Quick answer
What is a turnover certificate?
A turnover certificate is a document signed by a practising chartered accountant, with a UDIN, stating the turnover of a proprietorship, firm, LLP or company for named financial years. It is drawn from audited accounts, ITRs or GST returns and is mainly used to meet turnover criteria in tenders, GeM bids, loans and vendor registrations.
- Signed by a practising CA, with a UDIN
- GeM bids test average turnover over the last three years
- Figures come from audited accounts, ITRs or GST returns
- The tender's own annexure format comes first
What is a turnover certificate and who signs it?
It is a short certificate on a CA firm's letterhead listing revenue year by year, the source of the figures and the purpose. Only a chartered accountant in practice can certify it, and the CA must generate a UDIN for it on ICAI's portal, as for every certificate since 1 February 2019.
Some bids also accept a cost accountant's certificate or the audited balance sheet itself, so read the clause. A turnover certificate is not the same as a net worth certificate, which measures assets less liabilities; many tenders ask for both.
Certificates are reserved work for practising chartered accountants. This page is general information; we do not quote fees or issue certificates.
Who asks for a CA turnover certificate?
Mainly public buyers and lenders, who want independent confirmation that a bidder or borrower has done business at a certain scale. Private customers appointing vendors or distributors ask too.
| Use | Who asks | What they check |
|---|---|---|
| GeM bids | Central and state government buyers | Average annual turnover for the last three financial years against the bid minimum |
| Department and PSU tenders | Tender committees | Turnover per year or average, often on their own annexure |
| Bank tenders and empanelment | Banks buying goods or services | Turnover and sometimes net worth on the bank's format |
| Working capital and term loans | Banks and NBFCs | Scale of business and trend over years |
| Vendor or distributor onboarding | Large companies and brands | Capacity to handle volumes |
| MSE and startup claims | Buyers granting relaxations | Supporting papers for the category claimed |
Udyam classification uses turnover limits (micro up to ₹10 crore from 1 April 2025); see our Udyam registration page.
Need help with turnover certificate? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
What does a GeM bid ask for in a turnover certificate for tender?
A GeM bid states a minimum average annual turnover for the last three financial years ending 31 March of the previous year, and accepts certified audited balance sheets or a certificate from a Chartered Accountant or Cost Accountant as proof, uploaded with the bid.
Here is how one live Delhi bid, checked on 30 October 2026, words it: GeM bid GEM/2026/B/8061931 (Delhi High Court, 25 September 2026).
| Bid wording (summarised) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Average annual turnover of the last three years, ending 31 March of the previous FY | For a bid in late 2026, that is FY 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 |
| Audited balance sheets or a CA / Cost Accountant certificate | Either route works; the certificate is quicker to read |
| Bidder under three years old | Average of completed financial years since constitution |
| DPIIT-registered startup | Relaxed from bidder turnover, subject to quality and technical specifications |
| MSE or startup relaxation | Upload supporting documents for the category claimed |
| OEM turnover criterion | A separate certificate for the manufacturer, if the bid asks |
The same bid's additional terms asked for a CA turnover certificate for FY 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. Each bid differs; read yours in full on bidplus.
How is turnover calculated for the certificate?
The CA takes revenue from operations for each year from the audited accounts where they exist, otherwise from the books and ITR, and reconciles it with GST returns. GST turnover and book turnover often differ, so the basis must be stated.
| Source | When used | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Audited statement of profit and loss | Companies, LLPs and audited firms | Use revenue from operations; other income is shown separately if at all |
| ITR and computation | Non-audit proprietors and firms | Presumptive income returns still report gross receipts |
| GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B | Cross-check for registered businesses | Excludes GST charged; includes or excludes exempt supplies differently from books |
| Books of account | Current year to date | Unaudited; tenders usually want completed years |
If the bid defines turnover, for example only work of a similar nature, the CA follows that definition.
What documents are needed for a turnover certificate?
Give the CA the financial statements and returns for every year the bid covers, plus registration details that appear on the certificate. Missing years are the main reason for delay.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Audited balance sheet and profit and loss account for each year | Primary source of turnover |
| ITR acknowledgments and computations | Confirms figures were reported to the tax department |
| GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and annual returns where filed | Reconciliation of sales |
| PAN, GSTIN, CIN or LLPIN, partnership deed | Identity of the entity on the certificate |
| Udyam or DPIIT certificate | If claiming MSE or startup relaxation |
| The tender annexure or bank format | So the CA drafts on the right layout |
Pending GST returns? Bring them up to date through GST return filing before asking for the certificate.
How do you get a turnover certificate: step by step
Plan it around the bid closing date, since the CA needs time to reconcile and the bid portal needs the final signed copy.
- 1
Read the eligibility clause
Note the years, the minimum average, whose turnover counts and the required format.
- 2
Collect statements for each year
Gather audited accounts, ITRs and GST returns for the years named.
- 3
Reconcile sources
The CA compares books, ITR and GST figures and records the reasons for any gaps.
- 4
Draft on the prescribed annexure
If the bid gives a format, the CA uses it word for word; otherwise a standard layout.
- 5
UDIN and signature
The CA signs, generates the UDIN and adds membership and firm details.
- 6
Upload and keep originals
Upload a clear scan to the bid and keep the signed original for verification.
What does a turnover certificate format contain?
A standard layout shows the entity's name and identifiers, a table of turnover per financial year with the average if needed, the source of figures, the purpose, and the CA's signature block with UDIN, place and date. Buyers such as banks often print their own CA certificate format in the tender, which then replaces any standard layout.
- Heading and addressee, or "to whom it may concern".
- Entity name, constitution, PAN, GSTIN and CIN or LLPIN.
- Year-wise turnover in figures, with the average if the bid uses one.
- Basis: audited accounts, ITR or GST returns.
- Purpose, naming the tender or bank.
- Firm name, FRN, CA name, membership number, UDIN, place and date.
Turnover, net worth or solvency: which certificate does a tender need?
Read the eligibility table in the bid: turnover proves scale of sales, net worth proves the strength of the balance sheet, and solvency proves capacity to meet a stated sum. Large tenders often ask for two of the three, each on its own format.
| Certificate | Measures | Issued by | Typical tender use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover certificate | Revenue per financial year | Practising CA (some bids also accept a cost accountant) | Minimum average turnover |
| Net worth certificate | Assets minus liabilities on a date | Practising CA | Positive or minimum net worth |
| Solvency certificate | Ability to meet a stated amount | Bank, or in Delhi the SDM for individuals and firms | Financial capacity for contract value |
Our solvency certificate page explains the bank and SDM routes in Delhi.
Why do bids reject turnover certificates?
Rejections usually trace to the wrong years, a generic format where an annexure was prescribed, figures that do not match the uploaded accounts, or a missing UDIN.
- Wrong period. Calendar years or the current year in place of the last three completed financial years.
- Format ignored. A bid checklist that says "strictly in the format provided" means exactly that.
- Mismatch. Certificate turnover differs from the audited accounts uploaded in the same bid.
- Group turnover. A sister concern's sales counted for the bidder.
- No UDIN or an unverifiable signer. Buyers can check both online.
Where can you get a turnover certificate in Delhi?
Any practising chartered accountant can issue it; check the member on ICAI's CA Connect first. Browse our directory of chartered accountant firms in Delhi for factual listings, then approach a CA directly.
Manufacturers in the industrial belt can read our CA in Wazirpur page. Startups claiming the GeM relaxation should keep their DPIIT recognition certificate ready to upload.
Frequently asked questions
Who can issue a turnover certificate?
A practising chartered accountant with a UDIN. Some GeM bids also accept a cost accountant's certificate or certified audited balance sheets, so read the bid's clause.
Is UDIN required on a turnover certificate?
Yes. ICAI made UDIN mandatory for all certificates from 1 February 2019. Buyers can verify it on udin.icai.org.
Which years should a turnover certificate cover for a tender?
The years the bid names. GeM bids commonly use the last three financial years ending 31 March of the previous year, which for bids in late 2026 means FY 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Can a new business get a turnover certificate?
Yes, for completed years. GeM bids typically take the average of completed financial years for bidders under three years old, and DPIIT startups may be relaxed from the turnover criterion.
Is GST turnover the same as turnover in the certificate?
Not always. GST figures exclude tax and may treat exempt or non-GST supplies differently from books. The CA reconciles and states the basis used.
Can a proprietor without audited accounts get one?
Yes. The CA works from books, ITRs and GST returns and says so in the basis line. Some buyers insist on audited accounts, so check the bid.
Do banks ask for a turnover certificate for loans?
Some do, mostly for working capital limits or when audited accounts are not yet ready. The bank's format may ask for monthly or quarterly sales as well as yearly totals, so ask for it before the CA starts.
How long is a turnover certificate valid?
It speaks for the years it covers and has no legal expiry. Buyers usually want the latest completed financial year included, so a certificate made before the year's accounts closed may need updating.
What is the difference between a turnover certificate and audited accounts?
Audited accounts are the full financial statements. The certificate extracts turnover year by year, often averages it, and presents it on the buyer's format for quick evaluation.
Does CA in Delhi issue turnover certificates?
No. We publish information and a factual directory. Turnover certificates must be issued and signed by a practising chartered accountant you approach directly.