Tech Tips
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Browser Classics for CAs – Essential Shortcuts & Time-Savers
| Shortcut / Action | What it does | Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen a closed tab | #01 |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Find an open tab quickly | #01 |
| Pin important tabs | Right-click tab → Pin (Gmail, GST, MCA, etc.) | #01 |
| Search from address bar | Type search directly in address bar → Enter | #02 |
| site:website.com keyword | Search only within a specific website | #02 |
| Ctrl + F | Find text on the current page | #02 |
| Tab Groups | Right-click tab → Add to new group | #03 |
| Chrome Split View | View two tabs side-by-side | #03 |
| Memory Saver | Chrome → Settings → Performance → Memory Saver | #04 |
| Shift + Esc | Open Browser Task Manager | #04 |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Hard Refresh (bypass cache) | #05 |
| Try another browser | Check if issue is browser-specific | #05 |
| Disable extensions | Temporarily turn off ad-blockers / extensions | #05 |
| IE Mode in Edge | For older government portals | #05 |
| Reading List | Save articles / updates to read later | #06 |
| Chrome Profiles | Separate Office / Personal / Banking profiles | #06 |
Three browser tricks that are worth remembering.
1. Ctrl + Shift + T — Reopen a closed tab
Closed the wrong tab?
Press Ctrl + Shift + T.
Press it again to reopen earlier closed tabs.
Works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
2. Ctrl + Shift + A — Find an open tab
Have 30–40 tabs open?
Press Ctrl + Shift + A in Chrome/Edge and type part of the client name, website or portal.
Jump straight to the tab instead of hunting through them.
3. Pin important tabs
Right-click a frequently used tab → Pin
Useful for Gmail, GST, MCA, ICAI, Income Tax and other daily portals.
Pinned tabs stay compact and are harder to close accidentally.
Don't just browse the web. Search it intelligently.
1. Search directly from the address bar
You don't need to open Google first.
Type your search directly into the browser address bar → Enter.
Works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
2. Search within a particular website
In Google, type:
site:incometax.gov.in section 194Q
Google will search only that website.
Very useful when a portal's own search function is poor.
3. Ctrl + F — Find something on the current page
Use Ctrl + F and type a word or phrase.
Particularly useful for long notifications, circulars, webpages and portal pages.
Research doesn't have to mean 25 unrelated tabs.
1. Use Tab Groups
In Chrome/Firefox:
Right-click a tab → Add tab to new group
Name it, for example: Sec 43B – Case Law
Add related tabs to the group and collapse it when not needed.
2. Use Chrome Split View
Chrome can display two tabs side-by-side in the same browser window.
Useful for:
• GST return + working paper
• Portal + Excel
• ICAI guidance + draft note
Look for Open in Split View when available.
Organise research instead of opening more tabs.
Browser slowing down during filing season? Try these before closing everything.
1. Chrome Memory Saver
Chrome → Settings → Performance → Memory Saver
It frees memory used by inactive tabs while keeping them open.
Useful when GST, Income Tax, AIS, email and multiple work tabs are open together.
2. Browser Task Manager
In Chrome/Edge, press:
Shift + Esc
See which tabs, extensions or processes are consuming the most memory or CPU.
You can end the unnecessary one.
Find the culprit instead of blaming the whole browser.
Before spending 30 minutes fighting a government portal, try these quick checks.
1. Hard Refresh
Press Ctrl + Shift + R to reload the page without relying on cached files.
2. Try another browser
If it works in Chrome but not Edge — or vice versa — it may be a compatibility issue.
3. Check extensions
Temporarily disable ad-blockers or other extensions that may interfere with the portal.
4. Try Internet Explorer mode
For older portals that specifically require legacy compatibility:
Edge → Settings → Default browser → Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode
Four quick checks before assuming the portal is broken.
Keep your browser organised — both for what you read and how you work.
1. Save it for later
Found a useful article but don't have time to read it now?
Use Chrome's Reading List to save:
• Tax updates
• ICAI announcements
• Professional articles
• Research material
2. Keep work and personal browsing separate
Chrome Profiles can maintain separate:
• Logins
• Bookmarks
• Passwords
• Extensions
• Browsing history
For example:
Office → CA work and portals
Personal → personal browsing
Banking → banking-related access
Save useful content without clutter. Keep different kinds of browsing separate.
