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Published 16 July 2026 · Updated 20 July 2026

ICAI Website Guidelines 2026

What CA firms can publish and promote.

A practical reading of Volume I, Chapter 3, clauses 3.3.1–3.3.21 — covering modern websites, push versus pull promotion, factual content, client features, and launch review.

Prepared by MyCA Editorial. Source review completed 20 July 2026 against ICAI’s 13th Edition, effective 1 April 2026.

Educational summary only. Not legal advice or ICAI approval.

View checklist Official Code
Edition
13th
Volume
I
Chapter
3

The short answer

What do the ICAI Website Guidelines 2026 allow?

The ICAI Website Guidelines 2026 allow chartered accountants, CA firms, and Networks or Alliances of firms registered with ICAI to create their own websites. Clause 3.3.1 gives that permission, and clause 3.3.2 says ICAI does not prescribe a standard website format.

The real review is whether each claim, service description, promotion method, and technical feature respects the current Code.

Clauses 3.3.1–3.3.2, printed pages 152–153

Start here

ICAI Website Guidelines 2026: six rules to know first.

Use these as the first-pass review before reading the implementation details below.

01

Your firm may maintain its own website.

ICAI does not prescribe a standard visual format.

02

Push promotion is conditional.

Non-exclusive services may use push technology; exclusively reserved CA services remain pull-only.

03

Factual practice information is permitted.

Firm details, qualifications, experience, services, staffing, and specified quality information may be displayed.

04

Educational content is permitted.

Blogs, articles, professional updates, bulletins, and educational videos are expressly allowed.

05

The site must not become solicitation.

Exaggeration, unsubstantiated comparison, testimonials, and banner-style advertising remain problematic.

06

Published facts must align with ICAI records.

Identity, constitution, addresses, and professional details should be verified before launch.

The key 2026 distinction

Push vs pull depends on the service.

Clause 3.3.3 allows websites to run on both “pull” and “push” technology. But information about services exclusively reserved for chartered accountants should be provided only on a specific pull request.

Clause 3.3.4 adds that information about those reserved services should not be proactively circulated through email or another mode except in response to that request.

ICAI’s December 2025 press release explains the policy direction: push mode gained greater flexibility for services not exclusive to the CA profession, with consultancy and accounting given as examples.

CommunicationPractical reading
Visitor opens a public firm profile or guideGenerally a pull interaction initiated by the visitor.
Firm promotes a non-exclusive consultancy servicePush may be available, subject to general write-up and anti-solicitation rules.
Firm distributes information about a reserved CA serviceKeep this pull-only and review the implementation carefully.
Firm publishes a factual services pageClassify the service, use restrained wording, and avoid misleading claims.

Do not translate the revision into “CA firms can now advertise everything.” Classify the service first, then decide whether the communication may be pushed.

Clauses 3.3.3–3.3.4, printed page 153 · ICAI policy explanation

Permitted information

A factual firm profile can be substantial.

Permission to publish a category is not permission to embellish it.

  • Firm, member, trade, Network, or Alliance name
  • Year of establishment and registered office details
  • Telephone, fax, email, and other factual contact information
  • Peer Review status and reviewed Audit Quality Maturity Model level
  • Nature of services rendered, classified correctly
  • Partner qualifications, contact details, and areas of experience
  • Employee information, vacancies, and number of articled assistants
  • Affiliation with an ICAI-registered Network
  • Client names and limited assignment information with permission and subject to the reserved-service rule
  • Fee information only where a regulator requires it and the prescribed context is shown

Clause 3.3.7, printed pages 153–155

Useful, not promotional

Blogs, education, and requested client services are allowed.

Clause 3.3.10

Publish professional education

Blogs, articles, bulletins, professional updates, and educational videos on professionally relevant topics.

Clause 3.3.11 & 3.3.13

Support requested interaction

Client chat, password-protected documents, and online advice requested by a client may be provided.

Clause 3.3.15

Protect secrecy

Client matters handled through the website require adequate confidentiality safeguards.

Clauses 3.3.10–3.3.15, printed pages 155–156

Avoidable risk

Ordinary marketing patterns do not automatically belong on a CA website.

01

“Best”, “leading”, “top”, or other superiority language that is not objectively supportable

02

Disparaging comparisons with another member or firm

03

Testimonials or endorsements concerning a member or fees

04

Awards, positions, or accreditations outside the limited categories the Code allows

05

Promotional catchwords, banner advertisements, or equivalent devices

06

Client or assignment information published without permission

07

Features that expose confidential client information

08

Website statements materially different from ICAI records

Clause 3.3.5 also says members should not issue circulars, advertisements, or other material to solicit people to visit the website. The website address may appear on professional stationery and email.

Clauses 3.1.3, 3.3.5, and 3.3.14–3.3.21

Before launch

ICAI Website Guidelines 2026 checklist for CA firms.

Use this 12-point operational review, then escalate uncertain classifications or features for professional advice.

  1. 01

    Verify identity details

    Match the firm name, registration information, addresses, and constitution to current ICAI records.

  2. 02

    Inventory every service

    Separate exclusively reserved CA services from non-exclusive services before writing or promotion.

  3. 03

    Map promotion mode

    Keep reserved-service information pull-only; assess push activity only for non-exclusive services.

  4. 04

    Remove superiority language

    Replace “best”, “top”, “leading”, and unverified results claims with factual descriptions.

  5. 05

    Check qualifications

    Publish only qualifications and experience that can be supported and are permitted by the Code.

  6. 06

    Review client references

    Obtain permission and apply the special limits for exclusively reserved services.

  7. 07

    Review testimonials and awards

    Do not assume ordinary marketing conventions are acceptable for a CA firm.

  8. 08

    Audit calls to action

    Make them useful and specific without turning the page into aggressive solicitation.

  9. 09

    Protect client information

    Use access controls and confidentiality protocols for documents, chat, and requested advice.

  10. 10

    Review visual promotions

    Remove banner-style advertisements and devices that make the site a promotional display.

  11. 11

    Check the domain

    Keep the website address as close as reasonably possible to the member, firm, Network, or Alliance name.

  12. 12

    Record the review

    Keep a dated copy of pages, sources, permissions, and internal sign-off used at launch.

The Code sets principles and specific limits; it does not supply a complete implementation answer for every campaign, CTA, or software feature. Escalate uncertain cases to ICAI’s Ethical Standards Board or an appropriately qualified adviser.

What changed

The 2026 position is more usable — not unrestricted.

ICAI’s announcement dated 30 May 2026 confirms that the 13th edition applies from 1 April 2026. The consequential website change is a clearer distinction between non-exclusive services, which may use push technology, and exclusively reserved CA services, which remain pull-only.

Older ICAI website-guideline pages remain discoverable online. For a current review, use the 2026 Volume I text rather than assuming a 2020 summary captures the revised position.

ICAI effective-date announcement · Volume I, Chapter 3

Editorial and source review

How this guide was checked.

Prepared by MyCA Editorial and updated on .

The regulatory statements were reviewed against ICAI’s official Code of Ethics, 13th Edition, Volume I, Chapter 3, clauses 3.3.1–3.3.21, plus ICAI’s effective-date announcement and December 2025 policy explanation.

This page distinguishes the operative 2026 Code from older ICAI website guidance that remains visible in search. It does not replace fact-specific advice from ICAI’s Ethical Standards Board or another appropriately qualified adviser.

Official Code of Ethics, Volume I · ICAI effective-date announcement

Common questions

Straight answers for CA firms.

What are the ICAI Website Guidelines 2026?+

They are the website rules in ICAI’s Code of Ethics, Volume I, Chapter 3, clauses 3.3.1–3.3.21. They govern how members, CA firms, and ICAI-registered Networks or Alliances may create, structure, and use websites.

Can a CA firm have its own website in 2026?+

Yes. Clause 3.3.1 expressly allows chartered accountants, firms, and ICAI-registered Networks or Alliances to create their own websites.

Can a CA firm run digital marketing campaigns?+

It depends on the service and method. The 2026 Code allows push technology, but services exclusively reserved for chartered accountants remain pull-only. General anti-solicitation and write-up rules still apply.

Can a CA website publish blogs and tax updates?+

Yes. Clause 3.3.10 permits blogs, articles, professional information, bulletins, professional updates, and educational videos on professionally relevant topics.

Can a firm show client names or case studies?+

Clause 3.3.7 permits client names and some assignment information with client permission. For exclusively reserved services, only the client name may be mentioned, subject to permission. Confidentiality and anti-solicitation requirements still need review.

Can a CA firm publish fees?+

The Code generally says fees charged cannot be given. Clause 3.3.7 provides a narrow exception where a regulator requires disclosure, limited to that requirement and accompanied by the prescribed context.

Does ICAI approve website designs before launch?+

The Code does not prescribe a standard format, and the write-up guidance says ICAI will not approve a proposed write-up or assume responsibility for its contents. The member or firm remains responsible for the published material.

Build your CA website around the rules from the first draft.

MyCA builds websites specifically for chartered accountancy practices. Your firm’s real information shapes the content; source tracing and human review help keep unsupported claims out.

Build your CA website

See MyCA’s approach to websites for CA firms.

MyCA does not provide legal advice or certify ICAI compliance.