A S&Co story - Extension? We finished yesterday

The Office That Outsmarted October 31 

The last few days before tax filing due date in a CA’s office is not just about numbers. It’s a mix of deadlines, drama, and unexpected comedy. At S&Co., this period has its own pulse, like a marathon with surprise hurdles at every turn.

But this year, the team had planned early, stayed steady, and worked with quiet precision.

Across the city, many CA offices were buzzing late into the night. Lights stayed on, fans whirred, coffee machines worked overtime, and half-eaten dinner boxes lined the tables. Juniors checked challans, seniors argued with the tax portal, and clients sent frantic WhatsApp messages at midnight: “Just one small query, sir!” Everyone was racing toward the 31st October deadline - or so they thought.

At S&Co., though, things looked different. Except for three Saturdays when the team worked half days, everything else was hunky-dory. No all-nighters, no panic, no pizza boxes. Jagruti had spread out the workload weeks in advance. Pooja handled client follow-ups, Prajakta ticked off uploads and validations, and Neha, the new intern, made sure nothing slipped through the cracks. The pace was brisk, not breathless.

By 29th October, all corporate returns and audit reports were filed. The team was finally relaxing, when a notification popped up on their phones - “Due date extended to 10th December.”

For a moment, silence. Then came laughter that echoed across the office.

Pooja threw up her hands, “All those early mornings, and now this?”
Prajakta grinned, “Half the firms are still slogging tonight, and we’re done two days early.”
Jagruti chuckled, “Good. Now we can take on those clients who kept saying, ‘Please handle ours after your rush period.’”
Neha piped up, “And maybe have a tension free weekend!”

It was a S&Co. moment - good humour, good planning, and good tea. The extension didn’t irritate them; it reassured them that their system worked. While others still battled the portal and pending proofs, S&Co. was already looking at new opportunities, clean-up assignments, and some well-earned breathing space.

Outside, the professional grapevine buzzed with mixed feelings - some groaned, some cheered, a few swore never to start early again. Inside S&Co., the verdict was clear: preparation beats panic every time.

As Jagruti summed it up with a smile, “Let others celebrate the extension. We’ll celebrate our peace of mind.”

And with that, another filing season closed at S&Co. - no drama, no midnight chaos, just a satisfied team and the comforting sound of Manoj pouring one last round of chai.

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