Common Errors in Financial Statements and Legal Requirements Under Companies Act, 2013
Explore commonly found errors in financial statements and the legal requirements under the Companies Act, 2013, focusing on the correct presentation of company affairs, compliance with accounting standards, and proper disclosure of useful lives for depreciation on property, plant, and equipment. Understand the implications of non-compliance with Schedule II provisions and gain insights into the abstract of accounting policies related to depreciation.
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Commonly Found Errors in the Financial Statements By: CA. Kamal Garg [B. Com(H), FCA, DISA (ICAI), M. Com] Insolvency Professional
Legal Requirements under the Companies Act, 2013 The financial statements shall give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company or companies, comply with the accounting standards notified under section 133 and shall be in the form or forms as may be provided for different class or classes of companies in Schedule III Section 129(1) Auditor to report whether, in his opinion, the financial statements comply with the accounting standards Section 143(3)(e)
Abstract of accounting policy of a company on Depreciation of PPE Non-compliance Requirement Depreciation on property, plant & equipment (PPE) is provided on Straight Line Method over their useful lives and in the manner specified in Schedule II to the Companies Act, 2013. However, in respect of certain Plant & Machineries and Electric Installations, depreciation is provided as per their useful lives assessed on the basis of technical evaluation by the external valuer, ranging from 20 to 40 years. As per the requirements of Schedule II to the Companies Act, 2013, it was viewed that when different useful lives have been used by the company for the purpose of charging deprecation on PPEs, such useful lives shall be specifically disclosed by the company by way of notes to the accounts; It was thus required that proper disclosures regarding the useful lives of plant & machineries and electrical installations should have been made identifying the items of plant & machineries and electrical installations with their respective useful lives as estimated by the external valuer.
Abstract of accounting policy of a company on Depreciation of PPE Non-compliance Requirement Schedule II to Companies Act, 2013 introduced concept of useful life of asset instead of using specific depreciation rates as provided in Companies Act, 1956. Therefore, the company viewed that Schedule II to Companies Act, 2013 provides only straight line method of depreciation and any other method cannot be used. Schedule II does not specify any method of charging depreciation but only provides the indicative useful life of the assets. The company can use any appropriate method of depreciation, such as, SLM, WDV considering the useful life of the assets and other requirements as specified in Schedule II to CompaniesAct, 2013; Therefore, the view of the company that Schedule II to Companies Act, 2013 provides only Straight Line Method of depreciation is not correct. Schedule XIV to
Abstract of accounting policy of a company on Depreciation of PPE Non-compliance Requirement Schedule II does not specify any method of charging depreciation but only provides the indicative useful life of the assets. The company can use any appropriate method of depreciation, such as, SLM, WDV considering the useful life of the assets and other requirements as specified in Schedule II to CompaniesAct, 2013; Further, Schedule II also does not deal with impairment of assets. Para 2 of Schedule III in fact states that for the purpose of this Schedule, the term depreciation includes amortisation; Therefore, the policy stated by the company is not correct. Property, Plant and Equipment are stated at cost, net of recoverable taxes, trade discount and rebates less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, if any, as computed in accordance with the method prescribed under Schedule II of the Co.Act, 2013; Intangible Assets are stated at cost of acquisition net of recoverable taxes, trade discount and rebates amortisation/depletion and impairment losses, if any, as computed as per the method prescribed under Sch. II of the Co.Act, 2013 less accumulated
Abstract of accounting policy of a company on Depreciation of PPE Non-compliance Requirement Depreciation on property, plant & equipment (PPE) is provided on Straight Line Method over their maximum useful lives as specified in Schedule II to the Companies Act, 2013, except where different useful lives are adopted on the basis of technical advice obtained by the company from independent experts The useful lives as given under Schedule II for various types of assets are indicative only and are not minimum or maximum; Where the useful lives of various specific assets are the same as those under Schedule II, the company should use these useful lives; In case the useful life of an asset as estimated by the company, supported by the technical advice, external or internal, differs, i.e., higher or lower from the indicative useful life given under Schedule II, the former should be applied by the company for providing depreciation
Abstract of accounting policy of a company on Depreciation of PPE Non-compliance Requirement Depreciation on those assets, whose actual cost does not exceed Rs. 5,000/=, has been provided @ 100% in accordance with Schedule II of the CompaniesAct, 2013 Schedule II does not prescribe any such requirement to provide depreciation @ 100%. GN states that as the life of the asset is a matter of estimation, the materiality of impact of such charge should be considered with reference to the cost of asset. The size of the company will also be a factor to be considered for such policy; Accordingly, a company may have a policy to fully depreciate assets upto certain threshold limits considering materiality aspect in the year of acquisition
AS Compliant Companies
Division I Part I : Balance Sheet EQUITIES AND LIABILITIES Shareholders Funds (a) Share Capital (b) Reserves & Surplus (c) Money Reserved against share warrants Share Application money pending Allotment Non Current Liabilities (a) Long-term borrowings (b) Deferred tax liabilities (Net) (c) Other Long term liabilities (d) Long-term provisions Current Liabilities (a) Short-term borrowings (b) Trade Payables: (A) total outstanding dues of micro enterprises and small enterprises; and (B) total outstanding dues of creditors other than micro enterprises and small enterprises (c) Other current liabilities (d) Short-term provisions TOTAL
Division I Part I : Balance Sheet ASSETS Non-Current Assets (a) Property, Plant and Equipment [and Intangible assets] (i) Tangible assets Property, Plant and Equipment (ii) Intangible assets (iii) Capital work-in-progress (iv) Intangible assets under development (b) Non-current investments (c) Deferred tax assets (net) (d) Long-term loans and advances (e) Other non-current assets CurrentAssets (a) Current investments (b) Inventories (c) Trade receivables (d) Cash and cash equivalents (e) Short-term loans and advances (f) Other current assets TOTAL
Division I Part II : Statement of Profit & Loss Particulars Note No. Figures at the end of current reporting period Figures at the end of previous reporting period Revenue from Operations Other Income Total Revenue Income ( I + II) Expenses Cost of Material Consumed Purchases of Stock in Trade Changes in inventories of finished goods, Work in progress and stock in trade Employee Benefit expense Finance Costs Depreciation and amortization expense Other expenses Profit Before Exceptional and extraordinary items and tax Exceptional Items
Division I Part II : Statement of Profit & Loss Particulars Note No. Figures at the end of current reporting period Figures at the end of previous reporting period Profit Before extraordinary items and tax Extraordinary Items Profit Before Tax Tax Expense Current Tax Deferred Tax Profit (loss) for the period from continuing operations Profit (loss) from discontinuing operations Tax expense of discontinuing operations Profit(loss) from discontinuing operations (after tax) Profit (loss) for the period Earnings per equity share Basic Diluted
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement recommended disclosure about the company s operating cycle be given as a part of Notes to the Financial Statements The Schedule III requires all items in the Balance Sheet to be classified as either Current or Non-current; One of the underlying criteria for such classification cycle No disclosure operating cycle GN that the is operating was made for
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement In one case, notes to accounts stated that company s operating cycle is six months. The sale contract provides for a normal credit period of three months. However, the company does not expect to receive the payment within twelve months from the reporting date due to ongoing litigation with the customer; Still the company receivable for such customer under current asset category GN requires that since the company does not expect to receive the payment within twelve months from the reporting date, the same should be classified as Non-Current in the Balance Sheet classified trade
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN states that though the Schedule III clarifies that the Accounting Standards would prevail over itself in case of any inconsistency between the two; AS-13 does not lay down presentation norms, though it requires disclosures to be made for current and long-term Investments; Hence, portion of long-term investment as per AS13 which is expected to be realized within twelve months from the Balance Sheet date needs to be shown as Current investment under the Schedule III In one case, investments were classified into current and non-current category under Schedule III; Whereas AS 13 requires to classify investments as current and long-term ; Still the company appropriate disclosures investments under Schedule III as to classification in tandem withAS 13 did not make about
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement that with and GN presentation Deferred Tax asset or liability, the same should always be classified as non-current . states regard to of the net In one case, Deferred Tax Liability was classified into current and non-category; In another case, Deferred Tax Asset was classified into current and non-category; Deferred Tax/ Liability was classified into current and non-current category classification
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement Section 2(64) and Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013 read with GN requires that: a) unpaid amount towards shares subscribed by the subscribers of the MOA should be considered as 'subscribed and paid-up capital' in the Balance Sheet; and b) the debts due from the subscriber should be appropriately disclosed as an asset in the balance sheet In one case, there was unpaid amount towards shares subscribers of the MOA; The company hence gave a descriptive note for the same without any treatment in Financial Statements subscribed by the
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN requires that: a) to make the disclosure relevant for understanding the capital, the reconciliation is to be given even for the amount of share capital; b) should be disclosed separately for both Equity and Preference Shares; and c) reconciliation for the comparative previous period is also to be given In one case, a reconciliation of the number of shares outstanding at the beginning and at the end of the reporting period was given; The company, however, gave such reconciliation for total number of shares in aggregate, whereas the notes also stated that company has issued Equity Shares as well as Preference Shares company s share
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN requires that: a) companies shareholding for each class of shares, both within Equity and Preference Shares; and b) this information should also be given for the comparative previous period In one case, shares in the company held by each shareholder holding more than 5% shares was given by specifying the number of shares held; The company however shareholding for total number of shares in aggregate whereas the notes also stated that company has issued Equity Shares as well as Preference Shares should disclose the gave such
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN requires that such an allotment is considered as shares allotted for payment being received in cash and not as without payment being received in cash and accordingly, the same is not required to be disclosed in pursuance of afore-mentioned Clause (i) of Note 6Aof Part I of Schedule III In one case, the loan payable by the company was converted into equity under an arrangement between the company and the lender; The company disclosed the same as shares allotted as fully paid up pursuant to contract(s) without payment being received in cash Note: Clause (i) of Note 6A of Part I of Schedule III disclosures for non-cash allotments requires separate
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN requires that the companies should also disclose number and percentage of shares at the beginning of the year as additional columns in order understanding of the percentage change during the year In one case, the company made a separate disclosure of shareholding of its promoters including change therein during the year; The company disclosed the same in the format prescribed under Schedule III which requires disclosure only in respect of shares held at the end of the year Reference: Clause (m) of Note 6(A) the percentage to facilitate an
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement Calls paid in advance are to be reflected under Other Current Liabilities ~ similar view was also expressed by DCAin its Letter No. 8/16(1)/61-PR, dated 9.5.1961. In one case, the company received calls in advance from some shareholders; The company disclosed the same as a part of the paid-up capital Reference: In terms of Section 50, a company, if so authorized by its Articles, may accept from any member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on any shares held by him, although no part of that amount has been called up
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement Till 31.3.2021, current maturities of all long- term borrowings were required to be disclosed under other current liabilities ; Now from 1.4.2021, the current maturities of all long-term borrowings will be disclosed under short-term borrowings and not under other current liabilities . In one case, the company was having long term borrowings; The company no where separately disclosed the current maturities of such long-term borrowings
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement In one case, the company was having secured long term borrowings; The company disclosed that all long terms borrowings are secured against tangible assets owned by the company and personal security of promoters, shareholders and third parties GN requires that: a) a blanket disclosure will not suffice and hence the nature of security shall also be specified separately in each case; b) the nature of security should also cover the type of asset given as security e.g. inventories, PPE, intangible assets, etc.; c) when promoters, shareholders or third party gives any personal borrowing, such as shares or other assets held by them, disclosure should be made thereof, though such security does not result in classifying such borrowing as secured security for any
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN states that leasehold improvements should be shown as a separate asset class In one case, the company was having some leasehold improvements ; The company disclosed improvements by clubbing the same under Assets held under Lease leasehold
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement GN states that a LLP is a body corporate and not a partnership firm as envisaged under the PartnershipAct, 1932. Hence, disclosures pertaining to Investments in partnership firms investments in LLPs. The investments in LLPs will be disclosed separately under other investments . In one case, the company was having some investments in LLPs; The company disclosed the same under the sub-heading partnership firm ; Note: Schedule III requires disclosure in regard to investments in the capital of partnership firms, the names of the firms (with the names of all their partners, total capital and the shares of each partner) investments in will not include
General Instructions For Preparation of Balance Sheet Non-compliance Requirement Capital Advances are shown separately under the heading Long-term Loans and Advances and are not classified under Capital Work-in-Progress; GN states that typically companies do not expect to realize capital advances in cash; rather, over the period, these get converted into PPE and Intangible Assets which, by nature, are non-current assets; Hence, capital advances should be treated as non-current assets irrespective of when such assets are expected to be received and should not be classified as Short-Term/ Current In some cases, the company has given capital advances for procurement of PPE; One company disclosed the same under the sub-heading Progress ; Another company disclosed the same as Short-Term Advance as the PPE was expected to be received in next months from the reporting date. Capital Work-in
Issue: Cash and Cash Equivalents Deposits with original maturity of three months or less only should be classified as cash equivalents AS 3; Thus, Bank balances held as margin money or security against borrowings are neither in the nature of demand deposits, nor readily available for use by the company, and accordingly, do not meet the aforesaid definition of cash equivalents; However, under Schedule III Cash and Cash Equivalents comprise of: Balances with banks held as margin money or security against borrowings, guarantees, etc. and bank deposits with more than 12 months maturity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Question: How to deal with this apparent conflict between the requirements of the Schedule III and the AS with respect to which items should form part of Cash and cash equivalents Answer: 1) AS would prevail over the Schedule III; 2) Company to make necessary modifications in the F.S.; 3) Accordingly, the conflict should be resolved by changing the caption Cash and Cash Equivalents to Cash and Bank Balances, which may have two sub-headings: a) Cash and Cash Equivalents and b) Other Bank Balances. 4) The former should include only the items that constitute Cash and cash equivalents defined in accordance with AS 3 (and not the Schedule III), while the remaining line-items may be included under the latter heading
Share Application Money
What does Companies Act say A company making shall allot its securities within 60 days from the date of receipt of the application money. If the company is not able to allot the securities within that period, it shall repay the application money to the subscribers within 15 days from the date of completion of 60 days. If the company fails to repay the application money within the aforesaid period, it shall be liable to repay that money with interest @12% p.a. from the expiry of 60thday Section 42(6). If the securities for which application money or advance for such securities was received cannot be allotted within 60 days from the date of receipt of the application money and such application money is not refunded to the subscribers within 15 days from the date of completion of 60 days, such amount shall be treated as a deposit Rule 2(1)(c)(vii) of Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014
What does CARO say Para 3(v) Para 3(xiv) in case, the company has accepted deposits, whether issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the provisions of sections 73 to 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules framed thereunder, where applicable, have been complied with? If not, the nature of such contraventions be stated whether the company has made any preferential allotment placement of shares or fully or partly convertible debentures during the year under review and if so, as to whether the requirement of section 42 of the Companies Act, 2013 have been complied with and the amount raised have been used for the purposes for which the funds were raised. If not, provide the details in respect of the amount involved and nature of non-compliance the directives or private
Areas not to be overlooked - Question RST (P) Limited Equity and Liabilities (Extract) As at 31.3.2022 (in Lakhs) 100 As at 31.3.2021 (in Lakhs) 100 Share application money pending allotment (money was received through Banking channels on 15thJanuary, 2021)
Disqualification of Directors Section 164(2) Made defaults in Cannot be re- appointed as director of such company or appointed in other company for next 5 years Any Co. (other than Govt. Co.) Then directors of such company Repayment of Deposits/ Interest thereon/ Debentures/ Interest thereon/ Dividend > 1 year from due date Filing of annual F.S. or annual returns for 3 continuous F.Y. Or
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that sale of manufacturing scrap arising from operations for a manufacturing company should be treated as other operating revenue since the same arises on account of the operating activity In one case, the company was engaged in manufacturing of cars and has made sale of scrap which was generated during the manufacturing process; The company disclosed the sale of scrap as other non-operating income company s main
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that kinds of interest income for a company other than a finance company should be disclosed under the heading Other Income In one case, the company was having interest from customers on amounts overdue; The company has disclosed the same as other operating revenue
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that penalties and other similar amounts paid to the statutory authorities are not strictly in the nature of contribution and should not be disclosed here In one case, certain penalties were levied upon the company under PF Law; The company has disclosed the same under Employee Benefit Expenses as contributions to provident fund
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that finance charges on finance leases are in the nature of interest expense and hence should also be classified as interest expense Finance Cost In one case, the company has taken certain assets on finance lease and was paying lease rent for the same; The company has disclosed the finance charges on finance leases under the heading Miscellaneous Expenses under the heading
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that interest on shortfall in payment of advance income-tax is in the nature of finance cost and hence should not be clubbed with the Current tax; The same should be classified as Interest expense under finance costs. However, such amount should disclosed. In one case, the company has paid some interest on shortfall in payment of advance income-tax; The company has clubbed such interest with current tax under the heading Tax Expense be separately
General Instructions For Preparation of Statement of Profit and Loss Non-compliance Requirement GN states that expenditure on CSR activities, that qualify to be recognised as expense should be recognised as a separate line item as CSR expenditure in the statement of profit and loss; Further, the relevant note should disclose the break-up of various heads of expenses included in the line item CSR expenditure . In one case, the company has incurred CSR expenditure; The company has disclosed the CSR expenditure under the heading Other Expenses with a sub-heading CSR Expenditure for the year
Issue: Earning Per Share Para 15 of Accounting Standard 20, "Earnings Per Share", requires that BEPS should be calculated by dividing net profit for the period attributable to the equity shareholders by weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the period. A company (company Z) has prepared its financial statements for the year ended March 31, 20XX. During the year April 1, 20XX to March 31, 20XX, Company Z has issued new equity shares. The company has computed Basic Earnings Per Share (BEPS) by dividing the net profit for the period attributable to the equity shareholders by number of equity shares outstanding at the end of the year. can't use number of equity shares outstanding either at the beginning or at the end of the year, except when there is no increase/ decrease in equity share capital during the period. From the above Para 15 of AS 20, an entity should use weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the period. It Whether Company Z has computed BEPS correctly Referring to above, in the instant case Company Z has not computed BEPS correctly.
RST Limited 1st April, 2021 Equity Shares 10,000 shares 1st Oct, 2021 fresh issue 1,000 shares (additionally issued) 31st March, 2022 outstanding equity shares 11,000 shares PAT = Rs. 1,10,000 BEPS = 1,10,000/ 11,000 = Rs. 10 = is it correct ?
RST Limited 1st April, 2021 Equity Shares 10,000 shares 1st Oct, 2021 fresh issue 1,000 shares (additionally issued) 31st March, 2022 outstanding equity shares 11,000 shares PAT = Rs. 1,10,000 BEPS = 1,10,000/ 11,000 = Rs. 10 = is it correct ? = no Weighted Avg. Number of Equity Shares = [(10,000 (x) 12/12) + (1,000 (x) 6/12)] = 10,500 number of shares BEPS = 1,10,000/ 10,500 = this is correct position as per AS 20
Other Observations
Units of Measurement Non-compliance Requirement Under Schedule III, there is an explicit requirement to use the same unit of measurement uniformly throughout the financial statements and notes thereon; Accordingly, such information is not in line with the requirements of Schedule III It was observed from note relating to RP Disclosures given in the Annual Report of a company that the amounts of corporate guarantees given on behalf of RPs were disclosed in foreign currencies. It was observed that whereas in the given case the financial statements have been reported in rupees, certain transactions under related party disclosures have been reported in terms of US dollars (USD), Australian Dollars (AUD) and Japanese Yens (JPY) presentation of
Issue: Cash Flow Statement In the cash flow statement an entity has categorised its cash flows during a particular period into four categories, which are, Cash flow from Operating Activities, Cash flow From Investing Activities, Cash Flow from Financing Activities and Cash flow from Other Activities. Whether the entity has categorised its cash flows correctly as per AS 3/ Ind AS 7, Cash Flow Statements?
Particulars Amount (Rs.) 1,000 (100) Amount (Rs.) Net Profit before Tax Non-cash items and working capital adjustments Cash from Operating Activities (A) Cash from Investment Activities (B) Cash from Financing Activities (C) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents [(A) + (B) + (C)] Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period (D) Cash and cash equivalents at end of period (E) Changes during year on account of (D) and (E) 900 500 (200) 1,200 1,800 3,100 1,300
Particulars Amount (Rs.) 1,000 (100) Amount (Rs.) Net Profit before Tax Non-cash items and working capital adjustments Cash from Operating Activities Cash from Investment Activities Cash from Financing Activities Cash from Other Activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 900 500 (200) 100 1,300 1,800 3,100
