somesh@sschandak.com
Thane | Mumbai | Bangalore
Mon-Sat: 10AM-7PM

SaaS accounting has its own physics: subscription revenue that must be recognised over time, Stripe/Razorpay settlements that never equal invoices, export-of-services GST with LUT and refunds, and metrics (MRR, churn, CAC) that investors read before financials. Generic bookkeeping mangles all four.

When this service is typically required

  • A SaaS startup's books do not reconcile to its billing system — the SaaS accounting guide
  • Export customers, LUT and refund workflows need proper setup
  • Revenue recognition vs cash collection needs untangling for diligence
  • Investors want MRR/ARR schedules that tie to the ledgers

Indicative scope

  • Billing-to-books reconciliation: Stripe/Razorpay/Chargebee settlements mapped fully
  • Deferred-revenue schedules and recognition policy applied consistently
  • GST for SaaS: place-of-supply, LUT, zero-rating, refunds on exports
  • Metrics layer: MRR/ARR, churn, cohort views tied to the same ledgers
  • Monthly close and investor-grade MIS

Key points at a glance

ItemPosition
RevenueRecognised over service periods; deferred revenue is a real liability, not pedantry
GatewaysFees, holds and FX make settlements ≠ invoices — reconciliation is mandatory
GSTExport supplies zero-rated with conditions; domestic B2C/B2B each have their own handling
MetricsInvestor metrics must tie to books or diligence flags them

Deliverables

Reconciled monthly books with deferred-revenue schedules, the GST/LUT/refund trail, gateway reconciliations, and the metrics pack tied to ledger balances.

Information and documents generally required

Billing-system and gateway access/exports, contracts and pricing plans, GST portal access, and bank statements.

Engagement process

01 · SetupCOA, recognition policy, GST posture fixed.
02 · RebuildHistory reconciled where messy.
03 · RunMonthly close with gateway recs.
04 · ReportMetrics + MIS on calendar.

Client responsibilities, assumptions and reliance

Billing-system hygiene (plans, invoices, credit notes) is the company's — books mirror it; where the mirror shows cracks, fixing the source beats adjusting the reflection.

Scope exclusions

Transfer pricing for group SaaS structures, valuation, and audit — adjacent engagements, coordinated.

Frequently asked questions

Cash came in, so it's revenue, right?

Not in SaaS — an annual plan collected today is mostly deferred revenue earned monthly. Getting this wrong overstates today and starves next year, and diligence catches it every time.

Do foreign SaaS receipts need LUT?

Zero-rating export supplies without paying IGST runs on a live LUT plus conditions (including realisation) — the setup step installs the whole trail, not just the form.

Can you work with our RevOps/billing tool?

The majors, yes; the reconciliation layer adapts to exports where direct integration is thin. What is non-negotiable is that books tie to it.

Which metrics do investors actually check against books?

MRR bridges (new/expansion/churn), deferred-revenue movement, and collections vs revenue — the pack is built so each traces to ledgers in one click.

Discuss this requirement

The applicable scope, documentation, professional responsibilities and timelines are agreed in an engagement letter before commencement.

Exporter GSTVirtual CFOFinancial ModellingRequest a Scope Discussion

This page describes the service in general terms as on 6 August 2026 and is not professional advice or an assurance of any outcome. Registrations, filings, refunds and departmental outcomes depend on facts and the concerned authority. Figures and due dates change; verify current positions before acting.

GST update — July 2026From the July 2026 tax period, GSTR-3B Table 4A ITC is hard-locked to GSTR-2B — your credit now depends on monthly IMS actions.Read the IMS & hard-locking guide →
Key due dates at a glance — FY 2026-27
ComplianceDueNote
GSTR-1 / IFF11th of next monthSuppliers must file on time for your buyers’ credit
IMS actions (accept/reject/pending)By the 13thDecides what enters your GSTR-2B
GSTR-3B + tax payment20th of next monthITC auto-locked to 2B from Jul 2026 period
GSTR-9 / 9C (FY 2025-26)31 December 20269C if turnover above Rs 5 crore
Amnesty / noticesCase-specificReply windows are short — usually 15-30 days

Dates as generally applicable on 15 July 2026; extensions/notifications can change them — confirm current dates before relying.

What's Included

  • Billing-to-books reconciliation: Stripe/Razorpay/Chargebee settlements mapped fully
  • Deferred-revenue schedules and recognition policy applied consistently
  • GST for SaaS: place-of-supply, LUT, zero-rating, refunds on exports
  • Metrics layer: MRR/ARR, churn, cohort views tied to the same ledgers
  • Monthly close and investor-grade MIS

Our Process

1
Setup

COA, recognition policy, GST posture fixed.

2
Rebuild

History reconciled where messy.

3
Run

Monthly close with gateway recs.

4
Report

Metrics + MIS on calendar.

Get Started

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