RERA Certifications
CA certificates for RERA compliance
Form 3 / Form 5 CA certificates and quarterly RERA compliance certifications for promoters and projects.
What's included
- Form 3 / Form 5 certification
- Project account verification
- Quarterly compliance support
Understanding RERA Certifications
Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, every registered project must keep 70% of the money collected from allottees in a separate escrow account, and the promoter can withdraw from it only in proportion to the project's completion. Each withdrawal must be supported by three certificates — from an engineer, an architect and a Chartered Accountant. The CA certificate, commonly Form 3 under state RERA rules such as MahaRERA, certifies the proportion of the estimated cost actually incurred, and the bank releases funds only against it.
Beyond withdrawal certificates, promoters need an annual audit of the project accounts. Form 5 is the CA's annual report on the statement of accounts, confirming that amounts collected for the project were used for that project and that withdrawals matched the proportion of completion. In most states it must be filed within six months of the end of the financial year. Add to this the quarterly project updates that RERA authorities require on their portals, and a promoter's compliance calendar becomes genuinely demanding.
We act as the project CA for developers — computing cost incurred versus estimated cost, issuing UDIN-backed Form 3 certificates for each withdrawal, conducting the Form 5 annual audit and supporting quarterly updates. The base fee is ₹4,999 per certificate with delivery in 3-5 working days, and getting these right matters: RERA authorities levy penalties that can run up to 5% of the project cost for contraventions.
Who needs this?
Promoters withdrawing from the escrow account
Every withdrawal from the 70% designated account needs a CA certificate of proportion of cost incurred, alongside the engineer's and architect's certificates. Banks will not release funds without it.
Developers due for the annual RERA audit
Registered projects must file the Form 5 annual report on the statement of accounts, certified by a CA, typically within six months of the financial year end.
Promoters registering a new project
The registration application itself needs CA-certified financial disclosures, including estimated project cost and the promoter's declaration on the designated account.
Projects filing quarterly progress updates
State RERA portals require quarterly updates on bookings, collections and construction status, which must tie back to the certified withdrawal and cost data.
Promoters seeking extension or closure of registration
Applications for project extension, change in plans or completion require reconciled, certified account statements to be accepted by the authority.
Landowners in revenue-sharing arrangements
Co-promoters and landowners with area or revenue share arrangements need the same certifications where they receive money from allottees.
When this is NOT the right fit
| Your situation | What applies instead |
|---|---|
| ✕Your project is not registered with RERA | Forms 3 and 5 exist only for registered projects. Projects below the threshold — generally up to 500 square metres or 8 apartments — may be exempt from registration and do not need these certificates at all. |
| ✕You want a certificate without books of account for the project | The CA certifies cost incurred from the project's books, invoices and bank statements. If project-wise accounting has not been maintained, that has to be reconstructed first — certification cannot precede it. |
| ✕The same CA is expected to certify and also be a silent partner in the project | Independence rules bar a CA from certifying a project in which they or their firm has an interest. We take on certification only where we are independent of the promoter. |
Not sure which applies to you? Message us — we'll point you to the right service in minutes, free.
Documents you'll need — and why
RERA registration certificate and project details
Fixes the registered project, its sanctioned plans and estimated cost against which proportion of completion is computed.
Books of account for the project
The certificate is issued project-wise, so a separate ledger of the project's costs, collections and transfers is the base document.
Designated escrow account bank statements
We verify that 70% of collections were deposited and that past withdrawals matched certified proportions before certifying the next one.
Estimated cost break-up — land and construction
Form 3 compares cost incurred to total estimated cost, split into land cost and development cost as defined in the state rules.
Engineer's and architect's certificates for the same date
All three certificates must speak to the same date and stage of completion; inconsistencies between them are a common reason banks hold releases.
Contractor bills, invoices and payment proofs
Cost incurred must be supported by actual invoices and payments, not estimates — we sample these before signing.
Statutory payment challans — GST, TDS, approvals
Taxes, premiums and approval charges paid form part of project cost and need proof of payment to be counted.
Previous Form 3 certificates and Form 5 reports
Each new certificate builds on cumulative figures already certified; prior certificates keep the series consistent.
How it works, step by step
- 1
Project onboarding and data review
Day 1We study the RERA registration, estimated cost, escrow arrangement and prior certificates, and share a checklist of ledgers and proofs needed.
- 2
Verification of cost incurred and collections
Day 2-3We vouch invoices, payments and bank statements, verify the 70% deposit compliance and compute the proportion of cost incurred to estimated cost.
- 3
Cross-check with engineer and architect certificates
Day 3-4We align our computation with the physical progress certified in Forms 1 and 2 so the bank sees a consistent set of certificates.
- 4
Issue of certificate with UDIN
Day 4-5The Form 3 certificate or Form 5 report is finalised, signed with UDIN and delivered for submission to the bank or upload on the RERA portal.
- 5
Portal support and query resolution
As neededWe assist with uploading on the state RERA portal and respond to any clarification the authority or the bank raises on the certificate.
Due dates to know
Form 5 annual report on statement of accounts
Within 6 months of the end of the financial year
For FY 2025-26, that means by 30 September 2026 in most states, including under MahaRERA.
Quarterly project updates on the RERA portal
Within 7 days of the end of each quarter in several states
Exact timelines vary by state; MahaRERA levies escalating fees for delayed quarterly updates.
Form 3 CA certificate
Before every withdrawal from the designated account
No fixed calendar date — it is event-based, required each time funds are drawn from the 70% escrow.
What non-compliance costs
Contravention of RERA provisions or authority orders by the promoter
Penalty of up to 5% of the estimated project cost under sections 61 and 63 of the Act, depending on the nature of the default.
Non-registration of a project that required registration
Penalty up to 10% of the estimated project cost under section 59, and up to 3 years imprisonment for continued default.
Delayed or missing quarterly updates and Form 5 filing
State-specific late fees that escalate with delay, projects flagged as non-compliant on the public portal, and withheld approvals for extension or new registrations.
Withdrawal from escrow beyond the certified proportion
Direction to refund with interest, freezing of the project account and penalties — this is among the most seriously viewed defaults.
Why doing this right pays off
Faster escrow releases
Banks release funds quickly when the three certificates are consistent and UDIN-backed; we coordinate with your engineer and architect so nothing bounces.
Clean compliance record on the public portal
Timely Form 5 filings and quarterly updates keep the project's public RERA page clean — something homebuyers and lenders actively check.
Penalty exposure managed
With penalties running to 5% of project cost, professionally maintained certification discipline is dramatically cheaper than remediation after a show-cause notice.
Project-wise accounting discipline
Our certification process forces clean project-wise books, which also simplifies your income tax, GST and bank reporting for the same project.
One CA across the project lifecycle
From registration disclosures to periodic Form 3 certificates to the annual Form 5 audit and final closure, continuity keeps cumulative figures consistent year after year.
Common DIY mistakes we see
- Treating the 70% account as a general project account and routing unrelated payments through it, which surfaces immediately in the Form 5 audit.
- Certifying cost incurred on the basis of contractor running bills that are raised but not actually paid or payable, inflating the withdrawal entitlement.
- Letting the engineer, architect and CA certificates carry different dates or completion percentages, causing the bank to hold the release.
- Ignoring quarterly updates because collections were nil in the quarter — the filing obligation continues regardless of activity.
- Missing the Form 5 deadline and discovering that the authority will not process the project's extension application until the audit is filed.
Frequently asked questions
Form 3 certifies the proportion of the total estimated project cost — land plus development cost — that has actually been incurred, based on verified books, invoices and payments. The promoter may withdraw from the designated account only up to that certified proportion, so the certificate directly controls cash flow.
Not sure if this is the right service?
Message us on WhatsApp — a real expert replies, usually within minutes.
All-inclusive professional fee. Government fees (if any) extra at actuals.
Grab a coupon below — it applies at checkout.
🎁 Offers on this service
20% off up to ₹1,500
You save ₹999 → pay only ₹4,000
on orders above ₹4,999
Flat ₹500 off
You save ₹500 → pay only ₹4,499
on orders above ₹2,999