Frequently Asked Questions

CA Saathi is a free toolkit ecosystem designed specifically for Chartered Accountancy students and professionals. We provide offline-first desktop applications for audit, tax, and compliance workflows. All tools are built with privacy in mind — your data never leaves your computer.

CA Saathi was created by Siddharth Agarwal, a CA Final student from Kolkata who is passionate about leveraging AI-powered solutions to simplify everyday tasks. The project reflects his vision of combining technology with practical professional needs to build tools that genuinely help the CA community.

No. CA Saathi is an independent, community-driven project. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) or any other official regulatory body. Our tools are created independently to help CA students and professionals.

Absolutely! Our tools are designed to be simple:

• Just download the file and double-click to run — that's it
• No complex setup or configuration required
• Clear instructions are provided within each tool
• Most tools have a simple interface: select your file, click a button, get results

If your nephew or junior article can use a smartphone, they can definitely help you get started!

Here's what happens step by step:

1. You click the download button on our website
2. Your browser downloads a single file (usually ending in .exe)
3. You may see browser warnings — this is normal for all downloaded programs
4. The file saves to your Downloads folder
5. Double-click the file to open and use the tool

That's all! No installation wizards, no "Next, Next, Finish" clicks.

Yes, all tools are in English. However:

• We use simple, professional terminology familiar to CA students
• Buttons and labels are clear (like "Browse", "Process", "Save")
• We avoid technical jargon wherever possible
• Error messages explain what went wrong in plain language

No significant impact. Our tools are:

• Lightweight: Most are under 50-100 MB
• Efficient: They only run when you open them
• Clean: They don't install background services
• Portable: Delete the file anytime to remove completely

Your computer will run just as smoothly as before.

Generally, yes. Since our tools:

• Don't require installation
• Don't need internet access
• Don't modify system files

However, some offices have strict IT policies. If your office blocks running downloaded programs, you may need IT permission. When in doubt, check with your IT administrator first.

Just download it again! There's no limit on downloads. Your processed files are saved separately on your computer, so:

• Deleting the tool doesn't delete your work
• You can re-download anytime from our website
• It's free — download as many times as you need

No. Once downloaded, all our tools work completely offline:

• You can disconnect from the internet and still use them
• Perfect for areas with poor connectivity
• Your data stays on your computer — never goes online

You only need internet to download the tool initially.

Some antivirus programs are overly cautious and may flag any newly downloaded program. This is called a "false positive." Our tools are safe:

• All code is open-source and reviewable on GitHub
• Tools are built automatically using secure GitHub servers
• You can scan the file on VirusTotal for peace of mind

You can usually choose "Allow" or "Trust" in your antivirus to proceed.

No, absolutely not. CA Saathi is genuinely free:

• No "premium" versions or paid upgrades
• No feature limitations or trial periods
• No ads, pop-ups, or upselling
• No hidden costs — ever

This is a community project built by CA students to help fellow CA aspirants and professionals. We're not here to make money from you.

No, that's impossible. Here's why:

• Our tools run entirely on YOUR computer
• There is no connection between our tools and any server
• We have no way to access your files — technically or otherwise
• Even if we wanted to (we don't!), the tools simply don't have that capability

Think of it like a calculator app — it works on your device, and the calculator maker can't see your calculations.

This is completely normal for any .exe file downloaded from the internet. Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox display warnings for all executable files as a security precaution — this is not specific to our tools.

Our tools are safe to download and use. To proceed:

• Chrome: Click the "^" arrow next to the download → Select "Keep"
• Edge: Click "..." → "Keep" → "Keep anyway"
• Firefox: The download should proceed normally

Yes. All our tools are:

• Open-source — you can review the source code on GitHub
• Built transparently using GitHub Actions (automated builds)
• Distributed directly from GitHub Releases (no third-party hosting)
• Offline-first — they don't send data anywhere

If you're still concerned, you can scan any downloaded file with your antivirus software or upload it to VirusTotal for analysis.

We use GitHub Releases for several important reasons:

• Transparency: GitHub shows the complete source code and build process
• Trust: GitHub is a reputable platform used by millions of developers
• Version Control: Easy access to all previous versions
• Reliability: Fast, reliable downloads from GitHub's CDN

If a download link isn't working:

• Try refreshing the page
• Check your internet connection
• Visit the tool's GitHub repository directly
• Report the issue via our Feedback & Suggestions

Most of our tools are portable applications — just download the .exe file and run it. No installation required. Some tools may require extraction if downloaded as a .zip file.

Windows SmartScreen shows warnings for applications from "unknown publishers." This happens because:

• Our tools are not signed with an expensive code-signing certificate (~$200-400/year)
• SmartScreen learns from download frequency — less downloaded apps trigger warnings
• This is a standard Windows security feature, not an indication of malware

As a free, community-driven project, we prioritize keeping tools free over purchasing expensive certificates.

When you see the "Windows protected your PC" message:

1. Click "More info" (this reveals additional options)
2. Click "Run anyway"

This is a one-time action. Windows will remember your choice for that specific file.

No. All CA Saathi tools are designed to work completely offline. Once downloaded, you never need an internet connection to use them. This is intentional — we believe your sensitive financial data should never leave your computer.

Currently, our tools are built for Windows (Windows 10 and later recommended). We're working on macOS and Linux support for future releases. Check individual tool pages for specific requirements.

All data remains on your computer only. Depending on the tool:

• Processed files are saved wherever you choose to save them
• Temporary files (if any) are stored locally and can be deleted
• No data is ever uploaded to any server

To update a tool:

1. Visit the tool's page on CA Saathi website
2. Check the version number against what you have
3. Download the latest version if there's an update
4. Replace your old file with the new one

We're working on adding update notifications in future versions.

Generally, no. Since our tools are portable and don't store data inside themselves, updating (replacing the .exe file) won't affect your saved work. Your files remain wherever you saved them on your computer.

Yes, completely free. All tools on CA Saathi are free to download and use. We don't have premium tiers, subscriptions, or hidden costs. Our goal is to help the CA community, not to make profit.

Yes. You are free to use CA Saathi tools for:

• Personal study and practice
• Articleship work
• Professional CA practice
• Any legitimate business purpose

However, please check individual tool licenses on GitHub for specific terms. Most tools use permissive open-source licenses.

No. All tools are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. The developers of CA Saathi:

• Are not liable for any damages arising from your use of the tools
• Do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any analysis
• Are not responsible for any decisions made based on tool outputs

You use these tools at your own risk and should always verify important results independently.

While we strive for accuracy, software can have bugs. If you encounter incorrect results:

• Always verify critical calculations manually
• Report the issue via our Feedback & Suggestions
• Check for updates that might fix the issue

Remember: these tools are meant to assist your work, not replace your professional judgment.

No warranties. The tools are provided without any express or implied warranties, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement

This is standard for open-source software and protects volunteer developers who contribute their time freely.

Our tools do not collect any data. All CA Saathi desktop tools:

• Work entirely offline after download
• Don't have analytics or tracking
• Don't require account creation
• Don't phone home to any server

Note about this website: If you choose to submit feedback via our Feedback & Suggestions, that form uses Formspree (a trusted third-party form service) to send your message to our email. This is optional and only applies to the feedback form on our website — not to any of the downloaded tools.

Learn more on our Privacy Policy page.

Yes. Since all processing happens locally on your computer:

• Your client data never leaves your machine
• No internet connection means no data transmission
• You maintain complete control over your files

This makes our tools suitable for handling sensitive financial and client information.

Formspree is a reputable, widely-used form handling service that simply forwards your feedback message to our email. When you submit feedback:

• Only the information you type (name, email, message) is sent
• Formspree does not access or store your computer files
• The feedback form is completely optional — you can also email us directly at casaathi01@gmail.com

This is standard practice for contact forms on websites and does not affect our tools' offline operation.

We love hearing from the community! You can:

• Submit feedback via our Feedback & Suggestions
• Email us at casaathi01@gmail.com
• Open an issue on the tool's GitHub repository

We read every submission and try to respond within 48 hours.

As a volunteer-driven project, we provide support on a best-effort basis:

• This FAQ covers most common questions
• Feedback & Suggestions for reporting issues
• GitHub Issues for technical problems
• Email for general inquiries

We don't offer phone support or guaranteed response times, but we do our best to help everyone.