Case & Matter Management
Guide #23: Case Finance & Fees
Complete financial operations guide for legal matters: configure stage-wise fixed fees (SAC 998211), track TDS u/s 194J, maintain BCI Rule 25-32 compliant client trust ledgers, and automate milestone invoicing.
7 min read•Case Finance & Accounting•Updated October 2026
Prerequisites
- Active Matter Workspace (/cases/[id])
- Agreed Fee Schedule or Retainer Terms with Client
- Valid GSTIN and PAN for Tax & TDS Compliance (SAC 998211)
1.Matter Financial Accounting & Contracted Fee Structure
Navigate to `/cases/[id]?tab=finance` to view the master matter financial console, agreed fees, and accounting status.
Controls:+ Create Tax InvoiceRecord PaymentClient Funds EntrySummary & Fee Plan
- Contracted Fee Arrangement: Displays arrangement type (e.g. Stage-Wise Fixed Fee, Hourly, or Retainer), Agreed Professional Fee (e.g. ₹3,50,000).
- Tax Classification: Configured under SAC 998211 (Legal Representation & Advisory Services) with Forward Charge GST (18%: CGST 9% + SGST 9%).
- TDS Withholding: Automatically computes 10% TDS under Section 194J of the Income Tax Act for corporate clients (Form 26AS credit).
- Accounting Status Panel: Tracks Agreed Fee Billed %, Collections Rate %, Unallocated Retainer Held, Client Court Funds, and Unbilled WIP Value.
BCI Rule 25-32 Compliance
Under Bar Council of India Rules, advocates must keep client court deposit funds separate from personal professional fees. Briefly automatically maintains an isolated Client Trust Funds Ledger.
Chamber Authentication Required
Step 1 is shown above as a preview. All remaining procedural steps, litigation blueprints, and interactive controls require an active chamber or firm login.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the platform handle GST for individual advocates?
- Legal services by advocates are classified under SAC 998211. Invoicing can be configured under Forward Charge (18% GST added to invoice) or Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) where the corporate client discharges GST directly under Section 9(3) CGST Act.
- What is BCI Rule 25-32 compliance in the Client Funds Ledger?
- Bar Council of India Standards of Professional Conduct require advocates to maintain separate accounts for client moneys received for court expenses and to render proper accounts. Briefly maintains an isolated ledger tracking receipts, court expenses, and refunds.
- How do clients pay milestone invoices online?
- Every invoice generates a secure, encrypted payment link. Clients can pay instantly via UPI, Net Banking, or Credit/Debit Cards via Cashfree Easy Split, and funds settle directly into your registered bank account.
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