audits and virtual CFO support for tech companies at Infopark, SmartCity and across Kerala.
IT and software companies are the core of our practice. We look after SEZ and STPI units, export-focused service companies, development centres of foreign groups and fast-growing startups at Infopark, SmartCity Kochi, Kakkanad and across Ernakulam.
Our focus is the compliance that matters most to technology businesses: SEZ filings, GST refunds on exports and SEZ supplies, transfer pricing, payroll and ESOPs, and audits that stand up to investor and lender scrutiny. A. George & Associates has practised in Kochi since 1987, and every IT engagement is led by a partner.
Sound familiar?
"Our GST refunds on software exports are stuck, and we are funding the gap from working capital."
"The parent company asks for transfer pricing documentation and we are not sure what is needed."
"Investors want monthly MIS and clean books before the next round, and we are still closing last quarter."
"We granted ESOPs and now employees are asking about the tax."
If any of these sound like your last month, you are exactly the kind of company we work with.
What we do for IT companies
SEZ compliance and filings
EDF filings for software exports, SERF and Monthly Progress Reports on SEZ Online, the certified Annual Performance Report, tracking of export earnings and conditions in the Letter of Approval, documentation for the Development Commissioner's office, and planning for the period and extent of SEZ tax benefits. See also our SEZ, STPI and EOU services.
GST refunds on exports and SEZ supplies
Annual LUT filing, invoice and remittance checks for zero-rated supplies, and quarterly preparation and filing of refund claims for unutilised input tax credit. We prepare the supporting reconciliations, respond to deficiency memos and follow the claim through to credit. See our GST services.
STPI units and export documentation
Registration and renewals, periodic reporting, and keeping export invoices and foreign inward remittance records in order for STPI, banks and auditors.
Transfer pricing for subsidiaries
Inter-company agreements, pricing method and benchmarking, and the accountant's report for Kochi entities of US, UK, Middle East and Singapore groups.
Audit and reporting
Statutory and tax audits, revenue recognition on fixed-price, time-and-material and subscription contracts, and monthly MIS for founders, boards and investors. More on our audit services.
Startup set-up, ESOPs and fundraising
Company and LLP incorporation, Startup India (DPIIT) recognition, ESOP plans and valuations, due diligence readiness, and virtual CFO support as the business grows.
One Stop Solution
Expert Advice
Cost Sensitive
Easier Compliance
Save Time
Personalized Services
Spend time on things that matter
We handle your accounting, legal, taxation & compliances So that you can focus on growing your business.
What working with us looks like
Monthly close and MIS
Books closed and a founder-friendly MIS within an agreed number of days each month.
Refunds on a schedule
GST refund claims prepared quarterly and tracked until paid.
SEZ and STPI handled
Filings, reports and Development Commissioner matters on a calendar.
Audit without the scramble
Statutory, tax and transfer pricing work planned from the start of the year.
Tech parks and areas we serve
We work with IT companies and startups at:
- Infopark, Kakkanad (Phase 1 and Phase 2), including SEZ and non-SEZ units
- SmartCity Kochi, Kakkanad
- Kerala Startup Mission and the Technology Innovation Zone, Kalamassery
- KINFRA parks and IT buildings in Kalamassery, Edappally, Kaloor, Palarivattom and Vyttila
- Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram and Cyberpark, Kozhikode, for clients outside Ernakulam
Our office at AGA Tower, Vyttila is a short drive from Infopark and SmartCity, so on-site reviews, SEZ inspections and month-end meetings are easy to arrange. See all areas we serve in Kerala.
Frequently asked questions
Can an SEZ unit at Infopark or SmartCity claim a GST refund?
Supplies to an SEZ unit or developer are zero-rated, and exports of services by IT companies are also zero-rated. Where IGST is not paid under an LUT, the unutilised input tax credit on those supplies can be claimed as a refund, subject to the conditions and time limit in the GST law.
What compliance does an SEZ IT unit have to file?
SEZ units file Export Declaration Forms (EDF) for their exports, SERF filings and Monthly Progress Reports (MPR) on SEZ Online, and a certified Annual Performance Report (APR), maintain records of exports and foreign exchange earnings, and must meet the conditions of their Letter of Approval. Lapses can affect the unit's approval and tax benefits.
Why are GST refunds for IT companies often delayed or rejected?
The most common reasons are mismatches between returns and books, missing proof of foreign inward remittance, invoices that do not meet export conditions, intermediary-service objections and claims filed close to the time limit. A clean refund file prepared every quarter avoids most of these.
Do you work with early-stage startups as well as established IT companies?
Yes. We help founders with incorporation, Startup India (DPIIT) recognition, ESOP plans and fundraising readiness, and we work with established IT companies, captive centres and subsidiaries of foreign groups on audits, GST, SEZ compliance and transfer pricing.
Do you only serve companies in Kochi?
Our office is in Vyttila, Kochi and most of our IT clients are at Infopark, SmartCity and elsewhere in Ernakulam, but we also work with technology companies at Technopark and across Kerala.
Read our guide: Accounting, tax and compliance for IT companies in Kochi and Ernakulam.