Friday, 8 April 2016

Comparison between CARO 2015 and 2016



The ministry of corporate affairs, vide notification dated 29 March 2016, has issued the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2016 which will be applicable from financial years commencing on or after 1 April 2015.  The new Order introduced few new reporting requirement by curtailing few in comparison of Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2015. Following is the comparison between CARO 2015 and 2016:

Sl.  No.
Companies (Auditors’ Report) Order, 2015
Companies (Auditors’ Report) Order, 2016
Remarks
Applicability








Applicable on all companies other than:
Applicable on all companies other than:
Changes in respect of applicability of CARO on Private limited company
-Banking Company
-Banking Company
-Insurance Company
-Insurance Company
-Sec 8 Company
-Sec 8 Company
-One Person Company
-One Person Company
– Private Limited company not having
– Private Limited company (not being holding/subsidiary of public company) not having
:Paid up Capital and reserves>50 Lacs  during the year
:Paid up Capital+ reserves>1 crores as on balance sheet date
:loans outstanding> 25 Lacs during the year
:loans outstanding> 1 crores during the year
:Turnover > 5 crores during the year
:Total revenue as per schedule II>10 crores




1


-Whether the company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed assets.
-Whether the company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed assets.
New CARO demands additional reporting for such immovable assets whose title are not owned by the company.
-whether these fixed assets have been physically verified by the management at reasonable intervals; whether any material discrepancies were noticed on such verification and if so, whether the same have been properly dealt with in the books of account;
-whether these fixed assets have been physically verified by the management at reasonable intervals; whether any material discrepancies were noticed on such verification and if so, whether the same have been properly dealt with in the books of account;

-Whether the company holds title of immovable property held by the company, If not provides the details thereof




2
-whether physical verification of inventory has been conducted at reasonable intervals by the management
-whether physical verification of inventory has been conducted at reasonable intervals by the management and if any discrepancies has been notices are properly dealt with or not.
The requirement has been curtailed to physical verification and treatment of discrepancies noticed. The auditor no need to report for records maintained by the company for inventories.

-Are the procedures of physical verification of inventory followed by the management reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of the company and the nature of its business. If not, the inadequacies in such procedures should be reported

-Whether the company is maintaining proper records of inventory and whether any material discrepancies were noticed on physical verification and if so, whether the same have been properly dealt with in the books of account;





3
-Whether the company has granted any loans, secured or unsecured to companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained under section 189 of the Companies Act. If so,
-Whether the company has granted any loans, secured or unsecured to companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained under section 189 of the Companies Act. If so,
– The new CARO provides for the term and conditions of loan provided.

-whether receipt of the principal amount and interest are also regular; and
-Whether the schedule of repayment is stipulated, whether the repayment is regular or not.
– The new carob provides for overdue payment for more than 90 days instead outstanding of amount above the threshold limit of 1 lac

-if overdue amount is more than rupees one lakh, whether reasonable steps have been taken by the company for recovery of the principal and interest;
-Whether the term and conditions of the grant of such  loan are prejudicial to the interest of the company


-If the amount is over due , then state the amount over due for more than 90 days and what steps company has followed.





4
-Is there an adequate internal control system commensurate with the size of the company and the nature of its business, for the purchase of inventory and fixed assets and for the sale of goods and services. Whether there is a continuing failure to correct major weaknesses in internal control system.
-In respect of loans, investments, guarantees, and security whether provisions of section 185 and I86 of the Companies Act, 2013 have been complied with. If not, provide the detail thereof.
The new CARO instead of internal control provides for the loans and investments and other which are covered under sec 185 and 186 of the 2013 Act.




5
-In case the company has accepted deposits, whether the directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the provisions of sections 73 to 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Companies Act and the rules framed thereunder, where applicable, have been complied with? If not, the nature of contraventions should be stated; If an order has been passed by Company Law Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any court or any other tribunal, whether the same has been complied with or not?
-In case the company has accepted deposits, whether the directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the provisions of sections 73 to 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Companies Act and the rules framed thereunder, where applicable, have been complied with? If not, the nature of contraventions should be stated; If an order has been passed by Company Law Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any court or any other tribunal, whether the same has been complied with or not?
No Change




6
where maintenance of cost records has been specified by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 148 of the Companies Act, whether such accounts and records have been made and maintained;
where maintenance of cost records has been specified by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 148 of the Companies Act, whether such accounts and records have been made and maintained;
No Change




7
-Is the company regular in depositing undisputed statutory dues including provident fund, employees’ state insurance, income-tax, sales-tax, wealth tax, service tax, duty of customs, duty of excise, value added tax, cess and any other statutory dues with the appropriate authorities and if not, the extent of the arrears of outstanding statutory dues as at the last day of the financial year concerned for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable, shall be indicated by the auditor.
-Is the company regular in depositing undisputed statutory dues including provident fund, employees’ state insurance, income-tax, sales-tax, wealth tax, service tax, duty of customs, duty of excise, value added tax, cess and any other statutory dues with the appropriate authorities and if not, the extent of the arrears of outstanding statutory dues as at the last day of the financial year concerned for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable, shall be indicated by the auditor.
In new CARO the auditor need not provide for third limb of old CARO requirement

-In case dues of income tax or sales tax or wealth tax or service tax or duty of customs or duty of excise or value added tax or cess have not been deposited on account of any dispute, then the amounts involved and the forum where dispute is pending shall be mentioned. (A mere representation to the concerned Department shall not constitute a dispute).
-In case dues of income tax or sales tax or wealth tax or service tax or duty of customs or duty of excise or value added tax or cess have not been deposited on account of any dispute, then the amounts involved and the forum where dispute is pending shall be mentioned. (A mere representation to the concerned Department shall not constitute a dispute).


whether the amount required to be transferred to investor education and protection fund in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and rules made thereunder has been transferred to such fund within time.






8
-Whether in case of a company which has been registered for a period not less than five years, its accumulated losses at the end of the financial year are not less than fifty per cent of its net worth and whether it has incurred cash losses in such financial year and in the immediately preceding financial year;
-Whether the company has defaulted in repayment of dues to a financial institution or bank or debenture holders? If yes, the period and amount of default to be reported
The auditor need not report on point 8 of old CARO instead point 9 of Old CARO has been shifted to Point 8 of new CARO.




9
whether the company has defaulted in repayment of dues to a financial institution or bank or debenture holders? If yes, the period and amount of default to be reported
whether moneys raised by way of initial public offer or further public offer (including debt instruments) and term loans were applied for the purposes for which those are raised. If not, the details together with delays or default and subsequent rectification, if any, as may be applicable, be reported;
Point 9 of old CARO has been shifted to point 8 of new CARO.  Point 9 of new CARO asks for utilization of end use of money raised through IPO and debt instruments




10
whether the company has given any guarantee for loans taken by others from bank or financial institutions, the terms and conditions whereof are prejudicial to the interest of the company;
whether any fraud by the company or officers or employees has been noticed the nature and the amount involved is any fraud on the Company by its or reported during the year; If yes, to be indicated;
-Point no 12 of Old CARO has been shifted to point 10 of New CARO.



– Point 10 is no more in existence




11
whether term loans were applied for the purpose for which the loans were obtained;
whether managerial remuneration has been paid or provided in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of section 197 read with Schedule V to the Companies Act? If not, state the amount involved and steps taken by the company for securing refund of the same;
-Point 11 of old CARO is covered in point 9 of new CARO.
– Point 11 of New CARO is new insertion.




12
whether any fraud by the company or officers or employees has been noticed the nature and the amount involved is any fraud on the Company by its or reported during the year; If yes, to be indicated;
Whether the Nidhi Company has complied with the Net Owned Funds to Deposits in the ratio of 1: 20 to meet out the liability and whether the Nidhi Company is maintaining ten percent unencumbered term deposits as specified in the Nidhi Rules, 2014 to meet out the liabilities:
-Point no 12 of Old CARO has been shifted to point 10 of New CARO.
– Point 12 of new CARO is new insertion.




13
whether all transactions with the related parties are in compliance with section 177 and 188 of Companies Act, 2013 where applicable and the details have been disclosed in the Financial Statements etc.. as required by the applicable accounting standards:
New insertion




14
whether the company has made any preferential allotment or private placement of shares or fully or partly convertibles 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:
New insertion




15
Whether the company has entered into any non-cash transactions with directors or persons connected with him and iI so, whether the provisions of section 192 of Companies Act, 2013 have been complied with;
New insertion




16
Whether the company is required to be registered under section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and if so, whether the registration has been obtained.
New insertion

- See more at: http://taxguru.in/company-law/comparison-caro-2015-caro-2016.html#sthash.jtDtitjA.dpuf

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

facility for online rectification



Government of India
M inistry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 1st April, 2016

Sub: Request to taxpayers to avail facility for online rectification – regarding

Income-tax Act provides the taxpayer with an option to seek rectification of mistakes apparent from record under section 154 of the Act. The e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department provides the utility for online filing and tracking of rectification requests. Taxpayers who are not satisfied with the outcome of processing of their Income Tax Return by the Centralized Processing Centre, Bengaluru can avail of the facility of online filing and tracking of rectification requests available on http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/

In case of any mistake in data entry of Tax payment or TDS details, taxpayer can select the “Rectification Request Type->Taxpayer is correcting data for Tax Credit mismatch only” and the use the option of pre-filling the correct details for the relevant Assessment Year while submitting the rectification request.

In case of data entry mistake in any other Schedule or omission of any details, taxpayer can select the option “Taxpayer is correcting Data in Rectification” and the reason for seeking rectification.

In any other case taxpayer can select the option “No further Data Correction Required, Reprocess the case” where the mistake in processing may have occurred due to non-reporting of TDS by deductor etc.

A detailed user manual for filing online rectification is available at:http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/eFiling/Portal/StaticPDF/Rectifcation_Manual.pdf?0.08833787460862363

With this utility a taxpayer can also the monitor the status of disposal of rectification request.

CPC, Bengaluru has already processed 6,53,763 online rectification requests in F.Y.2015-16 till 29th February 2016. CBDT is committed to ensuring accuracy in processing of returns and determination of refunds and seeks the active cooperation of taxpayers in ensuring correctness of data while submitting the return or rectification request.

(Shefali Shah)
Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax
(M edia and Technical Policy)
and Official Spokesperson, CBDT

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Krishi Kalyan Cess-Service Tax



The Union Budget has introduced two new cesses in the name and style of Infrastructure Cess and Krishi Kalyan Cess, former in the nature of excise duty and later as Service Tax. Clean Energy Cess has been renamed as Clean Environment Cess while enhancing the cess by 100 percent. These cesses, in nutshell are as follows:

Cess
W.e.f.
Target (Rs.)
Clean Environment Cess
01.03.2016
26150 crore
Infrastructure Cess
01.03.2016
3000 crore
Krishi Kalyan Cess
01.06.2016
5000 crore

However, to reduce multiplicity of taxes, associated cascading and to reduce cost of collection, the Budget also seeks to abolish or scrap 13 cesses levied by various ministries wherein revenue collection is less than Rs. 50 crore in a year. By saying so, Government concedes that cesses add to multiplicity of taxes and to cascading effect. It appears that the new cesses have the sole objective of revenue collection and it remains a mystery as to whether these cesses are spent for the desired objectives.

Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC) as New Cess 

The Union Budget, 2016 proposes in Finance Bill, 2016 to impose a new Cess, called the Krishi Kalyan Cess, @ 0.5% on all or any taxable services, proceeds of which would be exclusively used for financing initiatives relating to improvement of agriculture and welfare of farmers. The Cess will come into force with effect from 1st June, 2016. Input Tax credit of this cess will be available for payment of this cess.
The proceeds of the cess will go to consolidated Fund of India and shall be appropriated by the Parliament of India. All provisions of Service Tax shall apply to KKC.

Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC)
On
All taxable services
Authority
Clause 158; Chapter VI of Finance Bill, 2016
@
0.50 percent of value of services
W.e.f.
01.06.2016
As
Service Tax
For
Improvement of agriculture and welfare of farmers
Cenvat Credit
Allowable
Budget Target
Rs. 5000 crore

Statutory Provisions / Objective
Clause 158 in Chapter VI of the Finance Bill, 2016 contains the proposed statutory provision on KKC.

The ‘statement of objects and reasons’ provides that clause 158 of the Bill seeks to insert new Chapter VI so as to levy a cess to be called the Krishi Kalyan Cess, as service tax on all or any of the taxable service for the purposes of the Union for financing and promoting initiatives to improve agriculture or the for any other purpose relating thereto.

The CBEC’s clarificatory letter on Budget clarification (vide DOF No. 334/8/2016-TRU dated 29.02.2016) states that clause 158 is the enabling provision for levy of KKC. It states as follows –

“Enabling provision for levy of Krishi Kalyan Cess: 

Krishi Kalyan Cess is proposed to be levied with effect from 1st June, 2016 on any or all the taxable services at the rate of 0.5% on the value of such taxable services. Credit of Krishi Kalyan Cess paid on input services shall be allowed to be used for payment of the proposed Cess on the service provided by a service provider.”

KKC shall be levied as Service Tax on all or any taxable services at the rate of 0.5 percent on the value of taxable services. KKC has been levied for the purpose of financing and promoting initiatives to improve agriculture or for any other purpose relating to it. KKC shall be in addition to any cess or Service Tax leviable on such taxable services under Chapter V of Finance Act, 1994. The proceeds of KKC shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and subject to appropriation by Parliament by law. Central Government can utilize the KKC money for specified purposes. KKC shall be subject to provisions and rules as applicable to Service Tax under Finance Act, 1994.

KKC : The Fine Print
The following assertions can be made in respect of KKC-
(a) The nature of KKC is that of a Service Tax.
(b) Rate of KKC is fixed @ 0.50 percent of value of service.
(c) The effective date for KKC is 01.06.2016 i.e., based on point of taxation, KKC shall be charged on all services provided on or after 1st June, 2016
(d) KKC shall be levied on services only which could be on all services or some of the services (as the provision provides for ‘….on any on any or all the taxable services…..’)
(e) There may be a notification issued prior to 01.06.2016 making KKC applicable to some services or class of services (rather than on all services). It is expected that some basic services may be spared from levy of KKC.
(f) KKC shall be chargeable on invoices separately as KKC like Swachh Bharat Cess. Charging Service Tax @ 15 percent (14% Service Tax, 0.50% SBC and 0.50% KKC) is not legally correct.
(g) KKC shall be charged and accounted for as a separate cess and also deposited under a new accounting code to be notified in due course.
(h) It is announced that KKC shall be cevnatable. Since KKC will be levied only on services, cenvat credit would be allowed only for services provided by service provider.
(i) Necessary amendments are expected to be brought in Cenvat Credit Rules. It is imperative that Cenvat Credit should also be allowed to manufacturers on KKC paid on input services against the duty payable on goods manufactured.

Effectively, w.e.f. 01.06.2016, the date from which KKC shall be made applicable, Service Tax structure shall be as follows:

Tax / Cess
Rate (%)
Cenvat
Service Tax
14.00
Yes
Swachh Bharat Cess
0.50
No
Krishi Kalyan Cess
0.50
Yes
Total
15.00


Thus, out of total imposition of fifteen percent, 14.5 percent shall be cenvatable and 0.50 percent shall not be cenvatable. This would require extra care while accounting, invoicing and book keeping by the assessees.

Impact of KKC
So far has Service Tax is concerned, effective tax cost shall be 15 percent of value of services w.e.f. 01.06.2016, i.e. 14% Service Tax, 0.50% Swacch Bharat Cess and 0.5 percent of Krishi Kalyan Cess. Of this, 14.5% shall be cenvatable but 0.50% of Swachh Bharat Cess (SBC) shall not be cenvatable.

Since KKC is leviable on all or any taxable services (there may be exemptions to be announced later), it will have an adverse effect on make in India programme and starts ups, besides adding to inflation. It also goes against the philosophy of having an environment of ease of doing business in India. Further, cenvat credit is allowed to service provider only and not to manufacturer, adding to cost of production. It would have been better if tax rate was kept at 15 percent merging the two cesses into tax.

- See more at: http://taxguru.in/service-tax/krishi-kalyan-cess-cess-services.html#sthash.ubKy37BB.dpuf

MCA Due Dates

MCA Compliance Due Dates. It may me differ if MCA extends above due dates.