I’m An Expert

Kindly complete the application form.

As a platform, we prioritize the quality of our freelance. To increase your chances of becoming a Consultium, it’s advisable to provide specific details about your experience and skills in the application form. A comprehensive profile assists potential users in deciding whether to engage with you.

To help us better evaluate your capabilities, it’s recommended to link your GitHub, Stack Overflow, and LinkedIn accounts. In each expertise section, consider providing 1-3 sentences about your background and including as many relevant tags as possible.

Here’s an example of an effective Consultium profile. For further guidance on completing your profile, refer to our Consultium Profile Checklist. Typically, the review process takes 1-2 weeks.

Sometimes, freelance jobs might be a better way to solve a problem compared to live sessions. Here are situations where asking a client to create a freelance job might be suitable:

When a client prefers to work offline or at their own pace, such as reading code comments and understanding it gradually.
When a client needs assistance in creating a functional solution to a problem.

Before requesting a client to create a freelance job, ensure:

You understand the client’s goal and related requirements.
Determine if there’s a deadline or if the job is time-sensitive.
Clarify what the deliverables should include, such as a code snippet for a working solution.
If unsure about your ability to complete the job based on the request, it’s recommended to chat with the client to clarify or start a free session to determine how you can assist.

If the request involves graded work or assessments, it should be handled in a live 1:1 mentoring session.

Once you’re certain you can help, you can ask the client to create a freelance job to secure payment. You can learn more about how freelance jobs work for clients, including their process and payment methods.

You can receive payments directly to your Indian bank account. Provide your complete bank details to the payer, including your bank account number, IFSC code, and account holder name.

We understand the significance of receiving your hard-earned money from consultium. If you encounter any payment-related issues, we’re dedicated to promptly resolving them.

Inability to Withdraw Earnings
If you’re unable to withdraw your earnings, here are several possible reasons:

Payment Setup and Tax Information: Ensure you’ve set up a payment method and provided your tax details, which are essential for processing your earnings.

Waiting Period: If your payment method is recently set up, there might be a mandatory three-day waiting period before its use for security purposes.
Review and Availability: Check your Transaction History report to ascertain the availability date of your funds. All earnings undergo review and security processes before being made available.

Account Restrictions: Review your account for any temporary holds or suspensions that might hinder withdrawal. Resolve these issues to access your earnings. If you encountered an error while withdrawing, refer here to identify potential site-related issues. Contact our support if there are no site issues, and we’ll assist you further.

Important Note:
Agencies handle payments to freelancers associated with the agency. These payments are not protected or managed by consultium. Contact your agency owner to address any payment-related concerns.

Earnings Withdrawn but Not Received:
If your withdrawal was successfully processed but not received, refer to the specifics of your payment method below for further guidance on how and when we can assist.

Note:
Public holidays in India. and your country can sometimes cause delays in withdrawals. 

If your withdrawal experiences an issue and the funds are returned to your consultium account, we’ll promptly notify you. In case the problem is on our end, any resulting fees will be covered by consultium. However, if the transfer fails due to inaccurate information provided by you, the returned funds will be subject to deductions.

Please Ensure
Establish a stable internet connection before commencing any session.
Verify your rate with the mentee before initiating a session.
Review our mentor guidelines available here.

Please Avoid
Missing or arriving late for your scheduled sessions.
Using an unstable internet connection, like your mobile phone’s internet, during sessions.
Requesting or prompting clients to make payments through Third-Party Platforms. Engaging in such behavior may lead to a ban. Instead, users can remunerate you for freelance jobs or commence a paid session (clients may provide direct payment primarily for tipping or additional payment through the chatbox).
For further information, please consult our Terms of Service.

consultium is committed to fostering economic opportunities for individuals, ensuring equal access for all qualified users. Upholding this mission, we strictly prohibit any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment against any community member based on nationality, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, or similar protected attributes.

Respect and inclusivity are crucial within our community, irrespective of one’s background or personal traits. All members are expected to contribute to an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. Any language or behavior that is illegal, threatening, biased, hateful, or discriminative is not permitted.

Furthermore, consultium refrains from any form of discrimination on unlawful grounds. Both qualified freelancers and clients are encouraged to engage within our community without concern for protected characteristics. Our platform aims to facilitate opportunities in a manner that minimizes the potential for unlawful bias or prejudice.

We expect all users to adhere to anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws at all times. Users must avoid unlawful discrimination or harassment:

During communication with other consultium users
When specifying eligibility or requirements on job postings
When inviting freelancers to propose for projects
During the interviewing and selection process of freelancers
When negotiating payment and contract terms
While leaving feedback at the end of a project
During other interactions and collaborations with fellow users

Clients and freelancers are free to select their working partners or projects based on lawful considerations. For instance, clients may reject a proposal if they feel the freelancer lacks the necessary skills. Similarly, freelancers may decline projects if they find the budget inadequate or the project description unclear.

As an consultium user, you must not disclose Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of any other individual without their explicit and documented consent, irrespective of whether that person is an consultium user or not.

However, once you have commenced a contract with another consultium user, you are permitted to share your own PII in a private channel. It’s important to note that just as you cannot disclose someone else’s PII without consent, other consultium users are similarly prohibited from sharing your personal information without your explicit authorization.

For comprehensive details, please refer to our complete Terms of Service available here.

At consultium, safeguarding your privacy is a top priority. We consistently work to maintain a secure platform for all our users. consultium’s access is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS), and for any sensitive data you provide, like tax information, we use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt the transmission of that information.

Consultium’s Privacy Policy

Identity Verification
As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment free from fraud, we intermittently request users to complete identity verification processes. When prompted for identity verification, you will be required to upload a photo of a government ID (such as a driver’s license or passport). Moreover, you might also be requested to participate in a brief video call with us.

Access to Your Personal Information
Access to the details you provide during identity verification is restricted solely to authorized consultium agents and our trusted third-party vendor. The vendor does not retain any of this data, and consultium deletes the image submitted for identity verification after 30 days. Clients can only view that you have completed the verification process through the Identity Verified badge and do not have access to your personal information. We do not share any of the personal information you provide for verification purposes or any other reason.

Yes, Indian Freelancers or Agencies need to complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) process as per Indian regulatory requirements. This involves providing accurate and verifiable identification and contact information to ensure compliance with tax and financial regulations.

TDS, or Tax Deducted at Source, is deducted during your payout to comply with Indian tax regulations. The government of India requires income tax to be withheld at the source when payments are made to individuals or entities. In the context of your payouts on platforms like Consultium or similar freelance websites, TDS ensures that income tax is collected at the time of payment to meet your tax liability.

The specific amount of TDS deducted depends on various factors, such as whether you have linked your Permanent Account Number (PAN) to your Aadhaar number and the corresponding tax rate, as outlined by Indian tax authorities. TDS serves as a way to streamline tax collection, and the deducted amount is subsequently submitted to the government on your behalf.

It’s important to ensure that your PAN is linked to your Aadhaar number by the government’s specified deadline to maintain a lower TDS rate and potentially claim a credit or refund, if applicable. If you have questions or need more detailed information about your specific situation, it’s advisable to consult a qualified tax expert or advisor.

In general, TDS is applicable to all client payments made to Indian freelancers and agencies. The amount withheld depends on whether you have provided a valid Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Consultium and linked it to your Aadhaar number by the Indian government’s June 30, 2023 deadline.

We deduct a 1% tax from your earnings if:

– You have a valid PAN registered with Consultium.
– Consultium has verified your PAN.
– Your PAN is linked to your Aadhaar number by the Indian government’s deadline or if you are exempt from this requirement.

A 5% tax will be withheld if you haven’t provided a valid PAN or haven’t linked it to your Aadhaar number by the Indian government’s deadline.

Linking your PAN and Aadhaar numbers is mandated by Indian tax law. If you fail to do so, your PAN will become invalid, and we will withhold 5% for TDS.

Exemptions from this requirement do not require any action. For details on how to link your PAN and Aadhaar and any exemptions, please refer to www.incometax.gov.in or seek advice from your local tax advisor.

To maintain the 1% withholding tax rate or claim a credit or refund, you must add a PAN and link it to your Aadhaar number. It is recommended to consult with a knowledgeable tax expert or advisor for personalized guidance.

You can claim refund on the TDS, which can be applied to your tax liability for the current financial year. If the amount deducted exceeds your total tax liability for the year, you may also be eligible to request a refund. For personalized guidance on claiming these benefits, it’s advisable to consult a reputable tax expert or advisor who can provide specific advice tailored to your situation. Please comply with Indian Income Tax Laws and consult an expert for the same.

We are required to file monthly/quarterly Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) reports within one month after the end of each quarter. We will email the Form 16A (Certificate of Tax Deduction) to you within two weeks after we file.

Indian tax law requires you to link your Aadhaar to your PAN. If you do not link to Aadhaar, your PAN will no longer be valid. This means we will have to charge you 5% tax for TDS instead of 1%.

We’ll send you your Form 16A quarterly on or before these dates:

Q1: April – June, by October 15
Q2: July – September, by November 15
Q3: October – December, by February 15
Q4: January – March, by May 15

Please send your correction request to accounts@consultium.io by the deadline. We will respond acknowledging your request within 24-48 hours. Be sure to include the following items:

• The e-mail address you have registered for access to Consultium
• The reason for your request
• The new PAN for your correction

Experts/Freelancers and clients are protected similarly.

• Reschedule: If a freelancer needs to reschedule, they should send a message to the client first to propose a new date and time. The new time must fall after their minimum booking notice.
• Cancellation policy: If a freelancer cancels more than 24 hours before the consultation, the client will get their money back and they won’t be able to leave feedback. If the freelancer cancels within 24 hours of the consultation, the client can leave feedback.
• Late policy: The client and freelancer can be up to 5 minutes late for a scheduled consultation.
• No-show policy: If the freelancer doesn’t show up or is more than 5 minutes late, the client can file a dispute and ask for their money back.
• Payment Protection: We provide Payment Protection for consulting freelancers if the following eligibility requirements are met:
  • The client canceled the consultation less than 24 hours prior to the start time, or,
  • The freelancer is less than 5 minutes late for the consultation and they send the documents agreed to the client within the set delivery time, or
  • The client opts out of receiving documents after the consultation and chooses to approve and pay without receiving them.
• Harassment policy: We won’t tolerate harassment or violence toward other Consultium users. You can report harassment or violence by reaching out to support or using the report flag throughout the site. You can review all prohibited behaviors, including our prohibition on harassment and violence, in our Terms of Use.