Paper 19 Revised PDF
Paper 19 Revised PDF
6
01
-2
US
AB
LL
SY
COST AND
MANAGEMENT
AUDIT FINAL
STUDY NOTES
Published by :
Directorate of Studies
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI)
CMA Bhawan, 12, Sudder Street, Kolkata - 700 016
www.icmai.in
Printed at :
Jayant Printery LLP
352/54, Girgaum Road,
Murlidhar Temple Compound,
Mumbai - 400 002.
D
25%
A
35%
C
25% B
15%
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
There will be written examination (including case study / caselet analysis) paper of three hours
OBJECTIVE
To promote the knowledge of Cost and Management Accountancy to provide educational facilities for training of budding
professionals for excelling in the field of management accounting. To promote the decision-making skills and administrative
competence relevant to management accounting and corporate management in general.
Learning Aims
The syllabus aims to test the student’s ability to:
Focus on basic cost information, appropriately computed cost centre wise, system based cost data support for decision-
making processes
Ensure uniformity and maintain cost records as per Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles
Tabulate the cost information and construct the system thus evolved for gainful operation and use in the strategy making
for measuring productivity, profitability, etc.
Prepare cost audit report in compliance with statutory obligations
Understand the usefulness of cost audit and interpret for stakeholders view
Discuss the concepts of management audit and demonstrate its usefulness
Evaluate the performance of an organization through cost accounting records and cost audit reports
Recommend desired course of action for optimal utilization of scarce resources which can lead to improve the productivity
and profitability of an organization
Skill Set required
Level C: Requiring skill levels of knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Section C: Internal Audit, Operational Audit and other related issues [25 marks]
Internal audit and operational audit
12. Concept of Internal Audit
13. Provisions of Internal Audit under Companies Act, 2013
14. Audit Planning, Audit Programme, Audit working papers, Reporting to Management
15. Receivables Audit, Audit of Hospitals, Hotels, educational Institutions, Co-operative Societies, Self Help Groups, Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs), corporations, Municipalities, Panchayats.
Case Study on the basis of the Companies Performance for managerial decision-making with reference to:
(a) Application of Ratios for assessment of performance
(b) Waste Multiplier
(c) Utilities Consumption i.e., Power, Fuel etc
(d) Capacity determination and Utilization
(e) Value Addition
(f) Inventory valuation
(g) Abnormal Events such as Strike, Lock-out and other factors
(g) Profitability analysis
(h) Reconciliations of Financial and Cost Records i.e., Profit, Taxation
Contents
Study Note 1 : Basics of Cost and Management Audit
Study Note 7 : Filing of Cost Audit Report to MCA [In XBRL Format (as per Taxonomy)]
Annexure - 1
Annexure - 2
Annexure - 3
Annexure - 4
Cost Accounting is process of identification, classification, measurement, and assignment of costs to various cost
objects. Preparation & Presentation of cost records and cost statements is the responsibility of the Management.
Therefore, Cost Accounting Standards are guidelines for the companies [for the management] that specify the cost
accounting treatment for various cost elements, minimum disclosure requirements and ensure the comparability,
consistency, and completeness of cost records.
According to Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London (C1MA), cost audit is “the verification of
the correctness of cost accounts and of the adherence to the cost accounting plan”. In other words, cost audit
is the verification of the cost of production of any product, service or activity on the basis of accounts maintained
by an enterprise in accordance with the accepted principles of cost accounting. This definition of Cost Audit is
relevant to the voluntary Cost Audit without any statutory backing.
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on the other hand, defines cost audit as “a system of audit introduced by
the Government of India for the review, examination and appraisal of the cost accounting records and attendant
information, required to be maintained by specified industries.”
Cost Audit is an independent examination of cost statements, cost records and other related information of an
entity, with a view to express an opinion thereon. Standards on Cost Auditing provide guidance to the cost auditor
through each step of the audit process with regard to the audit procedures to be followed; responsibilities of the
cost auditor; and cost reporting.
Standards are nothing what converting the commonly accepted practices, procedures and requirements into a
document called “Standard”. Practices, procedures and principles relating to cost accounting are covered in the
Cost Accounting Standards; and practices, procedures and requirements relating to cost auditing are covered
in the Standards on Cost Auditing.
Standards on Cost Auditing are best friends, best guide and best helpdesk for the cost auditors. If followed
scrupulously, the standards would help the cost auditor to streamline audit, to do better planning, better
documentation, and effective implementation. Thus, these will help in improving the overall quality of audit. The
cost auditor should carefully go through the standards and make best use of them. Should read SCA 103 first
[objectives of independent audit], then 104 [understanding the business], followed by 101 [planning] and 102
[documentation]. Take the client on board; send him a brief of the applicable Standards and discuss. Use the
standards to the extent these are applicable to the nature and scope of audit. The Standards authorize the
cost auditor to use the work of another auditor or expert – hence if satisfied, do not check every detail again
which is already audited by another auditor or is certified by an expert. Therefore, if required & satisfied, the cost
auditor can rely on the work done by another auditor/expert. The Standards are not to be remembered, but to be
practiced by making these a part of the work culture and teaching these to the entire audit team.
In India, methods and techniques of cost accounting and audit of cost accounts can be traced back to pre-
independence era when a large number of firms were given contracts by the Government of India on cost plus
basis. The Government then started verifying and investigating into the cost structure of such firms. This trend
continued on a large scale during World War II that led to the recognition of cost as a distinct concept not only in
India but also in the industrial economies of the world. A phenomenon of cost consciousness started taking shape
in the country and the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India was set up in 1944 with the objectives of
promoting, regulating, and developing the profession of cost accountancy in the country. The Institute of Cost
and Works Accountants of India ( now The Institute of Cost Accountants of India) was later incorporated as a
statutory body by an Act of Parliament in 1959. In moving the Cost and Works Accountants Bill for reference to
the Joint Committee, the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry explained the nature and purpose of cost
accounting as follows (LokSabha Debates, Vol. XXIV, dated 20th December, 1958, pp. 6608-09):
“Cost accounting is a function entirely different from general or financial accounting. Cost accountancy covers
a wide range of subjects, with special emphasis on cost accounting, factory organization and management,
engineering techniques, and knowledge of the working of the factories. The cost accountant performs services
involving pricing of goods, preparation, verification, certification of cost accounts and related statements,
or recording presentation or certification of cost facts or data. In a manufacturing concern, he works out the
economical cost of production and evaluates its progress at each stage of production. In mass production
enterprises, he points out wastage of manpower due to overstaffing or inefficient organization and indicates the
output, the capacity of the machines and labour, the stock position, the movement of stores and weakness in the
production process. The systematic determination of cost in every single and distinct process of manufacturing
provides a continuous check on the margin of waste in the processing of raw and semi-finished materials, on the
utilisation of machinery installed, on manpower expended and the percentage of rejection of finished products.
This pinpoints also the particular process in which defects and deficiencies exist, thereby enabling immediate
remedial measure being taken. Costing, in short, aims at making the organization efficient and economical, by
providing the minimum of labour and material and getting the full capacity of the machine output. The cost
accountant, therefore, is concerned solely and mainly with the internal economy of the industry, and renders
services essential to the day-to-day management of the undertaking.”
In the mid-fifties, famous case of corporate frauds in Dalmia-Jain companies virtually jolted the then Government.
It resulted in the Government appointing Vivian Bose Commission and later the Dutta Commission and Daphtary-
Sastri Committee. These Commissions/ Committees observed inadequacies in the then existing system of financial
accounting and audit and also in the then existing system of corporate disclosures. They recommended a
more effective system of cost accounting and cost audit, to supplement the financial accounting and auditing
practices. Further, in the initial phase of industrial development of the country, there was an acute shortage of
goods & materials, as well as, majority of inputs and resources for the production/manufacture of various capital &
consumer goods. In the face of scarcity and shortage of almost all the inputs, products and services, Government
had to resort to a policy of permits and licensing. A mechanism of Cost audit and maintenance of structured cost
data were considered as important instruments in the hands of the regulatory authorities to monitor, control and
regulate the efficient use of scarce resources and inputs so made available and monitor cost of production and
administer prices. Thus, Cost Audit as a unique feature of corporate management in India, emerged.
Section 148 of Companies Act, 2013, empowers the “Central Government to specify audit of items of cost in
respect of certain companies”, as under:
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the Central Government may, by order, in respect of
such class of companies engaged in the production of such goods or providing such services as may be
prescribed, direct that particulars relating to the utilisation of material or labour or to other items of cost as
may be prescribed shall also be included in the books of account kept by that class of companies:
Provided that the Central Government shall, before issuing such order in respect of any class of companies
regulated under a special Act, consult the regulatory body constituted or established under such special
Act.
2. If the Central Government is of the opinion, that it is necessary to do so, it may, by order, direct that the
audit of cost records of class of companies, which are covered under ‘Sub-section (1) and which have a net
worth of such amount as may be prescribed or a turnover of such amount as may be prescribed, shall be
conducted in the manner specified in the order.
3. The audit under sub-section (2) shall be conducted by a Cost Accountant in practice who shall be appointed
by the Board on such remuneration as may be determined by the members in such manner as may be
prescribed:
Provided that no person appointed under section 139 as an auditor of the company shall be appointed for
conducting the audit of cost records.
Provided further that the auditor conducting the cost audit shall comply with the cost auditing standards.
Explanation- for the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “cost auditing standards” mean such
standards as are issued by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, constituted under the Cost
and Works Accountants Act, 1959,with the approval of the Central Government.
4. An audit conducted under this section shall be in addition to the audit conducted under section 143.
5. The qualifications, disqualifications, rights, duties and obligations applicable to auditors under this Chapter
shall, so far as may be applicable, apply to a cost auditor appointed under this section and it shall be the
duty of the company to give all assistance and facilities to the cost auditor appointed under this section for
auditing the cost records of the company:
Provided that the report on the audit of cost records shall be submitted by the cost accountant in practice
to the Board of Directors of the company
6. A company shall within thirty days from the date of receipt of a copy of the cost audit report prepared in
pursuance of a direction under sub-section (2) furnish the Central Government with such report along with
full information and explanation on every reservation or qualification contained therein.
7. If, after considering the cost audit report referred to under this section and the information and explanation
furnished by the company under sub-section (6), the Central Government is of the opinion that any further
information or explanation is necessary, it may call for such further information and explanation and the
company shall furnish the same within such time as may be specified by that Government.
Cost Audit has both general and social objectives. The general objectives can be described to include
the following :
Verification of cost accounts with a view to ascertaining that these have been properly maintained and
compiled according to the cost accounting system followed by the enterprise.
Ensuring that the prescribed procedures of cost accounting records rules are duly adhered to.
Detection of errors and fraud.
Verification of the cost of each “cost unit” and “cost center” to ensure that these have been properly
ascertained.
Determination of inventory valuation.
Facilitating the fixation of prices of goods and services.
Periodical reconciliation between cost accounts and financial accounts.
Ensuring optimum utilization of human, physical and financial resources of the enterprise.
Detection and correction of abnormal loss of material and time.
Inculcation of cost consciousness.
Advising management, on the basis of inter-firm comparison of cost records, as regards the areas where
performance calls for improvement.
Promoting corporate governance through various operational disclosures to the directors.
Cost Accounting Standards are set of standards that are designed to achieve uniformity and consistency in cost
accounting principles and practices.
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, recognising the need for structured approach to the measurement of
cost in manufacture or service sector and to provide guidance to the user organisations, government bodies,
regulators, research agencies and academic institutions to achieve uniformity and consistency in classification,
measurement and assignment of cost to products and services, has constituted Cost Accounting Standards Board
(CASB) with the objective of formulating the Cost Accounting Standards.
The Cost Accounting Standards:
• Provide a structured approach to measurement of costs in manufacturing process or service industry;
• Integrate, harmonize, and standardize cost accounting principles and practices;
• Provide guidance to users to achieve uniformity and consistency in classification, measurement, assignment,
and allocation of costs to products or services;
• Arrive at the basis of computing the cost of product, activity, or service where required by legal or regulatory
bodies;
• Enable practicing members to make use of Cost Accounting Standards in the attestation of General Purpose
Cost Statements; and
• Assist in clear and uniform understanding of all the related issues of various user organizations, government
bodies, regulators, research agencies and academic institutions.
2.1 Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 [as amended upto 15th July 2016]
2.1 COMPANIES (COST RECORDS AND AUDIT) RULES, 2014 [as amended upto 15th July 2016]
The Companies Act, 2013 empowers the Central Government to make the rules in the area of maintenance
of cost records by the companies engaged in the specified industries, manufacturing / providing such goods /
services; and for getting such cost records audited, vide Section 148.
Thus, it is the “subordinate legislative power” of the Central Government, to make rules for maintenance of cost
records and audit thereof in respect of specific industries. Accordingly, the Central Government made, from time
to time, several notifications / orders, ever since the provisions were made in the erstwhile Companies Act, 1956,
as well as under the current Act of 2013.
An Analysis through diagrammatic representation.
Rules/Forms Summary
Rule 1: Short title and (1) These rules may be called the Companies (Cost Records and Audit)
commencement Rules, 2014.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official
Gazette i.e. 30.06.2014.
Rule 2: Definitions In these rules, defined various points -
(a) Act; (aa) Central Excise Tariff Act Heading; (b) Cost Accountant in
practice; (c) cost auditor (d) cost audit report; (e) cost records; (f) form;
(g) institute; (h) all other words and expressions used in these rules but not
defined, and defined in the Act or in the Companies (Specification of
Definition Details) Rules, 2014 shall have the same meanings as assigned to
them in the Act or in the said rules.
Rule-3: Application of Cost Records Two categories (regulated sectors and non-regulated sectors) have been
retained and a general threshold of turnover of ` 35 crores or more has
been prescribed for companies covered. Micro enterprise or a small
enterprise as per MSMED Act, 2006 have been taken out of the purview.
Regulated Non-regulated
Rule-4: Applicability for Cost Audit Even for regulated sectors like Telecommunication, Electricity, Petroleum
and Gas, Drugs and Pharma, Fertilizers and Sugar, Cost audit requirement
has been made subject to a turnover based threshold of ` 50 crores for
all product and services and ` 25 crores for individual product or services.
For Non-regulated sector the threshold is ` 100 crores and ` 35 crores
respectively.
≥ ` 50 crore
≥
≥ ≥
Rule-5: Maintenance of Cost The requirement to maintain cost records in Form CRA-1 have been
Records postponed to Financial Year 2015-16 for the following companies in
some non-regulated sectors, namely; Coffee and Tea, Milk Powder and
Electricals and electronic machinery.
Rule-6: Cost Audit Any casual vacancy in the office of a cost auditor, whether due to
resignation, death or removal to be filled by the Board of Directors within
thirty days of occurrence of such vacancy and the company shall
inform the Central Government in Form CRA-2 within thirty days of such
appointment of cost auditor.
made.
CRA-1: Forms in which cost records The form CRA-1 prescribes the form in which cost records shall be maintained.
shall be maintained The form categorises the requirement of maintaining proper details as per
[Pursuant to rule 5(1)] 30 headings. The headings are as follows: (1) Material Cost, (2) Employee
Cost, (3) Utilities, (4) Direct Expenses, (5) Repair and Maintenance, (6) Fixed
Assets and Depreciation, (7) Overheads, (8) Administrative Overheads, (9)
Transportation Cost, (10) Royalty and Technical Know-how, (11) Research
and Development expenses, (12) Quality Control Expenses, (13) Pollution
Control Expenses, (14) Service Department Expenses, (15) Packing
Expenses, (16) Interest and Financing Charges, (17) Any other item of Cost,
(18) Capacity Determination, (19) Work-in-progress and finished stock,
(20) Captive Consumption, (21) By-Products and Joint Products, (22)
Adjustment of Cost Variances, (23) Reconciliation of Cost and Financial
Accounts, (24) Related Party Transactions, (25) Expenses or Incentives on
Exports, (26) Production records, (27) Sales records, (28) Cost Statements,
(29) Statistical Records, (30) Records of Physical Verification.
CRA-2: Form of intimation of (1) Corporate Identity number (CIN) or foreign company registration
appointment of cost auditor by the number (FCRN) of the company
company to Central Government (2) General Information
[Pursuant to rule 6(2) & (3A)] (3) Product(s)/Service(s) to which Cost Audit relates
(6) Details of previous Cost Auditor which has not been reappointed
(7) Attachments
CRA-3: Form of Cost Audit Report Clause (vii) have been added to auditor’s report as under:
[Pursuant to rule 6(4)] Detailed unit-wise and product/service-wise cost statements and
schedules thereto In respect of the product/services under reference of
the company duly audited and certified by me/us are/are not kept in the
company.
Annexure to Cost Audit Report Annexure has been reclassified into four parts as under:
Part-A
General Information,
General Details of Cost Auditors,
Cost Accounting Policy,
Product/Service Details –for the company as a whole.
Part-D
Product and Service Profitability Statement,
Profit Reconciliation,
Value Addition and Distribution of Earnings,
Financial Position and Ratio Analysis,
Related Party Transactions,
Reconciliation of Indirect taxes.
CRA – 4: Form for filing Cost Audit (1) Corporate identity number (CIN) or foreign company Registration
Report with the Central Government number (FCRN) of the company
[Pursuant to rule 6(6)] (2) General Information
(3) Corporate identity number (CIN) or foreign company Registration
number (FCRN) of the company
(4) Details of Industries/Sectors/Product(s)/Service(s) (CETA headling
level, wherever applicable as per Rules for Regulated and Non-
regulated sector) for which the Cost Audit Report is being submitted
(5) Details of Industries/Sectors/Product(s)/Service(s) (CETA headling
level, wherever applicable as per Rules for Regulated and Non-
regulated sector) not covered in the Cost Audit Report
(6) Details of the cost auditor(s) appointed
(7) Details of observation of the Cost Audit report
(8) Attachment
- XBRL document in respect of the cost audit report and Company’s
information and explanation on every Qualification and reservation
contained therein
- Optional attachment, if any.
Detailed Rule as per pronouncement by the MCA, GOI is reproduce for reference:-
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 came into force on 30th June, 2014. These rules were amended
on 31st December’ 2014 giving effect to Rule 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and Form CRA 1 & CRA 3. It was further amended on 12th
June’2015 to giving effect on Form CRA 2 & CRA 4. Further amendment was made on 14th July 2016.
Represented here under the existing provisions as applicable, after considering amendments till date, as mentioned
above:
(1) These rules may be called the Companies (cost records and audit) Rules, 2014.
(2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
(aa) “Central Excise Tariff Act Heading” means the heading as referred to in the Additional Notes in the First
Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 [5 of 1986];
(b) “Cost Accountant in practice” means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub- section (1) of
section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959), who holds a valid certificate of practice
under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act and who is deemed to be in practice under sub-section (2) of
section 2 thereof, and includes a firm or limited liability partnership of cost accountants;
(c) “cost auditor” means a Cost Accountant in practice, as defined in clause (b), who is appointed by the
Board;
(d) “cost audit report” means the duly signed cost auditor’s report on the cost records examined and cost
statements which are prepared as per these rules, including attachment, annexure, qualifications or
observations attached with or included in such report
(e) “cost records” means books of account relating to utilisation of materials, labour and other items of cost as
applicable to the production of goods or provision of services as provided in section 148 of the Act and these
rules;
(g) “institute” means the Institute of Cost Accountants of India constituted under the Cost and Works Accountants
Act, 1959 (23 of 1959);
(h) all other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined, and defined in the Act or in the Companies
(Specification of Definition Details) Rules, 2014 shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the Act
or in the said rules.
For the purposes of sub-section (1) of Section 148 of the Act, the class of companies, including foreign
companies defined in clause (42) of Section 2 of the Act, engaged in the production of the goods or providing
services, specified in the Table below, having an overall turnover from all its products and services of rupees
thirty five crore or more during the immediately preceding financial year, shall include cost records for such
products or services in their books of account, namely:-
TABLE
(A) Regulated Sectors
1 Machinery and mechanical appliances used in defense,space 8401; 8801 to 8805; 8901 to8908.
and atomic energy sectors excluding any ancillary item or items;
Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-clause, any company
which is engaged in any item or items supplied exclusively for use
under this clause shall be deemed to be covered under these rules.
10 Roads and other infrastructure projects corresponding to para No. Not applicable
(1) (a) as specified in Schedule VI of the Companies Act, 2013; (18
of 2013)
11 Rubber and allied products being regulated by the Rubber Board 4001 to 4017
constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947 (XXIV of 1947).
16 Mineral fuels (other than Petroleum), mineral oils etc.; 2701 to 2708
18 Inorganic chemicals, organic or inorganic compounds of precious 2801 to 2853; 2901 to 2942; 3801 to
metals, rare-earth metals of radioactive elements or isotopes, and 3807; 3402 to 3403; 3809 to 3824.
Organic Chemicals;
21 Construction Industry as per para No. (5) (a) as specified in Schedule Not applicable.
VI of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013)
23 Education services, other than such similar services falling under Not applicable
philanthropy or as part of social spend which do not form part of any
business.
25 Insecticides; 3808
Provided that nothing contained in serial number 33 shall apply to foreign companies having only liaison offices.
Provided further that nothing contained in this rule shall apply to a company which is classified as a micro enterprise
or a small enterprise including as per the turnover criteria under sub-section (9) of section 7 of the Micro,Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006).
4. Applicability for Cost Audit
(1) Every company specified in item (A) of rule 3 shall get its cost records audited in accordance with these
rules if the overall annual turnover of the company from all its products and services during the immediately
preceding financial year is rupees fifty crore or more and the aggregate turnover of the individual product
or products or service or services for which cost records are required to be maintained under rule 3 is rupees
twenty five crore or more.
(2) Every company specified in item (B) of rule 3 shall get its cost records audited in accordance with these
rules if the overall annual turnover of the company from all its products and services during the immediately
preceding financial year is rupees one hundred crore or more and the aggregate turnover of the individual
product or products or service or services for which cost records are required to be maintained under rule 3
is rupees thirty five crore or more.
(3) The requirement for cost audit under these rules shall not apply to a company which is covered in rule 3; and
(i) whose revenue from exports, in foreign exchange, exceeds seventy five per cent of its total revenue; or
(ii) which is operating from a special economic zone;
(iii) which is engaged in generation of electricity for captive consumption through Captive Generating
Plant. For this purpose, the term “Captive Generating Plant” shall have the same meaning as assigned
in rule 3 of the Electricity Rules, 2005”
5. Maintenance of records
(1) Every company under these rules including all units and branches thereof, shall, in respect of each of its
financial year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2014, maintain cost records in form CRA-1.
Provided that in case of company covered in serial number 12 and serial numbers 24 to 32 of item (B) of rule
3, the requirement under this rule shall apply in respect of each of its financial year commencing on or after
1st day of April, 2015.
(2) The cost records referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be maintained on regular basis in such manner as to facilitate
calculation of per unit cost of production or cost of operations, cost of sales and margin for each of its
products and activities for every financial year on monthly or quarterly or half-yearly or annual basis.
(3) The cost records shall be maintained in such manner so as to enable the company to exercise, as far as
possible, control over the various operations and costs to achieve optimum economies in utilisation of
resources and these records shall also provide necessary data which is required to be furnished under these
rules.
6. Cost Audit
(1) The category of companies specified in rule 3 and the thresholds limits laid down in rule 4, shall within one
hundred and eighty days of the commencement of every financial year, appoint a cost auditor.
Provided that before such appointment is made, the written consent of the cost auditor to such appointment,
and a certificate from him or it,as provided in sub-rule (1A), shall be obtained
(1A) The cost auditor appointed under sub-rule (1) shall submit a certificate that─
(a) the individual or the firm, as the case may be, is eligible for appointment and is not disqualified for
appointment under the Act, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959(23 of 1959) and the rules or
regulations made thereunder;
(b) the individual or the firm, as the case may be, satisfies the criteria provided in section 141 of the Act, so
far as may be applicable;
(c) the proposed appointment is within the limits laid down by or under the authority of the Act; and
(d) the list of proceedings against the cost auditor or audit firm or any partner of the audit firm pending with
respect to professional matters of conduct, as disclosed in the certificate, is true and correct.”
(2) Every company referred to in sub-rule (1) shall inform the cost auditor concerned of his or its appointment as
such and file a notice of such appointment with the Central Government within a period of thirty days of the
Board meeting in which such appointment is made or within a period of one hundred and eighty days of the
commencement of the financial year, whichever is earlier, through electronic mode, in form CRA-2, along
with the fee as specified in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
(3) Every cost auditor appointed as such shall continue in such capacity till the expiry of one hundred and eighty
days from the closure of the financial year or till he submits the cost audit report, for the financial year for
which he has been appointed.
Provided that the cost auditor appointed under these rules may be removed from his office before the expiry
of his term, through a board resolution after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the Cost
Auditor and recording the reasons for such removal in writing;
Provided further that the Form CRA-2 to be filed with the Central Government for intimating appointment of
another cost auditor shall enclose the relevant Board Resolution to the effect;
Provided also that nothing contained in this sub-rule shall prejudice the right of the cost auditor to resign from
such office of the company
(3A) Any casual vacancy in the office of a cost auditor, whether due to resignation, death or removal, shall be
filled by the Board of Directors within thirty days of occurrence of such vacancy and the company shall
inform the Central Government in Form CRA-2 within thirty days of such appointment of cost auditor.
(3B) The cost statements, including other statements to be annexed to the cost audit report, shall be approved
by the Board of Directors before they are signed on behalf of the Board by any of the director authorised by
the Board, for submission to the cost auditor to report thereon
(4) Every cost auditor, who conducts an audit of the cost records of a company, shall submit the cost audit
report along with his or its reservations or qualifications or observations or suggestions, if any, in form CRA-3.
(5) Every cost auditor shall forward his duly signed report to the Board of Directors of the company within a
period of one hundred and eighty days from the closure of the financial year to which the report relates and
the Board of Directors shall consider and examine such report, particularly any reservation or qualification
contained therein.
(6) Every company covered under these rules shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of
a copy of the cost audit report, furnish the Central Government with such report alongwith full information
and explanation on every reservation or qualification contained therein, in Form CRA-4in Extensible Business
Reporting Language format in the manner as specified in the Companies (Filing of Documents and Forms in
Extensible Business Reporting language) Rules, 2015 alongwith fees specified in the Companies (Registration
Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.”.
Illustration 1.
The following figures are extracted from the statement prepared by the Cost Accountant and the Trial Balance
of ABC Ltd., which is a single product company:
(` In lakhs)
Answer:
Direct Wages 35 32 27
Value addition is defined in Part D, Para 3 & 4 of the Annexure to Cost Audit Report under the Companies (Cost
Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 as “the difference between the net output value (Net Sales) and cost of bought
out materials and services for the product under reference”.
The working will be :
Year Ending
Less : (i) Cost of Bought Out Materials & Service (Raw Materials and Stores & 1,146 1,065 979
Spares)
(iii) Over heads (excluding Salaries & Wages, Rates & Taxes and depreciation) 298 283 265
Year Ending
Hence,
=84%
Illustration 2.
The following figures are extracted from the Cost Accounting Records of Sinjini Ltd. a single product manufacturing
company:
(Amount in ` lakh)
Administrative Overheads:
Audit fees 36 30
Interest Charges:
On Debentures 30 30
You are required to calculate the following parameters as stipulated PART-D, PARA-3 of the Annexure to Cost
Audit Report under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 for the year ended March 31, 2018 and
March 31, 2017:
(i) Value Addition
(ii) Earnings available for Distribution
(iii) Distribution of Earnings to the different claimants.
Answer:
Sinjini Ltd.
Calculation of Value Addition
(Amount in ` lakh)
2018 2017
Year ended March 31,
VALUE ADDITION:
Gross Sales including Excise Duty 5,200 4,160
Less: Excise duty etc. 400 320
Net Sales 4,800 3,840
Add: Export Incentives - -
Add/Less: Adjustment in Finished stocks 20 10
4,820 3,850
Less: Cost of bought out input:
(i) Cost of Raw materials consumed 1,760 1,440
(ii) Consumption of stores and spares 160 140
(iii) Power & Fuel 240 192
(iv) Other overheads 1,056 861
(430+36+260+20+250+60) = 1,056
(370+30+220+16+200+25) = 861
Total cost bought out input 3,216 2,633
(i) VALUE ADDED 1,604 1,217
Add: Other Income 300 200
(ii) Earnings Available for distribution 1,904 1,417
(iii) Distribution of earnings to:
(1) Employees as salaries and wages, bonus, gratuity etc. 476 382
Directors- Salaries and Commission 48 40
(2) Shareholders as dividend 420 230
(3) Company as retained funds (including depreciation) 404 365
(4) Government as taxes
Cess & Local Taxes: 120 100
Income Taxes 316 436 200 300
(5) Providers of Capital/Fund as Interest on Debentures
Interest on debentures 30 30
Interest on Fixed loans from IDBI 90 120 70 100
Total distribution of earnings 1,904 1,417
Illustration 3.
Export Incentives 80 60
Administrative Overheads :
Audit fees 54 45
Interest Charges :
On Debentures 45 45
Answer:
Annexure to Cost Audit Report:
Part D-3: Value Addition And Distribution Of Earnings (For Vennela Ltd. as a whole)
(Amount In ` Millions)
Illustration 4.
In the Financial Accounts of Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. for the year ended March 31, 2018 the profit was `898,07,500.
The profit as per Cost Accounting records for the same period was less. The following details are extracted from the
accounting schedules and Cost Accounting records of the company.
Expenses on CSR 56
You are required to prepare a Reconciliation Statement and arrive at the Profit as per Cost Records for the year
ended March 31, 2018.
Answer:
Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.
Reconciliation of financial profit and costing profit for the year ended March 31, 2018
Amount in ` thousand
C. Less:
Difference in Valuation of stock between Financial Accounts and Cost Accounts (3590.00)
(9660-6070) (workings)
Workings:
Current Year (2017-18)(Amount in ` thousand)
Financial Cost
Accounts Accounts
Illustration 5.
Autoparts Manufacturing Company Ltd. showed a profit for the year 2017-18 as ` 35,46,700. During the course of
Cost Audit, the followings transactions were noticed:
(i) an old machine with net value of ` 6,54,000 was sold off for ` 9,30,000,
(ii) dividend income was received amounting to ` 84,500 from investments,
(iii) a sum of ` 58,000 was spent towards CSR commitment,
(iv) the company was engaged in trading activity where purchase of goods was ` 13,50,000 and sales was
` 13,42,300, after incurring ` 40,800 as expenditure,
(v) some renovation work was carried out at a cost of ` 7,75,000 and its useful life was only for five years, and
(vi) the closing inventory of raw material was undervalued ` 29,600 and that of finished goods was overvalued
` 65,400 in the financial records. Work out the Profit as per the Cost Accounts.
Answer:
Reconciliation of the Cost Accounts and the Financial Accounts of Auto parts Manufacturing Company Ltd.
` `
6,68,500
Illustration 6.
The profit as per financial accounts of M/s Kalingpong Himalaya Private Company for the year 2017-2018 was
` 1,54,28,642. The profit as per Cost Accounting Records for the same period was less. You are required to prepare
a reconciliation statement and arrive at the profit as per Cost Records. The following details are collected from the
financial schedules and cost accounting records:
Financial Cost
Accounts Accounts
Valuation of Stock
Opening: WIP 25,62,315 22,65,710
Finished Goods 2,65,47,520 2,92,18,950
Closing : WIP 42,75,640 37,36,346
Finished Goods 3,72,59,430 4,35,25,149
Interest income from inter-corporate deposits 6,15,340 —
Donations given 4,85,560 —
Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets 1,22,546 —
Value of cement taken for own consumption 3,82,960 3,65,426
Cost of Power drawn from own Wind Mill
— At EB tariff — 49,56,325
— At cost 36,20,370 —
Non-operating income 45,36,770. —
Voluntary retirement compensation 16,76,540 —
Insurance claim relating to previous year received during the year
14,35,620 —
Answer:
Working:
Computation in difference in Valuation of Stock
4,15,35,070 4,72,61,495
1,24,25,235 1,57,76,835
Reconciliation of Financial Profit and Costing Profit
` `
Profit as per Financial Accounts 1,54,28,642
Add: Difference in Stock Valuation 33,51,600
Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets 1,22,546
Donation not considered in Cost Records 4,85,560
Voluntary retirement compensation not
included in cost 16,76,540 56,36,246
2,10,64,888
Less: Non-operating income 45,36,770
Less: Interest income from intercorporate deposit 6,15,340
Difference in value of cement taken for own consumption 17,534
Difference in valuation of windmill power (`49,56,325 – 36,20,370) 13,35,955
Insurance claim relating to previous year 14,35,620 79,41,219
Profit as per Cost Accounts 1,31,23,669
Illustration 7.
The Cost Accountant of TRINCUS TEXTILES MILLS LTD. has arrived at a Profit of ` 20,10,500 based on Cost Accounting
Records for the year ended March 31, 2018. Profit as per Financial Accounts is ` 22,14,100.
As a Cost Auditor, you find the following differences between the Financial Accounts and Cost Accounts:
`
(1) Profit on Sale of Fixed Assets 2,05,000
(2) Loss on Sale of Investments 33,600
(3) Voluntary Retirement Compensation included in Salary & Wages in F/A 50,25,000
(4) Donation Paid 75,000
(5) Insurance Claim relating to previous year received during the year 5,08,700
(6) Profit from Retail trading activity 32,02,430
(7) Interest Income from Inter-Corporate Deposits 6,15,000
(8) Decrease in value of Closing WIP and Finished goods inventory
as per Financial Accounts 3,82,06,430
as per Cost Accounts 3,90,12,500
You are required to prepare a Reconciliation Statement between the two Accounts for the year ended March
31, 2018.
Answer:
Reconciliation of Profit between Cost and Financial Accounts
for the year ended March 31, 2018
` `
Profit as per Financial Accounts: 22,14,100
Add: Loss on sale of investments 33,600
Add: Voluntary Retirement compensation included in salary 50,25,000
and wages in F/A - Not included in cost A/c 75,000 51,33,600
Add: Donation paid 73,47,700
Less: Profit on Sale of Fixed Assets-Not considered in cost A/c 2,05,000
Less: Receipts of insurance claim related to previous year 5,08,700
Less: Profit from Retail trading activity 32,02,430
Less: Interest income from inter-corporate deposit-not considered in cost accounts 6,15,000
Less: Difference in valuation of stock:
Decrease in inventories as per cost accounts 3,90,12,500
Decrease in inventories as per financial accounts 3,82,06,430 8,06,070 53,37,200
Profit as per Cost Accounts 20,10,500
Illustration 8.
The Financial Profit and Loss of M/s. VGM Manufacturing company Ltd. for the year is `28,75,000. During the course
of cost audit, it is noticed the followings:
(i) Some Old assets sold off which fetched a profit of ` 1,25,000
(ii) Interest was received amounting to ` 45,000 from outside the business investment.
(iii) Work-in-progress valuation for financial accounts does not as a practice take into account factory overhead.
Factory overhead is ` 2,15,000 in opening W-I-P and ` 2,45,000 in closing W-I-P.
(iv) The Company was engaged in Trading activity by purchasing goods of ` 11,15,845 and selling at ` 13,12,850
after incurring ` 35,000 as expenditure.
(v) A major overhaul of machinery was carried out at a cost of ` 5,50,000 and next such overhaul will be dome
only after five years.
(vi) Opening stock of Raw material and finished good was overvalued for ` 2,00,000 and closing stock was
overvalued ` 1,85,000 in financial records.
Work out the profit as per Cost Accounts.
Answer:
Illustration 9.
(a) Ambica Textile Mills produced cloth and fabrics. In addition, they undertook customer’s job order for
processing of cloth towards optimum utilisation of its spare capacity and earned from loan licence. From the
following Income figures.
Find out the turnover of the company as per the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules:
Income (` in lakh)
Sales (include Excise Duty 1200) 20,500
Trading Sales from Depots 1,250
Export Income 2,100
Export Duty 450
Income from Job Processing 1,100
Scrap Sale 235
Income from Loan Licence operations 560
(b) The financial profit and loss account for the year 2017-18 of a company shows a net profit of ` 29,60,000.
During the course of Cost Audit, it was noticed that:
(i) The company was engaged in trading activity by purchasing goods at ` 6,00,000 and selling it for
` 7,50,000 after incurring repacking cost of ` 25,000,
(ii) Some discarded assets sold off with no scrap value for ` 90,000,
(iii) Some renovation of machinery was carried out at a cost of ` 6,00,000, having a productive life of five
years, but entire amount was charged to financial accounts
(iv) Interest was received amounting to ` 1,40,000 from outside investments
(v) Voluntary Retirement payment of `3,50,000 was not included in the Cost Accounts,
(vi) Insurance claim of previous year was received to the extent of ` 2,50,000 but was not considered in the
Cost Accounts.
(vii) Opening stock or raw materials and finished goods was overvalued by ` 2,40,000 and closing stock of
finished goods was overvalued by `1,10,000 in the financial accounts, and
(viii) Donation of `80,000 towards CSR commitment was not considered in the Cost Accounts.
Work out the profit as per the Cost Accounts and briefly explain the adjustment, if any, carried out.
Answer:
(a) As per the Companies Act, 2013, Turnover means gross turnover made by the company from the sale or supply
of all products and services during a financial year but excluding duties and taxes.
Income ` in Lakh
Sales (20,500-1,200) 19,300
Trading Sales from Depots 1,250
Export Income 2,100
Income from Job Processing 1,100
Scrap Sale 235
Income from Loan License Operations 560
Total Turnover 24,545
(b) Profit Reconciliation as per Cost and Financial Records for the year 2017-18
Audit documentation: Audit Documentation means the material including working papers prepared by and for, or
obtained and retained by the cost auditor in connection with the performance of the audit.
Audit file: Audit file means one or more folders or other storage media, in physical or electronic form, containing
the records that comprise the audit documentation for a specific assignment or audit.
Audit working papers: Audit working papers are the documents which record all audit evidence obtained during
audit. Such documents are used to support the audit work done in order to provide assurance that the audit was
performed in accordance with the relevant Cost Audit and Assurance Standards.
AUDIT STAGES
The stages of an audit of cost statements are
1) Planning
2) Performing and
3) Reporting
Figure below gives a pictorial view of these three stages.
Once the entity’s acceptance or continuation decision has been made, the first stage is planning the audit. Broadly,
the planning stage involves gaining an understanding of the client, identifying factors that may impact the risk
of a material misstatement in the cost statements, performing a risk and materiality assessment, and developing
an audit strategy. The risk of a material misstatement is the risk that the cost statements include a significant error
or fraud. The execution stage (or performing stage) of the audit involves the performance of detailed testing of
internal controls and substantive testing of cost accounting policies & procedures. The reporting stage involves
evaluating the results of detailed testing in light of the cost auditor’s understanding of the entity and forming an
opinion on the fair presentation of the entity’s cost statements as a whole.
This is exhibited in figure; the user of this manual is required to have an understanding of all the SCAs to understand
the below exhibited audit process.
Audit Process
Materiality
Planning Phase
Assessed Risk of
Material Misstatement at
- Statement level
- Assertion Level
Performing Phase
Work Performed
Implement Responses
Audit Findings
to Assessed Risk of Reduce Audit Risk to
Staff Supervision
Material Acceptability Low Level
Working Papers Reviews
Misstatement
No
Form an Opinion Significant Decisions
Prepare the Cost
based on Cost Audit Signed Audit Opinion
Auditor‘s Report
Findings
The points given below summarize what a cost auditor does when he undertakes any cost audit:
• The auditee and the cost auditor decides the audit fee and payment schedule; and finally, the cost auditor
gets an engagement letter.
• All these are called pre-conditions of audit.
� Substantive procedures
� Analytical procedures
• Formulating risk assessment strategies & procedures i.e. methodology to measure material misstatements
• Planning for discussions with key personnel of the company; previous cost auditor, statutory financial auditor,
and internal auditor
• Key inputs for planning are
� results of preliminary activities as specified above
� knowledge from previous audits and other engagements with the company
� knowledge of business
� nature and scope of the audit
� statutory deadlines and reporting format
� relevant factors determining the direction of the audit efforts
� nature, timing and extent of resources required for the audit
• Document the Audit Plan and share it with the company
• Ensure adherence to the Guidance Manual for Audit Quality
If we have to succeed in the globalized world, we have to enlarge the scope of Cost Audit to cover all
aspects of Manufacturing and Services sector activities including healthcare and education.
Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 defines Cost Auditor as under :
“Cost auditor” means a Cost Accountant in practice, as defined in clause (b), who is appointed by the Board; This
definition is given under Rule 2(c).
“Cost Accountant in practice” means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of
the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959), who holds a valid certificate of practice under sub-section
(1) of section 6 of that Act and who is deemed to be in practice under sub-section (2) of section 2 thereof, and
includes a firm or limited liability partnership of cost accountants; [Rule 2(b)]
Each and every member of the profession in practice is required to follow certain professional ethics and codeof
conduct as prescribed by the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and Regulations there under.
Section 22 of the CWA Act, 1959 defines that, the expression “professional or other misconduct” shall be deemed
to include any act or omission provided in any of the Schedules but nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit or abridge in any way the power conferred or duty cast on the Director (Discipline) under sub-section (1)
of section 21of the CWA Act, 1959 to inquire into the conduct of any member of the Institute under any other
circumstances.
This definition under section 22 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 read with the two schedules to the
Act clarifies or indicates that the schedules provide an illustrative list of acts and omissions constituting “professional
or other misconduct”
These are in addition to duty of Cost Auditor to report fraud under Section 143 (12) of the Companies Act 2013.
CODE OF ETHICS
As professionals in the field of Cost and Management Accounting, the members of our Institute are bound by a
code of professional ethics. This code stipulates and binds them to the highest level of care, duty and responsibility
to their employers and clients, the public and their fellow professionals.
The objectives of the accountancy profession are to work to the highest standards of professionalism, to attain the
highest levels of performance and generally to meet the public interest requirement. These objectives require four
basic needs to be met:
4.3 DUTY OF A COST AUDITOR TO REPORT FRAUD - SECTION 143 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2013
According to Section 143(12) of the Companies Act 2013, if an auditor of a company, in the course of
the performance of his duties as auditor, has reason to believe that an offence involving fraud is being or
has been committed against the company by officers or employees of the company, he shall immediately
report the matter to the Central Government within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.
Sub-Section 13 specifies that no duty to which an auditor of a company may be subject to shall be regarded
as having been contravened by reason of his reporting the matter referred to in sub-section (12) if it is done
in good faith.
Sub-Section 14 makes it clear that he provisions of this section shall mutatis mutandis apply to the cost
accountant in practice conducting cost audit under section 148.
According to Sub-Section 15 if any auditor, cost accountant or company secretary in practice do not comply
with the provisions of sub-section (12), he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh
rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees.
Matter to be reported immediately but not later than 2 days of his knowledge specifying:
(a) Nature of Fraud with description;
(b) Approximate amount involved; and
4.4 PUNISHMENT FOR FRAUD (SECTION 447 OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013)
Without prejudice to any liability including repayment of any debt under this Act or any other law for the time
being in force, any person who is found to be guilty of fraud, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which
shall not be less than the amount involved in the fraud, but which may extend to three times the amount involved
in the fraud:
Provided that where the fraud in question involves public interest, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than
three years.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section—
(i) “fraud” in relation to affairs of a company or any body corporate, includes any act, omission,
concealment of any fact or abuse of position committed by any person or any other person with the
connivance in any manner, with intent to deceive, to gain undue advantage from, or to injure the
interests of, the company or its shareholders or its creditors or any other person, whether or not there is
any wrongful gain or wrongful loss;
4.5 PUNISHMENT FOR FALSE STATEMENT (SECTION 448 OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013)
Save as otherwise provided in this Act, if in any return, report, certificate, financial
statement, prospectus, statement or other document required by, or for, the purposes of any
of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, any person makes a statement,—
(a) which is false in any material particulars, knowing it to be false; or
(b) which omits any material fact, knowing it to be material,
he shall be liable under section 447.
Cost Accounting Standards are set of standards that are designed to achieve ‘uniformity and consistency in cost
accounting practices.’
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, recognizing the need for structured approach to the measurement of
cost in manufacture or service sector and to provide guidance to the user organizations, government bodies,
regulators, research agencies and academic institutions to achieve uniformity and consistency in classification,
measurement and assignment of cost to product and services, has constituted Cost Accounting Standards
Board (CASB) with the objective of formulating the Cost Accounting Standards.
Keeping in view latest legal and contemporary developments, the Cost Accounting Standards Board develops
Cost Accounting Standards.
The structure of Cost Accounting Standard consists of Introduction, Objectives of issuing standards, Scope of
standard, Definitions and explanations of the terms used in the standard, Principles of Measurement, Assignment
of Cost, Presentation and Disclosure.
So far, the Institute has released 24 Cost Accounting Standards [CASs].
LIST OF COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (CAS) AND GUIDANCE NOTES ISSUED AS ON DATE
CAS 2 Capacity 1st April 2016 Guidance Note on Capacity Determination CAS-2 (Revised
(Revised Determination 2015)
2015)
CAS 4 Cost of 1st April 2010 Revised Guidance Note on Cost of Production for Captive
Production Consumption (CAS-4)
for Captive
Consumption
CAS 6 Material Cost 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Material Cost (CAS-6)
CAS 7 Employee Cost 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Employee Cost (CAS-7)
CAS 8 Cost of Utilities 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Cost of Utilities (CAS-8)
CAS 9 Packing Material 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Packing Material Cost (CAS-9)
Cost
CAS 10 Direct Expenses 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Direct Expenses (CAS-10)
CAS 11 Administrative 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Administrative Overheads (CAS-11)
Overheads
CAS 12 Repairs and 1st April 2010 Guidance Note on Repairs and Maintenance Cost (CAS-12)
Maintenance
Cost
1. Introduction of the standard tells as to what the subject matter that the standard deals with.
2. Objective of the standard explains the way of bring uniformity and consistency in the principles of Cost for
disclosure and presentation in the cost statements of a product or service.
3. Scope of the standard specifies that it shall be applied to cost statements, which require classification,
presentation and disclosure of cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions are the terms that are being used in the standard with their meanings specified.
5. Principles of Measurement specify the way of determining the value of various elements of cost. E.g.
commonly, any element of cost shall not include, abnormal costs, imputed cost etc.
6. Assignment refers to the assignment of any element of cost to the cost of production, commonly, like
“Cause and Effect”, “Benefits received” etc. Costs shall be directly traced to a Cost object to the extent it is
economically feasible any if not, shall be assigned to the cost object on appropriate basis.
7. Presentation refers to the principle of whether an element of cost shall be presented as separate cost head or
as a part of a class or group of costs, mostly indirect. This depends on the classification of the specific element
of cost as direct or indirect.
8. Disclosures specify the details of the disclosures to be made in the cost statements in respect of the specific
elements of cost.
9. Effective date for all the standards, commonly, will be given at the end, which is the specific date of its
commencement / enforcement.
Students are advised to thoroughly go through all the standards, along with the guidance notes, on specific
standards, issued by the Institute, for a comprehensive understanding. In view of the mandatory application of
these standards, in conducting cost audits, it is essential to ensure that in the preparation and presentation of the
cost statements, annexures to the cost audit report are in full compliance of these standards.
CAS –1
(REVISED 2015)
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON
“CLASSIFICATION OF COST
Cost Accounting Standard - 1 (CAS - 1) (Revised 2015) issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants
of India for determination of “Classification of Cost”.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles of Classification of Cost for
disclosure and presentation in the cost statements of a product or service.
Definition:
Cost :
Cost is a measure in monetary term of the amount of resource used in manufacturing of a product or providing a
service.
Cost Centre :
Any unit of an entity selected with a view of accumulating all cost under that unit.
Cost Centre refers to a department, section or division with an entity.
This system is composed by three main parts:
• Chart of account: it is related to the acquisition of a resource
• Responsibility center: costs are classified on the basis of the destination; this means that each center contains
costs related to activities done in that center;
• the cost of each responsibility center is divided among the different products made in that center in a
reference period of time (allocation system);
SUPPORT
RESPONSIBILITY
RESOURCES
CENTER
PRODUCT
ACTIVITY
ALLOCATEION
SYSTEM
PRODUCT
Cost Unit:
Form of measurement for volume of production of a product or providing services
Examples:
Cost Object:
Cost Statement for a product, service or (activity)
Basis of classification of Cost:
1. By nature of expenses
2. By traceability to a cost object
3. By function
4. By behaviour
5. By production or operation process
1. By Nature of Expenses
It is of 3 types:
a. Material Cost
b. Employee Cost
c. Expenses
b. Indirect Cost
i. Material
ii. Employee
iii. Expenses
3. By Function: It is of 6 types:
(a) Product/ Project
(b) Admin
(c) Research
(d) Development
(e) Selling
Marketing Overheads
(f) Distribution
4. By Behaviour: It is of 3 types:
(a) Fixed Cost
(b) Variable Cost
(c) Semi-variable Cost
Presentation:
• Cost element is a cost Statement shall be presented with suitable Cost Statement.
• The classification of Cost shall be following constantly from period to period.
Disclosure:
1. Any change in classification of Cost shall be done only if it is required by law or work with compliance for a CAS
or mark.
2. Any change in CAS – 1, which has a material effect on cost shall be disclosed in the Cost Statement.
CAS – 2
(REVISED 2015)
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON CAPACITY DETERMINATION
Cost Accounting Standard - 2 (Revised 2015) on “Capacity Determination” issued by the Council of the Institute of
Cost Accountants of India. This standard replaces CAS-2 (Revised 2012) on Capacity Determination.
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification and determination of capacity of an entity for
ascertainment of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determination
of capacity with reasonable accuracy.
Types of Capacity:
There are 5 types of capacity:
(a) Installed capacity
(b) Normal Capacity
(c) Actual Capacity Utilization
(d) Normal idle Capacity
(e) Abnormal idle Capacity
Presentation:
Normal Capacity and Actual Capacity Utilisation shall be presented as a % of installed Capacity.
Disclosure:
• Basis of Calculating Capacity.
• Any changes in Installed Capacity & Normal Capacity from period to period with reasons.
• Capacity enhanced through outsourcing should be disclosed.
• Capacity in terms of self-production, outsourcing in actual (Actual Production).
• Reasons for low capacity utilization.
• Abnormal Cost due to under – utilization of capacity.
llustration 1.
Burnet Ltd., a manufacturing unit, provides the following extracts from its records for the year ended March 31,
2018:
The Company’s specifications capacity for a machine per hour 1,500 units
No. of shifts (each shift of 8 hours) per day 3 shifts
Paid Holidays in a year (365 days):
(i) Sunday 52 days
(ii) Other holidays 12 days
Annual maintenance is done within these holidays —
Preventive weekly maintenance for the machine is carried on during Sundays
Normal idle capacity due to lunchtime, shift changes etc. per shift 1 hour
Production based on sales expectancy in past 5 years (units in Lakh): 75.70
87.42
65.38
77.97
76.08
Actual Production for the year (units in lakh) 81.50
Answer:
Calculation of different capacities
Burnett Ltd
(i) Installed Capacity: days in year x working hours per day x unit per hour
365 x 8 x 3 x 1500 = 131.40 lakh units
(ii) Practical capacity: days available × available hour per shift × shifts × units per hour
(365-52-12) x ( 8-1) x 3 x 1500 = 94.815 lakh units
(iii) Actual capacity Utilization: Current production / Installed capacity
(81.50 / 131.40) x 100 = 62.02%
(iv) Normal capacity: (75.70+87.42+65.38+77.97+76.08) / 5 = 76.51 lakh units
(v) Idle Capacity: Installed capacity – Actual capacity
(131.40-81.50) = 49.90 / 131.40 = 0.3798 = 37.98%
(vi) Abnormal Idle capacity: (94.815 – 81.50) = 13.315 lakh units
Illustration 2.
The following information pertains to REACON CEMENT LTD., a manufacturing cement company for the year that
ended as follows:
The year ended March 31. 2017-18 2016-17
Rated Capacity per Hr (in MT) 80 80
Break down (Hrs) 2,177 1,015
Planned Maintenance (Hrs) 247 422
Power restrictions (Hrs) 1,237 1,481
Shortfall (there are no orders) (Hrs) 792 677
Want of wagons (Hrs) 495 635
Total stoppage (Hrs) 4,948 4,230
Total running (Hrs) 3,888 4,582
Total available Hours 8,836 8,812
Production during the year (in MT) 2,48,844 3,29,928
Hourly Rate of Production (in MT) 64 72
Capacity Utilization (%) 62.21 82.48
Annual Installed Capacity (in MT) 4,00,000 4,00,000
Based on information stated above, you as a Cost Auditor are required to offer your comments on
(i) The performance of the company
Your suggestion for improvement.
Answer:
Reacon Cement Ltd.
Performance analysis
(a) Rated capacity = 80 MT/Hr : Rated capacity achieved in 2016-17 = (72/80) x 100 = 90%
Rated capacity achieved in 2017-18 = (64 /80) × 100 = 80% The capacity achievement as % of rated capacity
has declined from 90% to 80% in 2017-18.
Further the Capacity Utilization has gone down to 62.21% in 2017-18 from 82.48% of previous year; a reduction
of 20.27%
(b) From the data available the following observations are noted:-
1. Breakdown hours have gone up from 1,015 hours to 2,177 hrs, an increase by 114.48%
2. Planned Maintenance hrs has reduced from 422 hrs to 247 hrs i.e. by 41.47%
3. Shortfall hrs due to lack of orders has increased from 677 hrs to 792 hrs i.e. by 16.99%
4. The total stoppage hrs. has increased from 4,230 hrs to 4,948 hrs i.e. by 16.97%
5. The total running hrs has come down from 4,582 hrs to 3,888 hrs i.e. by 15.15%
6. The production has come down from 3,29,928 Mt to 2,48,844 Mt i.e. by 24.58% From the above findings,
it can be pointed out that the under utilization of capacity to the extent of little over 20% can be
attributed mainly to:-
• Increased total stoppage hours of 4,948 of 2017-18 as against that of 4,230 hrs in 2016-17 and
• The net increase of 718 hrs (4,948-4,230) is again due to increase of break down by 1,162 hrs ( 2,177-
1,015) in the year 2017-18
(i) Suggestion:
Therefore, the Company should look into the aspect of proper maintenance, securing sufficient orders to avoid
lost time. Better utilization of capacity can be also be achieved by improving availability of wagons. The company
may also carry out a cost-benefit analysis to have captive source of power.
Illustration 3.
The following data have been available of Sunflag Dolon Limited:
The poor capacity utilisation in 2017-18 was due to abnormal power-cut. The escalation in costs were 5% in 2016-17
and 7% in 2017-18 based on 2015-16
(i) Calculate the abnormal cost due to power cut.
(ii) How would you treat these abnormal cost?
Answer:
2016-17 2017-18
Difference in Total Cost [2,40,000 – 2,35,980] = 4,020 [2,35,980 – 1,93,875] = 42,105
Difference in production 10 105
Hence Variable Cost 402 401
Illustration 4.
GLORY LTD., a manufacturing company provides the following extracts from its Cost Accounting Records for the
year ended March 31, 2018:
The total capacity for 5 Machines per hour as per the company’s specification. 2500 Units
Preventive maintenance for the machines is carried on during weekly off day.
Normal idle capacity due to lunchtime, shift changes etc. per shift 0.5 hour
159.54
166.66
Actual production for the year ended March 31, 2018: 158.80
Answer:
GLORY LTD.
CALCULATION OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES FOR THE COMPANY
(1) Installed Capacity : 365 x 8 x 3 x 2500 = 21900000 i.e. 219 lakh units
(2) Practical capacity: (365 – 52 -10)x (8-0.5)x3x2500= 17043750 i.e. 170.4375 lakh units
(5) Idle capacity: (219 - 158.80) = 60.20, lakh unit i.e. (60.20/219) = 27.49%
(6) Abnormal Idle capacity: (170.4375 – 158.80) = 11.6375 lakh units i.e. (11.6375/170.4375) =6.83%.
Illustration 5.
A plant operates 3 shifts of 8 hours each for all days except Sundays and 8 holidays.
Preventive maintenance is taken care in Sundays and annual maintenance in 8 hoildays.
Normal idle time for food, shift change and other work for the workers is 1 hour per shift.
Installed Capacity of the machine = 1200 units per hour.
Production during last 5 years & Current year are 69.4, 72.6, 71.4, 70.5, 70.8, 69.9 lakh units
Determine according to CAS 2, Installed capacity, actual capacity, Idle capacity, abnormal idle capacity.
Answer:
(i) Installed capacity = days in year x working hours per day x unit per hour
= 365 x 8 x 3 x 1200 unit = 105.12 lakh units
(ii) Available capacity = days available × available hour per shift × shifts × units per hour
= (365 – 52 – 8) x (8 – 1) x 3 x 1200 = 76.86 lakh units
(iii) Normal capacity = 69.4 + 72.6 + 71.4 + 70.5 + 70.8/5 = 70.94 Lakhs units
(iv) Actual capacity = Current production / Installed capacity = 69.9 / 105.12= 66.50 %
(v) Idle capacity = Installed capacity – Actual capacity = 105.12 – 69.90 = (35.22/105.12) × 100 = 33.50%
(vi) Abnormal Idle capacity = Normal capacity – Actual capacity
= 76.86 – 69.9 = 6.96 lakh units
Cost Accounting Standard on Production and Operation Overheads (CAS-3) (Revised 2015) issued by the Council
of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. This standard replaces CAS-3 (Revised 2011) on Overheads. This
standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of Production
or Operation Overheads, for determination of the cost of goods produced or services provided and for the
presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Production or Operation Overheads with reasonable accuracy.
This standard shall be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Production or Operation Overheads including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
“Indirect cost involved in production of a product or providing a service”
Main Principles:
1. Procurement of Resources:
Shall be valued (a) invoice or agreed price including taxes and duties and all related expenses net of all
credits.
Credits refers the trade discount, tax credits & rebates.
However, cash discount is not deductible.
2. In House Production & Operation Overheads:
Shall be valued at total of actual cost incurred for the activity.
General Principles:
1. Finance Cost is not includable.
2. Abnormal Cost is not includable.
3. Imputed Cost is not includable (except depreciation)
Imputed Cost is a notional cost that does not involve any cash outlay. Computed only for the purpose of
decision making.
e.g : Salary for the proprietor, Rent on own house.
4. Credits with restrictions or Recoveries without restrictions shall be reduced.
5. Subsidy, Grant on Service or incentive received from Govt. or other Money back agencies shall be reduced
on products.
6. Penalties, damages or fines paid to statutory authorities is not part of cost.
7. When Cost is measured in Standard rate any variance between standards & actual is part of cost.
Assignment of Cost:
Traceability to a cost produced at improving a cost.
Assignment of production & operation overheads to a Cost object shall be based on the following:
(i) Cause & effect
Presentation:
1. Production or Operation overheads shall be assessed as a separate cost head as a separate cost statement.
2. Any under absorption or over absorption of production and operation overheads, it will be presented in
reconciliation statement.
Disclosure:
1. Basis of Assignment/ Valuation ;
2. Abnormal Cost is not includable ;
3. Credits or Recoveries shall be reduced ;
4. Subsidies or Grants shall be reduced ;
5. Penalties, damages or fines paid to statutory authorities ;
6. Related Party transaction has to shown separately ;
7. Forex changes are to shown separately.
CAS-4
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON
COST OF PRODUCTION FOR CAPTIVE CONSUMPTION
Cost Accounting Standard 4 (CAS-4) issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India
on “Cost of Production for Captive Consumption” deals with determination of cost of production for captive
consumption.
Captive Consumption means the consumption of goods manufactured by one division and consumed by another
division(s) of the same organization or related undertaking for manufacturing another product(s). Liability of excise
duty arises as soon as the goods covered under excise duty are manufactured but excise duty is collected at
the time of removal or clearance from the place of manufacture even if such removal does not amount to sale.
Assessable value of goods used for captive consumption is based on cost of production. According to the Central
Excise Valuation (Determination of Price of Excisable Goods) Rules 2000, the assessable value of goods used
for captive consumption is 115% (110% w.e.f. 05-08-2003) of cost of production of such goods, and as may be
prescribed by the Government from time to time.
Illustration 1.
A production process has three stages.
Stage Input material cost Processing cost Total
1 2000 500 2500
2 2500 1000 3500
3 3500 1000 4500
If during the production process at stage3, the scrap is produced and the same is recycled at stage 2 after
making an expenditure of ` 200 per MT to make it suitable for re-processing at stage 2, then scrap will be
valued @ ` (2500 – 200 ) i.e ` 2300. If no expenditure is involved to make scrap re-usable, the scrap value will
be @ ` 2500. The scrap value for the scrap produced during a period calculated at the rate as explained
above may be deducted to find out the cost of production for the period.
• Miscellaneous Income:
Miscellaneous income relating to production shall be adjusted in the calculation of cost of production,
for example, income from sale of empty containers used for despatch of the captively consumed goods
produced under reference.
• Inputs received free of cost:
In case any input material, whether of direct or indirect nature, including packing material is supplied free
of cost by the user of the captive product, the landed cost of such material shall be included in the cost of
production.
• Moulds, Tools, Dies & Patterns etc received free of cost:
The amortization cost of such items shall be included in the cost of production.
• Interest and financial charges:
Interest and financial charges being a financial charge shall not be considered to be a part of cost of
production.
• Abnormal and non-recurring cost:
Abnormal and non-recurring cost arising due to unusual or unexpected occurrence of events, such as heavy
break down of plants, accident, market condition restricting sales below normal level, abnormal idle capacity,
abnormal process loss, abnormal scrap and wastage, payments like VRS, retrenchment compensation, lay-
off wages etc. The abnormal cost shall not form the part of cost of production.
• Disclosure:
(i) If there is any change in cost accounting principles and practices during the concerned period which
may materially affect the cost of production in terms of comparability with previous periods, the same
should be disclosed.
(ii) If opening stock and closing stock of work-in-progress and finished goods are not readily available for
certification purpose, the same should be disclosed.
Illustration 2.
The following particulars pertaining to production of yarn are extracted from the records of Balarampur Textiles
Ltd. for the year ended March 31, 2018:
Particulars ` ‘000
Direct Material Cost per unit inclusive of Excise Duty ` 280 thousand 2,560
Direct Wages & Salaries 1,540
Direct Expenses 450
Indirect Materials 533
Factory Overheads 897
Administrative Overheads (40% relating to Production activities) 1,250
Quality Control Cost 565
Research and Development Cost 600
Interest on Working Capital 350
Sale of Scrap Realised 460
You are to determine the cost of production for the purpose of captive consumption in terms of the Rule 8 of
the Central Excise Valuation (DPE) Rules 2000 and as per the CAS-4 and the Assessable Value for the purpose of
paying Excise Duty on captive consumption.
Answer:
According to the Central Excise Valuation (Determination of price of Excisable Goods) Rules 2000, the assessable
Value of goods used for captive consumption is 110% (w.e.f 5-8-2003) of cost of production of such goods. The
manner of determination of cost of production for captive consumption is laid down in CAS 4.
Particulars ` in ‘000
Direct Material 2,560
Direct wages and salaries 1,540
Direct expenses 450
Indirect Materials 533
Factory Overheads 897
Administrative Overheads (40% on `1,250) 500
Quality Control Cost 565
R& D Cost 600
Total cost 7,645
Less: realisation of scrap 460
Cost of production as per CAS 4 7,185
Note : 1. The cost of Working Capital Interest is not chargeable to Cost of Production
2. Assessable value as per Excise Rules is ` 79,03,500 (110 % × 71,85,000)
Illustration 3.
ABUNA ELECTRONICS LTD. is engaged in the manufacture of LED TV sets having its factories at Patna and Gujarat.
The company manufactures picture tube at Patna which is consumed to produce LED TV sets at Gujarat factory.
The following information pertaining to captively consumed picture tubes are extracted from the records of the
company for the half year ended March 31, 2018.
(` in Thousand)
Answer:
ABUNA ELECTRONIC LTD.
Computation of Cost of Production (As per CAS 4)
Amount in ` thousand
CAS -5
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD
ON DETERMINATION OF
AVERAGE (EQUALIZED) COST OF TRANSPORTATION
Cost Accounting Standard 5 (CAS-5) issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India
on “Determination of Average (Equalized) Cost of Transportation” deals with the determination of average
transportation cost of a product.
Definitions:
Cost of Transportation comprises of the cost of freight, cartage, transit insurance and cost of operating fleet and
other incidental charges whether incurred internally or paid to an outside agency for transportation of goods but
does not include detention and demurrage charges.
• Inward Transportation cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection with materials /goods
received at factory or place of use or sale/removal.
• Outward Transportation cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection with the sale or delivery of
materials or goods from factory or depot or any other place from where goods are sold /removed
• Freight is the charges paid or payable for transporting materials/ goods from one location to another.
• Cartage is the expenses incurred for movement of goods covering short distance for further transportation for
delivery to customer or storage.
• Transit insurance cost is the amount of premium to be paid to cover the risk of loss /damage to the goods in
transit.
• Depot is the bounded premises /place managed internally or by an agent, including consignment agent
and C & F agent, franchisee for storing of materials/goods for further dispatch including the premises of
Consignment Agent and C&F Agent for the purpose.
Depot includes warehouses, go-downs, storage yards, stock yards etc.
• Equalized transportation cost means average transportation cost incurred during a specified period.
• Equalized freight means average freight.
Treatment of cost:
• Inward transportation costs shall form the part of the cost of procurement of materials which are to be
identified for proper allocation/ apportionment to the materials / products.
• Outward transportation cost shall form the part of the cost of sale and shall be allocated / apportioned to the
materials and goods on a suitable basis.
Explanation :
Outward transportation cost of a product from factory to depot or any location of sale shall be included in
the cost of sale of the goods available for sale.
• The following basis may be used, in order of priority, for apportionment of outward transportation cost
depending upon the nature of products, unit of measurement followed and type of transport used :
(i) Weight
(ii) Volume of goods
(iii) Tonne-Km
(iv) Unit / Equivalent unit
CAS-6
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON MATERIAL COST
Cost Accounting Standard 6 (CAS 6) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India
on “MATERIAL COST”.
Material for the purpose of this standard includes raw materials, processed materials, additives, manufactured /
bought out components, sub-assemblies, accessories, semi finished goods, consumable stores, spares and other
indirect materials. This standard does not deal with Packing Materials as a separate standard is being issued on
the subject.
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of material
cost, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the material cost with reasonable accuracy.
Definitions:
• Abnormal cost: An unusual or typical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/ or due
to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted fromCAS-1 Para 6.5.19).
• Administrative overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of an
entity.
• Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
• Defectives: Materials, products or intermediate products that do not meet quality standards. This may include
reworks or rejects.
� Reworks: Defectives which can be brought up to the standards by putting in additional resources.
Rework includes repairs, reconditioning and refurbishing.
� Rejects: Defectives which cannot meet the quality standards even after putting in additional resources.
Rejects may be disposed off as waste or sold for salvage value or recycled in the production process.
• Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
• Intermediate Product: An intermediate product is a product that requires further processing before it is
saleable.
Materials:
• Direct Materials: Materials the costs of which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically feasible
way (Adapted from CAS 1-6.2.3).
• Indirect Materials: Materials, the costs of which cannot be directly attributed to particular cost object
(Adapted from CAS 1– 6.2.8).
• Material Cost: The cost of material used for the purpose of production of a product or rendering a service.
• Production overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service
• Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed off without
further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the process in place of raw
material.
• Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and efficient
operating conditions
Principles of Measurement:
• Principle of valuation of receipt of materials:
� The material receipt should be valued at purchase price including duties and taxes, freight inwards,
insurance, and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates,
taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the taxing authorities) that can be quantified with
reasonable accuracy at the time of acquisition.
Examples of taxes and duties to be deducted from cost are cenvat credits, credit for countervailing
customs duty, sales tax set off/ vat credits and other similar items of credit recovered/ recoverable.
� Finance costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of materials shall not form part of material cost.
� Self manufactured materials shall be valued including direct material cost, direct employee cost, direct
expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads relating to production but excluding
share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing overheads. In case of captive
consumption, the valuation shall be in accordance with Cost Accounting Standard 4.
� Spares which are specific to an item of equipment shall not be taken to inventory, but shall be capitalized
with the cost of the specific equipment. Cost of capital spares and/or insurance spares, whether procured
with the equipment or subsequently, shall be amortised over a period, not exceeding the useful life of the
equipment.
� Normal loss or spoilage of material prior to reaching the factory or at places where the services are
provided shall be absorbed in the cost of balance materials net of amounts recoverable from suppliers,
insurers, carriers or recoveries from disposal.
� Losses due to shrinkage or evaporation and gain due to elongation or absorption of moisture etc.,
before the material is received shall be absorbed in material cost to the extent they are normal, with
corresponding adjustment in the quantity.
The adjustment for moisture will depend on whether dry weight is used for measurement.
� The forex component of imported material cost shall be converted at the rate on the date of the
transaction. Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise shall not form part of
the material cost.
Explanation: The date on which a transaction (whether for goods or services) is recognised in accounting
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
� Any demurrage or detention charges, or penalty levied by transport or other authorities shall not form
part of the cost of materials.
� Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment received/receivable with respect to any material shall
be reduced from cost for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are related.
� Where materials are accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to materials shall be
treated as part of material cost.
� Any abnormal cost shall be excluded from the material cost.
� Wherever, material costs include transportation costs, determination of costs of transportation shall
be governed by CAS 5 – Cost Accounting Standard on Determination of Average (Equalized) Cost of
Transportation.
� Material cost may include imputed costs not considered in financial accounts. Such costs which are not
recognized in financial accounts may be determined by imputing a cost to the usage or by measuring
the benefit from an alternate use of the resource.
• Self manufactured components and sub-assemblies shall be valued including direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads relating to production
but excluding share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing overheads. In case of
captive consumption, the valuation shall be in accordance with Cost Accounting Standard 4.
• The material cost of normal scrap/ defectives which are rejected shall be included in the material cost of
goods manufactured. The material cost of actual scrap / defectives, not exceeding the normal shall be
adjusted in the material cost of good production. Material Cost of abnormal scrap /defectives should not
be included in material cost but treated as loss after giving credit to the realisable value of such scrap /
defectives.
Assignment of costs:
The basis of assignment of costs to the cost of product or service is dealt within this section.
• Assignment of costs – Materials
� Assignment of material costs to cost objects: Material costs shall be directly traced to a Cost object
to the extent it is economically feasible and /or shall be assigned to the cost object on the basis of
material quantity consumed or similar identifiable measure and valued as per the principles laid under
Paragraph 5.
• Where the material costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, these may be assigned on a
suitable basis like technical estimates.
• Assignment of costs – Direct Expenses
� Where a material is processed or part manufactured by a third party according to specifications provided
by the buyer, the processing/ manufacturing charges payable to the third party shall be treated as part
of the material cost.
� Wherever part of the manufacturing operations / activity is subcontracted, the subcontract charges
related to materials shall be treated as direct expenses and assigned directly to the cost object.
• Assignment of costs– Indirect materials
� The cost of indirect materials shall be assigned to the various Cost objects based on a suitable basis such
as actual usage or technical norms or a similar identifiable measure.
� The cost of materials like catalysts, dies, tools, moulds, patterns etc, which are relatable to production
over a period of time shall be amortized over the production units benefited by such cost.
� The cost of indirect material with life exceeding one year shall be included in cost over the useful life of
the material.
Presentation:
Cost Statements governed by this standard, shall present material costs as detailed below:
• Direct Materials shall be classified in the cost statement under suitable heads.
• Direct Materials shall be classified as Purchased - indigenous, imported and self manufactured.
• Indirect Materials shall be classified in the cost statement under suitable heads.
Disclosures:
The following information should be disclosed in the cost statements dealing with determination of material cost.
• Quantity and rates of major items of materials shall be disclosed. Major items are defined as those who form
5% of cost of materials.
• The basis of valuation of materials shall be disclosed.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the determination of the material
cost during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on the cost of the material
shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly, the fact shall be
indicated.
• Any abnormal cost excluded from the material cost shall be disclosed.
• Any demurrage or detention charges, penalty levied by transport or other authorities excluded from the
material cost shall be disclosed.
• Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment reduced from material cost shall be disclosed.
• Cost of Materials procured from related parties (Related party as per the applicable legal requirements
relating to the cost statement as on the date of statements)shall be disclosed.
• Any cost imputed in arriving at the material cost shall be disclosed.
• Disclosures shall be made only where significant, material and quantifiable.
• Disclosures may be made in the body of the Cost statement or as a footnote or as a separate schedule.
Illustration 1.
Purchase of Materials ` 3,00,000 (inclusive of Trade Discount ` 3,000); Fee on Board ` 12,000; Import Duty paid
` 15,000; Freight inward ` 20,000; Insurance paid for import by sea ` 10,000; Rebates allowed ` 4,000; Cash discount
` 3,000; CENVAT Credit refundable ` 7,000; Subsidy received from the Government for importation of these materials
` 20,000. Compute the landed cost of material (i.e. value of receipt of material).
Answer:
(a) Computation of Material Cost Sheet
Particulars Amount (`)
Purchase price of Material 3,00,000
Add: Fee on Board 12,000
Add: Import Duties of purchasing the material 15,000
Add: Freight Inward during the procurement of material 20,000
Add: Insurance paid 10,000
Total 3,57,000
Less: Trade Discount 3,000
Less: Rebates 4,000
Less: CENVAT Credit refundable 7,000
Less: Subsidy received from the Government for importation of materials 20,000
Value of Receipt of Material 3,23,000
Note:
(i) Cash discount is not allowed, as it is a financial item.
(ii) Subsidy received, rebates and CENVAT Credit refundable are to be deducted for the purpose of computing
the material cost.
Illustration 2.
Purchase of Materials $ 50,000 [ Forward contract rate $ = `64.40 but $ = `64.60 on the date of importation] ; Import
Duty paid `5,65,000; Freight inward `1,62,000 ; Insurance paid for import by road `48,000; Cash discount `33,000;
CENVAT Credit refundable `37,000; Payment made to the foreign vendor after a month, on that date the rate of
exchange was $ = `65,20. Compute the landed cost of material.
Ans:
Computation of Landed Cost of Material
Illustration 3.
Opening stock of raw materials (5,000 units) ` 1,80,000; Purchase of Raw Materials (17,500 units) ` 7,00,000; Closing
Stock of Raw Materials 3,500 units; Freight Inward ` 85,000; Self-manufactured packing material for purchased raw
materials only `60,000 (including share of administrative overheads related to marketing sales ` 8,000); Demurrage
charges levied by transporter for delay in collection ` 11,000; Normal Loss due to shrinkage 1% of materials ; Abnormal
Loss due to absorption of moisture before receipt of materials 100 units. Calculate the value of Closing Stock.
Answer:
Computation of value of closing stock of raw materials [Average Cost Method]
Less Normal loss of materials due to shrinkage during transit (175) -----
[1% of 17,500 units]
Add Cost of self-manufactured packing materials for purchased raw 52,000
materials only
(60,000 – 8,000)
Cost of raw materials 22,225 10,23,451
Less: Value of Closing Stock (3,500) (1,60,451)
= Total Cost / (Total units – Units of Normal Loss)
[ 10,23,451/(5,000+17,500 – 175) ]x 3,500
Cost of Raw Materials Consumed 18,725 8,63,000
Note:
(i) Units of normal loss adjusted in quantity only and not in cost, as it is an includible item
(ii) Cost of self-manufactured packing materials does not include any share of administrative overheads or finance
cost or marketing overheads. Hence, marketing overheads excluded.
(iii) Abnormal loss of materials arose before the receipt of the raw materials, hence, valuation done on the basis
of costs related to purchases only. Value of opening stock is not considered for arriving at the valuation of
abnormal loss.
(iv) Demurrage charges paid to transporter is an includible item. Since this was paid to the transporter, hence
considered before estimating the value of abnormal loss
CAS – 7
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON EMPLOYEE COST
Cost Accounting Standard 7 (CAS - 7) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on
“EMPLOYEE COST”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and
assignment of Employee cost, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation and
disclosure in cost statements.
Definitions:
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
• Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/ or
due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.5.19).
• Abnormal Idle time: An unusual or atypical idle time occurrence of which is irregular and unexpected or due
to some abnormal situations.
E.g.: Idle time due to a strike, lockout or an accident.
• Administrative overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of an
entity.
• Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
• Direct Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can be attributed to a Cost object in an economically feasible
way (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.2.4 (Direct labour cost)).
• Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred in
handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the ultimate
consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
The cost of any non manufacturing operations such as packing, repacking, labelling, etc. at an intermediate
storage location will be part of distribution cost.
• Employee cost: Benefits paid or payable for the services rendered by employees (including temporary, part
time and contract employees)of an entity.
Explanation:
1. Contract employees include employees directly engaged by the employer on contract basis but does
not include employees of any contractor engaged in the organisation.
2. Compensation paid to employees for the past period on account of any dispute / court orders shall not
form part of Employee Cost.
3. Short provisions of prior period made up in current period shall not form part of the employee cost in the
current period.
Employee cost includes payment made in cash or kind.
For example:
Employee cost
• Salaries, wages, allowances and bonus / incentives.
• Contribution to provident and other funds.
• Employee welfare
• Other benefits
Principles of Measurement:
• Employee Cost shall be ascertained taking into account the gross pay including all allowances payable
along with the cost to the employer of all the benefits.
• Bonus whether payable as a Statutory Minimum or on a sharing of surplus shall be treated as part of employee
cost. Ex gratia payable in lieu of or in addition to Bonus shall also be treated as part of the employee cost.
• Remuneration payable to Managerial Personnel including Executive Directors on the Board and other officers
of a corporate body under a statute will be considered as part of the Employee Cost of the year under
reference whether the whole or part of the remuneration is computed as a percentage of profits.
Explanation: Remuneration paid to non executive directors shall not form part of Employee Cost but shall form
part of Administrative Overheads.
• Separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, termination etc. shall be amortised over the
period benefitting from such costs.
• Employee cost shall not include imputed costs.
• Cost of Idle time is ascertained by the idle hours multiplied by the hourly rate applicable to the idle employee
or a group of employees.
• Where Employee cost is accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons related to Employee
cost shall be treated as part of Employee cost. Variances due to abnormal reasons shall be treated as part of
abnormal cost.
• Any Subsidy, Grant, Incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any Employee cost
shall be reduced for ascertainment of cost of the cost object to which such amounts are related.
• Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the Employee cost.
• Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Employee cost.
• The cost of free housing, free conveyance and any other similar benefits provided to an employee shall be
determined at the total cost of all resources consumed in providing such benefits.
• Any recovery from the employee towards any benefit provided e.g. housing shall be reduced from the
employee cost.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the determination of the Employee cost should be
made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting standard or a
change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements of an enterprise.
Presentation:
• Direct Employee costs shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
• Indirect Employee costs shall be presented in cost statements as a part of overheads relating to respective
functions e.g. manufacturing, administration, marketing etc.
• The cost statement shall furnish the resources consumed on account of Employee cost, category wise such as
wages salaries to permanent, temporary, part time and contract employees piece rate payments, overtime
payments, Employee benefits (category wise)etc. wherever such items form a material part of the total
Employee cost.
Illustration 1.
A Steel Company which produces Iron Casting Pipes and rod iron is covered under the Cost Audit according to
the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014. From the expenditure data relating to 2017-18, determine
the employees cost according to CAS -7.
` in Lakh
(i) Salary, wages and other allowances 750
(ii) Bonus 100
(iii) Contribution to Providend Fund 90
(iv) Wages to contractors employees 100
(v) Employees welfare 40
(vi) Abnormal cost due to strike 80
(vii) VRS payment for closure of Rod Iron section of the plant 62
(viii) Arear Salary (2016-17) 210
(ix) Compensation paid against the past periods against Court order 67
Answer:
The following items will not be included according to CAS-7:
(i) VRS paid for closure of an unit
(ii) Abnormal cost charges to Profit and Loss A/C
(iii) Area salary not related to the current year
(iv) Compensation paid against past periods
(v) Wages paid to contractor employees.
[As per explanation(1) of CAS-7 under para-4.7: Contract employees include employees directly engaged
by the employer on contract basis but does not include employees of any contractor engaged in the
organisation.]
` lakh
(i) Salary and wages 750
(ii) Contribution to PF 90
(iii) Employees welfare 40
(iv) Bonus 100
Total 980
CAS-8
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON COST OF UTILITIES
Cost Accounting Standard – 8 (CAS-8) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on “COST
OF UTILITIES”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment
of cost of utilities, for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost
statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the cost of utilities with reasonable accuracy.
• This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of cost of utilities including those requiring attestation.
• For determining the cost of production to arrive at an assessable value of excisable utilities used for captive
consumption, Cost Accounting Standard 4 on Cost of Production for Captive Consumption (CAS 4) shall
apply.
• This standard shall not be applicable to the organizations primarily engaged in generation and sale of utilities.
Definitions:
• Committed Cost: The cost of maintaining stand-by utilities shall be the committed cost.
• Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and efficient
operating conditions.
• Stand-by utilities: Any utility created as backup against any failure of the main source of utilities.
• Utilities: Significant inputs such as power, steam, water, compressed air and the like which are used for
manufacturing process but do not form part of the final product.
Principles of measurement:
• Each type of utility shall be treated as a distinct cost object.
• Cost of utilities purchased shall be measured at cost of purchase including duties and taxes, transportation
cost, insurance and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates,
taxes and duties refundable or to be credited) that can be quantified with reasonable accuracy at the time
of acquisition.
� Cost of self generated utilities for own consumption shall comprise direct material cost, direct employee
cost, direct expenses and factory overheads.
� In case of utilities generated for the purpose of inter unit transfers, the distribution cost incurred for such
transfers shall be added to the cost of utilities determined as per paragraph 5.3.1.
� Cost of Utilities generated for the inter company transfers shall comprise direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost and share of administrative
overheads.
� Cost of Utilities generated for the sale to outside parties shall comprise direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost, share of administrative overheads
and marketing overheads.
The sale value of such utilities will also include the margin.
• Finance costs incurred in connection with the utilities shall not form part of cost of utilities.
• The cost of utilities shall include the cost of distribution of such utilities.
The cost of distribution will consist of the cost of delivery of utilities up to the point of consumption.
Presentation:
• Utilities costs shall be presented as a separate cost head for each type of utility in the cost statement, if
material.
• Where separate cost statements are prepared for utilities, cost of utilities shall be classified as purchased or
generated. Such statement shall also include cost of utilities consumed along with quantitative information
by individual consuming units, inter unit transfers, inter company transfers and sale to outside parties wherever
applicable.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of distribution of Cost of Utility to the consuming centres.
2. The cost of purchase, production, distribution, marketing and price with reference to sales to outside
parties.
3. Where cost of utilities is disclosed at standard cost, the price and usage variances.
4. The cost and price of Utility received from/supplied to related parties (Related party as per the applicable
legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
5. The cost and price of Utility received from/supplied as inter unit transfers and intercompany transfers.
6. Cost of utilities incurred in foreign exchange.
7. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Cost of utilities.
8. Credits/recoveries relating to the Cost of utilities.
9. Any abnormal cost excluded from Cost of utilities.
10. Penalties and damages paid etc. excluded from cost of utilities.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
the cost of utilities during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on the Cost
of utilities. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
• Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
Illustration 1.
A manufacturing firm has up its own power plant to cater its need in manufacturing process.
Its one month data is given below :
Number of units produced = 100 lakh units of which 5% is used by generating unit.
Answer:
Calculation ` Lakh
Material cost
Coal 300 x 30,000 90.00
Oil 5 x1,60,000 8.00
Water 6x3 18.00
Total Material Cost 116.00
Wages for Generator Plant (100 × 30,000) + (150 x 20,000) 60.00
Wages for Boiler plant (60 x 25,000) + (100 × 20,000) 35.00
Depreciation - Generating Plant 90 x 0.10 9.00
Depreciation- boiler plant (55-5) /10 5.00
Repair &Maint 5.00
Administraive Exp 20.00
Total Cost 250.00
As generating unit consumes 5%, effective unit produced for manufacturing = 95 lakh
Cost per unit = ` 250/95 = ` 2.63
Illustration 2.
During the Energy Audit of Reliable Engineering Ltd., the following figures relating to usage of power were placed
before the Auditor:
Compute the necessary productivity measures and (i) Price Variance and (ii) Volume Variance of power usage
during these years.
Answer:
The power usage of Reliable Engineering Ltd. is given below along with the productivity measures and Price
Variance and Volume Variance.
Workings:
(1)
2017-18 2016-17
Price Variance : 26,42,720 x (6.29 – 5.42) 22,99,166
: 27,44,360 x (5.42 – 4.90) 14,27,067
Volume Variance : [ ` 39.375 x (422.16 – 416.36)] ×1,000 kg. 2,28,375
: [ ` 35.725 x (416.36 – 376.08)] × 1,000 kg. 14,39,003
(2)
Million kg = 10,00,000 kg
422.16 in kg. = 42,21,60,000 kg
1000 kg. = 4,22,160 units
For 2016-17, Power Cost/ ‘000 kg
` 1,66,22,709
= = ` 39.375 and so on
4,22,160
CAS 9
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON PACKING MATERIAL COST
Cost Accounting Standard - (CAS - 9) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on
“PACKING MATERIAL COST”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement
and assignment of Packing Material Cost, for determination of the cost of product, and the presentation and
disclosure in cost statements. Packing Materials for the purpose of this standard are classified into primary and
secondary packing materials.
Definitions:
• Packing Material Cost: The cost of material of any nature used for the purpose of packing of a product.
• Primary Packing Material: Packing material which is essential to hold and preserve the product for its use by
the customer.
For example:
� Pharmaceutical industry: Insertions related to product, Foils for strips of tablets/capsules, vials.
� Industrial gases: Cylinders / bottles used for filling the gaseous products.
� Confectionary Industry: Butter, paper and wrappers.
• Reusable Packing Material: Packing materials that are used more than once to pack the product.
• Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed off without
further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the process in place of raw
material.
• Secondary Packing Material: Packing material that enables to store, transport, inform the customer, promote
and otherwise make the product marketable.
For example:
� Pharmaceutical industry: Cartons used for holding strips of tablets and card board boxes used for holding
cartons.
� Textile industry: Card board boxes used for holding cones on which yarn is woven.
� Confectionary Industry: Jars for holding wrapped chocolates, Cartons containing packs of biscuits.
• Packing Material Development Cost: Cost of evaluation of packing material such as pilot test, field test,
consumer research, feed back, and final evaluation cost.
Principles of measurement:
1. Purchase of packing material shall be valued at purchase price inclusive of taxes & duties and all related
expense (net of credit).
Credit refers to trade discount, cash credits and rebates, however cash discount is not deductable.
2. Self manufactured packing material shall be valued at total of direct material cost, direct employee cost,
direct expenses, production overheads & administrative overheads relating to production, Administrative
overheads not relating to production or marketing overheads includable or not part of cost.
3. Normal losses are includable.
4. Abnormal losses are not includable.
5. Forex Components of imported packing material shall be converted based on the rate on the date of
transaction. Any further changes does not part of cost.
Assignment of Cost:
If direct in an economically feasible manner, such so quantity consumed or used similar identifiable manner.
If indirect based on a similar basis, including technical estimates.
Cost of reasonable packing material shall amortized and assigned to cost objects based on the number of
times or over the period, it is expected to be revised.
Primary Packing Cost is a part of cost of production.
Secondary Packing Cost is a distribution overheds.
Presentation:
Packing material cost shall be classified as primary and secondary packing material.
Further classification:
• Purchase Indigenous
• Purchase Imported
• Self Manufactured
CAS-10
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON DIRECT EXPENSES
Cost Accounting Standard – 10 (CAS-10) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on
“DIRECT EXPENSES”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and
assignment of Direct Expenses, for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and
disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Direct Expenses with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Direct Expenses including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can be identified or
linked with the cost object other than direct material cost and direct employee cost.
Examples of Direct Expenses are royalties charged on production, job charges, hire charges for use of specific
equipment for a specific job, cost of special designs or drawings for a job, software services specifically required
for a job, travelling Expenses for a specific job.
Principles of measurement:
1. Brought out resources shall be valued at Invoice or agreed price including taxes and duties and all related
expenses, net of credits.
2. Self manufactured Direct Expenses shall be valued at total of direct material cost, direct employee cost,
direct expenses, production overheads & administrative overheads relating to production, Administrative
overheads not relating to production or marketing overheads includable or not part of cost.
3. Lump sum or One time payments: It shall be amortized on basis of benefits received.
4. An item of direct expenses, if it also not meet the test of materiality, shall be treated as overheads.
Assignment of Cost:
Direct expenses are direct in nature & shall be assigned directly to that Cost Object.
Presentation:
Direct expenses shall be presented as a separate cost head in Cost Statement with suitable classification, if
material.
Illustration 1.
TROMA LTD., a manufacturing unit, produces two products PB and PS. The following information is extracted from
the Books of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2018:
Royalty paid on sales `6,09,000 [ @ ` 2 per unit sold for both the products].
(i) Royalty paid on units produced `3,78,000 [ @ `1 per unit produced for both the products].
(ii) Hire charges of equipment used in the manufacturing process of product PB only `53,000.
Note: No adjustments are to be made related to units held i.e. Closing Stock.
You are required to compute the Direct Expenses—keeping in view of Cost Accounting Standard (CAS)-10.
Answer:
TROMA LTD.
Computation of Direct Expenses (As per CAS – 10)
CAS - 11
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS
Cost Accounting Standard – (CAS-11) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on
“Administrative Overheads”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement
and assignment of administrative overheads, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the
presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the administrative overheads with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of administrative overheads including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of an entity.
Principles of Measurement:
• Administrative overheads shall be the aggregate of cost of resources consumed in activities relating to general
management and administration of an organisation.
It usually represents the cost of shared services, cost of infrastructure and general management costs.
Administrative overheads comprise items such as employee costs, utilities, office supplies, legal expenses
and outside services. The principles of measurement of Material Cost, Employee Costs, Utilities, Repairs and
Maintenance and Depreciation found in the respective standards will apply to these elements included in
administrative overheads.
• In case of leased assets, if the lease is an operating lease, the entire rentals shall be included in the administrative
overheads. If the lease is a financial lease, the finance cost portion shall be segregated and treated as part
of finance costs.
• The cost of software (developed in house, purchased, licensed or customized), including up-gradation cost
shall be amortised over its estimated useful life.
When hardware requires up-gradation along with software up-gradation, it is recommended that compatible
estimated lives be used for the two sets of cost.
• The cost of administrative services procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or agreed price
including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts (other than
cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
• Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any amount of similar nature received/receivable with respect to any
Administrative overheads shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
• Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part
of the administrative overheads.
• Credits/ recoveries relating to the administrative overheads including those rendered without any consideration,
material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net administrative overheads.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the administrative overheads
should be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements of
an organisation.
Assignment of Cost:
While assigning administrative overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall
be the guiding principle.
• Assignment of administrative overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following two
principles:
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
Presentation:
• Administrative overheads shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
• Element wise details of the administrative overheads based on materiality shall be presented.
CAS – 12
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE COST
Cost Accounting Standard – 12 (CAS - 12) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India
on “Reparirs and Maintenance Cost”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification,
measurement and assignment of repairs and maintenance cost, for determination of the Cost of product or
service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
Objective:
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the repairs and maintenance cost with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of repairs and maintenance cost including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
Repairs and maintenance cost: Cost of all activities which have the objective of maintaining or restoring an asset
in or to a state in which it can perform its required function at intended capacity and efficiency.
Repairs and Maintenance activities for the purpose of this standard include routine or preventive maintenance,
planned (predictive or corrective) maintenance and breakdown maintenance.
The repair or overhaul of an asset which results in restoration of the asset to intended condition would also be a
part of Repairs and Maintenance activity.
Major overhaul is a periodic (generally more than one year) repair work carried out to substantially restore the
asset to intended working condition.
Principles of Measurement:
• Repairs and maintenance cost shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to repairs and
maintenance activity.
• Cost of in-house repairs and maintenance activity shall include cost of materials, consumable stores, spares,
manpower, equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such activity.
• Cost of repairs and maintenance activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity shall include
charges payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment
usage, utilities, and other costs incurred by the entity for such jobs.
• Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by contractor at its premises shall be determined at invoice
or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts
(other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost shall also include the cost
of other resources provided to the contractors.
• Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by outside contractors shall include charges made by the
contractor and cost of own materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities and
other costs used in such jobs.
� Each type of repairs and maintenance shall be treated as a distinct activity, if material and identifiable.
For example, routine or preventive maintenance, planned (predictive or corrective) maintenance and
breakdown maintenance should be identified separately.
� Cost of repairs and maintenance activity shall be measured for each major asset category separately.
• Cost of spares replaced which do not enhance the future economic benefits from the existing asset beyond
its previously assessed standard of performance shall be included under repairs and maintenance cost.
• High value spare, when replaced by a new spare and is reconditioned, which is expected to result in future
economic benefits, the same shall be taken into stock.
Such a spare shall be valued at an amount that measures its service potential in relation to a new spare which
amount shall not exceed the cost of reconditioning the spare. The difference between the total of the cost
of the new spare and the reconditioning cost and the value of the reconditioned spare should be treated as
repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: The cost of new spare is ` 1 crore and the value of the existing spare after reconditioning is estimated
at ` 20 lacs, the difference of ` 80 lacs should be treated as repairs and maintenance cost.
• The cost of major overhaul shall be amortized on a rational basis.
• Finance costs incurred in connection with the repairs and maintenance activities shall not form part of Repairs
and maintenance costs.
• Repairs and maintenance costs shall not include imputed costs.
• Price variances related to repairs and maintenance, where standard costs are in use, shall be treated as
part of repairs and maintenance cost. The portion of usage variances attributable to normal reasons shall be
treated as part of repairs and maintenance cost. Usage variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be
excluded from repairs and maintenance cost.
• Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or amount of similar nature received/receivable with respect to repairs and
maintenance activity, if any, shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
• Any repairs and maintenance cost resulting from some abnormal circumstances, if material and quantifiable,
shall not form part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: Major fire, explosions, flood and similar events are abnormal circumstances referred above.
• Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: A penalty imposed by a regulatory authority for wrongful construction or damages paid to third
party for the loss caused due to improper working of property, plant & equipment, should not be included in
repairs and maintenance cost.
• Credits/ recoveries relating to the repairs and maintenance activity, material and quantifiable, shall be
deducted to arrive at the net repairs and maintenance cost.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the repairs and maintenance
cost should be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements of
an organisation.
Assignment of costs:
• Repairs and maintenance costs shall be traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
• Where the repairs and maintenance cost is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned based
on either of the following two principles;
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
Presentation:
• Repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of
cost.
• Asset category wise details of repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented separately.
• Activity wise details of repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented separately.
Illustration 1.
As per the CAS-12, how should high value spare, when replaced by a new spare and reconditioned, be treated?
Answer:
As per CAS-12 on Repairs and Maintenance Cost, high value Spare, when replaced by a new spare and
reconditioned, should be recognised as property, plant and equipment when they meet the definition of property,
plant and equipment and depreciated accordingly. Otherwise, such items are to be classified as inventory and
recognised in cost as and when they are consumed.
Example: A Company purchased equipment for `10 crore and the insurance spare was ` 1 crore. If the company
is covered under INDAs, such spare is capitalized as Property,/Plant and/equipment. After use for five years, the
equipment broke down and a part was replaced with the aforesaid insurance spare. After 5 years, the depreciated
value of equipment is `5 crore. As property, plant and equipment are depreciated when they are available for
use, accordingly the depreciated value of new spare is `50 lakh. The old spare was reconditioned and the cost
of reconditioning is `10 lakh. As per the estimated life of the old spare for future economic benefits, the current
market value of the reconditioned old spare has been estimated at `25 lakh. The amount to be treated in repairs
and maintenance is ` 35 lakh as follows:
(` In Crores)
A. Equipment Cost 10.00
B. Cost of New Spare 1.00
Total Cost 11.00
Depreciation for 5 years 5.50
Depreciated value of equipment and spare [` 5 + 0.50] crore 5.50
Reconditioning cost of old spare 0.10
Depreciated value of old spare 0.50
Book value reconditioned spare 0.60
Current market value of reconditioned spare to be restated in
Books of Account 0.25
Amount to be treated in Repairs and Maintenance 0.35
CAS – 13
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON COST OF SERVICE COST CENTRE
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 13 (CAS - 13) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of
India on “Cost of Service Cost Centre”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification,
measurement and assignment of Cost of Service Cost Centre, for determination of the Cost of product or service,
and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Cost of Service Cost Centre with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to the preparation and presentation of cost statements, which require classification,
measurement and assignment of Cost of Service Cost Centre, including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
• Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred in
handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the ultimate
consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
The cost of any non manufacturing operations such as packing, repacking, labelling, etc. at an intermediate
storage location will be part of distribution cost.
• Stand-by service: Any facility created as backup against any failure of the main source of service.
• Support-Service Cost Centre: The cost centre which primarily provides auxiliary services across the entity.
The cost centre which provides services to Production, Operation or other Service Cost Centre but not directly
engaged in manufacturing process or operation is a service cost centre. A service cost centre renders services
to other cost centres / other units and in some cases to outside parties.
Examples of service cost centres are engineering, workshop, research & development, quality control, quality
assurance, designing, laboratory, welfare services, safety, transport, Component, Tool stores, Pollution Control,
Computer Cell, dispensary, school, crèche, township, Security etc.
Administrative Overheads include cost of administrative Service Cost Centre.
Assignment of Cost:
• While assigning cost of services, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be the
guiding principle.
• Where the cost of services rendered by a service cost centre is not directly traceable to a cost object, it shall
be assigned on the most appropriate basis.
• The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a service cost centre to the cost centres consuming
services is to be derived from logical parameters which could be related to the usage of the service rendered.
The parameter shall be equitable, reasonable and consistent.
Presentation:
• Cost of service cost centre shall be presented as a separate cost head for each type of service in the cost
statement, if material.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of distribution of cost of each service cost centre to the consuming centres.
2. The cost of purchase, production, distribution, marketing and price of services with reference to sales to
outside parties
3. Where the cost of service cost centre is disclosed at standard cost, the price and usage variances
4. The cost of services received from / rendered to related parties (Related party as per the applicable
legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
5. Cost of service cost centre incurred in foreign exchange.
6. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from cost of Service Cost Centre.
7. Credits/ recoveries relating to the cost of Service Cost Centre
8. Any abnormal cost excluded from cost of Service Cost Centre
9. Penalties and damages paid excluded from cost of Service Cost Centre.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
the cost of service cost centre during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect
on the cost of service cost centre shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable
wholly or partly the fact shall be disclosed.
• Disclosures shall be made only where material and significant.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule
prominently.
CAS - 14
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON POLLUTION CONTROL COST
Cost Accounting Standard - 14 (CAS - 14) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India on
“POLLUTION CONTROL COST”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement
and assignment of pollution control costs, for determination of Cost of product or service, and the presentation
and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Pollution Control Costs with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should to be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Pollution Control Costs including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
• Air pollutant: Air Pollutant means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including noise) present in the
atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures
or plants or property or environment (Section 2 (a) of The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981).
• Air Pollution: Air pollution means the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant (Section 2 (b) of The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981).
• Environment: Environment includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and
between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property
(Section 2 (a) of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986).
• Environmental Pollutant: Environmental Pollutant means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in
such concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment (Section 2 (b) of The Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986).
• Environment Pollution: Environmental pollution means the presence in the environment of any environmental
pollutant (Section 2 (c) of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986).
• Pollution Control: Pollution Control means the control of emissions and effluents into environment. It constitutes
the use of materials, processes, or practices to reduce, minimize, or eliminate the creation of pollutants or
wastes. It includes practices that reduce the use of toxic or hazardous materials, energy, water, and / or other
resources.
• Soil Pollutant: Soil Pollutant is a substance which is the source of soil contamination.
• Soil Pollution: Soil pollution means the presence of any soil pollutant(s) in the soil which is harmful to the living
beings when it crosses its threshold concentration level.
• Water pollution: Water pollution means such contamination of water or such alteration of the physical,
chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or trade effluent or of any other
liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water (whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a
nuisance or render such water harmful or injurious to public health or safety, or to domestic, commercial,
industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses, or to the life and health of animals or plants or of aquatic
organisms (Section 2 (e) of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974).
Principles of Measurement:
1. Pollution Control Cost shall be valued at total of direct and indirect cost relating to that activity.
2. Future remediation or disposal which is sure to be incurred as part of a legal contract shall be accounted
and estimated based on the quantum of pollution generated during that period plus any associated cost of
disposal in future.
3. Contingent failure remediation or recycling cost shall not be treated as part unless if it is sure to be incurred
and can be measured.
4. Pollution in house:
In house Pollution Control activity shall be valued at cost of all resources including cost of material , consumable
stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities and other resources consumed in the activity.
Presentation:
Pollution Control Cost if material shall be presented as separate cost head in a Cost Statement with suitable
classification as follows:
Direct & Indirect Cost
Current & future Cost
Internal & External Cost
Based on domain are reports air, water, soil, etc.
CAS - 15
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON SELLING AND DISTRIBUTION OVERHEADS
Cost Accounting Standard -15 (CAS-15) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India
on “Selling and Distribution Overheads”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification,
measurement and assignment of Selling and Distribution Overheads, for determination of the cost of sales of
product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Selling and Distribution Overheads with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Selling and Distribution Overheads including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
• Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and include all
indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
For Example:
1. Salaries of sales personnel
2. Travelling expenses of sales personnel
3. Commission to sales agents
4. Sales and brand promotion expenses including advertisement, publicity, sponsorships, endorsements
and similar other expenses.
5. Receivable Collection costs
6. After sales service costs
7. Warranty costs
Principles of Measurement:
• Selling and Distribution Overheads shall be the aggregate of the cost of resources consumed in the selling
and distribution activities of the entity. The cost of resources procured from outside shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of
discounts (other than cash discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the Tax Authorities.
• Selling and Distribution Overheads, the benefits of which are expected to be derived over a long period, shall
be amortised on a rational basis.
• Selling and Distribution overheads shall not include imputed cost.
• Cost of after Sales Service provided in terms of sale agreement for a class of transactions, shall be determined
on rational and scientific basis, net of any recovery on the service.
• Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any such payment received / receivable with respect to any Selling and
Distribution Overheads shall be reduced from the cost of the sales of the cost object.
• Any abnormal cost relating to selling and distribution activity shall be excluded from the Selling and Distribution
Overheads.
• Any demurrage or detention charges, or penalty levied by transportation or other authorities in respect of
distribution activity shall not form part of the Selling and Distribution Overhead.
• Penalties and damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Selling and
Distribution Overheads.
• Credits / recoveries relating to the Selling and Distribution Overheads including those rendered without
any consideration, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net Selling and Distribution
Overheads.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Selling and Distribution
Overheads shall be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost
statements of an entity.
Assignment of Cost:
• Selling and Distribution Overheads directly traceable shall be assigned to the relevant product sold or services
rendered.
Presentation:
• Selling and Distribution overheads shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
A reporting entity may use the term marketing Oveheads in place of Selling and Distribution overheads.
• Element wise details of the Selling and Distribution overheads shall be presented, if material.
CAS -16
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION
Cost Accounting Standard – 16 (CAS – 16) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India
on “Depriciation and Amortisation”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and
assignment of Depreciation and Amortisation for determination of the cost of product or service, and the
presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Depreciation and Amortisation with reasonable accuracy.
This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require measurement, assignment, presentation and
disclosure of Depreciation and Amortisation, including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
• Amortisation: Amortisation is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an intangible asset over
its useful life.
• Asset: An Asset is a resource;
(a) controlled by an entity as a result of past events; and
(b) from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
• Current asset: An entity shall classify an asset as current when :
(a) it expects to realise the asset, or intends to sell or consume it, in its normal operating cycle;
(b) it holds the asset primarily for the purpose of trading;
(c) it expects to realise the asset within twelve months after the reporting period; or (d)the asset is cash or a
cash equivalent unless the asset is restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least
twelve months after the reporting period.
• Depreciation: Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its useful
life.
• Depreciable amount: The cost of an asset, or other amount substituted for cost in the financial statement, less
its residual value.
• Depreciable fixed and Intangible assets are assets which:
(i) are expected to be used during more than one accounting period;
(ii) have a limited useful life; and
(iii) are held by an enterprise for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or
for administrative purposes and not for the purpose of sale in the ordinary course of business.
• Residual (salvage) value: The estimated amount that an entity would currently obtain from disposal of
an asset, after deducting the estimated costs of disposal, if the assets were already of the age and in the
condition expected at the end of its useful life.
• Useful life of asset: Useful life of asset is either:
(a) the period over which an asset is expected to be available for use by an entity ; or
(b) the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from use of the asset by the entity.
Principles of Measurement:
• Depreciation and Amortisation shall be measured based on the depreciable amount and the useful life.
• The method of amortisation of intangible asset shall reflect the pattern in which the economic benefits accrue
to entity.
• The methods and rates of depreciation applied shall be reviewed at least annually and, if there has been a
change in the expected pattern of consumption or loss of future economic benefits, the method applied shall
be changed to reflect the changed pattern.
• Spares purchased specifically for a particular asset, or class of assets, and which would become redundant if
that asset or class of asset was retired or use of that asset was discontinued, shall form part of that asset. The
depreciable amount of such spares shall be allocated over the useful life of the asset.
• Cost of small assets shall be written off in the period in which they were purchased as per the accounting
policy of the entity.
• Depreciation of an asset shall not be considered in case cumulative depreciation exceeds the original cost
of the asset, net of residual value.
• Where depreciation for an addition of an asset is measured on the basis of the number of days for which the
asset was used for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, depreciation of the asset for
assigning to cost of object shall be measured in relation to the period, the asset actually utilized.
Assignment of Costs:
• Depreciation shall be traced to the cost object to the extent economically feasible.
• Where the depreciation is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned based on either of the
following two principles:
(i) Cause and effect - cause is a process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received– depreciation is to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
Presentation:
• Depreciation and Amortisation, if material, shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of
cost.
Disclosures:
• The cost statement shall disclose the following:-
1. The basis of distribution of Depreciation and Amortisation to the cost objects.
2. Any credits / recoveries relating to Depreciation and Amortisation.
3. Additional Depreciation on account of revaluation of asset, which is not included in cost.
4. Amount of depreciation that is not included in cost because of temporary retirement of assets from
production of goods and services.
• Disclosure shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of the cost statement or as a foot note or in a separate schedule.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
Depreciation and Amortisation during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect
on Depreciation and Amortisation shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable
wholly or partly, the fact shall be indicated.
Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2014 for being
applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements
CAS-17
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON INTEREST AND FINANCING CHARGES
Cost Accounting Standard (CAS 17) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India for
determination of “Interest and Financing Charges”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of
classification, measurement and assignment of Interest and Financing Charges.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning the Interest and Financing Charges with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Interest and Financing Charges including those requiring attestation.
This standard does not deal with costs relating to risk management through derivatives.
Definition:
• Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non equity
funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
Examples are:
1. interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term borrowings:
2. amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings:
3. amortisation of ancillary cost incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings:
4. Financing Charges in respect of finance leases and other similar arrangements: and
5. exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to the extent they are regarded as an
adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
6. Cash discount allowed to customers.
The terms Interest and financing charges, finance costs, and borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
• Net current asset: Net current asset is the excess of current assets over current liabilities
Current Liabilities shall include short term borrowings and that part of long term borrowings which are classified
as current liabilities
Short term borrowing is the borrowing which is repayable within one year from the date of disbursal as per
Loan Agreement.
Long term borrowing is the borrowing which is repayable after one year from the date of disbursal as per Loan
Agreement.
Principles of Measurement:
• Interest and Financing Charges incurred shall be identified for :
(a) acquisition / construction/ production of qualifying assets including fixed assets; and
(b) Other finance costs for production of goods/ operations or services rendered which cannot be classified
as qualifying assets.
• Interest and Financing Charges directly attributable to the acquisition /construction/ production of a qualifying
asset shall be included in the cost of the asset.
• Interest and Financing Charges shall not include imputed costs.
• Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or amount of similar nature received / receivable with respect to Interest and
Financing Charges if any, shall be reduced to ascertain the net interest and financing charges.
• Penal Interest for delayed payment, Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities
or other third parties shall not form part of the Interest and Financing Charges.
In case the company delays the payment of Statutory dues beyond the stipulated date, interest paid for
delayed payment shall not be treated as penal interest.
• Interest paid for or received on investment shall not form part of the other financing charges for production of
goods / operations or services rendered;
Assignment of costs:
• Assignment of Interest and Financing Charges to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following
principles;
I. Cause and effect - cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
II. Benefits received - Interest and Financing Charges are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in
proportion to the benefits received by them.
Presentation:
Interest and Financing Charges shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of cost of sales.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of distribution of Interest and Financing Charges to the cost objects/ cost units.
2. Where predetermined cost is applied in Interest and Financing Charges, the rate and usage variances.
3. Interest and Financing Charges paid/ payable to related parties.
4. Interest and Financing Charges incurred in foreign exchange.
5. Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any amount of similar nature received / receivable reduced Interest
and Financing Charges.
• Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
• Interest and Financing Charges incurred relating to prior periods and taken to reconciliation directly shall be
disclosed separately.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment
of the Interest and Financing Charges during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material
effect on the Interest and Financing Charges shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not
ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2014 for being
applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements.
CAS -18
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Cost Accounting Standard-18 (CAS-18) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India for
determination of “Research and Development Costs”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of
determining the Research, and Development Costs and their classification, measurement and assignment for
determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
• The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Research, and Development Costs with reasonable accuracy and presentation of the same.
• This standard should be applied to cost statements that require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Research, and Development Costs including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
• Research and Development:
• Research: Research is original and planned investigation undertaken with the prospect of gaining new
scientific or technical knowledge and understanding (Adapted AS 26).
• Development cost: Development cost is the cost for application of research finding or other knowledge
to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved materials, devices, products,
processes, systems, or services before the start of commercial production or use.
• Research Cost: Research cost is the cost of original and planned investigation undertaken with the
prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding.
Principles of Measurement:
• Research, and Development Costs shall include all the costs that are directly traceable to research and/or
development activities or that can be assigned to research and development activities strictly on the basis of
(a) cause and effect or (b) benefits received.
Assignment of costs:
• Research, and Development costs attributable to a specific cost object shall be assigned to that cost object
directly.
Research, development costs that are not attributable to a specific product or process shall not form part of
the product cost.
• Development cost which results in the creation of an intangible asset shall be amortised over its useful life
• Assignment of Development Costs shall be based on the principle of “benefits received”.
• Research and Development Costs incurred for the development and improvement of an existing process or
product shall be included in the cost of production.
• Development costs attributable to a saleable service e.g providing technical know-how to outside parties
shall be accumulated separately and treated as cost of providing the service.
Presentation:
• Research and Development costs relating to improvement of the process or products or services shall be
presented as a separate item of cost in the cost statement under cost of production.
• Research, and Development costs which are not related to improvement of the process, materials, devices,
processes, systems, product or services shall be presented as a part of the reconciliation statement.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of accumulation and assignment of Research and Development costs.
2. The Research, and Development costs paid to related parties(Related party as per the applicable legal
requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
3. Credit/recoveries from related parties
4. Research, and Development cost incurred in foreign exchange.
5. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Research, and Development cost.
6. Credits/recoveries deducted from the Research, and Development cost.
7. Any abnormal cost excluded from Research, and Development cost including cost of abandoned
projects and research activities considered abnormal.
8. Penalties and damages paid etc. excluded from Research, and Development cost.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
the Research, and Development cost during the period covered by the cost statement that has a material
effect on the Research, and Development cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not
ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
• Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
CAS-19
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON JOINT COSTS
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard – 19 (CAS - 19) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India for determination of “JOINT COSTS”. The standard deals with the principles and methods of
measurement and assignment of Joint Costs and the presentation and disclosure in cost statement.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Joint Costs with reasonable accuracy.
The standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Joint Costs including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
• By-Product: Product with relatively low value produced incidentally in the manufacturing of the product or
service.
• Joint Costs: Joint costs are the cost of common resources used to produce two or more products or services
simultaneously.
• Joint product: Products or services that are produced simultaneously, by the same process, identifiable at the
end of the process and recognised as main products or services having sufficient value.
• Split off point: The point in the production process at which joint products become separately identifiable.
The terms split off point and separation point are used interchangeably.
• Waste: Material lost during production or storage and discarded material which may or may not have any
value.
Principles of Measurement:
• The principles and methods for measuring Joint costs upto the split off point will be the same as stipulated in
other cost accounting standards.
• Cost incurred after split-off point on product separately identifiable shall be measured for the resources
consumed for each Joint/By-Product.
• Cost incurred after split- off point for further processing of joint product/By-Product shall be the aggregate of
direct and indirect costs.
• Cost of further processing of joint product/By-Product carried out by outside parties shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, net of discounts (other than cash discount) taxes and
duties refundable or to be credited and other expenditure directly attributable to such processing. This cost
shall also include the cost of resources provided to outside parties.
• In case the production process generates scrap or waste, realized or realizable value, net of disposal cost, of
scrap and waste shall be deducted from the cost of Joint Product.
• Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any such payment received / receivable with respect to any joint product
/By-Product shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
• Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the cost of the joint
product /By-Product.
Assignment:
• Joint cost incurred shall be assigned to joint products based on benefits received, which is measured using
any of the following methods:
Presentation:
The Cost Statement shall present the element wise cost of individual products produced jointly and the value
assigned to By-Products.
Disclosures:
• The Cost statement shall disclose the basis of allocation of Joint costs to individual products and the value
assigned to the By-Products
• The disclosure should be made only where material, significant & quantifiable.
• Disclosures shall be made in the body of Cost Statements or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
• Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
the Joint costs and the value assigned to by-product during the period covered by the cost statement which
has a material effect on the Joint/ By-Products shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not
ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS-20
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ROYALTY AND TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW FEE
Cost Accounting Standard- (CAS-20) issued by the council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India for
determination of “ROYALTY AND TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW FEE”. This standard deals with the principles and methods
of classification, measurement and assignment of the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee, for
determination of the cost of product or service, and their presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee with reasonable accuracy.
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee including those requiring
attestation.
Definition:
• Royalty: Royalty is any consideration for the use of asset (tangible and/or intangible) to the owner.
Royalty is often expressed as a percentage of the revenues obtained by use of the owners asset (tangible
and/or intangible); per unit of production or sales value. It may relate to use of: Non-renewable resource
(petroleum and mineral resources) ; Patents; Trade marks; Franchise rights; Copy rights; art-work, software and
the like.
The terms Assets, tangible assets and intangible assets will have the same meaning as in the Accounting
Standards notified by the Central Government under the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules,2006.
• Technical service fee: Technical service fee is any consideration payable to provider of technical or
managerial services.
Principles of Measurement:
• Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee paid or incurred in lump-sum or which are in the nature of ‘one – time’
payment, shall be amortised on the basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from the related
asset.
Examples: Amortisation of the amount of Royalty or Technical Know-how fee paid for which the benefit
is ensued in the current or future periods shall be determined based on the production / service volumes
estimated for the period over which the asset is expected to benefit the entity .
Assignment of costs:
• Royalty and Technical Know-how fee that is directly traceable to a cost object shall be assigned to that
cost object. In case such fee is not directly traceable to a cost object then it shall be assigned on any of the
following basis:
a. Units produced
b. Units sold
c. Sales value
• The amount of Royalty fee paid for mining rights shall form part of the cost of material.
• The amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee shall be assigned on the nature/ purpose of such fee.
Presentation:
• The amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee shall be presented as a separate cost head with suitable
classification.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of distribution of the amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee to the cost objects/ cost
units.
2. Quantity and the related rate of items of the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee, as
applicable.
3. Royalty and Technical Know-how fee paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the
applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement) .
4. Royalty and Technical Know-how fee incurred in foreign exchange.
5. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from the amount of Royalty and Technical
Know-how fee.
6. Credits/recoveries relating to the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee.
7. Penalties and damages excluded from the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee.
CAS-21
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON QUALITY CONTROL
Cost Accounting Standard (CAS -21) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India for
determination of “QUALITY CONTROL ”. The standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and
assignment of Quality Control cost and the presentation and disclosure in cost statement.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Quality Control cost with reasonable accuracy.
The standards shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Quality Control cost including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
• Quality: Quality is the conformance to requirements or specifications.
The quality of a product or service is fitness of that product or service for meeting its intended use as required
by customer.
• Quality control: A procedure or a set of procedures exclusively designed to ensure that the manufactured
products or performed service adhere to a defined set of quality criterion or meets requirement of the client
or the customer.
• Quality Control cost: Cost of resources consumed towards quality control procedures
Principles of Measurement:
• Quality Control cost incurred in-house shall be the aggregate of the cost of resources consumed in the Quality
Control activities of the entity. The cost of resources procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or
agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts
(other than cash discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the Tax Authorities.
Such cost shall include:
• Cost of conformance to quality: (a) prevention cost; and (b) appraisal cost.
• Identification of Quality Control costs shall be based on traceability in an economically feasible manner.
Presentation:
• Quality Control cost, if material, shall be presented as a separate cost head with suitable classification.
Illustration 1.
Standard Material requirement to produce 1000 units of product X is 1200 units of material at a standard price of
` 60 per unit. The Standard allows for reject of 25% of input. It is estimated that one third of rejects can be reworked
at an additional cost of ` 20 per unit. Scrap units can be sold at ` 5 per unit.
During a particular period, units produced were 19500 with 24000 units of materials at standard cost of ` 60 per
unit, 7000 units were rejected out of which 2500 units were reworked at a cost of ` 51000. The balance units were
sold as scrap for ` 5 per unit.
Calculate Material Quality variance and Scrap Variance.
Answer:
Quality control cost is the cost of resources used for quality control procedures.
Material Quality Variance = Actual Material cost – Actual Quantity x Std Rate
= ` 14,68,500 – (19500 x 73) = 14, 68,500 – 14,23,500 = ` 45,000 (A)
Material Usage Variance = Actual Quantity x Std Rate - Std Quanity X std Rate
= Std Rate ( Actual Quantity – Std Quantity ) = 60 ( 24,000 –19,500 x 6/5)
= 60 ( 24,000 – 23, 400) = 60 x600 = ` 36,000 ( A)
` 72,000
Material cost/unit = = ` 60 /unit
1200
CAS – 22
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON MANUFACTURING COST
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 22 (CAS - 22) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of
India for determination of “MANUFACTURING COST”. This standard deals with the principles and methods of
determining the Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods. This standard deals with the principles and methods of
classification, measurement and assignment for determination of the Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods and
the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods.
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods.
Definition:
• Manufacturing Cost: Manufacturing cost of an excisable good is the aggregate of costs of all resources used
in the process of its manufacturing.
• Manufacturing Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the manufacturing process
Assignment of Cost:
• While assigning various elements of manufacturing cost of excisable goods, traceability to an excisable good
in an economically feasible manner shall be the guiding principle. The cost which can be traced directly to
each excisable good shall be directly assigned.
• Assignment of manufacturing cost of excisable goods, which are not directly traceable to the excisable good
shall be based on either of the following two principles;
• Cause and Effect – Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
• Benefits received – to be apportioned to various cost objects in proportion to the benefits received by
them.
• The variable manufacturing/production overheads shall be absorbed based on actual production.
• The fixed manufacturing/production overheads and other similar item of fixed costs such as quality control
cost, research and development costs and administrative overheads relating to manufacturing shall be
absorbed in the manufacturing cost on the basis of the normal capacity or actual capacity utilization of the
plant, whichever is higher.
• In case a production process results in more than one product being produced simultaneously, treatment of
joint products and by-products shall be as under:
• In case joint products are produced, joint costs are allocated between the products on a rational and
consistent basis.
• In case by-products are produced, the net realisable value of by-products is credited to the manufacturing
cost of the main product.
• Miscellaneous Income relating to production/manufacture shall be adjusted in the determination of
manufacturing cost.
Presentation:
• Cost statement as per Appendix 1 to this standard or as near thereto shall present following information:
• Actual capacity utilization in absolute terms and as a percentage of normal capacity.
Disclosures:
• Disclosure shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
• If there is any change in cost accounting principles and practices during the period under review which may
materially affect the manufacturing cost of excisable good in terms of comparability with previous period(s),
the same shall be disclosed.
Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2015 for being
applied for the preparation and certification of Cost Accounting Statements for excisable goods.
CAS-23
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON OVERBURDEN REMOVAL COST
Cost Accounting Standard (CAS-23) on “Overburden Removal Cost” issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost
Accountants of India. The standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and assignment of
Overburden Removal Cost and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Overburden Removal Cost with reasonable accuracy.
The standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Overburden Removal Cost including those requiring attestation.
Definitions:
• Mines overheads: indirect costs involved in the mining process for rendering services.
This relates to the activities of both Mineral extraction and Overburden Removal.
• Mining Plan: It is the plan expected to provide information required to measure the stripping activity with
reasonable consistency.
• Overburden: It is the overlying materials generally having no commercial value.
• Overburden Removal cost: is the cost incurred to remove the overlying material from the mine site.
• Ratio Variance: It is the variance between current ratio and standard /average stripping ratio in terms of
quantity of mineral produced during the period.
• Stripping Activity: It is the activity of overburden removal that benefits the identified component of an ore to
be mined by the entity.
• Stripping Ratio: Stripping ratio is ratio of excavation of overburden to ore.
Generally overburden is measured in cubic metres and ore in tonnes. Therefore, the Stripping ratio is equal to
Volume of overburden (m3)/ Weight of ore (in tonnes).
• Standard stripping ratio: this is the ratio between the total quantity of overburden to be removed (in cubic
meters) and the total mineral to be extracted (in tonnes) during the Projected life of the project.
The term Standard stripping ratio and Average stripping ratio denote the same meaning and are used
interchangeably.
The Ratio shall be reviewed periodically, at least every five years, to take into account changes in geological
factors such as actual behavior of the soil and the ore body. The ratio shall be reviewed immediately if the
geological factors alter radically, for example due to earthquake.
The reported quantity of overburden is considered in cost statement where the variance between the
reported quantity and the measured quantity is within the permissible limits. Reported quantity is the quantity
of overburden that is necessary corresponding to actual quantity of mineral raised.
For example, 3:1 stripping ratio means that mining one Ton of ore will require mining three cubic meters of
waste rock (overburden).
• Advance Stripping: Advance Stripping is the excess overburden removed in between the overburden bench
and assumed angle of repose drawn from the starting of Mineral bench from the surface of Mineral than what
is needed for extraction of Mineral.
Principles of Measurement:
• Overburden Removal Cost shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to overburden removal
activity.
• Direct cost includes the cost of consumable stores, spares like machinery spares, explosives and detonators,
manpower, equipment usage, utilities, payment made directly to contractors and other identifiable resources
consumed in such activity.
• Indirect cost includes the cost of resources common to various mining operation including overburden
removal activity such as manpower,administrative overheads, loading and unloading equipment usage and
other costs allocable to such activities.
• The overburden removal cost attributable to a development phase of a mine area shall be capitalised as
non-current asset when it is probable that future economic benefits to the area will flow to the entity and such
cost can be identified and measured separately.
• The overburden removal cost attributable to developed area of mine shall be charged to production of ore
at the Standard stripping ratio.
The cost of advance stripping activity whose economic benefit is likely to flow to the entity during the
subsequent period, shall be capitalised and amortised.
If the removal of ore is more than the Standard stripping ratio, then the cost of short removal overburden shall
be charged to the cost of production either by creating the reserve or by adjusting the earlier capitalized
overburden removal cost.
• Overburden shall be measured by multiplying the number of trips undertaken by equipment for Overburden
removal or by any electronic mode. Measurement at regular intervals may be carried out by volume/ physical
verification to arrive at fair quantity of overburden removed. Final assessment will be made based on scientific
methodology.
• Current ratio is determined by dividing the actual overburden removed (net quantity after due adjustment
for opening & closing advance stripping quantity) with the actual production of mineral including adjustment
for mineable quantity of mineral lying exposed during the period.
• Cost of overburden removal activity carried out by outsourcing shall be determined at agreed price as per
contract price including duties and taxes and other expenditure directly attributable thereto. The cost shall
also include the cost of resources provided to the contractor by the company.
• Cost of overburden removal activity of each mine shall be computed and considered separately.
• Subsidy/ grant/ incentive or amount of similar nature received/ receivable with respect to overburden
removal activity if any shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the overburden removal for a patch/
plot to which the amounts are related.
• Any overburden removal cost resulting from some abnormal circumstances if material and quantifiable shall
not form part of the overburden removal cost.
Examples are fire, cave-in, flooding and other similar events of abnormal circumstances.
Assignment of costs:
• Direct cost of overburden removal shall be assigned to the overburden removal activity.
• The cost for equipment shall be assigned in the ratio of machine hours actually engaged for mineral and
overburden removal or any other appropriate method that apportions the cost in an equitable manner.
• Administrative overheads and other indirect expenses shall be apportioned to mineral and overburden on
the basis of ratio of actual mineral produced and overburden removed during the period or on the basis of
actual machine hours engaged for mineral extraction, and overburden removal or any other appropriate
basis.
Presentation:
• Overburden removal, absorption and cost details shall be presented separately for each mine.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
(i) The basis of determining the overburden removal cost.
(ii) Where cost of removal is considered on the basis of standard ratio, any variation positive or negative
from the current ratio.
(iii) Any subsidy grant/ incentive and any such payment reduced from the cost of overburden removal.
(iv) Credit/ recoveries relating to overburden removal.
(v) Any abnormal cost excluded from overburden removal cost.
(vi) Penalties and damages excluded from the overburden removal cost.
Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April, 2017 for being
applied for the preparation and certification of the General Purpose Cost Statements.
CAS - 24
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON TREATMENT OF REVENUE IN COST STATEMENTS
Cost Accounting Standard on “Treatment of Revenue in Cost Statements” (CAS-24) issued by the Council of
the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification,
measurement, treatment and assignment of revenue and its presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods for treatment of
revenue in cost statements with reasonable accuracy.
This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, treatment, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of revenue including those requiring attestation.
Definition:
• Net Sales Realization: is the revenue from operations net of discounts and indirect taxes.
• Other Income: is the income that cannot be classified as revenue from operations.
Examples:
• Profit on sale of fixed assets and investments;
• Interest from investments or deposits outside the business;
• Insurance claims received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Penalties or liquidated damages received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Fees received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Rent or lease from properties leased (unless the primary activity itself is leasing);
• Grants received;
• Royalties received (unless it is a part of major activity of the entity);
• Credits for previous years’ adjustments;
• Dividend income on investments (other than in a financial enterprise );
• Gain on foreign currency transaction and translation (other than considered as finance cost);
• Excess provisions written back;
• Credits on account of revaluation of capital assets;
• All items of abnormal revenue such as recoveries from book debts written off in the previous period; and
• Prior period income.
• Reporting Period: is the period for which the cost statements are prepared.
• Revenue: The term Revenue will have the same meaning as assigned in the Accounting Standards notified by
the Central Government under the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules 2006 or in the Indian Accounting
Standards notified under the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules 2015, as applicable.
The terms Revenue and Sales Realisation denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
• Revenue from operations: is the income arising in the course of the ordinary activities of an entity from the sale
of goods or rendering of services.
Principles of Measurement:
• Revenue from sale of goods or services provided during a reporting period shall be measured based on the
net sales realization.
• Revenue from sale of joint products shall be measured separately for each main product or service sold.
• Revenue from sale of goods or services shall be measured separately for each unit or location of an entity
for each type of goods sold or service provided. It shall be sub-classified into revenue from exports, domestic
sales, manufactured goods, operations, and trading activities.
• Revenue from sale of goods or services shall be measured separately for sale of each type of by-products,
defectives, second grade products, rejects, scrap, spoilage, or wastes.
• If a by-product is further processed before sale, sales realisation of such by-product shall be net of further
processing cost. Its net sales realisation shall be adjusted against the joint cost of production of relevant main
products.
• Net Sales realization of defectives, second-grade products, rejects, scrap, spoilage, and waste products shall
be adjusted against the cost of production of related goods sold.
• Revenue from sale of inputs, utilities, intermediate products, and shared or support services shall be adjusted
against the cost of purchase or cost of production of the related input, utility, intermediate product and
shared or support service.
• Other income shall not be considered in determining profit or loss as per cost accounts.
• Revenue generated from utilization of assets created under the CSR program shall not be considered in
determining profit or loss as per cost accounts.
• Product or service related subsidies, grants, or incentives, received or receivable on sale of goods or rendering
of services shall be part of revenue from operations and shall be identified with each product sold or service
rendered.
• Any subsidy, grant, incentive or any such payment received or receivable to support the current operations
of the entity other than those in the nature of capital grant.
Assignment of Revenue:
• Revenue for each type of product or service shall be assigned directly to that product or service to the extent
it is economically feasible.
Presentation:
• Net sales realization for each product or service shall be indicated separately for exports, domestic sales,
manufactured goods, operations, and trading activities and matched against the cost of sales (net of duties)
and margin of respective product or service.
• The quantity of goods sold or services provided, where applicable, and selling price per unit shall be presented
under each product or service.
Disclosures:
• The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. Revenue from sale of goods or services made to each related party with basis of determining the selling
price;
2. Revenue from by-products and costs of further processing after split-off point, reduced from cost of
relevant product;
3. Amount and nature of any subsidy, grant or incentive received or receivable and included in the
revenue.
Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April, 2017 for being
applied for the preparation and certification of Cost Accounting Statement for goods sold and services provided.
The Institute had issued guidance notes on the Cost Accounting standards, from time to time, making it more
explicit to understand the standards and for better application of the same in the record keeping and audit
procedures. Normally the guidance notes are greatly required in the respect of the standards dealing with specific
elements of cost, they may also be issued in respect of specific purpose standards also .
The Guidance Notes deals with principles and methods as provided in the respective CASand practical aspects in
connection with the subject matter of that CAS, as applicable in the determination of material cost of a product
or service etc. So far the Institute has issue 11 Guidance Notes on various issues.
Serial
Title
No.
2. Revised Guidance Note on Cost Accounting Standard on Cost of Production for Captive Consumption
(CAS-4)
9. Guidance Note on Cost Accounting Standard on Repairs and Maintenance Cost (CAS-12).
10. Guidance Note on Maintenance of Cost Accounting Records for Construction Industry Including Real
Estate and Property Development Activity
11. Guidance Note on Treatment of Costs Relating to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities
These Guidance Notes explain in detail and clarifies on the various requirements of compliance of the relevant
standards and will have the sections of introduction, scope, definitions and then the specific guidance on the
treatment and disclosure aspects. Students are advised, like in the case of standards, to thoroughly go through
all the guidance notes on standards, issued by the Institute for better understanding of the standards and their
compliance.
The guidance notes on the standards dealing with specific elements of cost will normally have the following
Chapters / sections, elaborating the contents of the respective CAS, in the same logical sequence, as in the
standard:
1. Introduction
2. Definitions
3. Principles of Measurement
4. Assignment of Cost
5. Presentation
6. Disclosures and
7. Annexures, as the need may be.
Introduction
The compilation of Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles (GACAP) by the Institute of Cost and
Accountants of India is a unique effort to record principles and practices in the discipline of Cost Accountancy in
India.
The Expert Group constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs acknowledged the existence of an un-codified set
of generally accepted cost accounting principles in use in Indian industries and by the practicing cost accountants
for attestation of Cost Statements. The Expert Group suggested that the principles be codified to provide a formal
basis for the practice of Cost Accounting. The Expert Group also recommended review of alternate treatment
of items in cost accounting thus eliminating needless diversities in practice leading to the development of cost
accounting standards.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs decided to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group and notified
the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 on 30th June, 2014. These Rules introduced a common set
of record rules for industries other than regulated industries specified in the Rules, in place of industry specific
rules in vogue earlier. The Rules require every company to which the rules apply, including all units and branches
thereof, to keep cost records in respect of each of its products and activities on regular basis. The cost records are
to be maintained in accordance with the generally accepted cost accounting principles and cost accounting
standards issued by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India to the extent these are found to be relevant and
applicable. The variations, if any, are to be clearly indicated and explained.
GACAP, the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 require maintenance of cost records according to
GACAP and Cost Accounting Standards gave the mandate for a compilation of GACAP.
Objectives
The objectives of this document are:
1. to codify the GACAP as applied in the Indian industry;
2. to narrow down diversities in cost accounting practices facilitating the process of development of cost
accounting standards;
3. to provide a reference source to industry and practitioners in preparation and attestation of Cost Statements,
where specific cost accounting standards are yet to be issued;
4. to provide a reference source to all the stakeholders in the understanding and interpreting the cost statement;
and,
5. to provide a base for monitoring the evolution of new concepts and practices in cost accounting and to
codify them as and when they become generally accepted.
Scope
The scope is to codify the cost accounting principles to be followed by business and other entities in India in
preparing and presenting cost information – more particularly the General Purpose Cost Statements covered by
Cost Audit. This document also encompasses the generally accepted cost accounting practices presently being
followed by such entities.
Nature of Content and Format
1. This document titled Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles (GACAP) contains a summary of the
Cost accounting principles currently followed by business entities in India in preparing and presenting cost
information in the context of general purpose cost statements for statutory reporting and covered by Cost
Audit.
2. It explicitly incorporates the principles already contained in the Cost Accounting Standards 1-22 issued by the
Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASB) in India without necessarily repeating them.
3. In areas not covered by the standards, it reflects the cost accounting principles found in the Companies (Cost
Records and Audit) Rules, 2014.
4. Where somewhat conflicting principles have been laid down by the Companies (Cost Records and Audit)
Rules, 2014 in different industries, attempt has been made to harmonize the principles so as to evolve a
generally acceptable framework. Where use of alternate principles are sanctioned by the Rules or where
alternate principles are applied in practice in the absence of explicit guidance in Rules, the alternates have
been mentioned with an indication of the preferred practice.
5. Because the Rules were framed at different points of time spread over many years, it is likely that the principles
contained in the Rules and the practice based on them do not reflect current concepts. In such cases, the
document reflects the current concepts.
6. It also reflects the Cost Accounting Principles contained in the Guidance Notes and other publications issued
by ICAI from time to time.
7. Cost Accounting principles which are gathering wide spread acceptance in Indian Companies for
management reporting, even though not adopted for statutory cost reporting (for example, Activity Based
Costing),are mentioned with suitable caveats regarding their lack of applicability for general purpose cost
statements for statutory reporting, where applicable.
8. The document stipulates the main principles in bold letters followed by explanation in normal type.
Hence, for preparation and disclosure of cost information, one is required to judge the materiality aspect in
conjunction with economic feasibility of maintaining such data and information. For example, maintenance
of product/activity-wise cost details for each of the ancillary product or activity of an entity would neither be
material nor economically feasible.
Any product or activity of an entity which is incidental to its main operations and does not constitute its main
line of business and whose total turnover from the sale/supply of such product or activity does not exceed 2%
of the total turnover of the entity or ` 20 crores, whichever is lower, should be treated as an ancillary product
or activity.
• Comparability and consistency
Cost information should be prepared and presented in a way which provides for comparability over time and
consistency. The methods used for preparing and presenting cost information should be changed only where
for valid reasons such as those required by law, compliance with new cost accounting standards or on the
ground that it would result in a more appropriate presentation of cost information.
• Transparency and auditability
Since cost information is used generally by various stakeholders like management, regulators and Government
with a business outlook, there is a need for transparency regarding the definitions used and sources of data.
It should be possible for those who wish to review such cost information to follow an audit trail. Auditability of
cost information is a prerequisite to the effective use of such information.
Cost Centre: Any unit of an entity selected with a view to accumulating all cost under that unit. The unit can be
division, department, section, group of plant and machinery, group of employees or combination of several units.
Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other object
for which costs are ascertained.
Cost of Production: Cost of production of a product or a service consists of cost of materials consumed, direct
employee costs, direct expenses, production overheads, quality control costs, packing costs, research and
development costs and administrative overheads relating to production.
Cost of Transportation: Cost of Transportation comprises of the cost of freight, cartage, transit insurance and cost
of operating fleet and other incidental charges whether incurred internally or paid to an outside agency for
transportation of goods but does not include detention and demurrage charges.
Cost unit: Cost unit is a form of measurement of volume of production of a product or a service. Cost unit is
generally adopted on the basis of convenience and practice in the industry concerned.
Current Asset: An entity shall classify an asset as current when:
(a) it expects to realise the asset, or intends to sell or consume it, in its normal operating cycle; (b) it holds the
asset primarily for the purpose of trading;
(c) it expects to realise the asset within twelve months after the reporting period; or
(d) the asset is cash or a cash equivalent unless the asset is restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a
liability.
Excess Capacity Utilization: Excess Capacity Utilization is the difference between installed capacity and the actual
capacity utilization when actual capacity utilization is more than installed capacity.
Fixed Cost: Fixed costs are costs which do not vary with the change in the volume of activity. Fixed indirect costs
are termed fixed overheads.
Freight: Freight is the charges paid or payable for transporting materials/ goods from one location to another.
Idle Capacity: Idle Capacity is the difference between installed capacity and the actual capacity utilization
when actual capacity utilization is less than installed capacity.
Idle time: The difference between the time for which employees are paid /payable to employees and the
employees’ time booked against cost objects.
The time for which the employees are paid includes holidays, paid leave and other allowable time offs such as
lunch, tea breaks.
Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
Indirect Employee Cost: Employee cost, which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
Indirect Materials: Materials, the costs of which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
Installed Capacity: Installed capacity is the maximum capacity of producing goods or providing services,
according to the manufacturer’s specifications or determined through an expert study.
Intangible Asset: An intangible asset is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance
Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non equity funds
and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
Inward Transportation cost: Inward Transportation cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection with
materials/goods received at factory or place of use or sale/removal.
Licensed Capacity: Licensed Capacity is the production capacity of the plant for which license has been issued
by an appropriate authority.
Marketing overheads: Marketing overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
Material Cost: The cost of material used for the purpose of production of a product or rendering a service.
Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a number of
periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity resulting from planned
maintenance.
Outward Transportation Cost: Outward Transportation Cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection
with the sale or delivery of materials or goods from factory or depot or any other place from where goods are sold
/removed.
Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
Overtime Premium: The extra amount payable beyond the normal wages and salaries for beyond the normal
working hours.
Packing Materials: Materials used to hold, identify, describe, store, protect, display, transport, promote and make
the product marketable.
Packing Material Cost: The cost of material of any nature used for the purpose of packing of a product.
Packing Material Development Cost: Cost of evaluation of packing material such as pilot test, field test, consumer
research, feedback, and final evaluation cost.
Practical or Achievable Capacity: Practical or Achievable Capacity is the maximum productive capacity of a
plant reduced by the predictable and unavoidable factors of interruption pertaining to internal causes.
Primary Packing Material: Packing material which is essential to hold and preserve the product for its used by the
customer.
For example:
• Pharmaceutical industry: Insertions related to product, Foils for strips of tablets/capsules, vials.
• Industrial gases: Cylinders / bottles used for filling the gaseous products
• Confectionary Industry: Butter paper and wrappers.
Production Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
Rejects: Defectives which cannot meet the quality standards even after putting in additional resource
Repairs and Maintenance Cost: Cost of all activities which have the objective of maintaining or restoring an asset
in or to a state in which it can perform its required function at intended capacity and efficiency.
1. When an element of cost is accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons are treated as a
part of the element-wise cost. Variances due to abnormal reasons will not form part of the cost.
2. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment received/receivable with respect to the input cost is
reduced from cost for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amount pertains.
3. Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable will not form part of the cost.
4. Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties will not form part of the cost.
5. Costs reported under various elements of cost will not include imputed costs.
6. Finance costs incurred in connection with acquisition of resources such as materials, utilities and the like will
not form part of the cost of such resources.
7. Any credits or recoveries from employees or suppliers or other parties towards costs incurred by the entity for
a resource will be netted against such costs.
8. Except otherwise stated, the measurement of costs for cost accounting purposes will follow the same
principles as set out in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, applicable to the concerned entity.
MATERIAL COST
1. Material Cost usually includes all costs required to bring the materials to the present condition and location.
2. Material receipt is valued at purchase price including duties and taxes, freight inwards, insurance, and
other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties
refundable or to be credited by the taxing authorities) that can be quantified with reasonable accuracy at
the time of acquisition.
3. Procurement costs are not generally included in material cost. However, those costs which can be directly
identified with a material are included in the material cost.
4. Development expenses incurred in respect of materials procured is included in the cost of material to the
extent that the material procured is the result of such developments.
5. Where a material is acquired in exchange for other materials or services supplied, the cost of material
acquired is taken as the cost of material supplied or services provided plus other applicable costs such as
freight.
6. Normal loss or spoilage of material prior to reaching the factory or at places where the services are provided
is absorbed in the cost of balance of materials net of amounts recoverable from suppliers, insurers, carriers or
recoveries from disposal.
7. Losses due to shrinkage or evaporation and gain due to elongation or absorption of moisture etc., before the
material is received is absorbed in material cost to the extent they are normal, with corresponding adjustment
in the quantity.
8. Where the material procured represents an agricultural produce from own sources, the same is valued at
market price or cost where it can be determined with reasonable accuracy.
9. The forex component of imported material cost is converted at the rate on the date of the transaction. Any
subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise will not form part of the material cost.
10. Self Manufactured Materials (and Self manufactured components and sub assemblies) are valued at cost
including Direct Material Cost, Direct Employee Cost, Direct Expenses, Factory Overheads and share of
Administrative Overheads relating to production. Share of other Administrative Overheads, Finance Cost
and Marketing Overheads are excluded.
11. The material cost of normal scrap/defectives, which are rejects, is included in the material cost of goods
manufactured. This cost not exceeding the normal is adjusted in the material cost of good production.
Material cost of abnormal scrap/defectives should not be included in the material cost, but treated as loss
after giving credit to the realizable value of such scrap/defectives.
12. Issues of materials are valued using appropriate assumptions on cost flow.
Examples are FIFO, LIFO, and Weighted Average rate.
13. Material Costs are assigned to cost objects on the basis of material quantity consumed where traceable and
where not traceable on technical norms or estimates.
14. When material is processed or part manufactured by a third party according to specifications provided
by the buyer, the processing/ manufacturing charges payable to the third party is treated as part of the
material cost.
15. When the part of the manufacturing operations/activity is subcontracted, the subcontract charges related
to materials is treated as direct expenses and assigned directly to the cost object.
16. Cost of materials like catalysts, dies, tools, patterns etc., which are relatable to production over a period of
time, is amortized over the production units benefited by such cost. Cost of materials with life exceeding
one year is included in the cost over the useful life of the material.
17. Where the cost of materials is written off or written down in the financial books as per the accounting policy
followed by the entity, such write off or write down amount is not treated as cost.
18. When the material referred to in paragraph 17 above, is subsequently issued, the issue is valued at the original
cost in cost accounting records and the difference between the original cost and the carrying amount is
presented in the reconciliation statement, wherever, economically feasible.
EMPLOYEE COST
1. Employee cost or Labour cost is ascertained taking into account the gross pay including all allowances
payable along with the cost to the employer of all benefits.
2. Bonus, whether payable as a statutory minimum or on a sharing of surplus and Ex gratia payable in lieu of or
in addition to Bonus is treated as part of the employee cost.
3. Remuneration payable to Managerial Personnel including Executive Directors on the Board and other officers
of a corporate body under a statute is considered as part of the Employee Cost of the year under reference
whether the whole or part of the remuneration is computed as a percentage of profits.
4. Performance Incentives must be accumulated over the entire production and not recognised after the
threshold limit for earning the incentive is reached.
5. Separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, termination etc. should be amortized over
the period benefiting from such costs.
6. Amount payable to employees during the lay off period or for the strike period or during suspension, is not
included in cost.
7. Cost of employee share options is treated part of employee cost provided the same is not a notional cost
and involves an actual cash outlay.
8. Gratuity, pension and other superannuation benefits, measured using actuarial valuation method or any
other methods, are part of Employee Cost.
9. Amortized separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, and termination etc. for the period
is treated as indirect cost and assigned to the cost objects. Unamortized amount relating to discontinued
operations should not be treated as employee cost.
10. Recruitment costs, Training costs and other such costs is treated as overheads and dealt with accordingly.
11. Overtime premium and idle time cost should be assigned directly to a cost object or treated as overheads
depending on the economic feasibility and the specific circumstance requiring such overtime or idle time.
12. Where the employee service is directly traceable to a Cost object, such cost is assigned on the basis of time
consumed.
13. When employee costs are not directly traceable to a Cost object, they are assigned on a suitable basis like
estimates of time based on time study.
DIRECT EXPENSES
1. The identification of Direct Expenses is based on traceability in an economically feasible manner.
2. Similarly if an item of the expense does not meet the test of materiality, it can be treated as part of overheads.
3. Expenses incurred for the use of bought out resources are determined at invoice or agreed price including
duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes
and duties refundable or to be credited.
4. Other Direct Expenses other than those referred above are determined on the basis of amount incurred in
connection therewith.
5. Expenses paid or incurred in lump sum or which is in the nature of ‘one-time’ payment, is amortized on the
basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from such expenses.
6. Direct Expenses are by definition directly traceable to cost objects and hence no special principles are
involved for them to be assigned to cost object.
UTILITIES
1. The cost of utilities purchased is measured at cost of purchase including duties and taxes, transportation cost,
insurance and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes
and duties refundable or to be credited.
2. The cost of generated utilities includes direct materials, direct labour, direct expenses and factory overheads.
3. Cost of Utilities generated for the purpose of inter unit transfers is arrived as Cost of self generated utilities with
Distribution cost added.
4. Cost of Utilities generated for Intercompany transfer is arrived as Cost of self generated utilities plus Distribution
cost plus share of administrative overheads.
5. Cost of Utilities generated for sale to outside parties is arrived as Cost of self generated utilities plus Distribution
cost plus share of administrative overheads plus marketing overheads.
6. The Cost of Utilities includes Cost of distribution of such utilities.
7. Cost of production and distribution of utilities is determined based on the normal or actual capacity whichever
is higher and unabsorbed cost, if any, is treated as abnormal cost.
8. Cost of stand by utility includes the committed costs of maintaining such utility.
9. While assigning cost of utilities, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner is the guiding
principle.
10. The most appropriate basis for distribution of cost of a utility to the departments consuming services is to be
derived from usage parameters.
3. Cost of Repairs and Maintenance activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity will include the
charges payable to the contractor apart from the above in-house cost.
4. Cost of Repairs and Maintenance activity carried out by contractors at his premises is determined at invoice
or agreed price including duties and taxes and other expenditure directly attributable net of discounts (other
than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. It will also include the cost of other
resources provided to the contractors.
5. Each type of Repairs and Maintenance is treated as a distinct activity, if material and identifiable.
6. The cost is measured for each major asset category separately.
7. Cost of spares replaced which do not enhance the future economic benefits of the existing asset beyond its
previously assessed standard of performance is included under Repairs and Maintenance cost, when Repairs
and Maintenance is considered as a separate cost centre, the cost of which is apportioned to user centres.
8. Where a high value spare is replaced, and the replaced spare is reconditioned and such spare is expected
to result in future economic benefits, it is taken into stock. Such a spare is valued at an amount that measures
its service potential in relation to a new spare, the amount of which will not exceed the cost of reconditioning
the spare. The difference between the total of the cost of the new spare and the reconditioning cost and the
value of the reconditioned spare should be treated as Repairs and Maintenance cost.
9. Cost of major overhaul is amortized on a rational basis.
10. Repairs and Maintenance cost is traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
11. Where the Repairs and Maintenance cost is not directly traceable, it is assigned based on either of the
principles of Cause and Effect or Benefits Received.
PRODUCTION OVERHEADS
1. Overheads comprise of indirect material cost, indirect employee cost and indirect expenses. They are termed
indirect because they are not directly identifiable or allocable to the ultimate cost object – usually a product
or service – in an economically feasible way.
2. Production Overheads are indirect costs involved in the production process or in rendering services. Production
Overheads include administration cost relating to production, factory, works or manufacturing. Production
related expenses incurred at corporate office, e.g. design office expenses, materials management and
industrial relations will also be covered by the term.
3. The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
4. Since overheads cannot be economically traced to products and services, they are assigned to them on
some equitable basis.
5. While assigning overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be the
guiding principle. The cost which can be traced directly to a cost object shall be directly assigned.
6. Assignment of overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following two principles;
(i) Cause and Effect – Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits Received –Overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
7. Secondary assignment of overheads may be done by following either Reciprocal Basis or Non-Reciprocal
Basis. While reciprocal basis considers the exchange of service among the service departments, non-
reciprocal basis considers only one directional service flow from a service cost centre to other production
cost(s).
8. It is not a good practice to allocate overheads to Cost Centres/ Cost Objects on the basis of “what the traffic
will bear” – that is by size of the user.
9. There is a distinct preference for allocating overheads on the basis of “cause and effect” analysis. What or
who causes the costs to be incurred is a more rational criterion to assign costs rather than size or benefits
received.
10. In case of facilities created on a standby or ready to serve basis, the cost shall be assigned on the basis of
expected benefits instead of actual.
11. Production Overheads are usually accumulated under production cost centres to facilitate absorption by
products or services.
12. These costs are absorbed by the products on the basis of resources used by the product at the production
centre.
13. The overheads assigned to the production cost centres are charged to products/ services through an
overhead absorption rate for each cost centre.
Common bases for assignment of Production overheads to Cost Objects are:
A preferred approach for assignment of overheads to cost objects is to use multiple drivers instead of a single
driver such as machine hour, where feasible.
14. A preferred approach to assignment of overheads is the assigning of cost of resources to activities and
assigning the cost of activities to Cost Objects through use of cost drivers, wherever feasible.
15. Also there are service cost centres through which the product does not pass through but which provide a
support function to the production cost centres.
16. Where the cost of services rendered by a service cost centre is not directly traceable to a cost object, it shall
be assigned on the most appropriate basis.
17. The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a service cost centre to the cost centres consuming
services is to be derived from logical parameters which could be related to the usage of the service rendered.
The parameter shall be equitable, reasonable and consistent.
18. Charging overheads on the basis of “benefits received” by the various users is preferred. This requires some
measure of “receipt of benefit” to be developed.
19. Sometimes capacity in a service department is created in anticipation of demand for services. It is appropriate
to allocate such capacity costs on the basis of “capacity to serve” rather than actual usage of services.
Ultimately all overheads must be charged to products of services. Hence the total production overheads of
Production Cost Centres are applied to products passing through them using a suitable absorption base.
20. Before the final step of absorption, production overheads of production cost centres have to be segregated
between fixed overheads and variable overheads. The fixed overheads are absorbed by products based
on normal capacity or actual capacity utilization whichever is higher. Variable overheads are absorbed by
products based on actual capacity utilization. This treatment is in line with Accounting Standard 2 as well.
21. Normal capacity is defined in Cost Accounting Standard 2 as the production achieved or achievable on
an average over a period or season under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance. It is practical capacity minus the loss of productive capacity due to
external factors.
22. Under-absorbed fixed overheads are charged off to Costing Profit & Loss Account and shown as an item of
Reconciliation with financial accounts.
DEPRECIATION
1. Depreciation, though part of overheads, generally appears as a separate line item in the cost statements
instead of being grouped under overheads. This is because of its size in the technology driven business of
today and its unique characteristic of being non-cash cost.
2. Amortization of intangible assets tends to be grouped with depreciation because intangible assets themselves
are grouped with Fixed Assets in the presentation under Schedule III of the Companies Act 2013.
3. The measurement of depreciation in Cost accounts tends to mirror the practices in financial accounts.
4. However the treatment of depreciation in Cost Accounts must address the following issues:
- Depreciation not calculated on period of use basis.
- Depreciation an idle assets
- 100% of depreciation on certain class of assets
- Write-off of small value assets
- Depreciation on fully depreciated assets
- Depreciation on revalued assets
5. Sometimes depreciation in books is not calculated on period of use, for example 50% of annual depreciation
is taken for an asset put into use for a day in financial accounts keeping in mind Income Tax provisions. Cost
accounts will always use the depreciation computed on period of use basis and take the balance to Costing
P & L or reconciliation with financial accounts.
6. Even where 100% of the depreciation is allowed in the first year for income tax purposes, companies are
required to use regular rates of depreciation for cost accounting purposes. Even where an entity uses 100%
depreciation rates in financial books of accounts, depreciation based on estimated life is used for costing
purposes with the difference taken to costing Profit & Loss or Reconciliation with Financial Accounts.
7. Where small value items are written off fully at the time of purchase in financial accounts, the same is generally
adopted for cost accounts.
8. In the case of old plants, there is the special case for fully depreciated assets which however continue in
regular service. Some entities continue to provide a notional depreciation on such assets for decision making
purposes.
9. Depreciation on the amount by which the asset is written up on Revaluation is charged to Revaluation Reserve
in financial books. Some entities compute the depreciation on the revalued figure for costing purposes to
reflect the true cost of depreciation.
10. It goes without saying that the cumulative depreciation charged in the Cost Accounts against any individual
item of fixed asset will not exceed the original cost of the asset.
11. The assignment of depreciation to various cost centres should not pose a problem so long as detailed Fixed
Asset records are maintained by the Company. However there are some common items of fixed assets
between cost centres e.g. yard piping carrying products from one process to another, common storage
tanks and the like. Depreciation on common assets are apportioned to individual cost centre on some
suitable basis e.g. yard piping is assigned to the cost centre receiving the material.
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS
1. Administrative overheads are the aggregate cost of resources consumed in activities relating to general
management and administration of an organisation.
The principles of measurement of Material Cost, Employee Cost, Utilities, Repairs & Maintenance and
Depreciation found in the respective standards will apply if included in administrative overheads.
2. In case of leased assets, if it is an operating lease – the entire rentals will be treated as a part of administrative
overheads, while in case of a financial lease – the finance cost portion will be segregated and treated as a
part of finance cost.
3. The cost of software (developed in house, purchased, licensed or customized), including up-gradation should
be amortized over its useful life.
When hardware requires up-gradation along with the software, it is recommended to use compatible
estimated lives for the two sets of cost.
4. The cost of the administrative services procured from outside is determined at invoice or agreed price
including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable net of discounts (other than cash
discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. The assignment of administrative overheads to
cost objects is based on either of the principles of Cause and Effect or Benefits received, if it is not directly
traceable.
The cost of shared services is best assigned to user activities on the basis of actual usage, infrastructure costs
on the basis of readiness to serve and general management costs on a rational basis. For e.g.: Number of
employees, turnover, investment size etc.
5. Since most administrative costs are fixed in nature, it is preferable to change them to users on “readiness to
serve” basis such as installed capacity, budgeted sales etc. rather than actual production or actual sales.
Even the drivers mentioned in (9) above can be on the basis of expected driver qualities rather than actual.
SALES
1. Cost of sales statements lead right up to margin and hence sales also have to be handled in Cost Accounting.
2. Since costing is always by product, cost accounting requires product wise analysis of sales. This is usually
produced by other modules of the enterprise system.
3. What is critical is the value of sales produced by such analysis. Often sales analysis produce invoiced value
of sales. What is required for cost accounting is net value of sales net of trade discounts, returns, allowances,
volume discounts, special discounts based on market conditions etc.
4. Many of these deductions from sales are transacted through credit notes which also must be processed
through the sales analysis to arrive at product wise break up.
5. Some of these deductions from sales may be available only in total and hence may have to be allocated to
products on a suitable basis, say, sales value.
6. It is not unusual for businesses to focus on net realization from sales ex-factory gate. This means that freight
(both primary and secondary), transit insurance, loading and unloading charges, handling charges and the
like are deducted from net sales as arrived at in 3 above to arrive at net sales realization ex-factory gate. This
also entails freight and other transport costs not being shown under the head Distribution costs. So long as
these costs are shown separately as deductions from net sales value, the practice is acceptable.
7. Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 require gross sales to be shown in addition to net sales in
cost statement. This requires that excise duty, sales tax (VAT) etc is added to net sales to arrive at gross sales
by product.
JOINT COSTS
1. Joint Costs are the costs of a production process that yields multiple products simultaneously, for example,
in the refining of Petroleum which yields Petrol, Kerosene, Diesel, Naphta, Grease, Tar and several other
products or the distillation of coal, which yields coke, natural gas, and other products.
2. The costs of the common process are the joint costs.
3. Joint costs are allocated
(a) Based on a measure of the number of units, weight, or volume of the joint products, or
(b) Based on the values attributed to the joint products.
4. By-product is a special case of Joint Product where one or more of the joint product has minor value
compared to others.
5. Such by-products are generally valued at their value at the split-off point with such value being credited to
the costs of the main product. The split-off point value is arrived at on the basis of the ultimate realizable value
of the by-product less the post split-off costs.
COMMON COSTS
1. A common cost is the cost of operating a common facility, activity or service or that is shared by two or more
cost objects.
2. The common cost is generally lower than the stand-alone individual cost to each cost object was the facility
not shared.
3. Common costs are therefore allocated to each cost object based on the individual costs of the cost object.
Conclusion
This document contains a discussion of the generally accepted cost accounting principles in the context of today
and the times gone by. It must be understood that cost accounting principles and methods of applying them are
in a constant flux influenced by fresh thinking by experts, regulatory influences, parallel developments in financial
accounting standards and the like. Professional accountants will be well advised to use this document as a guide
and not as a set of rules.
Introduction
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 [as amended from time to time] were notified by the Ministry
of Corporate Affairs, Government of India in exercise of the powers conferred by section 148 of the Companies
Act, 2013.
Sub-section (3] of section 148 prescribes that the auditor conducting the cost audit shall comply with the cost
auditing standards. This proviso to be read with the following explanation:
Explanation—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “cost auditing standards” mean such standards
as are issued by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, constituted under the Cost and Works Accountants Act,
1959, with the approval of the Central Government.
While formulating the Standards, the Cost Audit & Assurance Standards Board [CAASB] takes into consideration
the applicable laws, usage and business environment prevailing in India. CAASB also takes into account the
relevant provisions of Cost and Works Accountants Act, Rules and Regulations, Code of Professional Ethics,
Cost Accounting Standards and other Statements issued by the Institute of the Cost Accountants of India. The
Standards issued by the CAASB are aligned, to the extent possible, with other recognised Standards issued in India
and prevailing International Practices. If a particular standard or any part thereof is inconsistent with a law, the
provisions of the said law shall prevail.
Standards formulated by the CAASB include paragraphs in bold italic type and plain type, which have equal
authority. Paragraphs in bold italic type indicate the main principles. Each Standard should be read in the context
of the objective stated in that Standard and the Preface to CAASB which is available on the Institute website and
also given in Volume-II of this Guide. Any limitation on the applicability of a Standard is made clear in the Standard
itself.
Government of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, vide their letter no. 52/33/CAB/2013 dated 10th September, 2015
has, under section 148(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, granted Central Government’s approval to the following
Cost Auditing Standards:
1. Cost Auditing Standard-101 on Planning an audit of Cost Statements;
2. Cost Auditing Standard-102 on Cost Audit Documentation;
3. Cost Auditing Standard-103 on Overall objectives of the independent cost auditor; and
4. Cost Auditing Standard-104 on Knowledge of business, its processes and the business
Introduction
Planning an audit of cost statements, records and other related documents is considered necessary to ensure
achievement of audit objectives with available resources and securing coordination with the auditee on audit
work.
Objective
The objective of this Standard is to guide the members in planning for the audit of cost statements so that it is
performed in an efficient and effective manner. Audit planning shall also include establishing the overall audit
strategy and audit plan for the conduct of the audit.
Scope
This Standard deals with the auditors’ responsibility to plan an audit of cost statements, records and other related
documents. The auditor shall prepare and document the overall audit strategy and audit plan.
Requirements
• Prior to entering the planning phase, the Cost Auditor shall ensure that:
(a) the appointment as cost auditor is proper, he has received the letter of appointment and legal formalities
regarding his appointment have been complied with;
(b) the ethical requirements as per the regulations continue to be satisfied;
(c) an understanding of the terms of reference including the units to be covered, products/services to be
covered, scope of coverage where the regulations leave it to be agreed between the auditor and the
auditee.
• The audit partner and other key members of an audit team shall be involved in planning the audit, including
planning and participating in the discussion among audit team members.
• The Cost Auditor shall formulate an overall audit strategy that sets the scope, timing and direction of the audit.
The overall audit strategy guides the development of the audit plan.
• In formulating the Overall audit strategy, the Cost Auditor shall consider all relevant factors.
These relevant factors include:
(a) results of preliminary activities
(b) knowledge from previous audits and other engagements with the auditee
(c) knowledge of business
(d) nature and scope of the audit
(e) statutory deadlines and reporting format
Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Objective
The objective of this Standard is to guide the members to prepare documentation that provides:
(a) A sufficient and appropriate record of the basis for the Cost Auditor’s Report; and
(b) Evidence that the audit was planned and performed in accordance with Cost Auditing Standards and
applicable legal & regulatory requirements.
Scope
This Standard deals with the cost auditor’s responsibility to prepare audit documentation for the audit of cost
statements, records and other related documents. The specific documentation requirements of other Cost
Auditing Standard’s do not limit the application of this Cost Auditing Standard. Laws or regulations may establish
additional documentation requirements.
Requirements
• The cost auditor as part of the audit documentation shall record audit procedures performed, relevant audit
evidence obtained, and conclusions reached.
• The Cost Auditor shall prepare audit documentation that is sufficient to enable another competent person,
having no previous connection with the said audit, including person undertaking peer review to understand:
(a) Conformance of audit procedures performed with legal and regulatory requirements;
(b) Conformance to Cost Auditing Standards.
(c) The results of audit procedures performed
(d) The audit evidence obtained
(e) Significant matters arising during the audit, the conclusions reached thereon, and significant professional
judgments made in reaching those conclusions.
• The Cost Auditor shall record the discussions of significant matters with client personnel and outsiders.
• The Cost Auditor shall record any departure from the standard requirement in a Cost Auditing Standard.
• In documenting the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures performed, the Cost Auditor shall record
the characteristics of the specific items or matters tested, the persons responsible for performing and reviewing
such procedures with relevant dates and extent of review.
• The Cost Auditor shall prepare audit documentation on a timely basis.
• If, in exceptional circumstances, Cost Auditor performs any new or additional audit procedures or draws new
conclusions, after the date of Cost Audit Report, then he shall document such circumstances and details of
such procedures performed.
• The cost auditor shall assemble the audit documentation in an audit file.
Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Cost Auditing Standard Overall Objectives of the Independent Cost Auditor and
the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Cost Auditing Standards - 103
Introduction
This Standard on Auditing deals with the overall objectives of the independent cost auditor, the nature and scope
of a Cost audit the independent auditor’s overall responsibilities when conducting an audit of cost statements in
accordance with Cost Auditing Standards. It also explains the requirements establishing the general responsibilities
of the independent auditor applicable in all audits, including the obligation to comply with the Cost Auditing
Standards.
The independent Cost Auditor is referred to as “Cost auditor” hereafter.
Objectives
The objective of this Standard is to lay down the overall objectives of the Cost Auditor and ensuring the Conduct
of the Audit of Cost Statements in accordance with the Cost Auditing Standards.
The Cost auditor‘s overall objectives are:
• to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the cost statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to enable the auditor to express an opinion whether the
Cost Statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable Cost reporting
framework, Cost Accounting Standards(CAS) and Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles (GACAP)
as issued by the Institute, and give a true and fair view of the Cost of a product, activity or service. In the
case of a Cost Audit under the Companies Act and Rules prescribed thereunder, the objective is to express
an opinion on whether the Cost Statements subject to audit represent a true and fair view of the cost of
production, cost of sales and margin of products covered by the Cost Audit.
• to report on the cost statements in the form required by law or by the Cost Auditing Standards in accordance
with the auditor’s findings.
Where reasonable assurance cannot be obtained, the cost auditor should qualify the opinion and in extreme
cases disclaim an opinion.
The Cost Auditors objective may extend to making observations and suggestions where required by applicable
regulations.
Scope
The scope of this standard is to establish overall objectives of the cost auditor while conducting an audit of cost
statements, in accordance with the cost auditing standards.
It also describes management responsibility for the preparation and presentation of the Cost Statement, to identify
the Cost Reporting framework and to lay down Cost Accounting policies.
Requirements
• The cost auditor shall comply with the relevant ethical requirements including those pertaining to independence
in respect of cost audit engagements.
• While conducting an audit, the cost auditor shall comply with each of the Cost Auditing Standards relevant to
the audit. A Cost Auditing Standard is relevant to the audit when the Cost Auditing Standard is in effect and
the circumstances addressed by the Cost Auditing Standard exist.
• The cost auditor shall have an understanding of the entire text of the Cost Auditing Standard, including
its application and other explanatory material, to understand its objectives and to apply its requirements
properly.
• The cost auditor shall not represent compliance with the cost auditing standards in the cost auditor’s report
unless the auditor has complied fully with all of the Cost Auditing Standards relevant to the audit.
• In exceptional circumstances, the cost auditor may judge it necessary to depart from a relevant requirement
in a Cost Auditing Standard. In such circumstances, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures to
achieve the aim of that requirement.
• The cost auditor shall plan and perform an audit with an attitude of professional skepticism recognizing that
circumstances may exist that cause the Cost Statements to be materially misstated.
• The auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level
and thereby enable the auditor to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion.
• The cost auditor shall exercise professional judgment in planning and performing the audit.
• The cost auditor shall determine whether the Cost Reporting Framework followed by management in preparing
cost statements is in line with the Companies Act and the Rules prescribed thereunder.
• The cost auditor shall not be required to perform audit procedures regarding the entity’s compliance with laws
and regulations governing cost audit in the absence of identified or suspected non-compliance.
• If an objective in a relevant Cost Auditing Standard cannot be achieved, the auditor shall evaluate whether
this prevents the auditor from achieving the overall objectives of the auditor and thereby requires the auditor,
in accordance with the Cost Auditing Standards, to modify the auditor’s opinion.
Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Cost Auditing Standard on Knowledge of Business, its Processes and the Business Environment - 104
Introduction
In performing an audit of cost statement, records and other related documents, the cost auditor should have the
knowledge of the client’s business to enable him to understand the processes and express his opinion on the cost
statements.
The cost auditor’s level of knowledge for a cost audit engagement should include a general knowledge of the
economy and the industry within which the entity operates, and a more particular knowledge of how the entity
operates.
Objective
The objective of this standard is to enable the cost auditor to have knowledge of the client’s business which is
sufficient to identify and understand the events, transactions and practices that, in the cost auditor’s judgment
may have a significant effect on the examination of cost statements or on the preparation of the cost audit report.
Scope
This standard deals with obtaining the knowledge of the client’s business, its processes and business environment
as it is important for the cost auditor and members of the audit team working on an audit engagement.
Requirements
• The Cost Auditor shall have adequate level of understanding of the knowledge of Business, its Processes
and the Business Environment to develop a reasonable assurance in order to express an opinion on the cost
statements on which he is expressing an opinion.
• The Entity and Its Environment: The cost auditor should obtain an understanding of the following:
(a) The nature of the entity, (including its operations covering Business processes, major inputs, Joint & By-
Products and Wastages and major outputs etc) and the entity’s ownership and governance structure.
(b) Relevant industry, regulatory, and other external factors including the applicable cost and financial
reporting framework.
(c) The entity’s selection and application of cost accounting policies.
(d) The measurement and review of the entity’s performance.
• The Entity’s Internal Control: The cost auditor shall obtain an understanding of internal controls relevant to the
audit.
(a) Control Environment: The cost auditor shall evaluate whether management has created and maintained
a culture of honesty and ethical behaviour.
(b) The entity’s risk assessment process: The cost auditor shall obtain an understanding of whether the entity
has a process for:
(1) Identifying business risks relevant to cost reporting objectives;
(2) Assessing the likelihood of their occurrence;
(3) Estimating the significance of the risks; and
(4) Deciding about actions to address those risks.
(c) Cost Information System/ Management Information System: The cost auditor shall obtain an understanding
of the Information System including Management Information System, relevant to cost reporting, including
the following areas:
(1) The classes of transactions and their analysis, that are significant to the cost statements;
(2) The procedures, by which those transactions and their analysis are initiated, recorded, processed,
and reported in the management information systems and cost statements;
(3) The related cost accounting records, supporting information that are used to initiate, record, process
and report transactions; and
(4) The reporting process used to prepare the entity’s cost statements, including significant estimates
and disclosures.
(d) Control Activities: The auditor shall obtain an understanding of the control activities, relevant to the audit.
(e) Monitoring of controls:
(1) The auditor shall obtain an understanding of the major activities, that the entity uses to monitor
internal control over reporting.
(2) The cost auditor shall evaluate the adequacy of the internal audit function in relation to cost records.
• IT (Information Technology) Environment and Control: The cost auditor shall evaluate and assess:
(1) IT Architecture, Systems and programmes in use in the entity;
(2) Controls on access to data;
(3) Controls on changes to data in master files, systems or programmes; an
(4) Integrity of information and security of the data
• Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement: The cost auditor shall identify and assess the risks
of material misstatement at the cost statement level; and at the assertion level including items of cost, cost
heads and disclosures thereof.
For this purpose, the cost auditor shall:
(1) Identify risks including relevant controls that relate to the risk of material misstatements or a risk of fraud;
(2) Assess whether the risk is related to recent significant economic, accounting or other developments and,
therefore, requires specific attention;
(3) Assess whether the risk involves significant transactions with related parties;
(4) Assess the degree of subjectivity in the measurement of information related to the risk.
(5) Assess whether there arises a need for revising the assessment of risk based on additional audit evidence
obtained.
• Documentation: The auditor shall document:
(a) Key elements of the understanding obtained regarding each of the aspects of the entity and its
environment and of each of the internal control components, the sources of information from which the
understanding was obtained; and the risk assessment procedures performed;
(b) The identified and assessed risks of material misstatement at the cost statement level and at the assertion
level including items of cost, cost heads and disclosure thereof;
(c) The risks identified, and related controls about which the auditor has obtained an understanding.
Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
The CAASB set the target and developed the following fifteen standards and these were sent by the Institute to
the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in the month of March 2016 for its approval:
SCA-116 Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those charged with Governance and Management
The mandatory application of these Standards in an audit of cost records shall come in force after approval of the
Central Government and notification by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
7.1 OVERVIEW
Rule 6(6), of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, as amended by the Companies (Cost Records
and Audit) Amendment Rules, 2016, vide Gazette notification No: G.S.R. 695(E), dated 14th July, 2016 mandates
that:
“Every company covered under these rules shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of a
copy of the cost audit report, furnish the Central Government with such report along with full information and
explanation on every reservation or qualification contained therein, in Form CRA-4 in Extensible Business Reporting
Language format in the manner as specified in the Companies (Filing of Documents and Forms in Extensible
Business Reporting language) Rules, 2015 along with fees specified in the Companies (Registration Offices and
Fees) Rules, 2014.”.
Accordingly, all the cost audit reports have to be filed online, with MCA, in XBRL format, attached to the prescribed
Form- CRA-4. XBRL international, and the MCA portal, provide detailed information about XBRL and its applications.
The necessary information and procedure for understanding XBRL in general and filing of cost audit report in that
format, as extracted from these portals is briefly recited below:
XBRL is the open international standard for digital business reporting, managed by a global not for profit
consortium called “XBRL International”. XBRL is used around the world, in more than 50 countries. Millions of XBRL
documents are created every year, replacing older, paper-based reports with more useful, more effective and
more accurate digital versions. The change from paper, PDF and HTML based reports to XBRL is like the change
from film photography to digital photography, or from paper maps to digital maps.
XBRL makes reporting more accurate and more efficient. It allows unique tags to be associated with reported
facts, allowing:
• people publishing reports to do so with confidence that the information contained in them can be consumed
and analysed accurately
• people consuming reports to test them against a set of business and logical rules, in order to capture and
avoid mistakes at their source
• people using the information to do so in the way that best suits their needs, including by using different
languages, alternative currencies and in their preferred style
• people consuming the information to do so confident that the data provided to them conforms to a set of
sophisticated pre-defined definitions
Comprehensive definitions and accurate data tags allow the:
• preparation
• validation
• publication
• exchange
• consumption; and
• analysis
of business information of all kinds.
Information in reports prepared using the XBRL standard is interchangeable between different information systems
in entirely different organisations. This allows for the exchange of business information across a reporting chain.
People that want to report information, share information, publish performance information and allow straight
through information processing all rely on XBRL.
XBRL can be applied to a very wide range of business applications including finar and cost data. XBRL has
applications in the following areas:-
• Reporting for internal and external purposes by an entity involving finar and costing data/information.
• Business reporting to all types of regulators, including tax and finandJ authorities, central banks and
governments.
All types of organisations can make use of XBRL to automate their process of data collection and distribution
to various stakeholders. It helps in saving costs and improving the efficiency in managing business information
- financial or cost. XBR-being extensible and flexible, can be adapted to a wide variety of requirements. AI
stakeholders whether they are preparers, transmitters or users of business data in the financial information supply
chain can benefit from the use of XBRL.
Future of XBRL
XBRL has a bright future ahead of it that goes way beyond the current focus on regulatory reporting and
compliance. Businesses that are now creating XBRL filings for regulatory bodies should be thinking about how they
can leverage their investment in understanding and using XBRL to drive more consistent and comparable internal
reporting. By tagging data at the account/transaction level, by investigating how XBRL can help to deliver new
holistic reports that integrate and connect financial and non-financial data, and by leveraging emerging online
XBRL data streams for better industry performance and peer group analytics, every business can power its own
journey towards financial transformation.
Government and Regulators require cost data of different sectors for policy making. The availability of cost data
[without compromising on the confidentiality] in XBRL format enables informed decision making and for sectoral
studies.
With full adoption of XBRL, companies would be able to integrate its financial and cost data across its operational
areas and exercise better control on its activities.
Costing Taxonomy:
Costing Taxonomy is a dictionary of all cost elements required in the cost audit report and compliance report.
The costing taxonomy contains the properties and interrelationships of all these cost elements for the purposes of
capturing the required reporting data in XBRL format.
How can the cost audit report and compliance report is converted into the XBRL format:
XBRL is an open source technology. Any of the following methods can be adopted to create the instance
document required for filing of the respective reports.
• XBRL-enabled software packages developed by different software vendors which support the creation of cost
reports in XBRL format can be used to create the necessary document.
• Various elements of Cost Audit Report and Compliance Report can be mapped into XBRL tags of the costing
taxonomy using specialised XBRL software tools specifically designed for this purpose.
• Different third party packages can be integrated into the existing accounting systems to generate XBRL Cost
statements.
• There are various web based applications available that take input reports in various formats viz. Microsoft
Excel etc. and transform them into XBRL format.
The methodology adopted by an individual company will depend on its requirements and the cost accounting
software and systems being used and other factors.
8.1. PREFACE
8.1.1 Performance measures help managers to create capable and matured processes. Measures are a tool to help
understand, manage, and improve the performance of the organization as a whole. Effective performance
measures can let us:
• If appropriate actions have been taken to affect performance or improve efficiency if improvements are
necessary.
There is no set number or formula to determine how many performance measures an organization should
have. Tracking too many performance measures at once may cause managers to lose sight of which ones
contribute directly to strategic objectives. On the other hand, having too few measures may not tell a good
story about your work. The Report on Performance Analysis may be submitted to the Board of Directors of
the Company, the performance measures which will be appraised should be discussed with the Company
Management and then finalized for analysis and reporting thereof.
This guidance is not on strategic management in companies but using strategic management process in the
context of performance analysis of companies. The guidance is a suggestive mode for performance analysis.
8.2.1 The basic objective to prepare a Report on Performance Analysis is to provide an actionable insight into costs
and profitability for the management in the strategic and operational context. It aims at discovering various
drivers of costs and profitability and their impact on the selected performance variables. It would help the
organisations:
• to improve profits and profitability
• to optimize resource allocation
• to optimize the product and services portfolio
8.2.2 The objective is to provide assessment of the performance of the organisation across various spectrums. It
inter-alia aims at satisfying the goals of management audit. It is concerned with providing the Board with
information that it “should know” to take suitable actions to improve business performance.
8.2.3 The following criteria may help the management auditor to select and include the various performance
measurement criteria in the Report on Performance Analysis:
• Effect on profitability
• Effect on resource utilisation
• Effect on liquidity
• Effect on risks
• Effect on quality
• Effect on competitiveness
• Effect on responsiveness to the market etc.
8.2.4 An ideal Report on Performance Analysis should possess the following characteristics:
• Objectivity
• Capability of being predictive value
• Comprehensiveness
• No information overload
• Coverage of strategic thrust
• Trend measures and current status
• Timeliness
• Segmented and enterprise-wide coverage
8.3.1 After analyzing the activities within each process, we given below the suggested mechanism for performance
analysis as follows:
8.3.2 In the above paragraphs, we discussed how the strategies are formulated, how they are implemented through
the processes and now we come to assess the actual performance. Performance measures tell managers
something important about the company’s products, services, and the processes. Effective performance
measures can let us:
• Monitor performance to judge how well the company is doing,
• Know if company is meeting its own set goals and if the customers are satisfied,
8.5.1 The Report on Performance Analysis may covers the following indicative areas:
(i) Capacity Utilization Analysis
(ii) Productivity/Efficiency Analysis
(iii) Utilities/Energy Efficiency Analysis
(iv) Key-Costs & Contribution Analysis
(v) Product/Service Profitability Analysis
(vi) Market/Customer Profitability Analysis
8.6.1 The basic quantitative information on capacity is covered in the Annexure 1 of Part B and C of CRA 3 –
Quantitative Information. However, this information is only indicative and does not provide analytical review.
Capacity is usually expressed in terms of the final cost unit and where not so possible in terms of machine
hours, people hours etc.
8.6.2 The concept of capacity is highly subjective. While on one hand it denotes the availability of resources, it
would also mean the maximum rate at which the company can produce goods or services. Capacity does
have considerable impact on the profitability. The auditor should assess this impact by analyzing and relating
the impact of capacity costs on profitability.
8.6.3 The auditor should collect information of theoretical capacity, practical capacity, normal capacity and
budgeted capacity for the period under review. Although the information may be available for all machinery &
equipment, the auditor should identify the “constraint” that would limit the capacity of the entire organisation
or product or a certain geographical area.
8.6.4 The auditor should assess various capacity limits for better analysis and reporting. All these have costs and
could affect profitability. These are:
• Internal physical capacity – machinery & equipment
• External physical capacity – subcontracting and leasing
• The capacity of manpower bandwidth at all levels
• The financial capacity
8.6.5 When comparing the actual production with the capacity, the auditor should identify and analyze the reasons
for variation due to controllable and uncontrollable causes. It would help to concentrate on material impact
caused due to idle time, break-downs, lack of power, lack of material, lack of demand. It would be advisable
to compute the cost impact of these.
8.6.6 Most of the capacity related information is available with the production and industrial engineering
departments. The auditor should also refer to the CENVAT records for actual production data.
8.6.7 The auditor should comment on how the company responds to the variations in product demand by adjusting
its capacity. This should be done with respect the cost impact.
8.6.8 The capacity performance measures could be:
• Capacity ratios to measure utilisation
• Identify bottlenecks & their impact on costs
8.7.1 Productivity involves variables of input resources and the output. Measuring, identifying and isolating the
different input resources and analyzing their contribution to produce goods and services and their effect
on costs and profitability is imperative for improving business performance. It should be noted carefully that
productivity is a measure of efficiency per unit of output, whereas efficiency is generally measured in totality.
8.7.2 The auditor could understand and analyse the whole chain of input-processing-output. This analysis, while
traditional and very basic, would help auditor to comment upon the performance of the organisation
across products or product groups. It is necessary for the auditor to understand the input ingredients for
each product, product group, customer etc.
8.7.3 Annexure 3 & 4 of Part of CRA-3 to the cost audit report provide some basic information about the input
costs and their relation with the output. The auditor should further analyse these areas to identify causes of
good performance and areas that need improvements.
8.7.4 The considerations in measuring productivity and efficiency performance could be:
• Performance of input factors such as material, people, tools, equipment, processes, management, capital
funds etc.
• The output factors could be units produced and sold, number of customers served, reduced costs,
improved responsiveness etc.
• It’s not just the productivity, but the improvement (or lack of it) in it that must be measured. This could be
done by identifying whether the company is able to
ü Achieve more output with same input
ü Achieve same output with less input
ü Achieve much more output with relatively less increased input
ü Achieve slightly less output with much less input
• For each selected area, the auditor should identify whether the improvement is permanent or temporary
and report on the same. The recommended approach for the organisation should be focusing on the
sustainable improvements. Care should be taken to identify and report potential manipulations.
• Alongside the productivity or efficiency ratios, the cost auditor should also analyse and report on the
effect of the same on quality. The auditor should isolate quality of various inputs and their effect of the
output.
• The performance measures in respect of this area could be:
ü Inputs ustilised (material, man, machine, capital etc) per unit of output or output obtained per unit of
an input variable
ü Wastages as percentage of input
ü Indices could be developed for Single Factor Productivity (SFP), Multi-Factor Productivity (MFP), Total
Factor Productivity (TFT)
ü Inter-relationships in various productivity measures e.g. output per man-hour may have increase, but
if it is accompanied by higher wastage per man hour, then there is no real benefit
8.7.5 The cost auditors checklist would include, inter alia, the following:
• The Bill of Material (BOM) for each product
• The standard cost card, if any
• Internal reports on consumption, wastages per unit of input to capture actual data
• Production scheduling and plans to measure labour& machine time productivity
• External benchmarking such as industry norms, best practices data etc. used by the company or generated
by auditor for analysis
8.7.6 Suggested additional references:
• Publications by the Indian Productivity Council
• Industry association reports like Indian Machine tool manufacturers, Society for Indian Automobile
Manufacturers, etc. to get the data on Industry averages for benchmarking.
8.8.1 This is an extended analysis of single factor productivity in respect of the utilities and energy inputs acquired
and consumed by the company. The importance of conservation of non-renewable energy needs no
emphasis.
8.8.2 The utilities are resources that are used in the process of conversion of material and other components into a
finished product, but these resources do not form part of the physical unit of the product. In manufacturing
industries, utilities and energy form a substantial part of the conversion cost.
8.8.3 The broad headings under which the utilities and energy performance could be categorized are Power,
steam, electricity, compressed air, water, etc. These utilities are consumed in the production process or in
environment protection initiatives. The use of utilities for administrative functions may be found in terms of
lighting, cooling, ventilation, heating refrigeration etc. The auditor should evaluate the impact from cost
angle as well as from the viewpoint of conservation of energy. It is essential to check if there are any statutory
norms prescribed for the company.
8.8.4 The auditor should gather information on whether the company falls under the energy intensive industries
as per the schedule attached to the Energy Conservation Act 2001. These industries include Aluminum,
fertilizers, steel, cement, paper and pulp, sugar, textile, chemicals, petrochemicals, gas crackers, etc.
8.8.5 For external benchmarking, it may be useful to refer to the practices followed by companies which are
accredited by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency formed under the Energy Conservation Act 2001.
8.8.6 The performance appraisal parameters for energy and utilities would include the consumption of fuel for
generating energy and then the use of the energy thus produced per unit of final product. The performance
parameters could include the following:
• Energy generated per unit of fuel consumed or fuel consumed per unit of energy generated. This could
be applied for power, steam, electricity, water etc.
• Measurement of improvement in power factor (denoting reduction in the KVA demand charges)
• The cost of generating energy per unit and the cost of consuming the energy per unit of the finished
product would be the critical part of the analysis.
• Trend analysis of energy costs as percentage of total production costs is a good indicator of performance
8.9.1 The thrust here should not be only on computation of numbers or percentages for various product groups
under consideration. The auditor should check the reasonableness of the contribution by benchmarking
with the industry average wherever applicable.
8.9.2 Financial performance is the major element of the performance management. This analysis involves
assessment of major items of cost, their relationship with the volume of production and impact on the
profitability. Annexure 4 of Part D of CRA-3 of the cost audit report provides information (for each product
group) on operating ratios for the current and previous years. These ratios are computed as proportion of
individual cost elements to the cost of sales.
8.9.3 The auditor could provide analysis of the cost information by highlighting any significant variation therein
during the reporting period. These variations are caused by non-recurring, onetime costs that may vitiate
the ratios. Suggestions to avoid such variations may be provided in the report. This could be having long
term rate contracts, supplier agreements, consumption controls etc.
8.9.4 The cost information should include comparison of actual cost performance with the standards or budgets
as the case may be. If the company is using target costs, the auditor could identify the cost gap and
recommend the ways to reduce the same. The report should provide a commentary on variance analysis.
The process followed by the organisation for investigation and correction of variances should be commented
upon.
8.9.5 In addition to these, it would be necessary to enlighten the company management with an in depth analysis
of contribution earned by each product group. The contribution analysis may be given an absolute amount
per unit of the finished product or in terms of percentage of sales i.e. the PV ratio. The auditor can add value
by pointing out contribution earned per unit of the key constraint resource.
8.9.6 The contribution analysis should also be extended to include the break-even analysis and the margin of
safety at the current volumes. It may be necessary for the auditor to scientifically split the costs into fixed
and variable elements. This split should be validated every year to find out structural changes if any. It will
help to include inter-firm comparison for the same.
8.9.7 The auditor should report on evaluation of use of the contribution analysis data by the management for
decisions like pricing, accepting or rejecting an order, make or buy etc.
8.9.8 The checklist for the auditor could include reference to
• Sales and production records
• Reconciliation with CENVAT records
• Price lists and discount structure policy
• Product cost statements
• Operational budgets
8.10.1 The unit product or service profits are driven by two major components viz. cost per unit and selling price per
unit. The auditor should analyse if the business belongs to the sellers’ market or buyers’ market. This would
facilitate the assessment of impact of changes in selling prices and changes in costs on the profitability or
otherwise of the products or services. While the selling price is a single number, the cost is the sum total of
different elements. The auditor must ensure that the basis use to allocate indirect costs is consistently adopted
by the company.
8.10.2 In case of services, the unit of measurement is very important and hence carefully selected. Further, due to
the diverse nature of services, it is essential to exercise care in analyzing the profitability thereof especially
when the services provided are not standard. Many times, there is a combined contract for sale of product
along with the service & maintenance contract. In such cases, the auditor should bifurcate the sales and
costs for each portion and then compute and comment on their respective profitability.
8.10.3 Care should be taken in splitting the joint costs in case of joint products and by products. The method
adopted for separation of costs should be checked to ensure correctness and consistency.
8.10.4 It would help to separately identify the costs of production, selling & marketing and handling customer
services.
8.10.5 The auditor is expected to provide a thorough evaluation to bring out the products and/or services that
are contributing more or less to the overall company performance. For convenience purpose, the products
and/or services could be classified in groups with similar risk-return profiles. This classification may be different
from the ‘product groups’ in the cost audit report annexures.
8.10.6 The analysis should separately appraise profitability of newly introduced products or services and also their
proportion to the total profits of the organisation. The auditor should incorporate the profitability analysis of
products discontinued during the period.
8.10.7 The term “profitability” should be taken with an extended meaning to include, apart from the concept of
accounting profit, the ROI analysis as well. It would be useful to analyse profitability of products/services in
domestic and export market. Care should be taken to isolate reasons for the changes in the profitability
percentages. Similarly, if significant, profitability on sales to the related parties may be separately highlighted.
8.10.8 The report should specifically highlight the top five and the bottom five products. This will help the company
to understand which products or services are contributing to the performance and which are ones that are
non-performing. Based on this the suitable corrective actions may be suggested.
8.10.9 The checklist for the auditor could include reference to
• Sales and production records
8.11.1 Certain industries focus on limited markets and customer types, while the others are broad based. The
management may choose to understand its position in the different markets and different customers it
serves.
8.11.2 The auditor should observe the segmentation method adopted by the company for analysing its profitability.
The objective is to take suitable action for the segments that are not performing as per desired targets by
introducing campaigns or to pull out of those segments that are no longer attractive.
8.11.3 The markets could be segmented on the basis of geographical locations such as domestic & international,
zones or regions. They can also be segmented based on customers, e.g. OEMs, institutional, dealers,
aftermarket, retail etc. These are normally termed as channels of distribution. Sales and supplies to
Government, related parties could also be used for analysis.
8.11.4 The challenge in all the above named method of segmentation lies in the computation of costs for each
of them. The auditor should carefully evaluate the allocation of costs to the different channels, especially
marketing & campaigning costs.
8.11.5 While analysing the profitability, the amount of turnover should not be ignored. There could cases of improved
profitability and dropping turnover levels for the different segments. The auditor should perform trend analysis
to judge the performance in such cases and recommend suitable measures.
8.11.6 A life cycle approach would provide better insight into the market or customer profitability analysis. Hence,
the auditor could analyse the costs of acquiring the market or customer, costs involved in servicing and
maintaining them and also costs involved in evaluating the potential thereof through market research.
Example of how to look at “Cost per unit” when there are multiple customers and orders vary from quantities
to deliveries. A Customer places the PO for X quantity to be delivered in four batches. Another customer
places PO for Y quantity which is higher than Customer X, but delivery in equal number every month, which
incidentally falls short of the minimum batch size. Here customer X, eventhough the quantity is lesser than
customer Y, is economical to produce the required quantity as it costs less per item compared to Y.
8.11.7 This aspect of the report should specifically highlight the top five and the bottom five markets and/or
customer/customer categories. This will help the company to understand the most profitable markets and
customers/customer categories and also the ones that are consuming resources but not yielding profits.
8.11.8 In addition to the study of profitability, the auditor could comment on the risks associated with the markets
and customers. This risk could be “concentration risk”, e.g. overdependence on a few customers or selling
in one market only. The other risk may be related to defaults by customers. The analysis of bad debt history
would help the analysis.
8.11.9 The checklist for evaluation of performance in this area could be based on the study of
8.12.1 This part of the report should point out the efficiencies in operations through management of different
components of working capital. The auditor should identify all the elements of working capital for each
product group and evaluate the adequacy or otherwise thereof.
8.12.2 In case of multi-unit operations, the working capital and inventory management is centralized, with sub limits
fixed for each manufacturing locations. While the working capital assessment is done for the Company as
a whole, the key factor which influences the working capital requirement of each unit have to be kept in
mind and evaluated.
8.12.3 On the whole, the auditor should critically examine the working capital policy of the company. The total
working capital could be analysed into permanent and fluctuating components. It is necessary to check
whether the funding of these components is consistent with the period of requirement.
8.12.4 Working capital decision is handling of the conflict between liquidity and profitability. The auditor could
provide an independent assessment of how it is being currently handled and how it can be improved.
8.12.5 The analysis of working capital can be done using the traditional measures of ratios like current ratio, quick
ratio, turnover ratios, number of days in operating cycle etc. These ratios could be computed for each
product group separately. Analysis of the operating cycle of the company would be immensely useful.
8.12.6 For manufacturing industries, inventory is the major portion of the current assets. The auditor should evaluate
the inventory management policy which would include, inter alia, procurement policy, stocking policy,
inventory valuation method, inventory records and physical verification procedures. Benchmarking of the
policy pursued by the company with the industry averages will enhance the value of performance report.
8.12.7 It will be appropriate to analyse the inventory into its components such as raw material and stores, work in
progress and finished goods. For each of these categories, system of inventory control should be evaluated
using tools like ABC or VAT or FSND analysis, EOQ technique, JIT system etc. The auditor should comment
upon the quality of inventory asset using the inventory aging reports.
8.12.8 Another important component of working capital is receivables. Analysis of receivables is important for
internal perspective (working capital management) and external perspective (customer management) as
well. The auditor should peruse through the policy of the company regarding credit evaluation of customers,
setting up of credit terms and credit limits, discount policy, collection & delinquency procedures etc.
8.12.9 Trade credit from suppliers is the most crucial spontaneous source of working capital funding. The
performance in respect of this could be critical for operational efficiencies and liquidity of the company.
The auditor could analyse the supplier-wise performance in respect of on time supply, quality issues, pricing,
etc.
8.12.10 Observations about other components of working capital and trends therein could be noteworthy. These
components may be loans and advances, other receivables and payables etc. the criteria for analysis
here should be to find whether excessive amount is blocked in these areas. Cash management can be
included in the analysis.
8.12.11 It will be helpful to include the observations on cost of working capital funding. These costs may include the
interest paid on cash credit and loans, cost of using factoring services, cost of collection efforts, costs involved
in cash management, cost of inventory carrying etc. These costs may be explicit or implicit. Reasonable
assumptions could be made for computing the implicit costs. The total cost of managing working capital
as a percentage of total working capital invested may be a very useful performance indicator.
8.12.12 The auditor’s checklist could include the reference to the following:
• Records related to inventory of RM, WIP and FG, stock discrepancy reports
• Inventory aging reports, reports on treatment of non-moving items
8.13.1 The depth of analysis of manpower could depend upon the proportion of manpower cost to the total cost of
product or service. The performance criteria for this area will mainly be related to the costs and efficiency
or productivity. Again, benchmarking with the similar organisations would be helpful.
8.13.2 The costs may be categorized into the cost of recruitment, cost of maintaining the manpower and the cost
of separations. Recruitments costs may include position advertisements, commission paid to recruitment
agencies, participation in job fairs or campus recruitment etc. The maintenance costs may be the training
& development costs, facilities provided over & above the monetary benefits etc. The separation costs
would mostly be implicit costs. These costs as a percentage of the total salaries and wages would provide
an insight into the quality of manpower management. These costs could be further broken up as per the
hierarchies of people. The time taken to recruit important positions may affect the performance adversely.
8.13.3 The factor returns from the manpower is in terms of growth in production and productivity, enhancement of
skills and knowledge of the organisation. The auditor should analyse the figures of manpower productivity,
idle time, overtime worked, absenteeism etc. These factors could be compared with the respective outputs
such as increased production, increased sales etc. The criteria such as sales per person achieved, production
per man hour etc. will add value to the Report on Performance Analysis.
8.13.4 The Report on Performance Analysis may include comments and observations about the employee learning
and growth opportunities and their linkage with the improvement in overall performance of the organisation.
8.13.5 The auditor’s checklist for this content area may be:
• Details of number of recruitments done, number of people left, the labour turnover ratios
8.14.1 It should, be noted that these are very comprehensive and could cover most of the aspects of enterprise
performance.
8.14.2 The auditor should make use of the non-financial measures of performance that signal the direction in
which the future performance is being driven. The various non-financial measures are listed in the List-B.
8.14.3 The companies may track performance using parameters such as EVA and therefore the assessment will
have to be done to meet the specific requirement.
8.14.4 The listed companies clearly bring out business specific factors that may affect their performance going
forward. This is usually given in the “management discussion and analysis” in the annual reports. The auditor
should benchmark these with companies in the same industry and provide observation thereon.
8.14.5 Risk Analysis: That may affect the future performance. The auditor should
• Comment whether the risks are worth taking or suggest the acceptable range
• Evaluate the effect of the existing risk mitigation tools used by the company
8.14.6 Environment and Sustainability: To provide insight into how effectively the company is following policies on
CSR, environment and sustainability.
8.14.7 Quality Performance: Could be assessed by relating the quality costs incurred versus the benefits achieved
by reduction in customer complaints or increase in customer satisfaction index.
8.14.8 R & D Performance: The future performance of companies would depend upon their success of the R & D
initiatives. The auditor could provide a useful lead in this respect by including analysis of the R & D costs.
8.14.9 Business Process Performance: The auditor could evaluate various processes followed by the company and
incorporate valuable assessment in the Report on Performance Analysis. The processes could be evaluated
on the criteria like speed, accuracy, empowerment, hurdles, facilitation etc.
8.14.10 Human Resource Accounting: This is an extended analysis of total human resource costs, both explicit and
implicit, which are capitalised at an appropriate discount rate. The auditor could observe the value of
human asset and link it to the returns. This is an upcoming performance measurement criterion.
8.14.11 Value Added Analysis: The value added is measured as an absolute value created by the business and the
distribution thereof to the employees and other providers of capital. The growth in the value added over
a period of time could be observed and commented upon.
8.14.12 Performance of Intangible Assets: The business may have internally developed intangible assets. In financial
accounting these are generally not capitalised. The value created by the intangibles could be computed
as excess returns earned by the company over the industry average. This excess is supposed to be earned
due to the presence of intangible assets like brand.
8.14.13 Stakeholder Performance Analysis: The performance for shareholders could be denoted by EPS growth, the
stock price performance, market capitalization, dividend growth, EVA etc. The lenders’ parameters would
be interest coverage and debt-service cover ratios. The suppliers would look for business growth, and on
time payments. Customers expect on time delivery, proper pre and post sales service, and reasonable
prices. These are performance metrics could be included in the Report on Performance Analysis.
8.15.1 The performance measurement involves collection of information, analysing the same by establishing
the inter-relations between them, interpreting the results and then arriving at meaningful conclusion. The
collection of information depends upon various sources of data and other reports for various systems used
by the organisation.
8.15.2 The data input is generally made in the accounting system used by the company e.g. the ERP systems.
Most of the ERP systems facilitate input and capturing of even the non-financial data which can be then
processed to produce desired reports. There is a lot of information to be accessed from outside of the ERP
system. The auditor should identify such sources within and outside of the organisation and use information
drawn from the same.
8.15.3 The management accounting tools could be used to analyse the performance with different purposes. The
auditor should verify the tools and techniques used by the company and comment on appropriateness
and adequacy thereof. The auditor could recommend more appropriate management accounting tool.
8.15.4 The following table shows various management accounting tools that are used to serve different objectives:
Depending upon merit of each case, the auditor could factor in other things such as source of the information,
measurement frequency, time periods to be covered, etc. This will facilitate clarity of understanding and once the
auditor gets the management’s nod on these basic elements, the Report on Performance Analysis can certainly
be a value adding proposition for the company.
List - B
Suggestive list of KPIs
Performance area KPI Measurement
Financial performance Turnover Segmental revenue to total revenue %
Segmental turnover growth %
Total turnover growth %
Growth % in new product sales
New product sales as % of total sales
Customer-wise sales
Top 5 customers, bottom 5 customers’ sales
Margins Gross margin % on total sales
Gross margin % on segmental sales
Gross margin % on new products
Customer-wise Gross margin %
Costs Element-wise cost % to total turnover and segmental
turnover
Cost composition – nature-wise, variability structure,
functional split
Returns ROI on product groups
ROI on geographical segments
ROI on new products
ROI on new markets
ROCE
Value added to total income
Earnings per share (EPS)
Dividend per share (DPS)
Retention ratio
Price-Earnings (PE) ratio
Market price per share
Balance sheet Current ratio, quick ratio
Asset turnover (current and fixed assets)
Growth in assets
Capital expenditure % to total assets
Debt-equity ratio
Debt to total capital employed
Productivity & Efficiency Material Material cost % to total cost
Material wastage as % to total input
Contribution per unit of material used
Labour Production per man hour
Production per employee
Employee cost % to sales
Idle hours % to total available hours
Machine Production per machine hour
Growth in machine capacity utilisation
Machine downtime ratio
Break-down hours
Illustration 1.
A Company introduced a new product EZY with advanced technology in a product market where there is huge
competition with many competitors having individual market share 5% to 10%. Survey on the present market
estimates that demand will increase of 80,000 units per year. The company is presently targeting 50% of the
additional market demand as competitors will need at least two years to match its product.
The Product EZY passes through three departments. Direct cost per unit of product at present rate : Material cost :
` 65 and Labour Cost ` 45. Overheads are absorbed on the basis of normal capacity. The following relevant
information is given :
Company has set a target of Selling and Distribution cost of ` 3,00,000 irrespective of sales volume. The company
normally sets a price by adding a mark-up on cost between 30% to 40%.
You are required to suggest the price so as to take care of competition in the right perspective.
Answer:
Selling Price will be in the range of ` (170 x 1.3) and ` (170 x 1.4) i.e between ` 221 and ` 238.
Suggestion :
The company can go for lower price as it covers full cost and ensure good profit. Lower price will give better
penetration in the market and keep competitors away for longer term to match technology and price.
Illustration 2.
ABC Co. has two Department producing small electrical goods. New Technology for production of X will induce
the following cost :
Dept A Dept B
Direct Material ` 240 ` 200
Direct Labour rate/hrs ` 120 ` 100
Direct Labour hrs 2 hrs 3 hrs
V OH per hour ` 50 ` 30
Fixed per hour (based on 100% capacity) ` 60 ` 40
Value of Machine on revalueation ` 40 Lakh ` 28 lakh
New Technology cost = ` 25 lakhs, working capital = ` 7 lakh
Target volume of production in the 1st year 2000 units @ 25% capacity
Variable S & D cost is ` 3 lakh for 2000 units.
Expected return on investment 24%.
Suggest on pricing of new product for new one or the existing ones at 80% capacity.
Answer:
`
Dept A Dept B Total
Direct Material 240 200 440
Direct Labour 240 300 540
Variable Overheads 100 90 190
V. S & D cost 150
Total (`) 1320
Illustration 3.
A company is operating at 60% capacity with a turnover ` 86.40 lakhs.
(i) If the Company works at 100% capacity, the sales-cost relation is: Factory Cost istwo-third of sales value and
Prime Cost is 75% of Factory Cost.
(iii) Administrative and selling expenses (75% variable) is 20 % of sales value.
(iv) Factory overhead will vary according to operating capacity as given below :
The company has planned to operate at 80% capacity. Moreover, it has received an export orderand the
execution of the same will involve 40 % of capacity. The prime cost of the order is estimated as ` 12.00 lakhs and
shipping expenses involved will be ` 2.00 lakhs. Taking same percentage of profit on domestic sale, determine
minimum price to be quoted for the export order.
Answer:
At 100% capacity.
Illustration 4.
ABC Co. has planned for an investment of ` 800.00 lakh with 50% Loan from Banks at 10% interest.
Direct Cost for the year = ` 480.0 lakhs and 50% of which is Material cost. Other expenses are at ` 80.0 lakh.
The goods will be sold at 150% of direct cost. Tax rate is assumed at 50%.
Determine (i) Net profit margin (ii) Return on Assets (iii) Assets turnover (iv) Return on owners equity (v) Inventory
Turnover
Answer:
` lakh
Question 5.
Z Electronics Co (ZEC) has made an agreement with Tuzuki of Japan for import of kits of Automatic Washing
Machine in completely knocked down (CKD) condition. The terms of agreement are :
(i) Tuzuki will supply some items keeping 20% margin on cost. These imported items are of value of 40% of FOB
price of Washing Machine and balance 60% will be locally manufactured.
(ii) ZEC will pay a lump sum of ` 300 lakhs for technical know how and drawing for manufacturing of 3 lakhs
washing machines.
(iii) ZEC will also pay a royalty at 10% of selling price fixed by it in the local market less landed cost of imported
kits and cost of locally procured components.
The following related information is also available :
(i) FOB price for washing machine is ` 8,000.
(ii) Insurance & freight is ` 300 per set of imported items
(iii) Effective custom duty is @ 40% on CIF price
(iv) Assembling & other overhead costs will be ` 1,000 per set.
(v) Expected profit is 20% on selling price
You are required to calculate the selling price of Washing machine (rounded to ` 10)
Answer:
(`)
F. Royalty 434
Let Royalty = X
Cost = (10,800 + X)
Royalty = (Selling Price – landed cost of imported kits - landed cost of local items) x 0.10
Or X = 380 + 0.125 X
Or 0.875 X = 380
Or X = 434
Illustration 6.
ABC Ltd which is manufacturing consumer products has two divisions Assembling and Finishing. The two divisions
are operating as cost centres
(i) Present activities and cost involved in Assembling division & Finishing division and in a year:
Assembly Division :
No of sets assembled : 12,000
Manufacturing of parts ( including material) : ` 6.00 lakhs
Parts purchased from market : ` 4.00 lakhs
Other Variable cost : Welding cost : ` 5 lakhs and Assembling cost : ` 9.00 lakhs
Fixed cost for the unit : ` 6 lakhs
25% of the production of Assembly division is sold in the market at a price of ` 300 per set and 75% is transferred
to Finishing Division at ` 280
Cost incurred in Finishing Division :
Painting cost : ` 5.00 lakhs
Polishing cost : ` 1.00 lakhs
Other fixed cost ` 4.00 lakhs.
Selling Price per set is ` 450.
Evaluate the following situations :
(ii) Division Assembly has proposed for expansion of their division for an enhancement of capacity by 20% at a
cost ` 20 lakhs. It is indicated that there will be no change in factory fixed cost in the operation of additional
volume of job. Division Assembly proposes to maintain the transfer to finishing division to the existing level and
selling additional sets to market at present price.
(iii) Division Finishing has proposed for a transfer of whole of the output of Assembly division at a price of ` 280
per unit and the additional units can be sold in the market at existing price which will involve advertisement
expenses to the extent of ` 4.00 lakhs and fixed cost in the division will go up by ` 1.00 lakhs.
(iv) Assembly division claims that transfer rate of ` 280 is irrational in a sense of undue favour to Finishing division
at their cost and Finishing Division is given the advantage of market price for their products whereas the
Assembly division is deprived of that advantage. Assembly division agreed to transfer the whole of its output
to Finishing Division at a price of ` 300.
You are required to give your recommendation assuming opportunity cost of capital is 15%
Answer:
Existing profitability of divisions & company
Contribution 10.20
Finishing Division
Contribution 9.30
(i) Evaluation of the proposal : Expansion of assembly division & transfer to Finishing division at existing level
` lakhs
Contribution 12.60
Fixed cost + opportunity cost of capital invested (6.00 +20 x 0.15) 9.00
Finishing Division
Contribution 9.30
(ii) Evaluation of the proposal : Expansion of assembly division & transfer of whole assembly output to Finishing
division at a price of ` 280
` lakhs
Assembly Division
Contribution 11.52
Fixed cost + opportunity cost of capital invested ( 6.00 +20 x 0.15) 9.00
Finishing Division
Contribution 18.48
(iii) Evaluation of the proposal : Expansion of assembly division & transfer of whole assembly output to Finishing
division
` lakhs
Contribution 14.40
Fixed cost + opportunity cost of capital invested (6.00 +20 x 0.15) 9.00
Finishing Division
Contribution 15.60
The proposal (iii) i.e transfer of all units from Assembly to Finishing Division at a transfer price of ` 300 is recommended.
With adoption of this price, profitability of the company as a whole will go up and each division will get its due
share of profitability.
Illustration 7.
The financial books of a Electrical goods manufacturing company reveal the following data (in Rupees) for the
year 2017-18 closing on 31st March 2018.
Required :
(i) Prepare Profit & Loss A/C as per Financial records and Costing records.
(ii) Prepare a Reconciliation Statement for Profits under above two different records.
Answer:
Statement of Profit & Loss Accounts as per Financial records as on 31st March 2018:
` `
To Opening Stock of Fin goods 74,375 By Sales 20,80,000
To WIP 32,000 By Closing Stock of Fin Goods 41,250
To Raw Materials consumed 7,80,000 By WIP 38,667
To Direct labour 4,50,000 By Rent received 18,000
To Factory Overheads 3,00,000 By Interest received 45,000
To administrative Overheads 2,95,000
To selling & Distribution Overheads 61,000
To Dividend paid 85,000
To Bad Debt 12,000
To Profit 1,33,542
22,22,917 22,22,917
Working Notes for Cost Accounting :
`
Sales Revenue – 14,500 units 20,80,000
Cost of sales
Opening Stock 875 units @ ` 104 91,000
Add : cost of Production 17,92,000
Less Closing stock – 375 x 128 48,000
Cost of Goods produced 18,35,000
Selling & Distribution Overheads : 14,500 x ` 4 58,000
Cost of Sales 18,93,000
Profit 1,87,000
Reconciliation statement
Illustration 8.
In normal cases, high operating cost appears due to high wage cost. The Operating assets of the firm, both current
and fixed stands at higher level.
Profit and Loss Account and Balance sheet for the year ending 31.03.2018 are given below:
Balance Sheet
` lakh ` Lakh
Equity 8.00 Land & Building 2.85
7@ Pref Share 2.00 Plant & Machinery 5.60
Reserve & Surplus 3.25 Furniture & Fixture 0.67
Unsecured Loan 2.40 Investment at cost 1.00
As a Cost Auditor, determine i) Capital Employed ii) Net Worth iii) Profit before Tax and calculate the necessary
ratio.
Answer:
(i) Fixed Asset = 2.85 + 5.60 + 0.67 = ` 9.22 lakh
(iii) Total Asset = Fixed Asset + Current asset = 9.22 + 12.24 = ` 21.45 lakh
(v) Capital employed = Total asset – Current liabilities = 21.45 – 6.71 = ` 14.74 lakh
Ratios :
(i) Profit on Capital employed = ` 2.50 /14.65=17.04%
Purchase : 12.75
Admin OH 2.80
———
34.25
Illustration 9.
The following figures for a period 2017-18 for a company :
` Lakh
Sales 248.00
Purchase of raw material 100.00
Agent Commission 2.00
Consumable stores 2.50
Packing Materials 1.00
Stationery 1.00
Audit Fees 0.40
Staff Welfare Expenses 15.80
Insurance 2.60
Rent, Rates & Taxes 1.60
Managing Directors Remuneration 8.40
Travelling Exp 2.10
Fuel & Oil 0.90
Electricity 0.50
From the above, prepare a statement of Value Addition and disposal of the same.
Answer:
Statement of Value Addition & Disposal of it
` Lakh ` Lakh
Sales 248.00
Less Agent’s commission 2.00
Add Change in finished Goods 4.00 250.00
Less in Bought in Materials & Services
Raw Materials Purchase 100.00
Less change in stock 2.30
97.70
Other Materials
Consumables 2.50
Packing 1.00
Stationery 1.00
Fuel & Oil 0.90
Electricity 0.50
Repair to Plant 2.40
Repair to Building 1.00
9.30
Services
Audit fees 0.40
Insurance 2.60
Reconciliation of Capital employed for the company as a whole arrived at under Method I or Method II can be
done as follows :
`
Share Capital of the Company x
Reserves and surplus x
Loans (secured/unsecured) x
`
Less: (a) Capital works-in-progress x
(b) Investment outside the business x
(c) Preliminary expenses x
(d) Debit balance of Profit and Loss Account x x
Capital employed for the company x
Net Worth : It is ‘share capital plus reserves and surplus (excluding revaluation reserve) less accumulated losses and
intangible assets’. It is what a business owes to its owners.
The cost auditor should note that he has to make a special mention with the reasons tfjerefor in case of any
change in the composition of the ‘Net Worth’ during the current financial year. A question arises whether changes
in the Profit and Loss Account and Reserves should be considered. It appears that the Rules do not cover all
possible changes as the changes in the Profit and Loss Account and Reserves are normal business fluctuations. The
Rules certainly contemplate that abnormal and substantial changes in Reserves and structural changes in respect
of Share Capital, Debentures and Borrowings should be mentioned.
Any changes in the computation of net worth during the year should be analysed with reasons and reported as
follows :
` `
Opening net worth x
Add: (1) Increase in share capital x
(2) Increase in reserves x x
Less: (1) Decrease in share capital x
(2) Decrease in reserves x x
Closing net worth x
Illustration 10.
From the following balance sheet and other data of PQR Ltd. make out the ratio analysis of specific items as
required below :
(a) Profit as a percentage of
(i) Capital employed
(ii) Net sales
(b) Current assets expressed a percentage of current liabilities (including provisions)
(d) Net worth expressed as a percentage of capital employed.
You may assume fixed assets, etc. at average values as indicated below. Working must form part of your answer:
I. Sources of funds : ` `
1. Shareholders’ funds
(a) Share capital 7,20,000
(b) Reserve and surplus 18,90,000 26,10,000
2. Loans funds
(a) Secured loan 13,65,000
(b) Unsecured loan 34,000 13,99,000
40,09,000
II. Application of funds :
1. Fixed assets — ` `
(a) Gross block 16,81,000
(b) Less: Depreciation 9,74,000
(c) Net block 7,07,000
(d) Capital work in progress 22,000 7,29,000
2. Investments (outside the business) 27,500
3. Current assets, loans & advances
(a) Inventories 29,29,000
(b) Sundry debtors 35,85,000
(c) Cash and bank balances 8,85,000
(d) Other current assets 1,100
4 Miscellaneous expenditure to
the extent nor written off or adjusted 42,400
Other datas : 40,09,000
Profit after interest (before taxation) 4,91,000
Interest 2,58,000
Sales 1,23,98,000
Answer:
Profit 7.49
(a) (i) × 100 = 100 = 19.12%
Capital employed 39.171
Profit 7.49
(ii) × 100 = 100 = 6.04%
Net Sales 123.98
Workings :
` lakhs
(i) Current assets — 78.461
Current liabilities and provision 46.360
Net current assets 32.101
(ii) Capital employed — 39.171
Financed by —
Share capital & reserves 26.100
Loans 13.990
40.090
Less: Miscellaneous Expenditure 0.424
Investments 0.275
Capital W.I. P. 0.220 0.919
39.171
Illustration 11.
42,600 42,600
The profit after interest provision of ` 650 lakhs for the same period was ` 1,765 lakhs. Compute the following figures/
ratios (for the company as a whole) :
(a) Capital employed:
(b) Net worth;
(c) Net worth as percentage of long-term borrowings and liabilities;
(d) Profit as a percentage of capital employed.
You may assume figures for fixed assets and working capital at average values.
Answer:
9.1.1 Introduction
An organisation is today ridden with a number of audits – financial audit, internal audit, social audit, cost audit,
energy audit, management audit, etc. Audit generally means examination taken from the Latin term “Audire” (hear).
Audit, therefore, means listening to some one and deriving from the hearing, the usefulness of the action. In the
case of a corporate body, audit takes the shape of examination of specific field of working viz. financial activities,
organizational activities, management activities, social activities, etc. Each activity has a specific objective and
responsibility and the function of Audit is to check and ensure fulfillment of responsibility delegated to the activity.
Management Audit is the total examination of transaction of an organisation, or parts of it, and includes checks
on the effectiveness of managers, their compliances with company on professional standard, the reliability of
management functioning, the quality of performance of duties and recommendations for improvement. In this
context, the distinction between administration and management should be recognized. Administration is concerned
with the structure of the organisation and the mechanism of its operations, whereas management relates to the
leadership and direction of the people, the way in which they are controlled to exercise their functions within the
administrative frame work. The question of audit arises only because of the ownership of many companies is widely
spread between a large number of shareholders, and the running of the organisation lies with people holding
comparatively a small portion of the equity. This dichotomy of dispersed ownership and entrenched management
necessitates and examination to be done of the Management function itself by an independent authority.
In this context management audit undertakes examination of the effectiveness of management in controlling the
total activities of the organisation in the accomplishment of the organisation objectives. Since a number of audits
is conducted in various area, audit responsibility lies in avoiding any over lapping and selecting such areas not
covered by an audit already, e.g., if internal audit examines adherence to procedures, management audit should
examine the effectiveness of such procedures.
Management audit deals with –
(i) the objectives of an organisation;
(ii) the policies and procedures in terms of the objective of the organisation; and
(iii) adequate performance of an organisation in terms of objectives, policies, and procedures.
It attempts to look into all aspects of the management performance. Management audit does not concentrate on
financial matters alone as in the case of financial audit. It looks into the efficiency and effectiveness of performance
in an organisation.
However, there is no general agreement as to the precise meaning of the term “management audit”. The term
has been various defined by different authorities as follows –
“Management audit may be defined as a comprehensive and constructive examination of an organisation structure
of a company and its plans and objectives, its means of operation and its use of human and physical facilities.
- William P. Leonard
“Management audit may be more specifically defined as being an investigation of a business from the highest
level downwards in order to ascertain whether sound management prevails throughout, thus facilitating the most
effective relationship with outside world and the most efficient organisation and smooth running internally.”
- Leslie Howard
“Management audit is performed with the objective of examining the efficiency of the information control system,
management and management procedures towards the achievement of enterprise goals.
- Churchil and Cyert
H. Washbrook in the book “The Board and Management Audit” has defined “Management Audit” as –
“the total examination of an organisation or parts of it, and includes in it aspects of operations audit like checks
on the effectiveness of managers, their compliance with company or professional standards, the reliability of
management data, the quality of performances of duties and recommendations for improvement”.
“Management audit is an objective and independent appraisal of the effectiveness of the managers and
effectiveness of the corporate structure in the achievement of company objectives and policies. Its aim is to
identify existing and potential management weaknesses within an organisation and to recommend ways to rectify
these weaknesses”.
- CIMA Terminology.
The above definitions lead to the following conclusions :
Management audit is the systematic and dispassionate examination, analysis and appraisal of management’s overall
performance. It is a form of appraisal of the total performance of the management by means of an objective
and comprehensive examination of the organisation structure, its components such as department, its plans and
policies, methods of process or operation and controls, and its use of physical facilities and human resources.
Thus management audit is concerned with evaluation and appraisal of the control system and information in the
entire or in various segments of the organisation. Its scope has been widened to appraise in detail the systems
and subsystems, procedures, job-description and assignment, authorization, accountability, quality of personnel,
quality of information generation etc.
Management audit is carried out to –
1. appraise the management performance at all the levels;
2. spotlight the decision or activities, that are not in conformity with organizational objectives.
3. ascertain that objectives are properly understood at all levels;
4. ascertain that controls provided at different levels are adequate and effective in accomplishing management
objectives or plans of operations;
5. evaluate plans which are projected to meet objectives.
6. review the company’s organizational structure, i.e. assignment of duties and responsibilities and delegation
of authority.
mobilization, reduce cost of operations and conserve their scarce resources which are main objectives of
management audit.
(x) It can help in analyzing social-cost benefit analyses for public projects like dams, power houses, national
highways etc.
(xi) It is essential whenever a unit is planned to be taken-over or an amalgamation or merger with other unit is
proposed.
(xii) Growing number of professional managers, the continuing separation of ownership from management, the
wider distribution of stockholders, increasing competition and sickness in industry will sooner or later make
certified management audit compulsory just as financial audit has become statutory.
The implications of separation of ownership and control were first analysed in depth by Berie & Menes in their
study of development of Corporate Business in the USA. They observed that economic power was becoming
increasingly concentrated in small number of people in large corporations and that within the corporation itself the
right to exercise control which in law was vested in the hands of dispersed absentee shareholders, was effectively
being usurped by entrenched management. Berie & Menes do not however, envisage transfer of power per se
but lay emphasis on the initial conflict between the objectives of shareholders and managers. In this process the
certification by an independent auditor gains importance.
Accountability and appropriate means for enforcing it is the main criteria of audit, particularly management audit.
The process of accountability includes following elements:
(ii) Identification of objectives and the provision of relevant information to those objectives.
The value of auditing can be only judged by its ability to promote accountability of an organisation through their
participants. The process of accountability is concerned with the needs of the participants of an organisation to
determine the extent to which the behaviour of the organization conforms with their expectations. The monitoring
mechanism should have sufficient variety to provide appropriate information to enable the participants to attempt
the affect the behaviour of the organization.
(1) Management audit is useful in synthesizing, accounting, economic and other data required by management
in constructing basic policy framework.
(2) Management audit assists in establishing, reviewing and improving the planning system.
(3) Management audit makes substantial contribution to system of goal setting in the organization.
(4) Management audit ensures that the management is getting the adequate information for correct decisions.
(5) Management audit ensures that the management properly uses the information that it is getting.
(6) Management audit aids in the design and maintenance of adequate authority structure.
(7) It helps in the improvement information system to expedite flow of information among responsibility centres.
(9) It helps management in pinpointing key functions or operations in the profit-making process.
(11) It helps management to avoid wasteful, unnecessary and extravagant use of resources.
Unlike statutory audits, management audit does not have any specific area for conducting audit. It covers
the entire arena of management operations including organisation, personnel, administration, manufacturing,
marketing, finance, research and development and other areas. The audit is expected to cover every activity of
the organisation undertaken in pursuance of organizational objectives or policies decided by the Board of Directors
from time to time. It is left to the creativity of the auditor to lay down for himself the areas to be taken up for audit.
In the result, management audit covers examination of efficient performance of the activities of the organisation.
Management Process
Planning
Organizing
Staffing
Coordination
Communication
Direction
Control
Innovation
Management audit should not be confused with organizational audit or administrational audit, which may form
part of management audit. Management audit by concept goes into the details of managerial effectiveness in
conducting the operations of an organisation.
Functions: The functions of management audit extend to audit of the effective functioning of every area of operations
coming under the management purview from the stage of its planning to proper implementation and execution.
Every manufacturing or service organisation could broadly be identified into the following functional areas –
(ii) Marketing, including selling and distribution.
(iii) Manufacturing/servicing, including maintenance of supply chain, machinery and equipment, etc.
(iv) Human resource management from selection to recruitment, training, motivating, retaining, advancement,
etc.
(v) Personnel policies and industrial relations.
(vi) Finance including maintenance of accounts and providing accounting information to guide the management
of its performance and position.
(vii) Research & development including application research and basic research, if any.
An understanding of the objectives of each functional area at every level of the organisation and effectively
achieving such objectives shall be the prime responsibility of management. Checking of such effective achievement
is the function of management audit. These are dealt with in more detail in subsequent sections.
Financial audit is statutory requirement for most of the businesses or public organisations/institutions. Tax audit under
the Income-tax Act can also be covered under this category. It is an exploratory critical review by an approved
independent agency and a monitoring mechanism to determine the extent to which the behaviour of the
organisation conforms to the expectations within a definite frame work. It leads to an opinion on the correctness of
the presented data and information. It also ensures adherence to generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis. However, financial audit has a major shortcoming. It is only a postmortem. It is procedural
and rule oriented. It can not be used as a management tool due to its annual reporting. The information therein
comes too late, is too much in aggregate and is too little for managerial decision.
Cost audit is also a legal reporting exercise, connected with annual reporting to the government regarding efficiency
of operations with particular reference to a specified product in a prescribed format. It restricts the freedom of the
auditor to report, being confined to specific areas only. The report does not reach the investors i.e. shareholders.
It does not examine and analyse the role of top management in leading and decision making. However, cost
audit deals with many strategic functions of an organisation and can be developed into management audit by
interaction of cost auditor with Board of Directors and by widening its scope.
Internal audit is useful in ensuring a reliable accounting system. It helps internal monitoring of the effectiveness of
control procedures. It helps in generation of reliable financial information depending on the reliability of accounting
system itself. This is an indirect help to financial auditors as it reduces their work. Internal audit is compulsory for
companies above a prescribed size under Companies (Auditors’ Report) Order, 2015 under the Companies Act,
2013 in India. Gradually, the scope of internal audit in Indian Companies has been enlarged from merely clerical
activity to a management tool of great use. It is carried out by own employees at middle level in large and medium
companies who cannot report fearlessly. It is mainly confined to verification or compliance of set procedures. It
does not cover top management appraisal or responsibility accounting.
Operational audit concentrates on seeking out aspects of operations in which waste, inefficiency and excessive
costs would be subject to reduction by the introduction of improvement of operating controls. It is audit of the
performance at mainly operating level i.e. supervisory level. It is also termed as micro level management audit.
Management audit extends to the entire management decision making areas and has a broader time frame
to analyse past, present and the future. Hence it becomes a qualitative audit and not audit of only value and
quantity. Management audit brings out errors or policy, decisions, and actions with recommendations to avoid
them. Management audit extends beyond operations audit.
Techniques by which the auditor can identify problems areas warranting detailed examination and
source of his information are as follows:
(i) Identification of possible control weakness by survey
During the preliminary survey work though which practical working information is obtained on
how the activity is supposed to function and on how the activity is supposed to function and on
how control procedures are supposed to work, key features or aspects can usually be identified
which appear to be difficult to control effectively or to be susceptible to abuse. In a purchasing
organisation, for example, the key points in the purchasing process may be –
a. the determination made of the quantities and the quality of materials to be purchased.
b. The procedure followed in obtaining the best prices, and
c. The methods for determining whether the correct quantities and quality are actually received.
If, in relation to the total purchasing operation, the auditor concludes that these processes are
the most critical from the standpoint of the need for good performance, he would be justified in
concentrating his testing work on them.
(ii) Review of management reports
The auditor’s review of internal reports which the management itself regularly uses to obtain
information on progress, status, or accomplishment of work can be valuable sources of information
on possible problem areas suggesting audit attention.
(iii) Review of internal audit or inspection reports.
These report can also be a valuable source of information on problem areas. Of particular interest
to the management auditor are those reports which bring to light significant findings on which the
management has taken no action. Inquiry into the reasons and justification for inaction in such
cases should be made, since these circumstances could throw light on weaknesses in management
system that have not previously been referred to the management for resolution.
(iv) Physical inspection
Physical inspections of the organisation’s activities and resources can be a useful way of identifying
possible inefficiencies. Examples are apparently excess accumulations of material, idle or little used
equipments, employee idleness, rejections of product by inspectors (or customers), executive rework
operations, or disposal of apparently useful materials or equipment.
(v) Test examination of transactions
A very useful way to obtain a practical insight into the efficacy of procedures is to pursue a number
of transactions pertaining to the organisation’s operations from initiation to final disposition. This
kind of testing will provide the auditor with valuable information on the organisation’s business is
actually transacted, on the usefulness (or pertinence) of prescribed procedure, on the capabilities
of personnel involved in the various operating phases, and on possible weaknesses in procedures
or practices which could represent an unnecessary drain on the organisation’s resources (i.e.
ineffective or inefficient performance)
(vi) Discussions with the officials and employees
The management auditor can obtain valuable information on problem areas warranting audit
attention through discussions with responsible officials in the organisation and other employees
concerned. The degree of success in obtaining useful information in this way is, in large part,
dependent on the auditor’s reputation for independent and constructive inquiry. If he is regarded
with fear because of overly critical reporting in the past, this source of information may not be
productive.
Testing procedures and practices
Testing procedures and practices first requires some preliminary review work to obtain information
on how they actually work and an insight into their effectiveness and usefulness. On the basis of
such review, specific matters may be identified as problem areas on weaknesses needing further
probing. The general factors to be considered by the auditor in his preliminary review work on
management controls are :
― Whether the policies of the organization comply with its basic charter or grant of authority.
― Whether the system of procedures and management controls is designed to carry out those
policies and result in activities being conducted as desired by the top management, and in
an efficient and economical manner.
― Whether the system of management controls provides adequate control over the organisation’s
resources, revenues, costs and expenditures.
Specific factors which may well be considered by the auditor in assessing the management control
system and identifying problem area warranting more detailed audit include –
The use by management of standards or goals in judging accomplishment, productivity, efficiency
in the use of goods or services.
Lack of clarity in written procedures, misunderstandings or inconsistent interpretations in the
organisation may affect :-
― capabilities of personnel
― failures to accept responsibilities
― duplication of effort
― improper or imprudent use of funds
― cumbersome or extravagant organsational patterns
― ineffective or useful use of employees and physical resources.
This; listing is indicative of the kinds of factors that an alert management auditor must keep in mind
in all his work. The knowledge gained in preliminary review that is conducted in recognition of
these kinds of factors provides a solid basis for more detailed examination work that can lead to
constructive improvements in the management system.
(3) Techniques of management audit :
Techniques employed by a management auditor in effectively carrying out his audit are –
(i) Accounting or economic techniques
(a) Break-even analysis
(b) Budgetary control including flexible budget system
(c) Cost management techniques indicating how an organisation’s assets should be allocated over
competing projects or to decide whether it is worth proceeding with the investment, keeping in
view proportionate value of expenditure on such projects.
(d) Discounted cash flow and net present value methods.
(e) Cost benefit analysis.
(f) Standard costing and marginal costing
(g) Activity based costing to test the relevance of costs to activities.
(h) Quality analysis of company transactions.
(ii) Scientific techniques
(a) Computer Models : There are many types of problems which can be solved on a computer e.g.
decision on material mix, product, mix, make or buy etc.
(b) Network analysis : To analyse strings of tasks to arrange them in sequential or parallel order to
complete the project in shortest possible time.
(c) Mathematical programming solving by heuristic (trial and error) techniques to determine the best
material mix, best use of organisation’s transport fleet, the best mix of products to obtain, to maximize
profits and optimum use of labour, finance, equipments, etc. Linear programming is usually effective
when relationship vary in linear order whereas quadratic programming may be used when the
variations are in the order of square root of some other factors.
(iii) Statistical techniques
(a) Activity sampling : It is one of the many ways in which the present workloads can be measured to
obtain controls to be exercised by management.
(b) Monte Carlo Simulation : In this a number of variables are drawn from large statistical population
which have equal choice of being selected and obtain the best sample possible.
time has to build up a competent team of people, who possess the qualifications attributed to a management
auditor.
As a management auditor is concerned with all aspects of the business and the organisation, ranging from
manufacture, to marketing and finance, the management audit team should be multi-disciplinary to make
multidimensional approach to audit function.
A competent management audit team, internal to an organisation, could effectively be represented by the
heads of various departments viz., production, materials management, maintenance, personnel, marketing,
finance, industrial engineering, quality control, etc. Such a team can competently lead and direct the audit
to attain the organisational objectives.
(8) Audit Checklist :
A management auditor shall normally maintain an audit checklist to ensure that he has not omitted any areas
that require to be audited. The organisational areas covered fall under the broad categories of :-
- Planning
- Organising
- Staffing
- Coordinating
- Communicating
- Directing
- Motivating
- Controlling and
- Innovating
In these areas an auditor should look for any weakness which may affect efficiency of the organisation. His
checklist can be made area wise and may be overlapping or complementary between different areas.
(i) Directorial weakness
(ii) Management weakness
(iii) Organisational weakness
(iv) Financial weakness
(v) Systems weakness
(vi) Procedural weakness
(vii) Functional weakness
(viii) Operational weakness
(ix) Marketing weakness
(x) Industrial relations weakness
(xi) Weakness in meeting social responsibilities, and
(xii) Security lapses etc.
A model list of audit checklist under various categories is attached in the Appendix hereto.
Corporate Objectives
Corporate Objectives are the overall objectives of the organization that influence the direction of corporate strategy.
In other words, what the organization seeks to achieve is corporate objective. These are the specific, realistic and
measurable aims which an organisation plans to achieve. These represent the charter that the organisation has
laid down for itself. These corporate objectives could either be written or unwritten. Many experts feel it would be
better to have a written charter for any body in the organization or outside to know what the organization stands
for and to be understood and followed, rather than known by trial and error. Moreover, all good plans must support
the overall corporate objectives of the organisation. For example, the corporate objectives of a company could be
to become global leader in the next five years. This means that all individual plans must support the achievement
of this objective. Similarly, the corporate objectives of world famous ‘NIKE’ company are reproduced as under:
• Protect & improve Nike’s position as the number one athletic brand in America;
• Build a strong momentum in growing fitness market;
• Intensify the company’s effort to develop products that women need and want;
• Explore the market for products specifically designed for the requirements of maturing Americans;
• Direct & manage the company’s international business as it continues to develop;
• Continue the drive for increased margins through proper inventory management and fewer, better products.
The corporate objectives of ‘General Electric Company’, USA are :
“To become the most competitive enterprise in the world by being number one or number two in market share in
every business the company is in.”
“Culture is to know best that has been said and thought in the world” – Mathew Arnold.
Culture refers to a corporate’s values, beliefs and behaviours on the basis of which people interpret experiences
and behave. Generally firms with strong cultures achieve higher results. In simple language, corporate culture is the
operating working environment and is shaped by the way people conduct their work, the way customers are treated
and served, the way workers interact with each other or their supervisors or the way people present themselves.
Corporate culture unites the enterprise as a family and develops closeness of feeling among all. Like a family culture,
customs and traditions Successful companies often boast about “our accomplishments” and “my failures”, whereas
unsuccessful companies generally have as the three R’s in their corporate culture i.e., “resistance”, “resentment”
and “revenge” and these three ‘R’ send an organization on its way to “tiredness”. Thus, the corporate culture is
always visible in workers attitudes, work ethics and impacts heavily upon workers ability to make decisions and
respond to customer needs, workers satisfaction and ultimately the bottom line. It must be understood that the
corporate culture is always independent of corporate policies and usually comes from the corporation’s leaders,
even though it belongs to all employees collectively.
An example, which is often given, is that some of the companies continue to introduce market innovations, dominate
markets and are highly profitable, while other companies in the same business continue to struggle with success
eluding them. Since all the companies are in the same business, one can easily rule out the external factors like
market conditions. This leaves one with the conclusion that the lack of success is caused directly by the company
and the type of environment or culture it has for taking decisions.
In this era of globalization, successful companies have a customer driven corporate culture. They know that it is
customers that can make a company successful and all employees are very important in making the company
successful. Successful companies listen to their customers and provide the products that give the customer what
he wants (customer satisfaction) and not what the company wants to sell. Responsiveness to the consumer is the
ultimate key. Employees must believe that what they do every day has an effect upon the business’ success and
that these effects are cumulative. Many a times, we hear from managers in corporate life “I know it doesn’t make
sense, but it’s the policy as long as anyone remembers?” Dynamic leadership of successful companies always
constructively challenges rules and assumptions in favour of customer satisfaction leading to building up of a
successful company.
Culture is reflected in every activity, speech, habit, manners, behaviour, action, dress etc., and in fact in every
turn in the organization. Projection of good culture ensures a healthy corporate life. Management is not only a
technique, it is also a culture. An enterprise should be identified with its culture, like Mahatma Gandhi with Ahimsa
or Harishchandra with truth, similarly a corporate body with quality, schedule of delivery or ensuring payment
promises etc. It is the management’s responsibility to ensure the building up of a corporate culture comprising of :
- Commitment to honest productivity
- Planned performance and growth
- Informative, informing and informed, organization
- Consideration for others in partnership with the organization
- Participative management
- Good employee relations
- Good decisions and timely action
- Quality consciousness
- Mutual trust
- Futuristic outlook
- Helpful nature, inter-institutional and towards neighbourhood
- Cleanliness, timeliness, truthfulness, open home, orderliness, humility, creativity, learning, and sense of values.
In this era of globalization, companies are always mired in tough battles for achieving greater efficiencies, differential
products and services to improve their corporate services and enhance their sustainable competitive edge. The
term “Corporate Services” refers to the activities that combine or consolidate certain enterprise-wide needed
support services, provided based on specialized knowledge, best practices, and technology to serve internal
(and sometimes external) customers and business partners. These services co-ordinate the diverse organizational
units and helps them to focus on organizational goals by effectively exploiting resources and developing core
competencies that enable an organization to keep its edge over its industry competitors. It sometimes amounts to
combining operations with another competitor in the same industry to increase competitive strengths and lower
competition among industry rivals.
The business world is now becoming increasingly information intensive and complex. Therefore, companies have
begun to incorporate web-based services into the work place. This has opened up many new challenges and
initiatives. This has radically affected many of the established functions. Some of them have been reduced,
combined or eliminated. This also means that corporate boundaries are completely changing with advantageous
partnering connections with outside service suppliers. Corporate services have now become integral part of the
business value chain.
Corporate services are the support infrastructure of a company. These include public relations, customer assistance
or call centers, training, engineering, human resources and procurement etc. to create new business value and
help the company function more effectively by improving internal processes, managing customer relationships
and extending the organization. The advantages of corporate services are productivity gains, cost savings and
service improvements. The benefits of these services extend to core business areas in form of reduced costs, less
inventory, less working capital requirements, improved procurements and higher profits. It also helps in much higher
efficiency and productivity of the employees as new technologies can introduce an array of new possibilities with
powerful computers and integration of database with web technologies. For example, if departmental managers
were earlier receiving weekly or monthly reports to help them take critical decisions, all this information shall be
available real time online now to help them to track the things which were important to them and take decisions.
The scope of corporate services audit extends to the critical examination of the different aspects of services
and their extent that have been satisfactorily rendered by a corporate body, and of evaluation of degrees of
responsiveness and awareness on the part of such enterprise. Thus the performance of management towards
consumers, employees, shareholders, community, fellow-businessmen and Government is studied separately and
properly evaluated by management auditor. The areas of corporate services audit and the scrutiny and evaluation
criteria can be categorized as follows:
(i) Consumers Quality goods in right quantities at right prices, place and time.
(ii) Employees Pay, training, safety, welfare, industrial relations, etc.
(iii) Shareholders Safety of investment, satisfactory return, appreciation.
(iv) Community Social cost and social benefit, public relations.
(v) Fellow-businessmen Business ethics and fair trade dealings
(vi) State Compliance with the spirit of laws, fair trade practices, payment of taxes.
The appraisal system of corporate services audit should consider the level of contribution a business entity makes to
society and its business environment towards raising the quality of life through better product quality and services
rather than profit maximization. The corporate services audit thus attempts to distinguish between the ends (i.e.
profits) and means (i.e. services) of business and provides a new dimension to the concept of audit approach. It
is the fulfillment of social responsibility of a business unit. Auditor’s responsibility lies in evaluating the company’s
response to social needs.
Market changes require continuous innovation within companies to enable them to grow successfully. Thus, successful
personnel development aims at supporting and ensuring innovation processes of a company by efficient and
targeted development of staff ultimately leading to organizational development. Personnel development, a vital
aspect of corporate development is systematic training of managers and specialists to fill present and future needs
for the company. It also helps further individual growth to ultimately facilitate corporate growth and expansion.
The concept of personnel development is essentially long-range in nature. It is aimed at development of efficient,
loyal and hard working employees. Since all the activities in an organisation are accomplished by the people, for
the people and with the people, the aspect of personnel management gains significance.
Successful personnel development concepts must meet company-specific requirements and targets. Also, they
should be efficient, economical and lean. Personal development teaches the staff as to how to become more
productive and effective at work. Essentially, personal development is about having more control of self actions
and emotions and staying motivated irrespective of situation or environment. Evaluation of personnel development
may include the following criteria -
(a) Pre-planning as an essential feature of human resource development.
(b) Ascertaining manpower needs for appropriate education, training and development.
(c) Ascertaining the difference between future needs and existing talent i.e. gap or imbalance.
(d) Adopting a suitable programme of recruitment, selection, training and development to close the gap of
imbalance.
(e) Adequate manpower planning with an appropriate blending of manpower management policies and
manpower management programme.
Scope of personnel function:
“Personnel Management” is that part of the management function which is primarily concerned with the human
relationships within an organization. Its objective is essentially the maintenance of those relationships, which enable
all those engaged in the undertaking to make their maximum personal contribution to the effective working of that
undertaking. Therefore personnel management is concerned with managing people at work. It is concerned with
employees, both as individuals as well as a group. It is essentially one of development of efficient, loyal and hard
working employees. Personnel management is concerned with helping the employees to develop their potentialities
and capacities to the maximum possible extent. The functional areas along with the scope of human resources
management and development indicated below may be identified as the component of personnel function -
(a) Organization review and analysis : Continuous review and analysis of organization’s operation may be
necessary in order to determine and develop appropriate work structure, roles and responsibilities, inter and
intra-department relationship, and levels of authority.
(b) Manpower, planning, recruitment and selection : Forecasting and planning is essential to needs an organization
for a sufficient number of qualified personnel for manning its operations.
(c) Manpower training and development : Appropriate methods and techniques of training and development
may be adopted. Proper facilities and opportunities are to be provided for personnel to enable them to
acquire necessary skills and knowledge to perform the jobs for which they are employed.
(d) Performance appraisal : There should be proper measuring, rating and evaluation of performance of personnel,
guiding employee development and promoting motivation, communication and equity.
(e) Employee remuneration : This function includes developing and administering appropriate system of
remuneration including job evaluation, wage and salary structure, incentive payments, fringe benefits and
non-financial rewards.
(f) Employee services : There should be satisfactory services relating to the safety, health and welfare of all
employees, including social security plans and community development programmes.
(g) Administration and records : This includes designing, implementing and controlling of adequate records and
administrative procedures to provide useful and pertinent information for planning purposes and for the
documentation for all personnel in service.
(h) Industrial relations : It includes establishing appropriate procedures for the resolution for personnel and
institutional differences by means of appropriate measures and machinery, e.g. standing orders, grievance
procedures, conciliation, collective bargaining, and joint consultation.
(i) Auditing and research in manpower management : These are the responsibilities of personnel management,
which call for the attention of a management auditor.
The primary responsibility of a business enterprise towards consumers is to make available the products of the right
qualities at the right time, in right quantity, at the right place and right price. The consumer services audit critically
examines and appraise management on these aspects of services. It is therefore an audit of public responsibility
of business enterprise in relation to its customers and is a part of social audit. The audit is based on the philosophy
that the role of business should be conducive to raising the quality of life through its contribution in terms of better
product-quality and services.
Checklist on ‘consumer services’ evaluation:
A management auditor while examining the consumer services policies and practices in an organization may use
the following questionnaire -
A. Products related policies and practices:
(a) Do the products manufactured meet the needs of the customers of different classes, different tastes
and different purchasing power?
(b) Whether the prices are reasonable and consistent with the quality variations, efficiency variations?
(c) Whether the prices include reasonable profit?
(d) Whether the prices have been fixed under competitive market or monopolistic conditions subject of
Government restrictions?
(e) Whether detailed information regarding the product, service, company profile and policies etc. are
adequately disseminated in order to ensure that the communication made to the customers regarding
price, quality, services, etc. are truthful?
(f) Whether after-sales service spare parts facility etc. enable customers to derive maximum satisfaction?
(g) Whether the company undertakes adequate research in regard to products and customer behaviour
so as to make their products more satisfactory to the customers?
(h) Whether constant efforts are made for improvement of the product’s use value as well as esteem value?
(i) Whether the management assumes responsibility of ‘product development’ function as a continuous
exercise in relation to society in general and the consumers in particular?
(j) Whether the product development programme considers the factors of standardization, simplification
and specialization?
(k) Whether such programme is undertaken to meet only the short-term demand or long-term requirements?
(l) Whether the company policies and practices, relating to the distribution of products among different
sections of customers, fair and equitable?
B. Customer Relationship
(a) Whether the customer complaints are handled promptly and efficiently?
(b) Whether the company responds quickly to the customers’ enquiries relating to product or services?
(c) Whether the labels of the products contain adequate information to help the consumers to appreciate
quality and other characteristics of the products?
(d) Whether the company cooperates with the groups and associations representing customers?
(e) Whether the company provides useful suggestions and renders necessary assistance to ‘consumer’s
cooperatives’ for distribution of quality goods at reasonable price?
C. General Considerations
(a) Whether safety norms relating to products are maintained as per the accepted standards laid down by
the statutory bodies, such as ISI, BSS, etc.?
(b) Whether performance guarantees are explicitly stated?
(c) How do the merits of the company’s own products match the advantages to the consumers, if mentioned
in the advertisements?
(d) Whether the technical data given in the sales promotional media specific and not ambiguous?
(e) How does the company ensure proper remedy against customer complaints when products are made
available to the consuming public through a large network of distributors as well as retail outlets?
(f) Whether the policies and practices of the company are adequate to combat artificial scarcities?
(g) Whether all the “warranties” are explicitly stated? Is the procedure for invocation of warranty stated in
unambiguous terms?
(h) Whether the fundamental aspect of servicing responsibility to consumer recognized by the enterprise
as a policy measure?
(i) Whether there are instances of relaxation of policy norms in respect of responsibilities to customers even
when the distribution of goods is made through middlemen?
Environment includes entire biological, physical and social milieu in which man and other organisms are placed
and no organism however simple or complex can survive on their removal from the environment. In order to make
progress, man has produced destructive, hazardous and often irreversible changes in the environment on which he
is totally dependent. With a view to improving living and nutritional standards, man has interfered with practically
every sphere in natural ecosystem. The man-made pollutants that greatly influence the quality of environment are
– metals, petroleum products, volatile industrial chemicals, heat and exhausts generated due to the burning of fossil
fuels, radioactive species from reactors and nuclear reactors, organic and domestic wastes – as most of these are
discharged untreated into the environment. Pollution is thus a kind of interference to the environment degradation.
The problems of such environmental degradation – air, water, noise pollution, solid wastes, radiation hazards, thermal
pollution, are threats to wildlife, depletion and destruction of natural resources, etc. are all environmental crisis and
threats affecting the delicate balance of natural ecosystem. Pollution can be described in the following ranges -
(i) Pollution as any alteration of the environment.
(ii) Pollution as the right of the territorial sovereign (it indicates the limit of pollution allowed within geographical
borders of a state).
(iii) Pollution as a damage to man and to the environment.
(iv) Pollution as interference with other uses of the environment
(v) Pollution as exceeding the assimilative capacity of the environment.
The level of pollution varies with the density of population and per capita income and inversely with the extent
of recycling, technology and waste treatment. The different types, cause and effects of environmental pollution
may be as follows -
(a) Air pollution:
Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates or biological materials
that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms or damage the environment. Air pollution
iscaused by burning coal or crude oil like naptha in power stations, smoke from factories, exhaust fumes
from automobiles, solvent losses and agricultural chemicals, etc. Air pollution leads to deaths and respiratory
diseases.
(b) Water pollution :
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers and/or oceans caused by effluents
from breweries and tanneries, coal washeries, chemical plants, discharge of coolants from nuclear power
plants, pesticides and agricultural chemicals. Water pollution affects public health and safety, causes damage
to property and leads to many economic losses.
(c) Noise pollution:
Noise pollution is a type of energy pollution in which distracting, irritating or damaging sounds are freely audible
and is caused by noise due to running of heavy machines, big aircrafts, aircraft, drilling machines, etc. Noise
pollution may lead to loss of efficiency at work, loss of hearing and causes psychological disorders, even
insanity.
(d) Smell pollution:
Discharge of industrial products, unclear garbage dumps, open sewers, etc. It affects physical well-being
and even causes psychological disorders.
(e) Thermal pollution:
Large inputs of heated water from a single plant or a number of plants using the same lake or slow-moving
stream can have harmful effects on aquatic life. Thermal pollution is radiation of heat generated by plants in
industries. Warmer temperatures lower dissolved oxygen content and cause aquatic organisms to increase
their respiration rates consume oxygen faster and increases their susceptibility to disease, parasites, and toxic
chemicals. Thermal pollution affects ecological balance and thereby the inhabitants.
(f) Visual pollution :
Effluents from chemical plants and washeries are discharged into the waterways causing reduced visibility.
Industrial fumes and dust causing loss of landscape attractiveness and strain to vision of pedestrians and
motorists, may cause more road accidents and traffic deaths.
(g) Climate pollution:
Radiation of heat in highly industrial centres leading to “micro climate zones” causing deforestation, shortening
plants growth and affecting surroundings. It affects ecological balance and causes damages to plant and
surroundings.
General
A management and administration auditor operating the following series of checks must remember that many of
them are complementary. A correct picture of the effectiveness of any single function may not be completely
obtainable from a review of checks in that area alone. Each function must be seen as a balanced part of a whole
organization.
Directorial Checks
(a) What routine reports are considered as directors’ meetings and do these prima facie provide information
for effective and efficient control of the business?
(b) Do the directors receive projected information covering the various functions of the business, in addition to
any figures which they receive to enable them to review the present performance of the business?
(c) Is there evidence that directors established their control primarily on such projections secondarily on past
records?
(d) “Whether the Director review and approve the strategic and financial plans for achieving long-term success
of the company.
(e) What is the directors’ policy for ensuring that the right kind of senior managers including CEO are engaged?
(f) What interest do directors take in R&D? In particulars, if formal R&D facilities are available, what significant
efforts are made to relate these to market research?
(g) Have the directors set out the objects of the organization in writing?
(h) Are all activities of the organization within the scope of its objectives?
(i) Whether they have been briefed about major risks faced by the business and strategies for addressing these
risks.
(j) Do these include the ratio of capital aimed to be employed in the business, the objectives earning per share,
the planned growth of the latter and the control of the former?
(k) What control do directors exercise on the cash flow?
(l) What is the method of determining budgets and the reporting system in connection therewith?
(m) What steps have the directors taken to see that the objectives of the business are effectively communicated
to their managers?
(n) Have the directors defined the responsibilities of their various senior manages? Within such responsibilities have
they set such senior managers defined objectives and established procedures for measuring the managers’
performance against such objectives?
(o) Do up-to-date organization structure exist? If so, do they show lateral as well as vertical relationships?
(p) What control do directors exercise over senior management training?
(q) What steps have been taken to compare the results of the various units of the organization with each other?
(r) What control is exercised on transfer prices within the group organisation?
(s) How do the directors discharge their responsibilities for the certification of the stock for balance sheet
purposes?
(t) Are special efforts made to control the management of technical and administrative service, as well as the
management of operating departments?
(u) If the articles of association require a directors’ share qualifications, do the various members of the board
hold the number of shares required?
(v) Is the Register of Directors’ shareholding maintained correctly?
(w) Have the annual returns of the Register of Companies been made in accordance with statutory requirements?
(x) Is the register of charges correctly maintained?
(y) Has the statutory AGM (where applicable) been held, and has not more than the statutory allowable time
elapsed since the last AGM?
(z) Have extraordinary general meetings been called when required, and the requisite extraordinary land/or
special resolution been passed where applicable?
(aa) Check there are no loans to directors except those which are statutory allowable?
(ab) Is the register of Directors and Securities correctly maintained?
(ac) What is the attendance record of directors at directors’ meeting?
(ad) Are minutes of such meetings and of all general meting carefully kept?
(ae) Does a scrutiny of the directors’ meetings minutes reveal that all necessary authorities and actions are
obtained or taken, in accordance with statutory requirements, and the Articles of Association?
(af) What efforts do the directors make to coordinate the activities of the various departments of the company,
and to avoid duplication?
(ag) What have the directors done to ensure the provisions of adequate management information and its
dissemination?
(ah) Whether the details of management reports structured according to the levels to be informed?
(ai) Are the principles of management by exception applied to management information?
(aj) How do the directors exercise functional control of the business?
(ak) For function specific function is each director responsible?
(al) What arrangement have the directors made for effective internal communication?
(am)What arrangements have the directors made for effective external communication?
(an) Do such arrangements made adequate provision for the upward flow of information.
(ao) Are communications with customers and the general market satisfactory?
Managerial Checks
(a) Are all level of managers competent in their functions?
(b) What evidence is there that managers are up-to-date in their particular function?
(c) Do all managers sufficiently and efficiently delegate their function?
(d) Are there any example of delegation to the point where control is lost?
(f) Is it possible to identify the management styles of the senior managers and assess their effectiveness?
(j) Are job specifications available for each or the majority of positions?
(m) Whether or not they are in witting, how are they communicated to the staff?
(n) What arrangements are there for keeping such instructions up-to-date?
(o) Is there evidence of the enforcement of any authorizations required by such instructions, for example, for
transactions that only transactions so authorized are allowed?
(i) Managers?
(iv) Trainees?
(s) Are the training tailored to the differing needs of the staff?
(t) Have the possibilities of the various tutorial devices been investigated or exploited?
(u) Are the efficient management for the recoupment of Training Board levies for all training carried out?
(w) How do managers plan the staff work load and control its flow?
(x) Is there evidence that the generally recognized management techniques are used as appropriate?
(z) How effective are managers in their use of computer facilities? Is there evidence of action other than the
passive receipt of computer processed statistics?
Organisational Checks
(a) How effective is the coordination and integration of the various departments?
(b) Is there any evidence of duplication of function as between one department and another?
(c) What is the management information system and who is responsible for it?
(d) Is the information supplied well and logically presented in the various reports?
(e) Is the information structured in such a way that the information given in the highest level reports is analysed
in detail in the next level reports, and the information given in the second level reports analysed in the third
level reports, etc.? If not, what is the detailed information retrieval system?
(f) What strengths and weaknesses of the organisation are revealed by the scrutiny of the special reports?
(g) Do special reports in general evidence of critical appraisal?
(h) How is the budget structure related to operational responsibilities and how are expenditure controlled within
the budget and remedial actions taken?
(i) How is inflation catered for in budgets?
(j) Is reporting based on the exception principle, or what other methods are used to highlight information areas
requiring investigation?
(k) Has each manager defined the responsibilities of his staff?
(l) What forms do such definitions take? Are they available to other members of the staff so that they can see
their relationship to each other?
(m) Are common data files established for the use of several departments, particularly if the data processing is
carried by computer?
(n) What checks are there on the accuracy of the information in such files? Are there strict controls on their
amendments?
(o) Who has authority to amend such file information?
(p) What security controls are there on the various levels of management information?
(q) Is there evidence of good vertical information flow?
(r) Is there also evidence of satisfactory lateral information flow?
(s) Does the typical manager consult his subordinates as well as his superiors?
(t) What opportunities do subordinates have for brining their knowledge of detail to bear upon their superiors
problems?
(u) Is there evidence of an external communication policy?
(v) Who has responsibilities for market communication? What are the principal policies and types in this respect?
(w) What is the quality of trade communication? Does this extend to inter-firm comparisons?
(x) Has management, generally a good credibility rating?
(y) How is the business controlled in general?
(z) Who is responsible for cash flow control? Is such control obviously effective?
(aa) Especially in a vertically structured organisation what kind of planning takes place to synchronize the timings
and capacities of the various units?
(ab) What part does transport play in point (aa) and who controls this?
(ac) In horizontally structured organizations, is sufficient advantage taken of comparative statistics and the promotion
of health being made to standardize procedure in the same type of unit?
(ad) In a conglomerate organisation, what financial controls are employed, in addition to those usual in other
organisation, to take into account of the diverse production controls and market conditions?
(ae) What degree of interchangeability of staff is possible? Do interchanges take place where economically viable?
(af) In case of centralized organisation, is the response time to stimuli from the units adequate?
(ag) What are the pros and cons for centralization in the organisation being studied?
(ah) Is operational control of the various units largely decentralized? If so, what degree of central control is there
and how is it organized?
(ai) Is the central control adequate?
(aj) Is the reporting structure from the operating units good?
(ak) In a largely decentralized business, are services which would otherwise be uneconomically duplicated,
provided at the center?
Capital Checks
(a) Given that the directors ultimately control the cash flow in the sense of receiving reports and acting thereon,
who actually controls the cash flow on a day to day basis?
(b) How effective is the control of cash flow? Does the cash flow plan include control of important liquid assets
other than cash? Is there evidence that temporary cash surpluses are used to gain short term interest, if
necessary on a day-to-day basis?
(c) Is the cash flow plan adequately linked to the sales budget finished goods, inventory budget and raw materials
procurement, e.g. to reflect the cash requirements for inflation, a sudden demand for raw materials or extra
labour, or to meet an unexpected sales upsurge? Is the control system capable of quick response to the mix
and quantity of transactions affecting cash?
(d) Is the working capital adequate?
(e) Is the capital employed the optimum for the business?
(f) Are the fixed assets valued carefully, especially in the sense that land and buildings can be substantially under
valued in an inflationary environment and result in unrealistic business decisions?
(g) What authorizations are required for the purchase of fixed assets and are they effective?
(h) Is there an up-to-date asset register, and how are the assets physically identifiable?
(i) How often is the asset register compared with the actual fixed assets position?
(j) Where asset purchase control is exercised by value, is there evidence of any circumvention of the controls
by splitting orders, or by rental or lease arrangements, for instance?
(k) Is the right amount of technical appraisal being made before the purchase of fixed assets?
(l) Is there a similar commercial appraisal relating to the acquisition of capital assets in each case to suit the
business or the type of asset acquired, e.g. by purchase, lease or rental alternatives?
(m) Is there continual appraisal of the fixed assets of the company? In certain circumstances, might it not be
advantageous to sell property and lease it back from the purchaser?
(n) Is the equity and loan capital adequate of the business?
(o) How do the ratio of such capital compare with other business audited?
(p) What is the earnings ratio of such capital employed in the business?
(q) How do the earnings ratios compare with the business of the same type, in the same trade federation, etc.?
(r) What is the capital structure in relation to ordinary and preference share and between equity and loan capital,
and how does this gearing affect the business?
(b) Has the right balance between such methods being achieved over all?
(c) Are there adequate controls on the accuracy of all systems?
(d) Is efficient use made in manual systems of aids such as add-listing machine, to check, for example, that the
positing made to individual accounts total to the posting of a control account?
(e) Are similar methods used in mechanical systems, e.g. to check that an accounting machine total agrees with
a pre listed total of items posted on accounting machine?
(f) Is use made of appropriate office techniques, such as photocopying, duplicating etc?
(g) Is such equipment the best of the particular purpose for which it is being used?
(h) Are the systems the best that can be devised?
(i) Are computer systems used where appropriate, for example, a mini computer instead of a small selection of
accounting machines?
(j) Is the computer installation appropriate in size and staffing?
(k) Is the computer process and its peripherals correctly balanced to the work load?
(l) What control is exercised on input to an output from the computer installation, and if by a control system is
this sufficiently independent?
(m) Who has access to the computer installations?
(n) Do programmers or system have any direct control of the data preparation unit?
(o) Who has access to the computer installations?
(p) How is the amendment of such programmes controlled?
(q) What arrangements are there for the testing programmes before operational use?
(r) Is there evidence of specific testing material rather than random selection of data from files?
(s) How is systems testing organized?
(t) Does the systems testing cover operating systems, files management, operation messages, data management,
job control routines and fault detection?
(u) Are recovery procedures featured in systems testing?
(v) Does the systems testing cover throughout and response time under actual operating conditions and stimulated
faults, with all possible volumes, types and combination of transactions?
(w) What is the utilization of the various pieces of computer equipment?
(x) What is the percentage of down time or misuse time, due to programming error, data error, or bad instructions,
(y) How is data processing work scheduled through the computer?
(z) If data transmission methods are used, are they necessary and do they justify their cost?
(aa) What evidence is there of the economic use of computer?
(ab) Is input editing by computer methods at the data preparation stage?
(ac) Is the editing carried out on a special purpose data preparation computer?
(ad) If so, is the cost justified by the extent of the utilization of the main computer on other data processing?
(ae) Is the maximum use made of such methods as spoiling, multiprogramming and 24 hour shifts rather than
extending the size of the computer?
(af) Is there full documentation of all programs and systems?
(i) What procedures are there for dealing with over-deliveries and under-deliveries?
(j) Is there an effective system of inspection of materials received?
(k) Are 100 percent of the goods received inspected, or are they sampled, or what other inspection method is
used?
(l) What accounting procedures are there for ensuring that rejected goods are debited to the supplier, either on
return, or when scrapped, and for charging the supplier for any re-work done to make the goods acceptable?
(m) Are there any statistical routines to determine the quality standards of suppliers and the rejection rates of
goods supplied by them?
(n) Are there similar routines to determine the supplier’s relative ability to deliver on time?
(o) Are standards conditions printed on the order forms, and do they adequately cover the purchaser for the
commercial and business hazards applying to the purchase of goods? For example, do the conditions make
clear whether the carrier is to be construed the agent of the seller or the buyer?
(p) What system is used for validating incoming invoices for goods?
(q) What method of control prevents duplicate payment for goods?
(r) What purchasing measuring are taken to rationalize cash flow and the amount of capital locked up in stocks?
(s) Are there means for assessing buyers’ workloads?
(d) Within the permitted overall value coverage of stocks, how are permitted quantities of each stock item
determined?
(e) Is the stock of each item definitely related to the production program and the forecasted sales?
(g) How is raw material stock valued for production purposes and for balance sheet purposes?
(j) What are the procedures to be followed when stock is found to be defective in store?
(l) Who has authority to issue stock at other than the normal prices to production or to customers?
(n) Are all stock movements accounted for by any paper work?
(o) Is there any security check that goods leaving the premises are covered by one or other of the permitted
authorizing documents?
(p) What system is in force for counting the stock to reconcile it with the book values, e.g. continuous stock
checking?
(q) What is the procedure for investigating any discrepancies in stock? Who has authority to consider any
investigation closed?
(r) In the case of discrepancies caused by system deficiencies, what follow up is there to ensure that the systems
re improved?
(s) What procedure is there for writing down the value of stock, say, for obsolescence?
(t) If material has been issued to the shop floor as work in progress, what facilities are there in the production
control system for establishing the point at which any stock deficiencies occur?
(u) What controls are there on the over looking or work done by operators?
Production Function Checks
(a) How are the production requirements for raw materials communicated to the purchasing function?
(b) How is the production scheduled and controlled against the schedule?
(c) Are these methods suitable for the type, size and complexity of the production processes?
(d) What is the system for amendments to the production schedule?
(e) How is rescheduling carried out when production is not to schedule, or there are machinery or labour troubles?
(f) What methods are used to control the supply of raw materials for production?
(g) How are labour requirement determined?
(h) What system is there for ensuring good utilisation for machinery and what statistics on the subject are available?
(i) Similarly, what is the system for ensuring good utilisation of labour and what statistics on this subject are
available?
(j) What is the inspection system during production and at the final product stage?
(k) How are scrap items to be re-worked and controlled?
(l) What methods are used for forecasting the production levels that will be required for the future months/years?
(m) How is scheduled production broken down into its constituent items, to be produced at times which will make
them available when required to merge with the part forming the finished product?
(n) Are there efficient preventive maintenance programs for production equipment and machinery?
(o) Is replacement cost information readily available for major items of plant?
Marketing Function Checks
(a) Have clear marketing objectives been set? What are they?
(b) What plans have been developed to attain those objectives?
(c) What is the extent and nature of market research?
(d) What principles apply to product planning?
(e) What arrangements are therefore the planning and control of packaging?
(f) How is the effectiveness of special sales promotions and advertising analysed?
(g) Is the selling administration adequate for the type of market served?
(h) Are transport arrangements suitable for the average size of order, the type of customer served and the pattern
of distribution?
(i) Are there economically satisfactory arrangements for such matters as minimum order, minimum quantities
and particular item and packing carton quantities?
(j) How is the sales force divided geographically, by specialization, according to category of customer, or by
any other method?
(k) How is the performance of salesman measured? Are short falls against targets identifiable to salesmen and
specific customer?
(l) What special incentives are there for salesmen?
(m) How are customers’ orders received?
(n) Has a standard order form been considered?
(o) Are any special support services given to customers, e.g. in the counting and replacement of stock, extended
credit?
(p) Are there routine facilities for collecting information from salesmen on competitors and the reaction of
customers?
(q) In the case of suppliers not dealing directly with the ultimate customer, e.g. suppliers who service wholesaler
only, what arrangements are there for appraising the requirements of the ultimate customer?
(r) Is there a meaningful analysis of customers’ complaints and is such analysis effectively used in the engineering
and product development branches of the business?
(s) What is the coverage of the sales statistics? Are market forecasts compared with actual results in sufficient
detail to identify the reason for discrepancies?
(t) Are there comparative elements in such statistics with the budget, with the previous year with other
representatives and with the other locations?
(u) What are the systems for controlling the amount and rate of credit to customers?
(c) Are control checks made of the agreement of the financial records with the control records of other
departments? For example, do the wages ‘books’ for the appropriate period agree with standards wages
plus or minus variances of the operations processed during the period?
(d) What are the checks on non-row materials expenditure, e.g. capital expenditure, rental and lease of equipment
expenditure, personnel expenditure? Are personnel authorized to approve such expenditure listed, together
with the appropriate limits, and does the accounts departments edit the paper work to ensure that proper
approval has been obtained in each case?
(e) Is there an appropriate system of approval for the engagement of labour, and do the accounts department
check that this has been carried out before entering a person on the pay roll?
(f) Is there a budgetary control system and what is the level of control exercised?
(g) Is there evidence that management and supervisory personnel have been personally involved when their
particular budget was fixed?
(i) What is the method for presenting management and supervision with the actual results against the budgets?
Is this effective?
(j) Are the reasons for the discrepancies carefully ascertained and noted in the records?
(k) How are especially serious discrepancies and the discrepancies which recur without apparent reconciliation
brought to the attention of senior management?
(l) Are the financial records so organized that the performance of senior managers can be measured?
(m) Are the organizational relationships of the finance and accounts departments clearly documented, e.g. in
organizational charts?
(n) Are the duties of various posts within the above departments also documented, e.g. in job specifications?
(o) In such specifications are the holders of the posts given all the authority they require to fulfill the responsibilities
of the posts and are the lines of communication and liaison clearly laid down.
(p) What are the credit control rules and are they being adhered to?
(q) Do the staff understand their service role to operational departments and also their own rules within the overall
service function?
(r) What is the organization’s policy on the acquisition and replacement of assets and the provision of funds for
their replacement?
(s) How are fixed and movable machinery, etc. assets physically controlled?
(t) What evidence is there of effective security of accounting information, particularly that relating to personnel?
(y) Are the method of payment for goods economical and adequately controlled?
(c) Who has the authority to amend the manpower specification, other than in accordance with established
rules, e.g. in proportion to sales?
(d) How do staff measure up to this manpower specification?
(e) Has job evaluation been carried out throughout the organisation and what are the arrangements for evaluating
new jobs as they occur?
(f) Do job specifications exist for all jobs in the organisation?
(g) At what intervals is the structure, age, profession, grade, etc. of employees reviewed in relation to the manpower
specification?
(h) Are adequate personnel records properly maintained at all times?
(i) If such records are kept centrally, what arrangements are there for access to them by remote managers and
supervisors?
(j) Whether they personnel records kept in such a way that selection by employee characteristic can be made
therefrom?
(k) Is there an active training programme?
(l) Who is responsible for training managers
(m) What arrangements are there for the management development?
(n) Are adequate training records kept?
(o) Are personnel records kept in such a way that trainable employees and the progress of those employees
already being trained, can be monitored?
(p) Are there definite career paths within the organisation?
(q) How is basic training carried out?
(r) Is this carried out “in-house”, “externally” or a mixture of both?
(s) Are promotable employees readily identifiable?
(t) Are forecasts prepared of the numbers and structure of personnel that will be required to man the organisation
at future dates?
(u) Is there a definite personnel procurement program related to such forecasts showing how the difference
between present and future structure is to be reconciled?
(v) Is the case of direct operators; is there some definite relationship within the production schedules?
(w) Is there a regular system of individual employee appraisal?
(x) In the absence of a full employee appraisal system, is there some form of periodic review of employees?
(y) Are employee made aware of the management’s view of their performance, and given the opportunity to
discuss the ways in which improvement can be made?
(z) Is there a formal management by objective scheme?
(aa) What controls are there on the hours of work completed, and the starting and finishing time of employees?
(ab) Is the maximum use being made of “local” labour, e.g. by flexible shifts times to suit married women?
(ac) Is absenteeism a serious factor in the organisation?
(ad) How is absenteeism identified?
(ae) Have any serious attempts been made to reduce absenteeism?
(af) What is the employee turnover ratio?
(v) Are systems and procedures continuously checked to ensure that unauthorized modifications are now made?
(w) How are projects controlled?
(x) Are projects selected as a result of cost-benefit studies?
(y) Is a project team leader always appointed?
(z) Are the objectives of a project always specifically stated?
(aa) What measurement of project progress are used?
(ab) What arrangements are there for the periodical review of the progress of project?
(ac) Who decides that projects have been completed to requirements?
(ad) Are appropriate terms of reference established for all organisation projects?
(ae) In the case of new organisation projects, is a “before” and “after” appraisal made to verify to what extent
anticipated benefits or improvements have been achieved in practice? And by whom?
(af) How is data collection and analysis carried out?
(ag) What methods of investigations are used?
(ah) Are tentative solutions to organizational problems tested against the experience of the managers directly
concerned?
(ai) How are new systems “sold” to operating management?
(aj) How are operating staff trained in new methods and parallel run operation controlled?
(ak) How effective in office management?
(al) Is there evidence of the planning of office activities, as distinct from dealing with crises as they arise?
(am) Is there evidence of coordination of the efforts of various elements of the office staff?
(an) How good is the document flow between offices, for the various sections of a large office?
(ao) Has general documentation between examined for readability, distribution and frequency?
(ap) Are office services centralized where this is appropriate and economic?
(aq) How efficient are the company’s communication facilities?
(ar) Are there written standard procedures?
(as) How extensive are they, and to what distribution are they issued?
(at) Is there an index?
(au) What arrangements are there for keeping such procedures up-to-date?
(av) Who issued standard procedures?
(aw) What positive arrangements are there for the prosecution of work simplification programmes?
(ax) In such programmes, are such aids as work distribution and process charts employed?
Equipment Checks
(a) Who authorizes the purchase or rental capital equipment.
(b) What are the procedures for specifying equipment required in potential suppliers and for obtaining competitive
quotations?
(c) Is recently obtained equipment in accordance with the specification, and what are the reasons for differences
if there are any? Is inability to rectify difference due to failure to state the standards of performance required
to fulfill the contract?
(d) How does capital equipment generally relate to the needs of the business? For example, in the case of a
computer installation, is the equipment of the right capacity and balance? Is the input and output equipment
of the right kind and speed to suit the organization’s requirements? Are the backup store facilities too large
or too small?
(e) In the case of equipment which have been replaced recently, or is about to be replaced relatively soon after
acquisition, is there evidence that the original specification bore in mind reasonable development?
(f) In related equipment in different parts of or locations of the organisation compatible either for mutual standby
purposes or to facilitate the interchange of matter processed?
(g) Is the existing equipment compatible with likely or possible development of the concern?
(h) In large organisation, have special purpose or minicomputers been considered as viable as alternatives to
the further use of a central computer?
(i) In particular, where large data inputs are considered, has a separate small computer been considered as a
part of the data entry, editing and validating procedures, prior to data entry to a large processor?
(j) Is equipment being utilised adequately, e.g. by shifts covering 24 hours a day, or by multiprogramming, spooling
and/or virtual storage techniques?
(k) Are data collection systems too sophisticated for the needs of the business?
(l) Is the most efficient copying equipment for the particular needs and volumes of the business being used?
(m) What several types reprographic equipment are available, is each being correctly used in relation to such
things as the number of copies required of the original, the intended recipients and the possibility of alternations
and reruns etc.?
(n) Is there the proper balance of office equipment and facilities, e.g. between manual, electric and automatic
typewriters, and between secretarial services, copy typing and individual and central typing facilities, also,
between the various types of calculators – adding machines, add listing machines and calculating machines
with memories?
(o) Is there the correct balance between computer programmes written in-house, obtained as packages, the use
of standard modules in programmes written in-house, the utilization of the organization’s own programming
staff in relation to, say, obtaining a contract programme for a peak programming requirement not likely or
recur, etc.?
(p) Where a large number of copies of computer output are required, have the merits of producing an offset
master and/or the use of micro film considered?
(q) Have the alternative of rent, lease, or purchase various equipments been considered in relation to such factors
as cash flow, capital employed in the business, rate of technological development and the break-even point
of the replacement of old equipment by new, or in place of manual systems?
(r) In relation to the foregoing, has the other major alternative of buying time on other organization’s equipment
or at service bureaux been considered?
(s) In the case of lease equipment, are the precise terms specified under which upgrades, downgrades and
termination of the use of the equipment are to be allowed?
(t) Have advantages of using a relatively large computer by means of terminals and time sharing been considered,
particularly by a relatively small organisation, or by a large organisation with special requirements?
(u) Finally, in relation to points q, r and t, has the facilities management concept been considered, particularly in
the case of a fairly young organisation that wishes to concentrate its own effort to pursing its basic functions?
(v) What methods are used for the efficient scheduling of the use of machinery?
(w) What evidence is there of smoothing and accelerating the work flow through the business and the rationalization
of the location of machinery, departments and personnel in relation to the work flow?
(x) What transport methods are used – own, common carriers, couriers, the post office? Is this the most effective
mix of such facilities?
(y) What consideration has been given to alternative methods of data transmission, if datapost, fascsimile
transmission, digital transmission by use of the switched network and/private line? The company’s own
transport, etc., and is their the most effective and optimum mix of such facilities.
(z) Have agreed maximum response times been embodies in any maintenance service agreement for critical
equipment?
Methods and Systems Audit Checks
(a) What general control is there on methods and systems?
(b) How efficiently is this exercised?
(c) How are methods and systems knitted into the organizations?
(d) What detailed control is there on the implementation of a system?
(e) If the stages of implementation of a system are sufficiently critical and/or important, is advantage taken of
such techniques as network analysis as one of the means of control?
(f) How are methods and systems maintained and documented?
(g) How are systems evaluated? In particular, if a new system has been introduced, is there a post-evaluation
and is this compared with expectations which were put forward at the time permission to introduce the new
system was sought?
(h) Assuming that a system service is supplied to operating managers, in what form do the operating managers
present their requirements to the departments supplying the system service?
(i) Do such specifications clearly bring out the objects of the procedures required?
(j) What is the method of development of a system from the point of the specification of his requirements by the
operating managers?
(k) Is it part of the introduction of methods and systems procedures to evaluate the degree of efficiency with which
the objects of the present procedure are achieved, before drawing a comparison with proposed system?
(l) When new systems and procedures are being contemplated, is specific provision made for the manner in
which the changeover from the old system to the new is to be carried out, and in particular, how are phasing
out stages of the old system dealt with?
(m) How are systems depicted in discussion and subsequently communicated to the staff who will be required to
operate them?
(n) Are flow charts used as part of (m) above?
(o) Are written standard procedures used as part of (m) above?
(p) How is the documentation used in a new procedure explained to the users?
(q) How effective are any written standard procedures issued as a means of communication of systems
requirements?
(r) Are they written in such a manner that rapid reference can be made to the parts that affect any particular
employee in detail? At the same time, do they give an over all picture of the system of general management
and facilitate initial reading of the procedures?
(s) Where procedures require that authorization should be obtained at certain point before continuing with the
system flow, are such authorizing signatories and the limits of their authority clearly set out or referenced in
the procedure?
(t) Most systems, require the initial setting up or taking over of files or records. What evidence is there that there
has been adequate provision of the setting-up of such files and there is sufficient check on their accuracy
before the new system commences?
(u) What standard arrangements are there for the testing and parallel running of systems before passing them
for operational use?
(v) What evidence is there that new systems are generally implemented on schedule, and with the minimum of
dislocation?
(w) Are systems as a whole well integrated in relation to the business?
(x) Do they use common data wherever this is practicable?
(y) Do they supplement rather than oppose each other?
(z) Is there an overall plan into which developing systems are fitted?
(aa) Is there evidence that systems are being kept administratively up-to-date? Have they been modified to reflect
changes which have taken place in the organisation or personnel?
(ab) Is there evidence that systems are amended only in accordance with some authorized procedure?
(ac) What arrangements are there for monitoring the work flow from the systems point of view of day-to-day control
and also from the stand point of required reviews of appropriateness of method or managing in the light of
new volumes, work peaks, or other aspects of work flow?
(ad) What evidence is there that the social aspects of new systems have due attention?
Security Audit Checks
(a) What security precautions are taken against leakage of those aspects of the organization’s policy and planning,
which are desired to be kept secret?
(b) In particular, what security precautions are taken at boardroom level and in respect of secretarial facilities
used by the board? Do this extend to carbon paper, plastic type writers ribbons and the magnetic media of
automatic typewriters?
(c) Is assess to research and development areas controlled?
(d) Are the controls efficient and likely to be effective?
(e) In particular, is special attention given to the security risks involved in the entry of service personnel to research
and development areas?
(f) What are the documentary and drawings security controls?
(g) Who is responsible for the security of the company assets?
(h) What measures are taken for the security of cash?
(i) How is cash transferred to the bank and how are collections of cash/bank handled?
(j) Who decides the actual route from the organization’s premises to the bank?
(k) What systems are there for identifying and controlling movable tools and other assets?
(l) Is there a fixed asset register and who is responsible for maintaining it?
(m) How effective is the control of receipts and issues of stock-in-trade and raw materials and the custody of such
assets?
(n) How often are stock-in-trade and raw materials items physically counted?
(o) What action is taken when physically counted stock varies significantly from the book stock?
(p) Who is able to authorize correction to the recorded book stock of an item?
(q) What are the procedures for writing off damaged stock and revaluing obsolescent stock?
(r) Is there an organized method of computer file preservation so that operator errors or equipment malfunctions
causing loss of current file information can be rectified by reconstruction from preserved files?
(s) Additionally, are important files copied at intervals suitable to their rate of change and stored remotely, so
as to provide a backup in the event of major catastrophe such as fire, flood or explosion destroying current
records?
(t) Are magnetic file media stored away from the computer room in fire-resistant conditions when not in actual
use?
(u) Is the “no smoking” rule strictly observed in the computer room and the computer strong areas?
(v) Are automatic fire detectors located in the computer room?
(w) Are doctors also installed in such danger areas as underfloor cavities, ceiling, voids and air-conditioning ducts
associated with the computer room and computer files strong areas?
(x) Do such detection systems automatically trigger a fire brigade alarm?
(y) Do they trigger an immediate discharge of extinguishing gas?
(z) Does the fire detection system automatically switch off the air-conditioning installation in the event of fire, to
avoid oxygen being unnecessarily fed into the flames?
(aa) Is the computer installation located close to the hazardous areas such as those with a high fire risk of from
which the public could throw missiles or bombs?
(ab) Are there written instructions covering the action of computer operator staff in the event of major catastrophes
such as fire, flood or explosion?
(ac) Are the computer operator staff aware of the action they have to take in the event of a major catastrophe?
(ad) Are the computer room walls and ceiling fire-resistant and water proof?
(ae) Is suitable drainage provided in such locations as underflow cavities to disperse water which would otherwise
flood the building?
(af) Are hand fire-extinguishers readily available to computer room staff and do they know how to operate them?
(ag) Do waste bins in the computer installation areas has self closing lids?
(ah) Are adequate operating instructions available for all computer applications?
(ai) Are computer legs maintained and carefully preserved?
(aj) Are definite checks built into the application programmes to prevent miss operation and/or to assist the
operator at appropriate stages of the processing?
(ak) Are computer operators encouraged to report any unusual occurrences or unusual equipment operating
characteristic?
(al) Is access to the computer room and storage areas restricted?
(am) Are the restrictions effective.
(an) Are there a minimum of two computer operators on duty at any one time?
(ao) Is there a preventive maintenance schedule in operation and is it being adhered to?
(ap) How important is the uninterrupted provisions of computer services?
(aq) If is important that there should be no interruption, say, in the case of on-line facilities for a bank net work, are
duplicate facilities provided?
(ar) In circumstances where an interruption is not critical, but continued provision of the service as soon as possible
is essential, have reciprocal standby arrangements been made with a similar local installation?
(as) Are standby arrangements reviewed frequently to ensure that alterations in any of the installations have not
invalidated the arrangements?
(at) Is any necessary standby software that will be required if standby facilities are to be used, prepared and
available for immediate use and transit?
(au) Do catastrophe contingency plans exist?
(av) What arrangements have been made to cover an interruption in the supply of electricity?
(aw) Do these include protection against minute interruptions of the period of time required, say, to stand by
generator?
(ax) If the computer protected against uneven power supply?
(ay) Are there large window areas unprotected from shattering?
(az) Are all computer files, programs, etc. under the control of a librarian even if the size of the installation does
not justify a full-time officer?
(ba) Are issues and receipts into such library carefully recorded and the library otherwise kept locked?
(bb) On a surprise basis, has a request for a computer printout of certain records been made and checked off by
reference to recent transactions?
(bc) Has selected specimen input data been processed by the computer against current programmes and records
and the output checked for validity and accuracy?
(bd) Are remote enquiry stations and local terminals kept securely locked when not in use?
(be) Are the keys to such facilities strictly controlled?
(bf) Are code words needed to gain access to the central computer, and are these changed from time to time?
(bg) Has the efficiency of the security arrangements in connection with remote terminals been checked by an
auditor trying to access the computer in an unpermitted manner?
(bh) Are there standard instructions specifying the individuals who are authorized to amend or otherwise have
access to computer information?
(bi) Apart from the instructions given to staff covering immediate action in the event of a catastrophe, are plans
laid for continuing operations after such a catastrophe?
(g) Whether latest market information automatically collected regarding new spares, etc.?
(h) Whether proper information is kept about price trends?
(i) Whether regular comparison is made between average price paid and the corresponding average market
price?
(j) What are built-in-controls against misutilisation of purchasing powers?
(k) How effective is the system of follow-up?
(l) What is the system of executing emergency purchase?
(m) What is the procedure followed for impact of raw materials?
(n) Is there any proper coordination between purchase, stores and production?
Evaluation of Personal Management
The main objective of personnel function is to create such conditions in the organisation that the employees can
put to best performances. The personnel manager has to assess manpower replacements, select, recruit, train
and develop persons, ensure industrial peace, redress grievances of the workers, maintain discipline, keep various
personal records and negotiate wage settlements. The performance of the personnel function policies may broadly
be reviewed by asking the following questions :-
(a) What is the organisation of the Personal Department?
(b) Is the personnel department adequately staffed?
(c) What is the status of personnel manager in the organizational hierarchy?
(d) What is personnel policy? Is the organisation production-oriented or people-oriented? How does the top
management look at its employees?
(e) How are the manpower requirements assessed? Are manpower requirements defined clearly according to
the degree of skills required?
(f) What is the requirement policy? Are qualifications for each job specified clearly? Is the requirement procedure
well designed?
(g) What is the internal promotion policy? Are the employees given a chance to grow in the organisation itself
through the objective tests to their qualifications and performances?
(h) Are training programmes conducted regularly? Are they effective in updating the knowledge and skills of
the employees? Are the opportunities for training adequate?
(i) Are the training methods modern or scientific? Are they suited to the needs of the organisation?
(j) Are proper records maintained for all workers? Is time keeping effective?
(k) What is the procedure for dealing with the grievances of the employees? Are they encouraged to speak to
the personnel manager?
(l) How is the discipline maintained? How are the erring workers dealt with? Is there a uniform and stable policy
of dealing with indiscipline and misconduct on the part of all the employees?
(m) Are the various human cost properly analysed? Is the cost of labour turnover and absenteeism worked out
periodically? Are attempts made to reduce labour turnover to optimum levels?
(n) What effectively are labour welfare organized in the organisation?
(o) Is there a machinery for dealing with the demands of the workers? Is legitimate union activities encouraged?
(p) What is the extent of man-hours lost due to strike or lock out?
(q) How these losses compare with the man-hours lost by similar organisation in the area?
(b) Programme : The auditor should carry out an appraisal for the programme which the company has laid down
for achieving the objective.
(c) Implementation : The auditor will take up the examination of the company’s implementation of the marketing
programme.
(d) Organisation : A suitable organisation assists in a success of a marketing plan. The audit should appraise the
marketing organisation by reviewing the formal lines of authority and responsibility, delegation of authority, status
of marketing head and his staff, adequacy of the personnel, proper manning of key tasks and assignments
thereof.
Evaluation of Sales Management
The main objective of function of sales management is to create and develop customers and retain the position
of the organisation in the market.
The following questionnaire will help in evaluating sales management –
(a) How is the sales department organisation? Is it adequately staffed?
(b) How specific responsibilities fixed for development of products in various areas?
(c) What market forecasts are developed regularly? Are they reliable?
(d) How does the growth in sales during the last five years compare with that of the industry as a whole?
(e) What steps have been taken to increase the market share of the company?
(f) Whether the system of appraising performance of sales division and salesmen objectives fair?
(g) (i) Whether the salesmen’s performance are linked with rewards?
(ii) Does the system motivate salesmen to give their best performances?
(h) Are the sales budget realistic? Do they show detailed physical targets for each sales office?
(i) What controls exist on the expenses incurred by salesmen?
(j) (i) What is the percentage of sales returns and allowances?
(ii) Whether the percentage of sales returns declined over the year?
(k) How does marketing manager keep in touch with the changing conditions in market? Are consumer surveys
conducted regularly?
(l) Is there a constant review of the order book?
(m) (i) Does a proper control over stocks of finished goods exist?
(ii) Are the slow moving stocks reviewed periodically?
(n) Is there a proper and realistic budget for advertising and sales promotion?
(o) (i) Does a proper control over stocks of finished goods exist?
(ii) Is it reviewed periodically?
(p) (i) What are the overall controls on outstanding?
(ii) Are they analyzed periodically?
(q) (i) Are the ageing schedules prepared regularly?
(ii) What is the procedure of writing off bad debts?
(r) (i) Are the distribution channels properly selected?
(ii) Whether operations research techniques have been applied in distributing products to minimize costs?
An Energy Audit has been defined as an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows in a building, process or
system with the objective of instituting energy efficiency programs in an establishment. It consists of activities that
seek to identify conservation opportunities preliminary to the development of an energy savings program. In other
words, an energy audit is conducted to seek opportunities to reduce the amount of energy input into the system
without negatively affecting the output(s). An energy audit also seeks to prioritize the energy uses according to the
greatest to least cost effective opportunities for energy savings. In simple words, Energy audit means monitoring
the energy efficiency of different equipment and process in a plant and looking into way by which the total sum
of energy consumed can be cut down without affecting production or its efficiency.
In view of above, an energy audit is a fundamental step of the energy conservation programme in any industrial
plant or energy consuming facility. Energy utilization and conservation play an important role in an industry in the
current scenario of rapidly diminishing fossil fuels, explosive rise in the prices of crude oil and other energy sources
and a possible switch over to alternative source of energy both for conserving energy costs and towards attempt
for alternative sources of energy.
Energy audit and environment audit sometimes done together as both involve measurement of same parameters
i.e., which are common to both. Thus for a boiler, for example, both would require measurement of fuel flow and air
flow, CO2 in the flue gas, etc. The energy-cum-environment audit allows a simultaneous consideration of energy
and environmental aspects. As a result, it is possible to identify options to reduce the overall cost of energy as
well as pollution control. Moreover, some of the principles of energy cost reduction and pollution control are also
identical. Thus, an energy-cum-environment audit would eliminate the repetitive measurement of these common
parameters. An energy-cum-environment audit is an analogous step of a programme aimed at conserving energy
in an energy consuming facility and keeping its impacts on the environment within acceptable limits.
A few illustrations of possible sources for conserving energy are given below–
(iv) Use standby electric generation equipment for on-peak high load periods.
(v) Relocate transformers close to main loads.
(vi) Disconnect primary power to transformers that do not serve any active loads
(vii) Export power to grid if you have any surplus in your captive generation
(viii) Check utility electric meter with your own meter.
(ix) Shut off unnecessary computers, printers, and copiers at night.
(x) Improving load factor (xi) Improving power factor
(xii) Use water-cooled condensers rather than air-cooled condensers
(xiii) To study the matching of motors and driven equipment and suggest modifications
(xiv) To assist in selection of high efficiency motors
(xv) To suggest better variable speed drivers
(xvi) Better operation, maintenance of compressed air system
(xvii) To study and suggest measures for improving the system, the system efficiencies of refrigeration and air-
conditioning system.
(E) Total energy system:
(i) Shut down spare, idling, or unneeded equipment.
(ii) Make sure that all of the utilities to redundant areas are turned off – including utilities like compressed air
and cooling water.
(iii) Install automatic control to efficiently coordinate multiple air compressors, chillers, cooling tower cells,
boilers, etc.
(iv) Use the lowest possible hot water temperature.
(v) Do not use a central heating system hot water boiler to provide service hot water during the cooling
season – install a smaller, more efficient system for the cooling season service hot water.
(vi) Consider the installation of a thermal solar system for warm water.
(vii) Use multiple, distributed, small water heaters to minimize thermal losses in large piping systems. (viii) Use
freeze protection valves rather than manual bleeding of lines.
(ix) Consider alternatives to high pressure drops across valves.
(x) Assess the heat and power requirements and study the feasibility of incorporating cogeneration system
to affect higher thermal efficiency of the system and give specifications of boilers, turbines and the
related auxiliaries.
(F) Diesel exhaust recovery:
(i) Study the techno-economic feasibility of recovering heat from diesel exhaust and assist in implementation.
(ii) Turning up diesel generating sets for highest efficiency.
The Productivity audit is basically an analysis of the productivity of the resources deployed by any organization.
It is generally done to generate information about the status of productivity in the organization for the purpose
of determining the scale of efficiency and effectiveness of ‘resource utilization’. The term ‘resources’ here would
include not only “money” but also “men”, “machines”, “materials” and “methods”. In other words, the objectives
of productivity audit is – (a) to attain optimum result, and (b) to improve on the benchmarks.
This audit would generally comprise – (a) comparison of expected returns on utilization of the resources vis-à-vis
the actual returns; (b) comparison of optimum returns on utilization of the resources vis-à-vis the actual returns; and
(c) the steps taken to improve benchmarks of returns and the utilization.
The term ‘Productivity’ is normally attributed only to the “productivity of labour” or “efficiency of labour” alone. But
productivity audit is actually “productivity of every resource employed”. Productivity audit is done by – (a) Ratio
analysis – Return on capital employed – Return on sales – Turnover ratios of fixed assets, current assets, inventories,
category-wise debtors etc.
(a) Capacity utilization of plant, machinery and equipment against available capacity.
(b) Productivity analysis of man (labour) hours in time and cost.
(c) Material consumption against norms and benchmarks.
The following ratios are generally used in measuring productive efficiency of the resources deployed and utilized:
Resources Deployment
(i) Capital employed per capita
(ii) Capital employed per unit of product
(iii) Gross profit to capital employed
(iv) Net profit to capital employed
(v) Debt equity ratio
(vi) Net worth and long-term debts to gross fixed assets
(vii) Net worth and long-term debts to net fixed assets
(viii) Debts to fixed loans
(ix) Debts to floating loans
(x) Current assets to current liabilities
(xi) Net working capital
(xii) Total inventory to capital employed.
Resource Utilisation
(i) Capacity utilisation – Installed capacity: Utilised capacity of machines (by units)
(ii) Capacity utilisation – Installed capacity: Utilised capacity of machines (by machine hours)
(iii) Machine time available : Machine time utilized
(iv) Machine time consumed : Per unit of product (individually)
(v) Machine time consumed : Per capita
(vi) Gross fixed assets : Turnover
(vii) Net fixed assets : Turnover
(viii) Inventories : Turnover (inventory turnover)
(ix) Raw materials : Turnover (No. of days of stock)
(x) Work in process : Turnover (No. of days of stock v. cycle time)
(xi) Finished goods : Turnover (No. of days of stock v. lead time)
Propriety audit stands for verification of transactions in the best interest of the public, commonly accepted
customs and standards of conduct. The term “propriety” has been defined by Kholer as “that which meets the
tests of public interest, commonly accepted customs and standards of conduct and particularly as applied to
professional performance, requirements of Government regulations, and professional codes.” The tests boil down
to consideration of financial prudence and economy, instead of too much dependence on documents, vouchers
etc. It shifts the emphasis to find the wisdom and appropriateness of expenditure, rather than verifying whether it
has been duly authorized or evidenced by proper vouchers etc.
In other words, the propriety audit seeks to ensure that the planned expenditure would yield the optimum returns
and there is no other better alternative available. It seeks to ensure that the expenditure is not only appropriate to
the circumstances of each case, it has indeed achieved the objectives for which it has been incurred. The audit
of public sector undertakings as undertaken by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is the best example
of propriety audit.
The auditors, while conducting the propriety audit, should in any case ensure observance of the following Canons
of Financial Propriety:
(a) The expenditure should not, prima facie, be more than the occasion demands. Every public officer is
expected to exercise the same vigilance in respect of expenditure incurred from public money as a person
of ordinary prudence would exercise in respect of expenditure of his own money.
(b) No authority should exercise its power of sanctioning expenditure to pass an order which will be directly or
indirectly to his own advantage.
(c) Public money should not be utilised for the benefit of a particular person or section of the community unless:
(i) The amount of expenditure involved is insignificant or
(ii) A claim from the amount could be enforced in a court of law or
(iii) The expenditure is in pursuance of a recognized policy or custom.
(d) The amount of allowances (e.g. travelling allowances) granted to meet the expenditure of a particular type,
should be so regulated that these are not on the whole sources of profit to the recipients.
The Cost Audit Reports can be termed as propriety audit as these reports seeks to ensure that actual expenditure
at each stage is appropriate and optimum returns have been achieved. The cost auditor always aims at ensuring
that the actual expenditure should not be prima facie more than what the occasion demands. The cost auditor
has to report on matters which appear to him to be clearly wrong in principle, cases where the company’s funds
have been used in a negligent or inefficient manner, arm’s length pricing of related party transactions, etc. These
are the areas where the propriety aspect is involved and therefore cost audit may be in the nature of “propriety
audit”.
Social audit is generally defined to be the audit of data or information depicting social performance of a
business in contrast to its normal economic performance as measured in financial audit. A lot of research and
experimentation are being conducted to device techniques or models, which can measure the contribution of
an enterprise to the society. These developments result from an increasing realization of the fact that business
undertakings have social responsibilities also and that the performance as a whole should be seen in this context.
A corporate social audit is an assessment of company’s performance on corporate social responsibility objectives.
It evaluates measurable goals intended to help the business meet the expectations stakeholder groups have
regarding social and environmental responsibilities. Balancing social responsibility with business performance is
imperative in today’s business arena.
As per Rule 2 (c) “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)” means and includes but is not limited to
(i) Projects or programs relating to activities specified in Schedule VII to the Act or
(ii) Projects or programs relating to activities undertaken by the board of directors of a Company (Board) in
pursuance of recommendations of the CSR Committee of the Board as Per declared CSR policy of the
company subject to the condition that such policy will cover subjects enumerated in Schedule Vll ofthe Act.
Further MCA vide another Notification dated 27.02.2014, made the following amendment to the Schedule VII of
the Companies Act , 2013, effective from 01.04.2014 as mentioned below.
(1) In Schedule VII, for items (i) to (x) and the entries relating thereto, the following items and entries shall be
substituted, namely:-
(i) Eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, promoting preventive health care and sanitation and
making available safe drinking water;”
(ii) Promoting education, including special education and employment enhancing vocation skills especially
among children, women, elderly, and the differently abled and livelihood enhancement projects;
(iii) promoting gender equality, empowering women, setting up homes and hostels for women and orphans;
setting up old age homes, day care centers and such other facilities for senior citizens and measures for
reducing inequalities faced by socially and economically backward groups;
(iv) Ensuring environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal
welfare, agroforestry, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water;
(v) protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical
importance and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional arts
and handicrafts;
(vi) Measures for the benefit of armed forces veterans, war widows and their dependents;
(vii) Training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Paralympic sports and Olympic sports;
(viii) Contribution to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund or any other fund set up by the Central
Government for socio-economic development and relief and welfare of the scheduled castes, the
scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women;
(ix) Contributions or funds provided to technology incubators located within academic institutions which
are approved by the Central Government;
The Schedule VII was again amended by Notification dated 06th August, 2014, making the following amendmentsin
Schedule VII of the said Act, namely:-
(1) In Schedule VII, after item (x), the following item and entry shall be inserted, namely:-
Explanation.— For the purposes of this item, the term ‘slum area’ shall mean any area declared as suchby the
Central Government or any State Government or any other competent authority under any lawfor the time
being in force.”
2. This notification shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Control is a basic human requirement and it has existed throughout the ages in different facets of human activity.
Business as such is a complex process and has grown even more complex with the technological advancement
of the society. The formalisation of the concept of internal control in the sphere of business administration is a
comparatively recent phenomenon.
In the sphere of a business, control is an accepted device for optimum utilisation of the resources and opportunities
for maximisation of profits. All operations of a business are carried on with the help of human agents and equipment;
both these factors need supervision so that the tasks assigned to them are properly carried out and avoidable
wastes and losses do not occur to eat up the fruit of the enterprise.
Internal Control means – Identifying and Assessing the Risk of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the
Entity and its Environment.
The internal control may be defined as the process designed, implemented and maintained by those charged
with governance, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance about the achievement
of an entity’s objectives with regard to reliability of financial reporting, effectiveness and efficiency of operations,
safeguarding of assets, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
(a) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization ;
(b) all transactions are promptly recorded in the correct amount in the appropriate accounts and in the
accounting period in which executed so as to permit preparation of financial information within a framework
of recognized accounting policies and practices and relevant statutory requirements, if any, and to maintain
accountability for assets;
(c) assets are safeguarded from unauthorised access, use or disposition; and
(d) the recorded assets are compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with regard to any differences.
It is clear from above that internal control is an essential pre-requisite for efficient and effective management of any
organisation and is therefore, a fundamental ingredient for the successful operation of the business in modern days.
In fact, an effective internal control system is a critical success factor for any organization in the long term. They are
indispensable tools for the ever-increasing risks, exposures, and threats to accounting systems, data, and assets.
It embraces the whole system of controls – financial, operational or otherwise, established by the management
in the functioning of a business including internal check, internal audit and other forms of control. In fact, internal
control has now been recognized as fundamental and indispensable to modern auditing. Thus internal control has
its all-embracing nature and is concerned with the controls operative in every area of corporate activity as well
as with the way in which individual controls interrelate.
The scope of internal control, according to the aforesaid definitions, extends well beyond accounting control.
Thus, the latest definition of internal control encompasses operational controls like quality control, work standards,
budgetary control, periodic reporting, policy appraisals, quantitative control, etc., as all parts of the internal control
system. In an independent financial audit or the statutory audit, the auditor is concerned mainly with the financial
and accounting controls. However, in an operational audit (as part of internal controls), the auditor reviews all the
controls including operational functions. The internal controls can be broadly classified into following four main
categories: financial & accounting controls, administrative controls, operational controls and compliance controls.
(i) Administrative control – Administrative controls include all types of managerial controls related to the decision-
making process. An example of administrative controls is the maintenance of records giving details of customers
contacted by the salesmen.
(ii) Operational control – This is exercised through “management accounting” techniques viz. budgetary control,
standard costing etc.
(iii) Financial and Accounting control – This control refers primarily the management plans, objectives and
procedures that are concerned with the safeguarding of assets, prevention and detection of fraud and error,
accuracy and completeness of accounting records, and timely preparation of reliable financial information.
(iv) Compliance control - These controls aim at ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These
Controls also help to ensure compliance with laws regarding the system and intellectual property.
There is no uniform or identical in its approach of internal control in all the organizations. It often varies in concept
and applications, having regard to the following:
(a) Type of business ;
(b) Magnitude of the business ;
(c) Infrastructure available in the organization ;
(d) Potentiality of the human resources and their outlook.
Internal control can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives” stated above are
achieved. This is because there are some inherent limitations of internal control, such as:
(a) Cost: management’s consideration that a control be cost-effective;
(b) No control for unusual transaction: the fact that most controls do not tend to be directed at transactions of
unusual nature;
(c) Human Error: the potential for human error; These include the realities that human judgement in decision-
making can be faulty and that breakdowns in internal control can occur because of human error. For
example, there may be an error in the design of, or in the change to, a control.
(d) Collusion among employees: the possibility of circumvention of controls through collusion with parties outside
the entity or with employees of entity; For example, management may enter into side agreements with
customers that alter the terms and conditions of the entity’s standard sales contracts, which may result in
improper revenue recognition.
(e) Abuse of authority: the possibility that a person responsible for exercising control could abuse that authority,
for example, a member of management overriding a control;
(f) Inadequate procedure: The possibility that procedures may become inadequate due to changes in
conditions and compliance with procedures may deteriorate;
(g) Manipulations by management: with respect to transactions or estimates and judgments required in the
preparation of financial statements.
The guiding factor for audit operations by the auditor depends to a great extent on the soundness or otherwise
of the internal controls in the business. Due to the limitation of time, an auditor can spend limited time only on a
company’s audit. Therefore, he has to decide the extent of in-depth audit of many areas, particularly the checking
and verification of routine aspects of financial transactions. Sub-para (iv) of para 4 read with para 3 of the Companies
(Auditor’s Report) Order, 2015 (CARO) requires that the auditor’s report on the account of a company to which
this Order applies shall inter-alia include a statement as to whether there is 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. It will also include whether there is a continuing failure to correct
major weaknesses in internal control system.
The Board of directors of every listed company and the following classes of companies, as prescribed under Rule
6 of Companies (Meetings of Board and its powers) Rules, 2014 shall constitute an Audit Committee:
(i) all public companies with a paid up capital of `10 Crores or more;
(ii) all public companies having turnover of `100 Crores or more;
(iii) all public companies, having in aggregate, outstanding loans or borrowings or debentures or deposits
exceeding `50 Crores or more.
The paid up share capital or turnover or outstanding loans, or borrowings or debentures or deposits, as the case
may be, as existing on the date of last audited Financial Statements shall be taken into account for the purposes
of this rule.
Sub-section (5) of section 177 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that the Audit Committee may call for the
comments of the auditors about internal control systems, the scope of audit, including the observations of the
auditors and review of financial statement before their submission to the Board and may also discuss any related
issues with the internal and statutory auditors and the management of the company.
The Audit Committee shall have powers to investigate any activity within its terms of reference, to seek information
from any employee, to obtain outside legal or other professional advice, to secure attendance of outsiders with
relevant expertise, if it considers necessary.
The role of the Audit Committee to (i) evaluation of internal financial controls and risk management systems;
(ii) reviewing, with the management, performance of statutory and internal auditors, adequacy of the internal
control systems; (iii) reviewing the adequacy of internal audit function, if any, including the structure of the internal
audit department, staffing and seniority of the official heading the department, reporting structure coverage
and frequency of internal audit; (iv) discussion with internal auditors of any significant findings and follow up there
on; (v) reviewing the findings of any internal investigations by the internal auditors into matters where there is
suspected fraud or irregularity or a failure of internal control systems of a material nature and reporting the matter
to the board; (vi) discussion with statutory auditors before the audit commences, about the nature and scope of
audit as well as post-audit discussion to ascertain any area of concern.
The Audit Committee shall mandatorily review the Internal audit reports relating to internal control weaknesses;
and the appointment, removal and terms of remuneration of the Chief internal auditor shall be subject to review
by the Audit Committee.
The evaluation of internal controls including internal accounting controls gives an opportunity to the auditor to a
clearer insight into the operational systems and an overall view of the organizational workings to spot weaknesses
in the systems and procedures both in respect of financial and operational areas of the business. The audit process
effectively evaluates the auditee’s existing internal controls through the use of questionnaires and flow charts. The
internal control questionnaire is a list of systematically and logically prepared questions designed to find out and
evaluate the effectiveness of internal control systems regarding various aspects and accounting transactions of
an organization. The questionnaires are to be comprehensive in nature to ensure that all aspects and accounting
transactions are covered which are be replied by the officials of the department or division concerned. The
criteria for replies against each question are “yes”, “no”, “not applicable”, “explanatory notes” and comments”.
Normally the affirmative answers suggest satisfactory internal controls while negative answers suggest weaknesses
of internal controls.
The auditor shall determine whether, on the basis of the audit work performed, the auditor has identified one or
more deficiencies in internal control.
If the auditor has identified one or more deficiencies in internal control, the auditor shall determine, on the basis of
the audit work performed, whether, individually or in combination, they constitute significant deficiencies.
The auditor shall communicate in writing significant deficiencies in internal control identified during the audit to
those charged with governance on a timely basis.
The auditor shall also communicate to management at an appropriate level of responsibility on a timely basis:
(a) In writing, significant deficiencies in internal control that the auditor has communicated or intends to
communicate to those charged with governance, unless it would be inappropriate to communicate directly
to management in the circumstances; and
(b) Other deficiencies in internal control identified during the audit that have not been communicated to
management by other parties and that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, are of sufficient importance
to merit management’s attention.
The auditor shall include in the written communication of significant deficiencies in internal control:
(a) A description of the deficiencies and an explanation of their potential effects; and
(a) Sufficient information to enable those charged with governance and management to understand the
context of the communication. In particular, the auditor shall explain that:
(i) The purpose of the audit was for the auditor to express an opinion on the financial statements;
(ii) The audit included consideration of internal control relevant to the preparation of the financial
statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for
the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control; and
(iii) The matters being reported are limited to those deficiencies that the auditor has identified during the
audit and that the auditor has concluded are of sufficient importance to merit being reported to those
charged with governance.
Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve
an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined
approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
The role of internal audit is to provide independent assurance that an organization’s risk management, governance,
and internal control processes are operating effectively. Internal audit is conducted objectively and designed to
improve and mature an organization’s business practices.
Internal auditing provides insight into an organization’s culture, policies, procedures, and aids board and
management oversight by verifying internal controls such as operating effectiveness, risk mitigation controls, and
compliance with any relevant laws or regulations.
Scope:
Although the objective of each internal audit engagement is the same the portfolio of activities included in the
engagement and scope of an internal audit varies from organization to organization. This is because of the fact
that,
• The definition given by the HA is visionary in nature that is poised to embark the future of the internal auditing
profession. It does not reflect a universal approach of the internal auditing profession.
• Different countries across the globe, and also different organizations within the same country are at different
maturity levels of practicing internal auditing. Each individual organization lies on a different scale on the
continuum of ‘Maturity Index’ of internal auditing. The continuum is depicted below.
Advancement towards a regime where internal auditor shall, in addition to his role of assurance provider, also be
a trusted advisor to the management & THE Board on strategic issues.
With the audit principles and practices converging across the globe, regulators in different countries are also
trying to move towards a matured practice of internal audit. Research suggests that an internal auditor of the 21st
century is expected and should be prepared to audit virtually everything-operations (including control systems),
performance, information and information systems, legal compliance, financial statements, fraud, environmental
reporting and performance, and quality.
Legislative background
The notes on clauses to the Companies Bill, 2011 read as follows:
“Clause 138. - This is a new clause and seeks to provide that prescribed Companies shall be required to conduct
internal audit of functions and activities of the company by internal auditor appointed by the company. Manner
of conducting internal audit shall be prescribed by the Central Government” Addition of this clause was suggested
by the Standing Committee on Finance (2009-10). In 57th Report of the Standing Committee on Finance (2011-
12) while dealing with the suggestion that in-house employees shall be allowed as internal auditors, it was stated
by the Ministry that “the provisions of clause 138 do not prohibit appointment of inhouse employee. Further, the
provisions also empower the Board of relevant company to appoint any professional (even other than a CA or
CWA) as internal auditor if it so decides. Hence both the suggestions are already taken care of.”
The concept of internal audit was present in the Companies Act, 1956 in the form of Section 581ZF which stipulated
that ‘Every Producer Company shall have internal audit of its accounts carried out, at such interval and in such
manner as may be specified in articles, by a chartered accountant’.
‘Internal Audit’ was first made mandatory for some of the companies vide the Manufacturing and Other Companies
(Auditor Report) Order, 1975 (MAOCARO, 1975). MAOCARO, 1975 required the auditor to certify whether the
company has an internal audit system commensurate with its size and nature of its business and also, whether
there is an adequate internal control procedure commensurate with the size of the company and the nature of
its business, for the purchase of stores, raw materials including components, plant and machinery, equipment and
other assets, and for the sale of goods.
Thereafter, MAOCARO, 1988 replaced the MAOCARO, 1975 and MAOCARO, 1988 was replaced by the
Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2003. Section 138 enshrines this concept with the power being given to
Central Government to prescribe the class of companies where the appointment of internal auditor is mandatory.
The terms “functions” and activities” used in sub-section (1) of section 138 connote a much wider scope than
“Financial Audit” and “Operations Audit”. Therefore, it is clearly evident that the scope of internal audit is very
wide and it covers the compliance systems in companies covering all the functions of any company. Internal
Audit requires an in depth understanding of the business culture, systems and processes, understanding and
improvement of internal controls for effective risk management, understanding the governance structure of the
organisation and ability to provide value additions for improvement in governance processes.
The internal audit may contribute in the following areas:
(a) Independent review and appraisal of control systems across the organization (both financial control systems
and operational areas where the organization may reap benefits)
(b) Ascertainment of the extent of compliance of policies, procedures, regulations and legislations. Checking
compliance management systems of an organization.
(c) Facilitate good practices in management of risk. This requires systems for ascertaining, measuring, managing
and where possible mitigation or dispersion of the risk.
(d) Achieve savings by identifying waste, inefficiency and duplication of effort across the organization
(e) Structuring programs and activities such that company assets are safeguarded and there are internal check
systems which minimize the possibility for reducing fraud / early warning signals for identifying fraud.
Compulsory requirement for appointment of Internal auditor(s) in listed and specified companies
Section 138 read with rule 13 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 provide that following class of companies
shall be required to appoint an internal auditor or a firm of internal auditor; namely:
(a) every listed company
Requirement for filing of Form MGT-14 with the RoC on appointment of the Internal Auditor
The appointment of internal auditor can be done only by means of a resolution passed at the meeting of the
Board as specified under rule 8 of the Companies (Meeting of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 and accordingly,
the company is also required to file Form MGT-14 with the Registrar within 30 days from the date of passing of
resolution by the Board. However, filing of resolutions under clause (g) of sub-section (3) of section 117 has been
exempted for private companies vide Ministry of Corporate Affairs notification No.G.S.R.464(E) dated 05.06.2015.
However, the Private Company is still required to comply the requirements of Section 179.
In any audit, the auditor examines the evidence available to him and gives his opinion on the basis of such
examination. Further, he has to carry out the audit with the framework of standard auditing practices and that
too with ethical conduct. Thus, the question involved is how the auditor should proceed to collect the necessary
purposeful evidence, i.e. how he should prepare himself for an audit. The auditor has to move in a systematic
manner so that he would be in a position to collect and review the purposeful evidence and also satisfy himself
of the correctness of the financial operations of the business. In general, the whole audit process involves the
following:
(i) Defining the scope of the audit work, i.e. preparation of the audit engagement letter.
(ii) Obtaining the knowledge of the client’s business and formulating the audit programme.
(iii) Evaluation of the accounting and internal control system existing in the auditee enterprise.
(iv) Determining the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures keeping in mind the audit risk and materiality
involved.
(v) Adequate documentation is also necessary, i.e. preparation of audit note book and working papers.
(vi) Formulation of opinion about the financial statements.
(vii) Issuance of audit report.
The auditor uses the following techniques to collect the necessary evidence:
(i) Vouching.
(ii) Confirmations.
(vi) Inquiry.
(x) Scanning.
Further, the auditor has to see that various provisions of the law governing the enterprise are complied with. He
has to examine the accounting principles followed and disclose the deficiencies and limitation on the scope, if
any, observed by him. It is be noted that the auditor is concerned not only with the true and fair presentation of
the affairs of the enterprise but also with the system of maintenance of accounts to bring real benefits of efficiency
in working. At the same time, it is also a fact that the selection of the appropriate audit procedures is a matter of
experience and judgement.
Audit Programme
An audit programme is a detailed plan of the auditing work to be performed, specifying the procedures to be
followed in verification of each item and the financial statements and the estimated time required. To be more
comprehensive, an audit programme is written plan containing exact details with regard to the conduct of a
particular audit. It is a description or memorandum of the work to be done during an audit. Audit programme
serves as a guide in arranging and distributing the audit work as well as checking against the possibility of the
omissions.
(ii) The audit work can be properly allocated to the audit assistants or the article clerks.
(iii) The auditor may easily know the extent of work done at any point of time. Thus, the progress of work done
can be under the supervision and control of the auditor.
(iv) Audit programme would not only be useful for the audit assistants in . carrying the audit work but for the
principal too as he would be in a position to account for the individual responsibilities.
(v) A uniformity of the work can be attained as the same programme would be followed from time to time.
(vi) It is a useful basis for planning the programme for the following year.
(vii) It may be used as evidence by the auditor in the event when any charge is brought against him. He can
prove that there has no negligence on his part and he exercised reasonable care and skill while performing
the task.
Final audit
A final audit is also called as Completed Audit or Periodical Audit. Final audit is done after the close of the financial
year, i.e. after the books of accounts have been closed and the final accounts are drawn up. In this type of audit,
the client gives the possession of books of accounts to the auditor for audit and routine checking and other audit
procedures begin only after that.
Introduction
Auditors agree with the client’s management, in writing, about the scope, terms and conditions of the audit
engagement. This written communication is referred to as an engagement letter. The letter is usually addressed
to chairman of the audit committee or, in the case of a corporation, the chair of the board of directors, with a
copy being sent to the audit committee. The purpose of such a letter is to minimize any possible misunderstanding
concerning the scope and terms of the audit engagement.
The letter is sent to all new audit clients and where there has been a change in the terms of the engagement or
the auditor considers that management may not understand the existing terms of the engagement, the letter is
also sent to continuing clients.
Appendix
Specimen Internal Audit Engagement Letter
[DATE]
[NAME, TITLE]
[DEPARTMENT]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE PIN]
For example:
• Reliability and Integrity of Financial and Operational Information,
• Compliance with Laws, Regulations, and Contracts,
• Safeguarding of Assets, and
• Effectiveness and Efficiency of Operations of the [AUDIT AREA], and
• To follow-up on recommendations included in prior audit reports. The proposed timetable for this year’s audit
is as follows:
• Start date in the field: [DATE]
• Estimated weeks to complete: [NUMBER OF WEEKS] The audit team will include the following members:
[NAME], Manager
[NAME], Staff Auditor
[NAME], Staff Auditor
At the beginning of our audit, we would like the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our audit objectives and
solicit your input. Our goal is to perform an effective and efficient audit. We will need your staff to provide us the
following documents and schedules on:
1. [DOCUMENTS] and [DATE]
2. [DOCUMENTS] and [DATE]
At the conclusion of our audit, we will discuss audit results and potential recommendations with management of
the audited area before scheduling an exit conference with you. Prior to the exit conference, you will receive a
draft audit report. After the exit conference, a final audit report will be delivered to you with a request for formal
management’s responses to include in the audit report.
Our mission is to help you achieve [DEPARTMENTS] objectives by providing you information about the effectiveness
of internal control and by recommending courses of actions which improve performance.
If you have any questions about this year’s audit, please do not Hesitate to call
Yours truly,
[XYZ]
[Designation]
Presently, the role of Internal Audit has become more critical. The backdrop and changing business scenario and
the role metamorphosed as technology have erased global barriers. Customer expectations have increased and
compliance demands are growing both in terms of quantity and complexity. The Enterprise Risk Management is
emerging as the key element in Corporate Management.
The expectations of the Board from Internal Auditors are now to assist the Board in identification, monitoring and
management of business risks and also to offer and provide insight, advice and assurance on enterprise risks. The
Internal Auditors should also inform directors bout the tone of the organization-culture, ethics, performance and
continuously evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. They should also check compliance with
laws and regulations and authenticate the reliability of financial and management reporting. Internal Auditors
has the added role of safeguarding the assets of the company. They should evaluate performance management
and control systems and act as an advisor to the Management. The role of effective Cost Management involves
in waste reduction and enhancing productivity and process improvement.
The Internal Audit must be synchronized to the expectations of the Board. It must develop an Internal audit strategy
that is linked with the organization’s strategic plan with a focus on optimizing risks, costs, and value. It must develop
dynamic internal audit plans. The communication must be done frequently with key stakeholders on their needs,
expectations, satisfaction with the internal audit. It should leverage technology to optimize audit operations and
assist management in developing and maintaining a comprehensive performance management framework. It
should support and facilitate business process improvement and re-engineering and provide active support in
furthering good Corporate Governance. CMAs have a colossal role to play as they have an unique blend of core
competencies in accounting, management and strategy. CMAs can apply their forward looking insights across
the organization to manage risks, reduce costs and create new opportunities, preserve and enhance value.
CMAs possess the expertise to evaluate the operational efficiency, productivity and profitability, wastages, losses,
inefficiency. They can apply their knowhow in judging efficiency of management of resources, capacity utilization,
channeling resources into productive channels, standards of efficiency of performance, production processes
and performance of respective units. Efficiency of business processes, Enterprise Performance Management,
Business risks. Efficiency of Supply Chains, Efficiency of Utilities / Energy Consumption, Sustainability of Business are
critical drivers to keep the business focused on priority areas.
The perspective of CMAs have changed in the present era of mergers & acquisitions, new product development
and also to climate change and sustainability. The financial perspective, customer perspective, operational
perspective and people perspective all can be aligned to meet the goal of the business.
The Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred under sub- I section (4A) of the section 227 of the
Companies Act, 1956, has issued the I Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2003 (“the Order” or “the CARO”) vide
I Notification No. GSR 480(E), dated June 12, 2003. The Order contains certain I matters on which the auditors of
the Companies (excepting those companies which are specifically exempted under it) have to make a statement
in their audit report.
Section 227(4A) of the Companies Act, 1956 ceased to be operational from 1 April 2014 after notification of section
143(11) under the Companies Act, 2013. Though section 143(11) of the 2013 Act provides requirements similar to
section 227(4A) of the 1956 Act, the MCA had not prescribed CARO related requirements. Consequently, after
consulting the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the MCA on 10 April 2015 issued the Companies
(Auditor’s Report) Order, 2015 (CARO - 2015) prescribing certain reporting requirements for auditors of certain class
of companies. CARO - 2015 will be effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. As compared
to the CARO - 2003, the reporting requirements under the CARO - 2015 have been reduced considerably (i.e. from
21 reporting clauses to 12 clauses).
Clause 4(iv) and Clause 4(vii) of CARO, 2003 and Clause 3(iv) of CARO, 2015 spells out the requirements as to
reporting by the statutory auditors on the internal control system and internal audit system respectively. Each of
these clauses is discussed as below.
exceeding five crore rupees for a period of three consecutive financial years immediately preceding the financial
year concerned, whether the company has an internal audit system commensurate with its size and nature of its
business
(i) Extent
In respect of the companies, which do not fall within this clause, there is no requirement to make any specific
mention in the audit report. But the auditors should make inquiries regarding internal audit since it forms an integral
part of the internal control system. This will act as a supplement to the auditor’s duty under clause 4(iv).
The internal audit function in any organisation can be broadly categorized into three major functions namely
(a) financial audit (b) compliance audit and (c) operational audits. However, an operational audit is sometimes
defined as an extension of a financial audit. Regulatory agencies or other organizations concerned with compliance
generally either send in their own auditors or hire an external audit firm. Therefore, Internal Audit mainly plays a
supplementary role only in financial and compliance audits, but operational auditing is the primary, albeit not the
exclusive, domain of the internal auditor.
An operational audit (or value-for-money audit) has been defined as an organized search for ways of improving
efficiency and effectiveness. The objective is to assist the organization in performing functions more effectively and
economically with focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, it is also stated to be an early warning
system for the detection of potentially destructive problems.
An operational audit can lead to better management of all aspects of business organisation whether it is production
area or service area. Traditionally, operational audits have been conducted by means of a questionnaire interview
of departmental employees. Virtually all large companies conduct operational audits in their major production and
service departments. The financial audit tells where the entity was and where it is on the date of the balance-sheet.
However, an operational audit tends to answer the questions as to why the entity is where it is and how it got there.
It means the evaluation of management’s performance and efficiency. Therefore, Operations Audit is a process to
determine ways to improve production. It falls into the category of a management service by evaluating the four
functions of management: (1) planning, (2) organizing, (3) directing, and (4) controlling. The operational audit can
also be broken down further as a functional review; for example, Purchasing as a department versus the overall
Procurement operation in coordination with production scheduling and market forecasting. The following table
highlights the salient features of the traditional form of internal audit and operational audit :
extent of the scope of audit. The second step shall be to understand the auditee’s operation, its purpose in the
total environment of the entity, its history, its image, its staff, their skills and competence and its reporting path. The
reporting path is of very critical importance because this path is the communication route along which, the audit
results and conclusions will flow.
The prime records to be obtained in an operational audit are the organizational chart of the function/operation,
applicable policies, guidelines and procedures etc. These will outline each employee’s responsibility and authority.
The function’s/operation’s performance reports for the reasonable period prior to the audit should be reviewed to
do trend analyses or the critical analyses. These analyses or reports could indicate potential critical areas such as
over- or under-staffing, noncompliance with corporate policies and procedures, weaknesses in internal controls,
or inadequate job rotations etc. These indications could help the management auditor in determining scope of
investigation and areas of potential improvement. Reports must be based on facts, informative, submitted in time
and directed to the proper levels of management.
AUDIT OF HOSPITALS
The following points are to be considered necessary for conducting an audit of Hospital.
(i) Check the letter of appointment to ascertain the scope of responsibilities.
(ii) Study the Charter or Trust Deed under which the hospital has been set up and take a special note of the
provisions affecting the accounts.
(iii) Examine, evaluate and verify the system of internal check, internal control and determine the nature, timing
and the extent of the audit procedures.
(iv) Vouch the entries in the Patient’s Bill Register with a copies of bill issued. Test check the selected bills to see
that these have been correctly prepared taking into consideration the period of stay of each patient as
recorded in the Attendance Schedule.
(v) Vouch the collection from patients with copies of bills and entries in Bills Register. Arrears of dues should be
properly carried forward and where these are deemed to be irrecoverable, they should be written off under
due authorizations.
(vi) Interest and/ or dividend income should be vouched with reference to the Investment Register and Interest
and Dividend warrants.
(vii) In case of legacies and donations which are received for specific purposes, it should be ensured that any
income therefrom is not utilized for any other purposes.
(viii) Where receipts of subscription show a significant deviations from budgeted figures, it should be thoroughly
inquired into and the matter be brought to the notice of the trustees or the Managing Committee.
(ix) Government grants or grants from local bodies should be verified with the reference to the correspondence
with the concerned authorities.
(x) Clear distinction should be made between the items of capital and revenue nature.
(xi) The capital expenditure should be incurred under proper authorization by a valid resolution of the trustees or
the Managing Committee.
(xii) Verify the system of internal check as regards purchases and issue of stores, medicines etc.
(xiii) Examine that the appointment of the staff, payment of salaries etc. are duly authorized.
(xiv) Physically verify the investments, fixed assets and inventories.
(xv) Check that adequate depreciation has been provided on all the depreciable assets.
AUDIT OF HOTELS
The business of running a hotel is very much dissimilar to running an industrial unit for manufacturing of products.
It is a service-oriented industry. The business is characterized by handling of large amounts of liquid cash, stock
of foods providing a variety of services, and keeping watch on customers to ensure that they do not leave hotel
without settling the dues. In view of these, the following matters require special attention by the auditor.
(i) Internal Control: Pilferage is one of the greatest problems in any hotel and it is extremely important to have a
proper internal control to minimize the leakage. The following points should be checked:
(a) Effectiveness of arrangement regarding receipts and disbursements of cash.
(b) Procedure for purchase and stocking of various commodities and provisions.
(c) Procedure regarding billing of the customers in respect of room service, telephone, laundry, etc.
(d) System regarding recording and physical custody of edibles, wines, cigarettes, crockery and cutlery,
linen, furniture, carpets, etc.
(e) Ensure that are trading accounts are prepared preferably weekly, for each sales point. A scrutiny of the
percentage of profit should be made, and any deviation from the norms is to be investigated.
(iii) Stock:
The stocks in a hotel are all saleable item like food and beverages. Therefore, following may be noted in this
regard:
(a) All movement and transfer of stocks must be properly documented.
(b) Areas where stocks are kept must be kept locked and the key retained by the departmental manager.
(c) The key should be released only to trusted personnel and unauthorized persons should not be permitted
in the stores area.
(d) Many hotels use specialized professional valuers to count and value the stocks on a continuous basis
throughout the year.
(e) The auditor should ensure that all stocks are valued at the year end and that he should himself be
present at the yearend physical verification, to the extent practicable, having regard to materiality
consideration and nature and location of inventories
(iv) Fixed Assets: The fixed assets should be properly depreciated, and the Fixed Assets Register should be
updated.
(v) Casual Labour: In case the hotel employs a casual labour, the auditor should consider, whether adequate
records have been maintained in this respect and there is no manipulation taking place. The wages payment
of the casual labour must also be checked thoroughly.
(vi) The compliance with all statutory provisions, and compliance with the Foreign Exchange Regulations must
also be verified by the auditor, especially because hotels offer facility of conversion of foreign exchange to
rupees.
(vii) See that free studentship and concessions have been granted by a person authorised to do so, having
regard to the prescribed Rules.
(viii) Confirm that fines for late payment or absence, etc., have either been collected or remitted under proper
authority.
(ix) Confirm that hostel dues were recovered before students’ accounts were closed and their deposits of
caution money refunded.
(x) Verify rental income from landed property with the rent rolls, etc.
(xi) Vouch income from endowments and legacies, as well as interest and dividends from investment; also
inspect the securities in respect of investments held.
(xii) Verify any Government or local authority grant with the relevant papers of grant. If any expense has been
disallowed for purposes of grant, ascertain the reasons and compliance thereof.
(xiii) Report any old heavy arrears on account of fees, dormitory rents, etc, to the Managing Committee.
(xiv) Confirm that caution money and other deposits paid by students on admission have been shown as liability
in the balance sheet and not transferred to revenue.
(xv) See that the investments representing endowment funds for prizes are kept separate and any income in
excess of the prizes has been accumulated and invested along with the corpus.
(xvi) Verify that the Provident Fund money of the staff has been invested in appropriate securities.
(xvii) Vouch donations, if any, with the list published with the annual report. If some donations were meant for any
specific purpose, see that the money was utilised for the purpose.
(xviii) Vouch all capital expenditure in the usual way and verify the same with the sanction for the Committee as
contained in the minute book.
(xix) Vouch in the usual manner all establishment expenses and enquire into any unduly heavy expenditure
under any head.
(xx) See that increase in the salaries of the staff have been sanctioned and minuted by the Committee.
(xxi) Ascertain that the system ordering inspection on receipt and issue of provisions, foodstuffs, clothing and
other equipment is efficient and all bills are duly authorised and passed before payment.
(xxii) Verify the inventories of furniture, stationery, clothing, provision and all equipment, etc. These should be
checked by reference to Stock Register and values applied to various items should be test checked.
(xxiii) Confirm that the refund of taxes deducted from the income from investment (interest on securities, etc.) has
been claimed and recovered since the institutions are generally exempted from the payment of income-
tax.
(xxiv) Verify the annual statements of accounts and while doing so see that separate statements of account have
been prepared as regards Poor Boys Fund, Games Fund, Hostel and Provident Fund of Staff, etc.
provisions for doubtful debts is made and whether the same is satisfactory. The percentage of overdue debts
to the working capital and loans advanced will have to be compared with last year, so as to see whether
the trend is increasing or decreasing whether due and proper actions for recovery are taken, the position
regarding cases in co-operative courts, District Courts etc. and the results thereof.
2. Overdue Interest: Overdue interest should be excluded from interest outstanding and accrued due while
calculating profit. Overdue interest is interest accrued or accruing in accounts, the amount of which the
principal is overdue.
3. Certification of Bad Debts:. Bad debts and irrecoverable losses before being written off against Bad Debts
Funds, Reserve Fund etc. should be certified as bad debts or irrecoverable losses by the auditor where the
law so requires. Where no such requirement exists, the managing committee of the society must authorise the
write-off.
4. Valuation of Assets and Liabilities: Regarding valuation of assets there are no specific provisions or instructions
under the Act and Rules and as such due regard shall be had to the general principles of accounting
and auditing conventions and standards adopted. The auditor will have to ascertain existence, ownership
and valuation of assets. Fixed assets should be valued at cost less adequate provision for depreciation. The
incidental expenses incurred in the acquisition and the installation expenses of assets should be properly
capitalised. If the difference in the original cost of acquisition and the present market price is of far reaching
significance, a note regarding the present market value may be appended; so as to have a proper disclosure
in the light of present inflationary conditions. The current assets be valued at cost or market price, whichever
is lower. Regarding the liabilities, the auditor should see that all the known liabilities are brought into the
account, and the contingent liabilities are stated by way of a note.
5. Adherence to Co-operative Principles: The auditor will have to ascertain in general, how far the objects, for
which the co-operative organisation is set up, have been achieved in the course of its working. While auditing
the expenses, the auditor should see that they are economically incurred and there is no wastage of funds.
Middlemen commissions are, as far as possible, avoided and the purchases are made by the committee
members directly from the wholesalers. The principles of propriety audit should be followed for the purpose.
6. Observations of the Provisions of the Act and Rules: An auditor of a co-operative society is required to point
out the infringement with the provisions of Co-operative Societies Act and Rules and bye-laws. The financial
implications of such infringements should be properly assessed by the auditor and they should be reported.
Some of the State Acts contain restrictions on payment of dividends, which should be noted by the auditor.
7. Verification of Members’ Register and examination of their pass books: Examination of entries in members,
pass books regarding the loan given and its repayments, and confirmation of loan balances in person is very
much important in a co-operative organisation to assure that the entries in the books of accounts are free
from manipulation.
8. Special report to the Registrar: During the course of audit, if the auditor notices that there are some serious
irregularities in the working of the society, he may report these special matters to the Registrar, drawing his
specific attention such irregularities. The Registrar on receipt of such a special report may take necessary
action against the society. In the following cases, for instance a special report may become necessary:
(i) Personal profiteering by members of managing committee in transactions of the society, which are
ultimately detrimental to the interest of the society.
(ii) Detection of fraud relating to expenses, purchases, property and stores of the society.
(iii) Specific examples of mis-management including decisions of management against co-operative
principles.
(iv) In the case of urban co-operative banks, disproportionate advances to vested interest groups,
such as relatives of management, and deliberate negligence about the recovery thereof. Cases of
reckless advancing, where the management is negligent about taking adequate security and proper
safeguards for judging the credit worthiness of the party.
9. Audit classification of society: After a judgment of an overall performance of the society, the auditor has to
award a class to the society. This judgment is to be based on the criteria specified by the Registrar. It may be
noted here that if the management of the society is not satisfied about the award of audit class, it can make
an appeal to the Registrar, and the Registrar may direct to review the audit classification. The auditor should
be very careful, while making a decision about the class of society.
Total
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3. Private Meetings with Members: The auditor conducts private interviews with 25% of total members to
triangulate information collected from the background review, as well as from the Field Balance Sheet and
to ascertain the decision-making pattern in the group.
4. Meeting with the SHG Group (30minutes): If serious issues were raised during the course of the audit, the
auditor will meet with the entire group for further discussion.
5. Reporting: Once the auditing is complete, the auditor summarises any weak practices that put savings at
risk or make records unreliable, and recommends any better methods. S/he submits the Field Balance Sheet,
along with a summary report to the MFI/bank, to all group members and adds relevant comments to enable
decision making regarding provision of credit.
(x) Stock in Hand : Verify stock in hand and obtain certificate from the management for the quantities and
valuation of the same.
(xi) Programme and Project Expenses : Verify agreement with donor/contributor (s) supporting the particular
programme or project to ascertain the conditions with respect to undertaking the programme/project and
accordingly, in the case of programmes/projects involving contracts, ensure that income tax is deducted,
deposited and returns filed and verify the terms of the contract.
(xii) Establishment Expenses : Verify that provident fund, life insurance and their administrative charges are
deducted, contributed and deposited within the prescribed time. Also check other office and administrative
expenses such as postage, stationery, travelling, etc.
(ii) Expenditure Control: At the State and Central level, there is a clear demarcation between the legislature
and executive. In the local body, legislative powers are vested in the Council whereas executive powers are
delegated to the officers, e.g., Commissioners. All matters of regular revenue and expenditures are generally
delegated to the executive wing. For special situations like, reduction in property taxes, refund of security
deposits, etc., sanction from the legislative wing is necessary.
(iii) Accounting System: Municipal Accounting System has been conventionally prepared under the cash system.
In the recent past however, it is being changed to the accrual system of accounting. The accounting system
is characterised by
(a) subsidiary and statistical registers for taxes, assets, cheques etc.,
(d) submission of summary reports on periodical basis to different authorities at regional and state level.
• To report the content and presentation of financial statements are true and fair
• Expenditure incurred are according to provisions and as per regulations framed by competent authority
• Different schemes, programmes, and projects are running economically and the purpose such programme is
achieved.
Audit of government expenditure is one of the major components of government audit conducted by the
office of C & AG. The basic standards set for audit of expenditure are to ensure that there is provision of funds
authorised by competent authority fixing the limits within which expenditure can be incurred. Briefly, these
standards are explained below:
(i) Audit against Rules & Orders: The auditor has to see that the expenditure incurred conforms to the
relevant provisions of the statutory enactment and is in accordance with the financial rules and
regulations framed by the competent authority.
(ii) Audit of Sanctions: The auditor has to ensure that each item of expenditure is covered by a sanction,
either general or special, accorded by the competent authority, authorising such expenditure.
(iii) Audit against Provision of Funds: It contemplates that there is a provision of funds out of which expenditure
can be incurred and the amount of such expenditure does not exceed the appropriations made.
(iv) Propriety Audit: It is required to be seen that the expenditure is incurred with due regard to broad and
general principles of financial propriety. The auditors aims to bring out cases of improper, avoidable, or
infructuous expenditure even though the expenditure has been incurred in conformity with the existing
rules and regulations. Audit aims to secure a reasonably high standard of public financial morality by
looking into the wisdom, faithfulness and economy of transactions.
(v) Performance Audit: This involves that the various programmes, schemes and projects where large
financial expenditure has been incurred are being run economically and are yielding results expected
of them. Efficiency-cum-performance audit, wherever used, is an objective examination of the financial
and operational performance of an organisation, programme, authority or function and is oriented
towards identifying opportunities for greater economy, and effectiveness.
The C&AG have powers under section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 as follows:
(i) to direct the manner in which the company’s accounts shall be audited by the auditor and to give such
auditor instructions in regard to any matter relating to the performance of his functions as such;
(ii) to conduct a supplementary or test audit of the company’s accounts by such person or persons as
he may authorise in this behalf; and for the purposes of such audit, to require information or additional
information to be furnished to person or persons so authorised, on such matters, by such person or
persons, and in such form, as the Comptroller and Auditor-General may, by general or special order;
direct.
In addition, the C&AG has a right to comment upon or supplement the audit report in such manner as he
thinks fit.
Propriety Audit: Under ‘propriety audit’, the auditors try to bring out cases of improper, avoidable, or infructuous
expenditure even though the expenditure has been incurred in conformity with the existing rules and regulations.
However, some general principles have been laid down in the Audit Code, which have for long been recognized
as standards of financial propriety. Audit against propriety seeks to ensure that expenditure conforms to these
principles which have been stated as follows:
1. The expenditure should not be prima facie more than the occasion demands. Every public officer is expected
to exercise the same vigilance in respect of expenditure incurred from public moneys as a person of ordinary
prudence would exercise in respect of expenditure of his own money.
2. No authority should exercise its powers of sanctioning expenditure to pass an order which will be directly or
indirectly to its own advantage.
3. Public moneys should not be utilised for the benefit of a particular person or section of the community unless:
(iv) the amount of allowances, such as travelling allowances, granted to meet expenditure of a particular
type should be so regulated that the allowances are not, on the whole, sources of profit to the recipients.
The government also engages in commercial activities and for the purpose it may incorporate following types of
entities:
(i) Departmental enterprises engaged in commercial and trading operations, which are governed by the same
regulations as other Government departments such as defense factories, mints, etc.
(ii) Statutory corporations created by specific statues such as LIC, Air India, etc.
(iii) Government companies, set up under the Companies Act, 2013. All aforesaid entities are required to
maintain accounts on commercial basis. The audit of departmental entities is done in the same manner
as any Government department, where commercial accounts are kept. Audit of statutory corporations
depends on the nature of the statute governing the corporation. In respect of government companies, the
relevant provisions of Companies Act, 2013 are applicable.
Accounting ratios are relationships expressed in mathematical terms between figures which are connected with
each other in some manner. Obviously, no purpose will be served by comparing two sets of figures which are
not at all connected with each other. Over the past few years, financial ratios have been subjected to empirical
analysis to find their other uses.
CLASSIFICATION OF RATIOS:
Classification in view of
Financial Analysis
Profitability Ratios:
2. Operating Ratio
5. Expense Ratio
1. Return on Investment
Activity Ratios:
Solvency Ratios:
2. Proprietary Ratio
1. Current Ratio
2. Liquidity Ratio
Financial Position and Ratio Analysis forms part of Part D of the Annexure to Cost Audit Report.
Illustration 1.
The Balance Sheet of X Ltd. stood as follows as on:
(Rupees in Lakhs)
Liabilities 31 March 31 March Assets 31 March 31 March
2018 2017 2018 2017
Capital 1,500 1,500 Fixed Assets 2,400 1,800
Reserves 696 600 Less: Depreciation 840 600
Loans 600 720 Net Fixed Assets 1,560 1,200
Creditors & Others Investment 240 180
Current Liabilities 774 150 Stock 720 600
Debtors 420 300
Cash & Bank 120 120
Other Current assets 150 150
Miscellaneous 360 420
Expenditure
3,570 2,970 3,570 2,970
You are given the following information for the year 2017-18:
(Rupees in Lakhs)
Sales 3,600
Profit before Interest & Tax 900
Interest 144
Provision for Tax 360
Proposed Dividend 300
Required:
(i) Calculate for the year 2017-18:
A. Return on Capital Employed.
B. Stock Turnover Ratio.
C. Return on Net Worth.
D. Current Ratio.
E. Proprietary Ratio
Answer:
(A) Computation of Capital Employed –
2018 2017
Fixed Assets 2,400 1,800
Less: Depreciation 840 600
1,560 1,200
Current Assets
Stock 720 600
Debtors 420 300
Cash & Bank 120 120
Other current assets 150 150
1,410 1,170
Current Liability 774 150
Total Earning = Profit after tax + Interest on debt funds + Non-Operating Adjustments
= 540
Total Earning
∴ Return on Capital Employed =
Average Capital Employed
540
= × 100 = 24.46%
2,208
It is normally expressed as a percentage. It indicates the rate of return earned by an enterprise from its total
Capital Employed in the business. It is also an indicator of the profit earning capacity of an enterprise. A higher
return reveals a better profitability on the total Capital Employed in the business.
This ratio indicates the movement of stock during a particular period. In other words, it indicates how fast goods
are sold out from the stock of those goods. Higher ratio indicates a faster movement of stock.
Total Earning
(C) Return on Net Worth =
Average Net Worth
540
Return on Net Worth = = 29.41%
1,836
It is normally expressed as a percentage. It indicates the rate of return earned by an enterprise on the capital
invested by its owners. This is an indicator of the rate of return on the shareholders’ fund invested in the business. A
higher return reveals the better profitability to the shareholders’ of the enterprise.
Current Assets
(D) Current Ratio =
Current Liabilities
1,410
Current Ratio = = 1.82
774
This ratio indicates whether an enterprise possesses sufficient Current Assets to pay off its Current Liabilities. This ratio
is an indicator of short term solvency or liquidity position of an enterprise. Ideal ratio is 2:1, i.e., the enterprise should
have twice the current assets than the current liabilities, to exhibit ideal short term solvency position.
Proprietary Funds
(E) Proprietary Ratio =
Total Assets
Proprietary Ratio = Equity Share Capital + Preference Share Capital + reserve & Surplus – Accumulated Losses
= 1,500 + 696 – 360 = 1,836
Total Assets = Net Fixed assets + Total Current Assets (Only tangible assets will be included)
= 1,560 + 1,410 = 2,970
1,836
Proprietary Ratio = x 100 = 61.82 %
2,970
This ratio indicates the portion of Proprietors’ Fund or Shareholders’ fund invested in Fixed Assets. It is also an
indicator of the efficiency of the management regarding the formulation of the financial planning.
Illustration 2.
From the following figures extracted from the financial and cost accounting records, you are required to compute:
(i) Value Added.
(ii) Ratio of Operating Profit to Sales.
(iii) Ratio of Operating Profit to Value Added.
Particulars ` in lakhs
Net Sales excluding Excise Duty 42,000
Increase in Stock of finished goods 500
Expenses:
Raw Materials consumed 8,600
Packing materials consumed 2,560
Stores and spares consumed 1,120
Power and fuel 9,200
Insurance 240
Direct salaries and wages 960
Depreciation 1,770
Interest paid 2,796
Factory overhead:
Salaries and wages 480
Others 500
Selling and distribution expenses:
Salaries and wages 240
Additional sales tax 914
Administration overheads:
Salaries and wages 240
Answer :
Illustration 3.
M Ltd has the following Balance Sheets as on 31 March 2018 and 31 March 2017:
Particulars ` in lakhs
31 March 2018 31 March 2017
Sources of Funds:
Shareholder’s Fund 4,954 3,144
Loan Funds 7,340 6,366
12,294 9,510
Applications of Funds:
Fixed Assets 7,132 6,000
Cash & Bank 1,178 1,140
Debtors 3,190 2,536
Stock 5,934 5,014
Other Current Assets 3,334 3,008
Less: Current Liabilities (8,074) (7,788)
12,694 9,910
The Income Statement of the M Ltd for the year that ended is as follows:
` in lakhs
31 March 2018 31 March 2017
Sales 44,530 27,964
Less: CGS 41,920 25,288
GP 2,610 2,676
Less: Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 2,070 1,304
Earnings before Interest and Tax (EBIT) 540 1,372
Less: Interest Expense 226 210
Profit before tax 314 1,162
Less: Tax 46 384
Profit after Tax 268 778
Required:
(i) Calculate for the year 2017-18
a. Inventory Turnover Ratio
b. Return on Net worth
c. ROI
d. ROE
e. Profitability ratio
(ii) Give a brief comment on the financial position of M Ltd.
Answer:
(i) a. Inventory Turnover Ratio (for the year 2017-18) = Cost of Goods Sold = 41,920 = 7.66
Average Inventory 5,474
c. ROI (for the year 2017-18) = Net Profit before Interest but after tax x100
Average Capital Employed
494
= x100 = 4.37%
11,302
Net Profit before interest but after tax = 268 + 226 = 494
Average Capital Employed = Average of Opening and closing of Net Current Assets + Average of
Opening and closing of Net Current Assets
= (12,694+ 9,910)/2 = 11,302
d. ROE (for the year 2017-18) = Net Profit available to Equity Shareholders x100
Average Equity Shareholders' Fund
= 268
x100 = 6.62%
(4,954 + 3,144)/ 2
(ii) Profitability of operation of the company remarkably decline from `1,372 (`in Lakhs) to `540 (` in Lakhs), due
to a huge increase in the operating expenses during the year 2017-18. NP of the company also reduces
due to an increase in the interest expenses. During the year 2017-18, both Fixed operating expenses as well
as fixed financial expense have increased, as a consequence of which the NP of the company radically
reduced. During 2017-18, both operating and Financial Leverages have become adverse, as a result of
which the company has been crucially suffering from a liquidity crisis during the year 2017-18.
Illustration 4.
Following are the summarized accounts of Key Ltd and Pee Ltd for the 2 years 2017 and 2018:
Particulars ` in Lakhs
Key Ltd Pee Ltd
2017 2018 2017 2018
Sales 5,412 4,575 1,752 1,447
Manufacturing & Other Expenses 5,104 4,356 1,496 1,182
Depreciation 56 51 60 35
Profit before Tax 252 168 196 230
5,412 4,575 1,752 1,447
Miscellaneous Expenditure 165 169 - -
Fixed Assets 836 941 351 275
Stock 1,124 1,219 177 226
Debtors 728 824 582 402
Bank 93 33 464 246
2,946 3,186 1,574 1,149
Creditors 947 926 233 175
Taxation [Less Advance Tax] 56 68 87 58
Short-term Borrowings 424 800 464 216
Long-term Borrowings 254 210 10 -
Capital & Reserves 1,265 1,182 780 700
2,946 3,186 1,574 1,149
You are required to:
(i) Indicate and calculate five Ratios which in your opinion are relevant in determining the stability of the two
companies.
(ii) Compare the Ratios so determined for the two companies. Indicate what conclusions can be drawn
therefrom?
Answer:
In our opinion, the following five Ratios are very much relevant in determining the stability of the given two
companies as growing concerns:
Computation of five Relevant Ratios in determining the stability of two companies
Key Ltd Pee Ltd
2017 2018 2017 2018
1,945 ÷ 1,427 2,076 ÷ 1,794 1,223 ÷ 784 874 ÷ 449
(i) Current Ratio CAs = 1.36 = 1.16 = 1.56 = 1.95
CLs
(ii) Total Debts to Net Worth 1,681 ÷ 1,100 2,004 ÷ 1,013 794 ÷ 780 449 ÷ 700
Total Outside Liabilities = 1.528 = 1.978 = 1.017 = 0.641
Net Worth
7. Operating Expenses (excluding Depreciation) per day Key Ltd Pee Ltd
2017 2018 2017 2018
5104/365 4356/366 1496/365 1182/365
=13.98 = 11.90 = 4.09 = 3.23
Illustration 5.
The Balance Sheets of SLtd for the last 3 years read as follows:
` in lakhs
As on As on As on
31 March 31 March 31 March
2016 2017 2018
Sources of Fund:
Share Capital [Share of `10 each] 2,200 2,200 3,200
Securities Premium 1,900 2,000 700
Reserves [After 10% Dividend] 1,900 2,100 1,900
Long-term Loan 1,750 1,550 2,600
Total Funds 7,750 7,850 8,400
Represented by:
Fixed Assets 2,800 3,200 3,500
Less: Depreciation 800 1,050 1,300
2,000 2,150 2,200
Capital WIP [work-in-progress] 1,000 1,100 1,200
Investment 600 700 650
A. 3,600 3,950 4,050
Net Current Assets:
Current Assets:
Debtors 1,800 1,950 2,150
Stock 1,900 2,050 2,700
Cash & Bank 800 800 800
Others 550 750 1,800
5,050 5,550 7,450
Less: Current Liabilities 900 1,650 3,100
B. 4,150 3,900 4,350
Total Assets [A+B] 7,750 7,850 8,400
Sales [excluding Excise Duty and Sales Tax @ 20%] 4,050 4,200 5,400
Answer:
Calculation of ration for the year 2016-17 & 2017-18
2016-17 2017-18
(i) Fixed Asset Turnover Ratio
4,200 5,400
Net sales excluding Excise Duty & Sales Tax = 2.02 times = 2.48 times
Average Fixed Asset 2,075 2,175
Net sales excluding Excise Duty & Sales Tax 4,200 5,400
= 2.27 times
= 2.13 times
Average Stock 1,975 2,375
Debt
(iv) Debt-Equity Ratio 1,550/ 6,300 =0.25 2,600/ 5,800 = 0.45
Equity
(v) Current Ratio = Current Assets/ Current liability 5,550/1,650 = 3.36 7,450/3,100 = 2.40
Comments on the performance of the company:
Fixed Asset Turnover Ratio indicates the level of efficiency of uses or utilizations of Fixed Assets. Here, this Ratio
has increased in the year 2017-18 as compared to that of in 2016-17, and, thus, shows a better efficient use or
utilization in Fixed Assets in the year 2017-18.
Stock Turnover Ratio is an indicator of the movement of stock. Higher Ratio indicates a faster movement of stock.
Here, this Ratio has increased in 2017-18 as compared to that of in 2016-17, and, thus, shows a faster movement
of stock in 2017-18 than in 2016-17. Yet, the inventory-holding period of the company is still high. Therefore, this
Ratio should be compared with the industry average to draw a final conclusion about the efficiency of the
inventory management of the company.
Debt Collection Period indicates the efficiency of the collection department as regards to the collection of
credit sales. Here, the Debt Collection Period in 2017-18 is shorter that of in 2016-17, and, thus, reflects a more
efficient collection process in 2017-18 than in 2016-17. But, to draw a final conclusion about the efficiency of
debtors’ management of the company, this Ratio should be compared with the industry average and the
credit period received by the company from its creditors.
Debt-Equity Ratio indicates the proportion of debt Capital and Owners’ Capital included in the Capital Structure.
This is an indicator of the Capital Structure of an enterprise. It also shows the efficiency of the management in
financial planning. The ideal ratio is 1:2.
Current ratio indicates whether an enterprise possesses sufficient Current Assets to pay off its Current liabilities.
This ratio is an indicator of short-term solvency or liquidity position of an enterprise. Ideal ratio is 2:1.
Working Notes
1. Calculation of Sales including Excise Duty and Sales Tax
2016-17 2017-18
` in Lakhs ` in Lakhs
Sales Excluding Excise Duty and Sales Tax 4,200 5,400
Add: 20% Excise duty and Sales Tax 840 1,080
Sales including Excise Duty & Sales Tax 5,040 6,480
Note: While calculating the Fixed Asset Turnover Ratio and Stock Turnover Ratio, sales excluding excise duty &
sales tax is considered. But, while calculating Debtors’ Turnover Ratio, sales including excise duty and sales tax
is considered as sales to debtors include excise duty and sales tax.
2. Calculation of Average Fixed Asset (Net)
In 2016 -17:
Average Fixed Assets (Net) = (2,000 + 2,150)/2 = `2,075 lakhs
In 2017 – 18:
Average Fixed Assets (Net) = (2,150 + 2,200)/2 =`2,175 lakhs
Credit sales
We know, Debtors’ Turnover Ratio =
Average Receivables
Here, Debtors’ Turnover Ratio in terms of number of days = Average Collection Period
Average Receivables
= x No. of days in the year
Credit Sales
In many continuous process industries cost data are arrived at with complexities in the calculation.
A Spinning unit of Cotton Textile Industry has a set of processing departments like Mixing and Blow Room, Carding,
Drawing, Combing, Fly Frames and Ring Frames. Actually spinning unit comes under continuous process industry.
Mixing and Blow Room are the starting point when the raw material cotton enters and comes out as yarn in
the Ring Frame section. Obviously like every processing industry in spinning mills certain amount of wastage is
emerging out of production in each and every department. It is segregated as usable waste and saleable waste
apart from invisible loss. While the usable waste and saleable waste can measured physically the invisible loss is
found out from the input and output of raw materials after considering due weightage of usable and saleable
waste. The actual waste which is extracted from the machine process depends upon the impurities in the cotton.
The production process involving wastage has a routine or cycle.
For example the output of Blow Room goes to Carding and usable waste of Carding goes back to the cotton mix
in Mixing and Blow Room and so on. The ‘back’ and ‘forth’ waste movement are given due consideration while
calculating the raw material cost. The realization of saleable waste is given due credit in the cost of raw material
consumed.
Waste multiplier is that quantity of output from any process , which will be needed to get one unit of final output.
Illustration 1.
The following are the process wise wastages on inputs in a Spinning Mill in the year 2017-18.
Answer:
Process % age of wastages Net output for 100 units Waste multiplier
on input of input
Illustration 2.
The following are the process-wise input and output in a Spinning Mill –
Process Input (kgs) Output (kgs) % Loss (%) Output (%) Waste Multiplier
Total Consumption 100.00 1.3161
Blowroom : 4672563 kgs 4258274 kgs. 8.87 91.13 1.1994
Carding : 4274362 kgs. 3976420 kgs. 6.97 84.78 1.1158
Draw frames : 3948241 kgs. 3901810 kgs. 1.18 83.78 1.1026
Roving (Simplex) : 3874125 kgs. 3831510 kgs. 1.10 82.86 1.0905
Ring frame : 3911645 kgs. 3641741 kgs. 6.90 77.14 1.0153
Reeling and Winding : 3635420 kgs. 3580889 kgs. 1.50 75.98 1.0000
Loss Percentage = (Input-output)/input × 100
The term ‘Utilities’ refer to significant inputs such as power, steam, water, compressed air and the like which are
used for manufacturing process but do not form part of the final product.Broadband internet services (both fixed-
line and mobile) are increasingly being included within the definition.
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 8 (CAS-8) is issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India
on “COST OF UTILITIES”
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of cost of
utilities, for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determining
the cost of utilities with reasonable accuracy.
Illustration 1.
X ltd is having a business of generating Thermal Electricity. The company raises water from a lake nearby. The Water
Collection Cost consists of water collected from lake and primary treatment. Thereafter the Water is transferred
to Water Treatment Cost Centre for secondary treatment. The treatment water is further transferred to Water De-
mineralization Cost Centre for power generation and to the Township for domestic use. Following information is
provided for the respective cost centres.
Quantity (KL)
Cost Centres
Actual Normal
From Water Collection to Water Treatment 20,000 15,000
From Water Treatment to De-mineralization 20,000 17,000
From Water treatment to Township - -
From De-mineralization to Power Generation 5,000 5,000
Total Loss 45,000 37,000
Quantity of water utilised 3,55,000 -
Total water Raised 4,00,000 -
1. Calculate the Cost of Water transferred from Water De-mineralization plant to Power Generation.
2. Calculate the total value of abnormal loss of water.
3. Present the information in Annexure to Cost Audit Report Part B, 2-B.
Answer:
Name of the Company: X Ltd.
Statement showing the Cost of water in Water Collection Cost Centre
Sl. No. Particulars Rate Qty (KL) Amount (`)
1 Cost of water collected (`) 1.00 4,00,000 4,00,000
2 Wages and Salaries (`) 3,00,000
3 Consumables (Chemicals) (`) 80,000
4 Repairs &Mantainance (`) 30,000
5 Insurance (`) 50,000
6 Depreciation (`) 24,000
7 Others -
8 Total Cost (`) (1 to 8) 2.21 4,00,000 8,84,000
9 Rate (`/KL) 2.21
10 Less - Abnormal loss 2.21 5,000 11,050
11 Total Cost of Water Collected (`) 2.21 3,95,000 8,72,950
Transfer of Collected water for Water Treatment 2.21 3,95,000 8,72,950
Note : The quantity of water transferred includes Normal water loss of 15,000 KL @ ` 2.21 i.e. `11,050
Note:
1. It is to be noticed that as per question, the Water Treatment received 2,60,000 KL of water that does not
include any loss. Since, the normal loss of 22,000 KL i.e. (15,000 KL+17,000 KL) is to be included in consumption,
the total water used for power generation sums up to 2,92,000 KL i.e. (2,60,000 KL + 15,000 KL + 17,000 KL)
2. The cost of water transfer to the Township is to be treateds Factory Overhead.
10 Total Cost of Water De-mineralized and transferred for power 6.29 2,92,000 18,36,257
generation (7-9)
Answer:
1. The cost of water transferred from De-mineralization plant to Power Generation is ` 18,36,257 i.e @ ` 6.29/KL.
2. The abnormal water losses are to be taken as Non-cost and shown in reconciliation statement.
Description of Material UOM Quantity Rate per unit Amount Quantity Rate per unit Amount
(`) (`) (`) (`)
Illustration 2.
SRIZONI LTD. of Gandhi Nagar producing industrial alcohol generates Bio-gas from the waste wash of alcohol in
its Bio-gas Plant. The said Bio-gas is used as a fuel in generating steam along with conventional fuel oil. The high
pressure steam is first sent to the STEAM TURBINE and the exhaust steam is used in the process of manufacturing
Alcohol.
The following details are extracted from the financial accounts and cost accounting records of SRIZONI LTD. for
the year ended March 31, 2018:
Required:
Prepare two separate cost sheets for steam and power as per the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014
for the year ended March 31, 2018.
Answer:
(i) Statement showing Cost of Steam
Quantity produced: 34,950 mt
13,42,34,000 3,840.74
1,36,06,2000 53.35
Illustration 3.
Compute necessary productivity measures and compare the efficiency of power usage during the three years.
Answer:
2017-18 2016-17 2015-16
Power consumed in Kwh 24,02,474 24,94,872 21,75,677
Rate per Kwh (`) 2.29 2.12 1.90
Total Power cost (`) 55,01,665 52,89,129 41,33,786
Production (in million kgs) 337.730 333.084 300.865
(337730 MT) (333084 MT) (300865 MT)
Power cost/MT (`) 16.29 15.88 13.74
Power usage MT (KWH) 7.11 7.49 7.23
Volume variance:
Usage variance:
2017-18 & 2016-17
2,12,536 – 4,08,421 – 73778 = ` 2,69,663 (F)
2016-17 & 2015-16
11,55,343 – 5,48,872 – 4,42,689 = ` 1,63,782 (A)
Total variance:
2017-18 & 2016-17 52,89,129 – 55,01,665 = ` 2,12,536 (A)
2016-17 & 2015-16 41,33,786 – 52,89,129 = ` 11,55,343 (A)
Capacity is the maximum level of output that a company can sustain to make a product or provide a service.
Planning for capacity requires management to accept limitations on the production process.
Cost Accounting Standard - 2 (Revised 2015) on “Capacity Determination” issued by the Council of the Institute
of Cost Accountants of India.
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification and determination of capacity of an entity for
ascertainment of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of determination
of capacity with reasonable accuracy.
Installed capacity: Installed capacity is the maximum capacity of producing goods or providing services,
determined either based on technical specification of the facility or through a technical evaluation.
Normal capacity is the volume of production or services achieved or achievable on an average over a period
under normal circumstances taking into account the reduction in capacity resulting from planned maintenance.
Actual capacity utilization: Actual capacity utilization is measured in terms of volume of production achieved or
service provided in a specified period.
Capacity shall be determined in terms of units of production or services or equivalent machine or man hours.
Illustration 1.
As a Cost and Management Auditor, you are asked to look into the proposed decision to temporarily suspend
operations due to depressed market conditions:
` In ‘000
The company is likely to operate at 50% capacity only and turnovers expected to be ` 49.5 lakhs p.a. Market
Research indicates that the depression will be over in a year and after that they can effect a sale of ` 90 lakhs p.a
utilizing 75% of capacity.
If operations are suspended for a year, the following cost will be incurred:
- Fixed cost ` 4,00,000
- Settlement with labour force ` 3,50,000
- Maintenance of Plant will continue and cost ` 1,00,000
- Cost of reopening will be ` 1,00,000
Draft a report to the Management of the following two options:
(i) To suspend production for one year and restart thereafter when market improves.
(ii) To continue production at 50% capacity level.
Answer:
Draft report is as follows:
To,
The Managing Director,
——————————
Dear Sir,
Sub: Report on proposal for temporary suspension of operations due to depressed market conditions:
Total 950
Analysis of the above comparative data shows that if company continues operation at 50% capacity, there will
be loss of `. 10 lakhs.
On other hand, if operations are suspended, the loss will be ` 9.50 lakhs. Thus there is additional loss of ` 50000/-
only.
If the operations are suspended, the company may have to encounter the following problems:
- Problems of recruiting new personnel,
- Links with old customers will be broken,
- It may have an adverse effect on the image of the company.
Attaining 75% capacity utilization immediately after closer for a year may not be easy to achieve. It may therefore
be seen from the above that even though the company may just save `50000/-, by doing so it may have to face
a lot of difficulties as listed above.
Final recommendation: The company is advised to continue production at 50% capacity utilization and never
mind the small loss of ` 50000/- by continuing production in view of factors discussed above.
Hope you find the above report and analysis in order.
Thanking you ,
Sd.
Working notes:
(I) Direct Material Cost is 100% variable cost.
Direct material cost at 75% Capacity =18,00,000/60*75 = ` 22,50,000
Direct material cost at 50% Capacity =18,00,000/60*50 = ` 15,00,000
At 75% capacity,
Illustration 2.
A company manufactures two products X and Y. Product X requires 8 hours to produce while Product Y requires
12 hours. In April, of 22 effective working days of 8 hours a day, 1,200 units of X and 800 units of Y were produced.
The Company employs 100 workers in the Production Department to produce X and Y. The Budgeted Hours are
1,86,000 for the year. Calculate Capacity, Activity and Efficiency Ratio and establish their inter-relationship.
Answer:
Budget-Ratios can be easily computed using the FOH Variance Computation Chart, given below:-
When FOH Volume Variance related ratios are to be computed, the working notes are as under –
Relationship: Activity Ratio = Capacity Ratio x Efficiency Ratio = 113.55% x 109.09% = 123.87%.
Illustration 3.
As a Cost Auditor of a manufacturing company, furnish your suggestions and observations based on following
information: (You may make necessary assumptions):
Answer:
Cost Auditor’s Observations and Conclusions:
The profit of the company has declined by` 90 lakhs during the year 2018, as compared to the year 2017.
This may be due to the following reasons:
(i) Production during the year 2018 has decreased by 10,000 MT. This is perhaps due to underutilization of
capacity from 95% to 90%. It may also be due to scarce power supply.
(ii) Based on further analysis and scrutiny, it is noted that the cost of production/ Tonne has increased (Assumption.)
(iii) It has also come to light that the price of the product in the market has declined. This may be due to stiff
competition. (Assumption)
(iv) Profit as a % of Capital Employed has declined from the figure of 30.9% in 2017 to 20.8% in the year 2018. This
is partly due to decline in the amount of profit and partly due to increase in capital employed.
(v) The consumption of electricity in terms of KWH/ tonne of output has increased from 3.98 in 2017 to 4.07 in
2018. This is a serious matter which need investigation and necessary action is to be initiated.
(vi) There is an increase in the Salaries and Wages by `19 lakhs. This is due to the following reasons:
(A) Increase in `7 lakhs due to increments and promotions. (Assumptions)
(B) Increase in `3 lakhs due to additional DA paid to the workers. (Assumptions)
(C) Remaining `9 lakhs is due to employment of new workers. (Assumptions)
Engagement of these new workers is not justified on economic considerations and this has resulted in excessive
idle time. Additional work needs to be created for these workers.
The term“ Value Addition” has been defined under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 as
the difference between net output value(net sales adjusted for WIP and finished stock) and cost of bought out
materials and services for the product under reference.
Annexure to the Cost Audit Report - Part D prescribes the method of calculation of Value Addition. Value Added
has to be established with reference to activity carried out during the year under reference.
Illustration 1.
From the following figures extracted from the financial and cost accounting records, you are required to compute:
(i) Value Added.
(ii) Ratio of Operating Profit to Sales.
(iii) Ratio of Operating Profit to Value Added.
Particulars ` in lakhs
Net Sales excluding Excise Duty 21,000
Increase in Stock of finished goods 250
Expenses:
Raw Materials consumed 2,600
Packing materials consumed 1200
Stores and spares consumed 560
Power and fuel 4,600
Repairs and maintenance 200
Insurance 120
Direct salaries and wages 480
Depreciation 885
Interest paid 1,398
Factory overhead:
Salaries and wages 240
Others 250
Selling and distribution expenses:
Salaries and wages 120
Additional sales tax 457
Others 1,700
Administration overheads:
Salaries and wages 120
Others 80
Answer:
Illustration 2.
The president of the H T Company has just returned from a management seminar in which the benefits of economic
value added have been trumpeted. He wants to know what the calculation would be for HT, and asks his financial
analyst to find out.
The financial analyst knows that the company’s cost of capital is 12.5%, having recently calculated it from the
company’s mix of debt, preferred stock, and common stock. He then reconfigures information from the income
statement and balance sheet into the following matrix, where some expense line items are instead treated as
investments.
Revenue $6,050,000
The return on investment for HT is 17.8%, using the information from the preceding matrix. The calculation is $645,000
of net income divided by $3,632,000 of net investment. Finally, he includes the return on investment, cost of capital,
and net investment to calculate Economic Value Added.
Answer:
Thus, the company is generating a healthy economic value on the funds invested in it.
An inventory valuation allows a company to provide a monetary value for items that make up their inventory.
Inventories are usually the largest current asset of a business, and proper measurement of them is necessary to
assure accurate financial statements. If inventory is not properly measured, expenses and revenues cannot be
properly matched and a company could make poor business decisions. Inventory management is the process of
efficiently overseeing the constant flow of units into and out of an existing inventory.
The inventory valuation involves two major aspects:
• The cost of the purchased or manufactured inventory has to be determined and
• Such cost is retained in the inventory accounts of the company until the product is sold.
Costs of Inventories Cost of inventory can be classified as
(a) Costs of purchase
(b) Costs of conversion
(c) “Other costs” incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition
Costs that are excluded from inventory valuation Certain costs are excluded in valuing inventory are:-
(a) Abnormal amounts of wasted materials, labor, or other production costs
(b) Storage costs unless they are essential to the production process
(c) Administrative overheads that do not contribute to bringing inventories to their present location and condition
(d) Selling costs.
Illustration 1.
A nationalized bank which has extended cash credit to a manufacturing company on the security of the inventory
holding, is periodically receiving stock statements from the company indicating the value of stocks held. The
company is sick and the Bank wants to reassure itself that its loans are fully covered by stocks. You have been
appointed by the Bank to certify the value of the inventory. How would you proceed to conduct the ‘inventory
audit?’
Answer:
Inventory Audit involves the following aspects:
(i) Physical verification of stocks.
(ii) Method of valuation adopted.
(iii) Currency of stocks (i.e., movement)
(i) Physical verification of stocks — Physical verification of stocks will normally be 100 percent. However,
depending upon the nature of items and material flows, it may be done by sampling. This will require proper
sampling procedures to ensure the samples verified represent the characteristics of entire stock. An ABC
categorization may be done so that right emphasis is given to each item of stock.
(ii) Method of valuation adopted — The main thrust of inventory audit is to check the accuracy of the costs, to
verify the market rates and to see that the values adopted for stock valuation are cost price or net realisable
value whichever is lower. Basis of valuation adopted for Raw Materials, Work-in process, Finished Goods and
Spares and Consumables must be examined and reasonableness verified to ensure the realizable values. For
imported items foreign exchange translation rate for conversion will be:
Illustration 2.
Purchase of Materials $ 50,000 [ Forward contract rate $ = `54.40 but $ = `54.60 on the date of importation] ; Import
Duty paid `5,65,000; Freight inward `1,62,000 ; Insurance paid for import by road `48,000; Cash discount `33,000;
CENVAT Credit refundable `37,000; Payment made to the foreign vendor after a month, on that date the rate of
exchange was $ = `55,20. Compute the landed cost of material.
Answer:
Computation of Landed Cost of Material
Total 35,05,000
(i) Excess payment made to the vendor due to exchange fluctuation is not an includible cost, hence not
considered.
(ii) Though the forward contract rate was $ = `54.40, but the exchange rate on the date of importation is
considered. Hence, included in the cost of materials. Accordingly, the purchase cost is computed considering
the $ = `54.60.
As per (CAS-6) COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON MATERIAL COST, any abnormal cost shall be excluded from
material cost. So cost of Abnormal Events such as Strike, Lock Out and other factors are not included in Cost.
Illustration 1.
There was a strike from 13.09.2017 to 16.11.2017 in a company of which you were the Cost Auditor for the year
ending 31.03.2018. Although the company began working from 17.11.2017, production could effectively begin
only from 5.12.2017. The expenses incurred during the year ended 31.03.2018 were:
(` in lakhs)
Depreciation 270
Detailed examination of the records reveals that of the above, the following relate to the period 13.09.2017 to
16.11.2017:
(` in lakhs)
Depreciation 90
Calculate the amount which in your opinion should be treated as abnormal for exclusion from the product costs.
Answer:
Calculation of Fixed expenses incurred during the period 17.11.2017 to 04.12.2017
` in lakhs
Total expenses 2017 - 18 1,560
Less: Variable expenses (Electricity) 180
Fixed expenses (2017 - 18) 1,380
Less: Fixed expenses during the strike period 330
Fixed expenses during non-strike period 1,050
Since the strike period was for 65 days, the non-strike period is 300 days. Hence, Fixed expenses attributed to 18
days, i.e., 17.11.2017 to 4.12.2017 is 6% of `1,050 lakhs = `63 lakhs.
Therefore, Expenses incurred during 13.9.17 to 16.11.17 ` 330 lakhs
For expenses incurred during 17.11.2017 to 04.12.2017 ` 63 lakhs
Total
` 393 lakhs
Hence, ` 393 lakhs is to be treated as abnormal cost and should be excluded from the product cost.
Illustration 2.
You are the Internal Auditor of Arena Manufacturing Ltd. The Managing Director has asked you to enquire into
the cause of abnormal wastage of raw materials during the month of April. The wastage percentages for the last
few months are: Jan. — 1.3%, Feb. — 1.1%, Mar. — 1.3% and Apr. — 3.9%. How will you proceed to carry out the
assignment?
Answer:
The rate of wastage in the month of April is about 3 times than that of the previous months. Hence, it may be
considered as abnormal. In respect of audit of abnormal wastage, the Auditor should proceed on the following
lines —
1. General:
(i) Procure a list of Raw Materials, showing the names and detailed characteristics of each Raw Material.
(ii) Enquire whether there is any change which will affect material wastage, e.g. changes in - (I) source of
supply of raw materials, (II) methods or process, (III) operating condition of machines, (IV) labour force
i.e. replacement of experienced employees by raw hands etc.
(iii) Enquire whether any new production line was taken up during the month in respect of which standard
Input-Output Ratio is yet to be set up.
2. Wastage Figures:
(i) Obtain the standard consumption figures, and ascertain the basis of computation of normal wastage
figures.
(ii) Examine whether the basis adopted for wastage calculation for the month of April is the same as that
adopted for the other three months.
(iii) See the breakup of normal wastage - (I) transit, (II) storage, (III) handling, and (IV) processing.
(iv) Obtain a statement showing break up of wastage figures, (as above) for the four months under review
and compare the results of the analysis for each of the four months.
3. Consumption Records: Examine the following to find out material variances / deviations if any -
(i) Material Quality: Examine inspection and testing reports to find out if raw material purchased are of
poor quality or sub-standard. This will be most useful if it is possible to identify the wastage out of each
lot that has been purchased.
(ii) Machine Utilisation: Machine breakdown, power failure, etc. may also result in loss of materials in
process. Check Machine Utilisation Statements.
(iii) Inspection: A high rate of rejection in the finished lots may also be responsible for abnormal wastage.
Examine the Inspection Reports for the inspection carried out on the completion of each stage of work
or process.
(iv) Old Lot Consumption: It is possible that the wastage may have occurred because, the particular lot
out of which issues were made in April was lying in the store for a long time, leading to deterioration in
quality, or because of a change in weather, which may have led to the deterioration.
(v) Previous period comparison: Compare the wastage figures of April this year with that of April last year
and see whether there is any correlation.
(i) Write-offs on account of reconciliation of physical and book-stocks. In case of periodical physical stock-
taking, such write offs will be reflected only in the month in which reconciliation takes place.
Accidental, theft or fire losses in storage. The Auditor should examine such possibilities.
Profitability analysis is a component of resource planning that allows administrators to forecast the profitability of
a proposal or optimize the profitability of an existing project. Profitability analysis can anticipate sales and profit
potential specific to aspects of the market such as customer age groups, geographic regions, or product types.
Profitability analysis helps an enterprise to:
• Evolve the product mix to maximize profits in the medium and long term.
Profitability Ratio Analysis forms part of Part D of the Annexure to Cost Audit Report.
Illustration 1.
The Total Overhead Expenses of a factory are `4,46,380. Taking into account the normal working of the factory,
Overhead was recovered in production at `1.25 per hour. The actual hours worked were 2,93,104. How would you
proceed to close the books of accounts, assuming that besides 7,800 units produced to which 7,000 were sold,
there were 200 equivalent units in WIP?
On investigation, it was found that 50% of the Unabsorbed Overhead was on account of increase in the cost of
indirect Materials and Indirect Labour and the remaining 50% was due to factory inefficiency. Also give the profit
implication of the method suggested.
Answer:
(i) Difference in Absorption = Absorbed OH (-) Actual OH
= (`1.25 per hour x 2,93,104 hours) – `4,46,380 = `80,000 (under absorption)
Normal Increase in OH Costs 50% = `40,000
Notes:
This calculation can be based on either Units Sold, (or) Closing Stock of FG, (or) Closing Stock of WIP, (or) Total of
all these.
(ii) Journal Entries
(` in rupees)
Illustration 2.
A manufacturing unit has two machines, viz. M1 and M2. Machine M1 be used for the production of either Product
A or production B or both. Machine M2 can be used for the production of either product X or product Y or both. In
order to met the long term contractual obligations with one of its customers, the unit should produce a minimum
quantity of 1,200 units each of A and B and 1,600 units each of X and Y.
The production and cost data for the year 2018 are:
Machine hours available: M1 = 7,800 hours
M2 = 7,300 hours
Machine M1 Machine M2
A B X Y
Selling Price 350 465 540 235
Less: Direct material Cost 120 135 150 100
Less: Direct labour (Rate per machine hour x hours) (65 x 2) (65 x 3) (80 x 3) (80 x 1)
130 195 240 80
Less: Variable overhead (15 x 2) (15 x 3) (22 x 3) (22 x 1)
30 45 66 22
Contribution per unit 70 90 84 33
Machine hours required for 1 unit 2 3 3 1
Contribution per machine hour 35 30 28 33
Rank I II II I
Machine M1 Machine M2
A B X Y
Contribution per machine hour 35 30 28 33
Minimum machine hours required 2,400 3,600 4,800 1,600
Contribution 84,000 1,08,000 1,34,400 52,800
Machine M2 Machine M1
A B X Y
Less: Direct labour (Rate per machine hour x hours) (80 x 2) (80 x 3) (65 x 3) (65 x 1)
160 240 195 65
Rank I II II I
It is assumed that available machine hours and existing demand of products are same. If we covert the machines
M1, then contribution per machine hour of the product X & Y has been increased by `22 in each case and in the
case M2 , contribution per machine hour has decrease by `22 in each case. So, it is concluded that maximum
contribution is generated in case of product A, B, X & Y if it is manufactured in Machine M1. So, machine hours of
M1 are bottleneck.
Computation of total contribution (under bottleneck – Rank-wise)
Machine M1 Units Hours available Contribution per hours Total Contribution
Products 7,800
Product Y 1,600 7,800 – 1,600 x 1 55 1,600 x 1 x 55
= 6,200 = 88,000
Product X 1,600 6,200 – 1,600 x 3 50 1,600 x 3 x 50
1,400 = 2,40,000
Product A 700 1,400 – 700 x 2 35 700 x 2 x 35
=0 = 49,000
Machine M2 7,300
Conclusion:
Management can go for the new proposal because difference in increased cost and increased contribution is
negligible and if this option is available, organization can get other order in near future which will be managed
easily & create wealth to the organisation.
Illustration 3.
TNT Ltd. has received an enquiry for supply of 2,00,000 numbers of Special Type of Machine Parts. Capacity exists
for manufacture of the machine parts, but a fixed investment of `80,000/- and working capital to the extent of 25%
of Sales Value will be required to undertake the job.
Labour Hours- 9,000 of which 1,200 would be overtime hours payable at double the labour rate.
You are Management Accountant of the Company. The Managing Director requests you to prepare a Cost and
Price Statement indicating the price which should be quoted to the Customer.
Answer:
Statement of Estimated Cost and Price Quotation
` `
Labour-
Factory Cost
82,400
Sales 1,33,760
Working Notes:
Calculation of Sales
Let Sales be S
S = 1,05,400 + 25/100 x (80,000+S/4)
S = 1,05,400 + 20,000 + S /16
15S = 1,25,400 x 16
15S = 20,06,400
S = 1,33,760
Sales = `1,33,760
Illustration 4.
How Value Chain activity can have an impact in performance analysis?
Answer:
Value Chain — many company attempts to gain competitive advantage by appropriately linking its own activities
with those of the suppliers, channels or customers. Vertical-integration, quality controls on inputs from suppliers,
total quality management strategies, controlling distributors’ performance through training/financing etc.,
collaborative arrangements etc. are some of the ways in which company’s own activities are beneficially linked
to other organizations. This provides an avenue for reporting under performance analysis report. What has been
the cost of such coordinating strategies and how much of competitive advantage of the company has improved
or strengthened at present level? If such linkages with other companies are established as a matter policy, every
year, then performance as to the cost efficiency in such coordinating/ cooperating linkages can be an area for
appraisal for the Cost Auditor.
Illustration 5.
CMC Public Health Centre runs an Intensive Medical Care Unit. For this purpose, it has hired a building at a rent of
` 5,000 per month with the understanding that it would bear the repairs and maintenance charges also.
The unit consists of 25 beds and 5 more beds can be comfortably accommodated when the occasion demands.
The permanent staff attached to the unit is as follows:
(i) 2 Supervisors, each at a salary of ` 500 per month.
(ii) 2 Nurses, each at a salary of ` 300 per month.
(iii) 2 Ward boys, each at a salary of ` 150 per month.
Though the unit was open for the patients all the 365 days in a year, scrutiny of accounts in 2017 revealed that
only for 120 days in the year, the unit had the full capacity of 25 patients per day and for another 80 days, it had
on an average 20 beds only occupied per days. But, there were occasions when the beds were full, extra beds
were hired at a charge of ` 5 per bed per day and this did not come to more than 5 beds extra above the normal
capacity on any one day. The total hire charges for the extra beds incurred for the whole year amount to `2,000.
The unit engaged expert doctors from outside to attend on the patients and the fees were paid on the basis of
the number of patients attended and time spent by them and on an average worked out to ` 10,000 per month
in 2017.
Required:
(i) If the unit recovered an overall amount of `100 per day on an average from each patient, what is the profit
per patient day made by the unit in 2017.
(ii) The unit wants to work on a budget for 2016-17, but the number of patients requiring intensive medical care
is a very uncertain factor. Assuming that same revenue and expenses prevail in 2018, in the first instance,
workout the number of patient days required by the unit to break even.
Answer:
(i) Number of Patient-days in 2017:
25 beds x 120 days 3,000
20 beds x 80 days 1,600
Extra bed-days
(total hire charges of extra beds/ charges per bed per day = `2,000 ÷ `5) 400
5,000 patient-day
In order to calculate contribution, the profit per patient-day and the break-even point, it is necessary to classify the
different costs into fixed and variable categories. It will be seen that while most of the items can be easily classified
as fixed or variable, problem arises in respect of two items, viz. janitor and other services presumption that they are
related to number of patient-days. On the other hand, cost of oxygen, X-ray etc., has been taken as a fixed cost
since it has been stated that this cost is other than costs directly borne for treatment of patients.
Statement of Profit
` `
Variable Costs:
Food 44,000
Janitor services 12,500
Laundry 28,000 2.41.500
Contribution 2,58,500
Fixed Costs:
Salaries (2 x `500 + 2 x `300 + 2 x `150) x 12 22,800
Rent (`5,000x12) 60,000
Repairs and Maintenance 3,600
General Administration 49,550
Cost of oxygen, X-ray etc. 54,000
1,89,950
Profit 68.550
When the Cost and Financial accounts are kept separately,it is imperative that these should be reconciled,
otherwise the Cost Accounts would not be reliable.
1. Items appearing only in financial accounts
The following items of income and expenditure are normally included in financial accounts and not in cost
accounts. Their inclusion in cost accounts might lead to unwise managerial decisions. These items are:
(i) Income:
(a) Profit on sale of assets
(b) Interest received
(c) Dividend received
(d) Rent receivable
(e) Share Transfer fees
(ii) Expenditure
(a) Loss on sale of assets
(b) Uninsured destruction of assets
(c) Loss due to scrapping of plan and machinery
(d) Preliminary expenses written off
(e) Goodwill written off
(f) Underwriting commission and debenture discount written off
(g) Interest on mortgage and loans
(h) Fines and penalties
(iii) Appropriation
(a) Dividends
(b) Reserves
(c) Dividend equalization fund, Sinking, fund etc.
2. Items appearing only in cost accounts
There are some items which are included in cost accounts but not in financial account.
These are:
(a) Notional interest on capital;
(b) Notional rent on premises owned.
Illustration 1.
The financial profit and loss account for the year 2017-18 of a company shows a net profit of `26,28,000. During the
course of cost audit, it was noticed that:
(i) The company was engaged in trading activity by purchasing goods at `4,00,000 and selling it for `5,00,000
after incurring and expenditure of `25,000.
(ii) Some old assets sold off at the end-end fetching a profit of `80,000
(iii) A major overhaul of machinery was carried out at a cost of `4,00,000. And the next such overhaul will be
done only after four years.
Answer:
Reconciliation Statement
` `
Illustration 2.
The following figures are extracted from the Financial Accounts of BSL Ltd. for the year ended 31-03-2018:
` `
Sales (20,000 units) 50,00,000
Materials 20,00,000
Wages 10,00,000
Factory Overheads 9,00,000
Administrative Overheads 5,20,000
Selling and Distribution Overheads 3,60,000
Finished Goods (1,230 units) 3,00,000
Work-in-progress:
Materials 60,000
Labour 40,000
Factory Overheads 40,000 1,40,000
Goodwill Written off 4,00,000
Interest paid on capital 40,000
In the costing records, Factory Overhead is charged at 100% of Wages, Administration Overhead 10% factory cost
and Selling and Distribution Overhead at the rate of ` 20 per unit sold.
Prepare a statement reconciling the profit as per Cost Records with the profit as per Financial Records.
Answer:
BSL Ltd.
Profit & Loss Account
(For the year ended 31st March, 2018)
Dr. Cr.
Particulars ` in Lakhs
Materials 20,00,000
Wages 10,00,000
Prime Cost 30,00,000
Add: Factory Overhead @ 100% of wages 10,00,000
40,00,000
Less: Closing Work-in-progress 1,40,000
Factory Cost (20,000 + 1,230) units 38,60,000
Administrative Overheads @ 10% of Factory Cost 3,86,000
42,46,000
Less: Closing Stock of Finished Goods 1,230 units (See Note) 2,46,000
Cost of Production (20,000 units) 40,00,000
Selling & Distribution Overhead @ `20 per unit 4,00,000
Cost of Sales (20,000 units) 44,00,000
Sales Revenue (20,000 units) 50,00,000
Profit 6,00,000
Note: Cost of 21,230 units is `42,46,000. Therefore, the cost of one unit is `200. Hence the cost of 1,230 units is
` 2,46,000.
Reconciliation Statement
Particulars ` `
7,94,000
Illustration 3.
The profit as per Financial A/c of DGL Cement Ltd. for the year 2017-18 was ` 1,34,27,516. The profit as per Cost
Accounting records showed a different figure. You are required to prepare a reconciliation statement and
arrive at a profit as per Cost Accounts. The following details were collected from Financial Accounting and Cost
Accounting records.
` `
Financial A/c Cost A/c
At EB Tariff 48,58,415
At Cost 34,10,420
Answer :
Illustration 4.
Abridged Cost Statement & Profit Reconciliation Statement
XYZ Ltd a Power Generation Company showing its Profit and Loss Statement as below.
Statement of Profit and Loss for the year ended 31st March 2018
Answer:
Name of the Company: XYZ Power Generation Corporation Ltd.
Financial Year : 2017-18
PART-B
2. ABRIDGED COST STATEMENT0
Note:
1. Out of Total Voluntary Retirement payment, only 1/3 charge has been considered as Cost and balance 2/3
charge as deferred expenses to be considered in subsequent years and considered Non-cost for the year .
2. It is assumed that the full amount of Exceptional items are Non-Cost in nature. So, shown in reconciliation
statement.
Working Note I : Calculation of Material Consumed
Section A
Objective Questions
1. Fill in the blanks: (Answer in bracket)
(i) Cost Audit was initially introduced in the year ————— .(1965)
(ii) According to CAS 8 on Utilities the cost of maintaining stand-by utilities is ————— cost. (committed)
(iii) Efficiency audit ensures ————— return on Capital Employed.(optimum)
(iv) Equalized transportation cost means ————— transportation cost incurred during a specified period.
(average)
(v) Value Addition is the difference between ————— and the cost of bought out materials and services.
(net output value)
(vi) CAS 5 deals with ————— (equalized cost of transportation).
(vii) ————— ensures that every rupee invested in capital or other fields gives optimum returns. (Efficiency)
(viii) Variances due to abnormal reasons ————— form part of cost. (will not. Note: This is as per Generally
Accepted Cost Accounting Principles.)
(ix) XBRL is a language based on ————— (XML family of languages)
(x) Costing Taxonomy is best defined as a ————— (dictionary)
2. State whether following statements are “True” or “False” with reasoning/ justification for your answer. (Answer
within bracket)
(i) Cost Audit is synonymous with efficiency audit. (True. The Cost audit Report mainly comment on the
efficiency of the company namely, utilization aspect of the factors of production)
(ii) Donations given to Charitable Institutions should not form part of Cost Accounts.(True. Expenses on
account of donations is purely financial in nature, hence excluded from Cost Accounts.)
(iii) Market research cost is not a part of Research and Development Cost.(True. Market Research is part of
Selling and Distribution Cost.)
(iv) CAS 9 deals with indirect material cost.(False. CAS 9 deals with packing material cost.)
(v) Part B of the Annexure to Cost Audit Report relates to service sector. (False. Part B of the Annexure to
Cost Audit Report relates to Manufacturing sector)
(vi) Quantitative Information as part of Annexure to Cost Audit Report needs to be shown for Current Year
only.(False. Quantitative Information as part of Annexure to Cost Audit Report needs to be shown for
Current Year and Previous Year.)
(vii) Excess recovery of Excise is income purely financial in nature. (The statement is True.)
(viii) Profit reconciliation for the company as a whole is dealt in Part C of the Annexure to Cost Audit Report.
(False. Profit reconciliation for the company as a whole is dealt in Part D of the Annexure to Cost Audit
Report.)
(ix) CAS 24 deals with Treatment of Revenue in Cost Statements.(True)
(x) As per Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, Profit Reconciliation (for company as a whole
information is required to be given for Current Year and Previous 2 years. (False. Information need to be
given for Current Year and Previous Year only)
Short Questions
(i) What you understand by “True and Fair Cost of Production.”?
Ans: The concept of “True and Fair Cost of Production” is used in the context of cost audit wherein the cost
auditor has to state whether in his opinion the company’s cost accounting records have been kept so as to
give a true and fair view of the cost of production, processing and marketing of the product.
(ii) What constitutes the cost records under Rule 2(e)?
Ans: Cost records “means books of account and other records relating to utilization of materials, labour and
other items of cost as applicable to the production of goods or provision of services as provided in section
148 of the Act and these rules.
The Act here refers to The Companies Act 2013. Rule refer to Cost (Records and Audit) Rule, 2014.
Section B
Objective Questions
1. State whether following statements are True or False. Justify your answer.
(i) There are no fixed items of evidence to be checked by Management Auditor. (True. A Management
Auditor has to rely more on his experience and acumen to identify areas of review.)
(ii) Dumping is an ‘illegal’ practice. (False. Dumping is an ‘unfair’ practice.)
(iii) Assurance engagements involve three separate parties. (True. The parties are a public accountant in
practice, a responsible party and intended users.)
(iv) The main emphasis of Management Audit is problem identification rather than problem solving. (True.
Management Audit pinpoints the areas requiring attention of management, it evaluates the existence
of well defined objectives , it seeks to review appraise and evaluate the corporate plans and policies
based on certain standards of objectivity.)
(v) Zero base budget(ZBB) system was modeled by Peter A. Woodcock. (False. ZBB System was modeled
by peter A. Phyrrh.)
(vi) There is no need for Management Audit Programme. (False. Management Audit Programme is
prerequisite to conduct audit and help the auditor to cover the entire area of function thoroughly.)
(vii) Management Audit is voluntary( True. It is undertaken by Management as it helps in effective functioning
of every area of operations coming under management perview.)
(viii) Important point in Corporate planning is SWOT analysis. (True. A SWOT-strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats analysis can help identify and understand key issues affecting the business)
(ix) Management Audit Report is to be submitted to Cost Audit Branch. (False. Management Audit Report
is to be presented to the Management.)
(x) The concept of Financial Audit was developed by T. G Rose. (False. T. G. Rose developed the concept
of Management Audit as a logical system of evaluating the quality of Management.)
(ix) “Personal Management” is that part of management function which is primarily concerned with the ———
————— within an organization. (human relationship)
(x) ————— is the evaluation of every resources declared in the industry. (Productivity Analysis.)
Short Questions
(1) How should a Cost Auditor evaluate MIS of an organization?
Ans: A Cost Auditor should take into consideration the following aspects while evaluating MIS of an organization:
(I) Content, quality and source of information;
(II) Flow of information
(III) Correlation of information in decision areas.
(2) What is productivity audit?
Ans: Productivity audit is the process of monitoring and evaluating organizational practices to determine
whether functions, programmes, and organization itself are utilizing resources effectively and efficiently so
as to accomplish objectives.
(3) What do you understand by environment audit?
Ans: Environment Audit is a systematic , documented, periodic and objective review by related entities , of
facility operations and practice related to meeting environment requirements.
(4) A Management Audit team should be multidimensional. Discuss.
Ans: As a management auditor is concerned with all aspects of business and the organization , ranging from
manufacture to marketing and finance , the management audit team should be multidisciplinary to make
multidimensional approach to audit function.
(5) What are the Management Audit Questionnaires?
Ans: A management audit questionnaire is an important tool for conducting the management audit. It
is through these questionnaires that the auditors make an inquiry into important facts by measuring
current performance. Such questionnaires aim at a comprehensive and constructive examination of an
organisation’s management and its assigned tasks.
(6) What is Energy Audit?
Ans: Energy auditing is defined as an activity that serves the purposes of assessing energy use pattern of a
factory or energy consuming equipment and identifying energy saving opportunities.
(7) Write short not on “Customer Costing in Service Sector”.
Ans: For customer costing purpose, the cost are divided into following categories. These are:
(i) Customer specific costs-Like the cost of express conveyer to a client/customer who requests oversight
delivery of some important document.
(ii) Customer line categories- These are the costs which are broken into the broad categories of customers
and not individual customer.
(iii) Company costs- Those costs which are not allocated to either customer line or individual customers
but charge to company. The example is the cost of advertisement to promote sale of service.
(8) What is “Consumer Services “ Audit?
Ans: Consumer Service Audit is based on the philosophy that role of business should be quality of life through its
contribution in terms of better product quality and services.
Section C
Objective Questions
1. State whether following statements are True or False. Justify your answer.
(i) Internal Auditing is one time activity.(False. It is a continuous and systematic process of examining
and reporting the operations and records of a concern.)
(ii) Internal Audit can be performed by employees of an organization.( True. Internal audit is a management
tool performed by employees of the organization or external agencies specially assigned for this
purpose.)
(iii) Internal Audit is not discussed in Companies Act 2013( False. Internal Audit is discussed in Section 138
of Companies Act 2013.)
(iv) Internal audit is applicable for every listed company. (True. As per Rule 13 Of Companies (Accounts)
Rules, 2014, every listed company has to appoint internal auditor.)
(v) Internal control system can be classified in three types.( True. Preventive Control, Detective Control and
Corrective Control.)
(vi) There is no requirement of Audit Working Papers while conducting audit and they only result in loss of time.
(False. Audit working papers are the record of the planning and execution of the audit engagement.
Auditors retain a set of working papers for each audit engagement for each year.)
(vii) Audit working papers are property of the company.(False. Working papers are the property of the
auditor.)
(viii) Co-operative auditor to conduct an examination of the overdue debts, if any, and a valuation of
the assets and liabilities of the society while conducting internal audit.( True. Section 17 (2) of the Co-
operative Societies Act, 1912 specifically requires the auditor to conduct an examination of the overdue
debts, if any, and a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the society.)
(ix) Internal control is very essential in maintenance of Hotel Accounts.( True. Pilferage is one of the greatest
problems in any hotel and it is extremely important to have a proper internal control to minimize the
leakage.)
(x) Every listed Company should have Audit Committee. ( True. The Board of directors of every listed
company and the certain classes of companies, as prescribed under Rule 6 of Companies (Meetings of
Board and its powers) Rules, 2014 shall constitute an Audit Committee.)
(vii) Audit of government ————— is one of the major components of government audit conducted by
the office of C & AG. (Expenditure)
(viii) Under ‘propriety audit’, the auditors try to bring out cases of ————— expenditure even though
the expenditure has been incurred in conformity with the existing rules and regulations. (improper,
avoidable, or in fructuous)
(ix) Statutory corporations created ————— statues (specific)
(x) The auditor of a government company is appointed by the ————— (C&AG)
3. Short Questions.
(1) What do you understand by Audit Report?
Ans: An audit report is a formal document where internal audit summarizes its work on an audit and reports its
findings and recommendations based on that work.
Audit report will be an indicator of the usefulness of the internal audit functioning in the organization.
(2) Which section of Companies Act deals with Internal Audit?
Ans: Section 138 of the Companies Act 2013 deals with provisions of Internal Audit.
(3) What is Audit programme?
Ans: An audit programme is a detailed plan of the auditing work to be performed, specifying the procedures to
be followed in verification of each item and the financial statements and the estimated time required. To
be more comprehensive, an audit programme is written plan containing exact details with regard to the
conduct of a particular audit.
(4) State the functions of summary report to Top Management.
Ans: Summary reports to management usually would have two distinct functions – (i) They would tell what the
internal audit department has accomplished when compared to what was planned. (ii) They would show
conclusions of the auditors in a summarised form.
(5) How do you classify Local Bodies?
Ans: The Local bodies in India are broadly classified into two categories. The local bodies constituted for local
planning, development and administration in the rural areas are referred as Rural Local Bodies (Panchayats)
and the local bodies, which are constituted for local planning, development and administration in the
urban areas are referred as Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities).
(6) What do you understand by Propriety Audit in the Context of Government Audit.
Ans: Under ‘propriety audit’, the auditors try to bring out cases of improper, avoidable, or infructuous expenditure
even though the expenditure has been incurred in conformity with the existing rules and regulations.
(7) How are NGO(s) incorporated?
Ans: Non-Governmental Organisations are generally incorporated as societies under the Societies Registration,
Act, 1860 or as a trust under the India Trust Act, 1882, or under any other law corresponding to these Acts
enforced in any part of India. NGO’s can also be incorporated as a company under section 8 of the
Companies Act, 2013.
(8) What is the first step in audit of Educational Institutions?
Ans: To examine the Trust Deed, or Regulations in the case of school or college and note all the provisions
affecting accounts. In the case of a university, refer to the Act of Legislature and the Regulations framed
thereunder.
(9) What are the two types of Audit files?
Ans: In case of recurring audits, some working papers files may be classified into permanent audit files and
current audit files: while the former is updated with the Information of continuing importance, the latter
contains information relating to audit of a single period.
(10) Who can be appointed as Internal Auditor as per the Companies Act, 2013?
Ans: AS per Section 138 of the Companies Act , 2013 an internal auditor, shall either be a chartered accountant
or a cost accountant, or such other professional as may be decided by the Board to conduct internal audit
of the functions and activities of the company.
FORM CRA-1
[Pursuant to rule 5(1) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014]
Particulars relating to the Items of Costs to be included in the Books of Accounts
1. Material Costs
(a) Proper records shall be maintained showing separately all receipts, issues and balances both in quantities
and cost of each item of raw material required for the production of goods or rendering of services under
reference.
(b) The material receipt shall be valued at purchase price including duties and taxes, freight inwards, insurance,
and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties
refundable or to be credited by the taxing authorities) that can be quantified with reasonable accuracy at
the time of acquisition.
(c) Finance costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of materials shall not form part of material cost.
(d) Self-manufactured materials or captive consumption shall be valued including direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads relating to production
but excluding share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing overheads.
(e) Spares which are specific to an item of equipment shall not be taken to inventory, but shall be capitalized
with the cost of the specific equipment. Cost of capital spares or insurance spares, whether procured with the
equipment or subsequently, shall be amortised over a period, not exceeding the useful life of the equipment.
(f) Normal loss or spoilage of material prior to reaching the factory or at places where the services are provided
shall be absorbed in the cost of balance materials net of amounts recoverable from suppliers, insurers, carriers
or recoveries from disposal.
(g) Losses due to shrinkage or evaporation and gain due to elongation or absorption of moisture etc., before
the material is received shall be absorbed in material cost to the extent they are normal, with corresponding
adjustment in the quantity.
(h) The forex component of imported material cost shall be converted at the rate on the date of the transaction.
Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise shall not form part of the material
cost.
(i) Any demurrage or detention charges, or penalty levied by transport or other authorities shall not form part of
the cost of materials.
(j) Subsidy or Grant or Incentive and any such payment received or receivable with respect to any material
shall be reduced from cost for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are
related.
(k) Issues shall be valued using appropriate assumptions on cost flow, e.g. First-in-First-out, Last-in-First-out,
Weighted Average Rate. The method of valuation shall be followed on a consistent basis.
(l) Where materials are accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to materials shall be treated as
part of material cost.
(m) Any abnormal cost shall be excluded from the material cost.
(n) Wherever, material costs include transportation costs, determination of costs of transportation shall be
governed by Para No. 9 on Determination of Cost of Transportation.
(o) Self-manufactured components and sub-assemblies or captive consumption shall be valued including direct
material cost, direct employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads
relating to production but excluding share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing
overheads.
(p) The material cost of normal scrap or defectives which are rejects shall be included in the material cost of
goods manufactured. The material cost of actual scrap or defectives, not exceeding the normal shall be
adjusted in the material cost of good production. Material Cost of abnormal scrap or defectives shall not
be included in material cost but treated as loss after giving credit to the realisable value of such scrap or
defectives.
(q) Material costs shall be directly traced to a Cost object to the extent it is economically feasible or shall be
assigned to the cost object on the basis of material quantity consumed or similar identifiable measure and
valued as per above principles.
(r) Where the material costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, the same shall be assigned on a
suitable basis like technical estimates.
(s) Where a material is processed or part manufactured by a third party according to specifications provided
by the buyer, the processing or manufacturing charges payable to the third party shall be treated as part of
the material cost.
(t) Wherever part of the manufacturing operations or activity is subcontracted, the subcontract charges related
to materials shall be treated as direct expenses and assigned directly to the cost object.
(u) The cost of indirect materials shall be assigned to the various Cost objects based on a suitable basis such as
actual usage or technical norms or a similar identifiable measure.
(v) The cost of materials like catalysts, dies, tools, moulds, patterns etc., which are relatable to production over
a period of time shall be amortized over the production units benefited by such cost.
(w) The cost of indirect material with life exceeding one year shall be included in cost over the useful life of the
material.
2. Employee Cost
(a) Proper records shall be maintained in respect of employee costs in such a manner as to enable the company
to book these expenses cost centre wise or department wise with reference to goods or services under
reference and to furnish necessary particulars. Where the employees work in such a manner that it is not
possible to identify them with any specific cost centre or service centre or department, the employees cost
shall be apportioned to the cost centre or service centres or departments on equitable and reasonable basis
and applied consistently.
(b) Employee cost shall be ascertained taking into account the gross pay including all allowances payable
along with the cost to the employer of all the benefits.
(c) Bonus whether payable as a statutory minimum or on a sharing of surplus shall be treated as part of employee
cost. Exgratia payable in lieu of or in addition to bonus shall also be treated as part of the employee cost.
(d) Remuneration payable to Managerial Personnel including Executive Directors on the Board and other
officers of a corporate body under a statute shall be considered as part of the employee cost of the year
under reference whether the whole or part of the remuneration is computed as a percentage of profits.
Remuneration paid to non-executive directors shall not form part of employee cost but shall form part of
administrative overheads.
(e) Separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, termination and other related matters shall
be amortised over the period benefitting from such costs.
(f) Employee cost shall not include imputed costs.
(g) Cost of Idle time is ascertained by the idle hours multiplied by the hourly rate applicable to the idle employee
or a group of employees.
(h) Where employee cost is accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons related to employee
cost shall be treated as part of employee cost. Variances due to abnormal reasons shall be treated as part
of abnormal cost.
(i) Any subsidy, grant, incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any employee cost
shall be reduced for ascertainment of cost of the cost object to which such amounts are related.
(j) Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the employee cost.
(k) Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the employee
cost.
(l) The cost of free housing, free conveyance and any other similar benefits provided to an employee shall be
determined at the total cost of all resources consumed in providing such benefits.
(m) Any recovery from the employee towards any benefit provided, namely, housing shall be reduced from the
employee cost.
(n) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the determination of the employee cost shall be
made only if it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation
of cost statements of an enterprise.
(o) Where the employee services are traceable to a cost object, such employees’ cost shall be assigned to the
cost object on the basis such as time consumed or number of employees engaged or other related basis or
similar identifiable measure.
(p) While determining whether a particular employee cost is chargeable to a separate cost object, the principle
of materiality shall be adhered to.
(q) Where the employee costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, the same shall be assigned on
suitable basis like estimates of time based on time study.
(r) The amortised separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, and termination or other
related matters for the period shall be treated as indirect cost and assigned to the cost objects in an
appropriate manner provided that unamortised amount related to discontinue operations, shall not be
treated as employee cost.
(s) Recruitment costs, training cost and other such costs shall be treated as overheads and dealt with accordingly.
(t) Overtime premium shall be assigned directly to the cost object or treated as overheads depending on the
economic feasibility and the specific circumstance requiring such overtime.
(u) Idle time cost shall be assigned direct to the cost object or treated as overheads depending on the economic
feasibility and the specific circumstances causing such idle time.
3. Utilities
(a) Proper records shall be maintained showing the quantity and cost of each major utility such as power, water,
steam, effluent treatment and other related utilities produced and consumed by the different cost centres in
such detail as to have particulars for each utility separately.
(b) Each type of utility shall be treated as a distinct cost object.
(c) Cost of utilities purchased shall be measured at cost of purchase including duties and taxes, transportation
cost, insurance and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates,
taxes and duties refundable orto be credited) that can be quantified with reasonable accuracy at the time
of acquisition.
(d) Cost of self-generated utilities for own consumption shall comprise direct material cost, direct employee cost,
direct expenses and factory overheads.
(e) In case of utilities generated for the purpose of inter unit transfers, the distribution cost incurred for such
transfers shall be added to the cost of utilities determined as above.
(f) Cost of utilities generated for the intercompany transfers shall comprise direct material cost, direct employee
cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost and share of administrative overheads.
(g) Cost of utilities generated for the sale to outside parties shall comprise direct material cost, direct employee
cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost, share of administrative overheads and marketing
overheads. The sale value of such utilities shall also include the margin.
(h) Finance costs incurred in connection with the utilities shall not form part of cost of utilities.
(i) The cost of utilities shall include the cost of distribution of such utilities. The cost of distribution shall consist of
the cost of delivery of utilities up to the point of consumption.
(j) Cost of utilities shall not include imputed costs.
(k) Where cost of utilities is accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to utilities shall be treated as
part of cost of utilities and the portion of usage variances due to normal reasons shall be treated as part of
cost of utilities. Usage variances due to abnormal reasons shall be treated as part of abnormal cost.
(l) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any cost of
utilities shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
(m) The cost of production and distribution of utilities shall be determined based on the normal capacity or
actual capacity utilization whichever is higher and unabsorbed cost, if any, shall be treated as abnormal
cost. Cost of a Stand-by Utility shall include the committed costs of maintaining such a utility.
(n) Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the cost of utilities.
(o) Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the cost of utilities.
(p) Credits or recoveries relating to the utilities including cost of utilities provided to outside parties, material and
quantifiable, shall be deducted from the total cost of utility to arrive at the net cost of utility.
(q) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the cost of utilities shall be
made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation
of cost statements of an organisation.
(r) While assigning cost of utilities, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be the
guiding principle.
(s) Where the cost of utilities is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned on the most appropriate
basis.
(t) The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a utility to the departments consuming services is to be
derived from usage parameters.
4. Direct Expenses
(a) Proper records shall be maintained in respect of direct expenses in such a manner as to enable the company
to book these expenses cost centre wise or cost object or department wise with reference to goods or
services under reference and to furnish necessary particulars.
(b) Direct expenses incurred for the use of bought out resources shall be determined at invoice or agreed
price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of trade discounts,
rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
(c) Other direct expenses shall be determined on the basis of amount incurred in connection therewith.
(d) Direct expenses paid or incurred in lump-sum or which are in the nature of ‘one–time’ payment, shall be
amortised on the basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from such direct expenses.
(e) If an item of direct expenses does not meet the test of materiality, it can be treated as part of overheads.
(f) Finance costs incurred in connection with the self-generated or procured resources shall not form part of
direct expenses.Direct expenses shall not include imputed costs.
(g) Where direct expenses are accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons shall be treated as
part of the direct expenses. Variances due to abnormal reasons shall not form part of the direct expenses.
(h) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any direct
expenses shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are
related.
(i) Any abnormal portion of the direct expenses where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the
direct expenses.
(j) Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the direct expenses.
(k) Credits or recoveries relating to the direct expenses, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive
at the net direct expenses.
(l) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the direct expenses shall be
made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation
of cost statements of an organisation.
(m) Direct expenses that are directly traceable to the cost object shall be assigned to that cost object.
5. Repairs and Maintenance
(a) Proper records showing the expenditure incurred by the workshop, tool room and on repairs and maintenance
in the various cost centres or departments shall be maintained under different heads.
(b) Repairs and maintenance cost shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to repairs and
maintenance activity. Direct cost shall include the cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower,
equipment usage, utilities and other identifiable resources consumed in such activity. Indirect cost shall
include the cost of resources common to various repairs and maintenance activities such as manpower,
equipment usage and other costs allocable to such activities.
(c) Cost of in-house repairs and maintenance activity shall include cost of materials, consumable stores, spares,
manpower, equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such activity.
(d) Cost of repairs and maintenance activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity shall include
charges payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment
usage, utilities, and other costs incurred by the entity for such jobs.
(e) Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by contractor at its premises shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net
of discounts (other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost shall also
include the cost of other resources provided to the contractors.
(f) Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by outside contractors shall include charges made by the
contractor and cost of own materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities and
other costs used in such jobs.
(g) Each type of repairs and maintenance shall be treated as a distinct activity, if material and identifiable.
(h) Cost of repairs and maintenance activity shall be measured for each major asset category separately.
(i) Cost of spares replaced which do not enhance the future economic benefits from the existing asset beyond
its previously assessed standard of performance shall be included under repairs and maintenance cost.
(j) High value spare, when replaced by a new spare and is reconditioned, which is expected to result in future
economic benefits, the same shall be taken into stock. Such a spare shall be valued at an amount that measures
its service potential in relation to a new spare which amount shall not exceed the cost of reconditioning the
spare. The difference between the total of the cost of the new spare and the reconditioning cost and the
value of the reconditioned spare shall be treated as repairs and maintenance cost.
(k) The cost of major overhaul shall be amortised on a rational basis.
(l) Finance costs incurred in connection with the repairs and maintenance activities shall not form part of Repairs
and maintenance costs.
(m) Repairs and maintenance costs shall not include imputed costs.
(n) Price variances related to repairs and maintenance, where standard costs are in use, shall be treated as
part of repairs and maintenance cost. The portion of usage variances attributable to normal reasons shall be
treated as part of repairs and maintenance cost. Usage variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be
excluded from repairs and maintenance cost.
(o) Subsidy or Grant or Incentive or amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to repairs and
maintenance activity, if any, shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
(p) Any repairs and maintenance cost resulting from some abnormal circumstances, namely, major fire, explosion,
flood and similar events, if material and quantifiable, shall not form part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
(q) Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
(r) Credits or recoveries relating to the repairs and maintenance activity, material and quantifiable, shall be
deducted toarrive at the net repairs and maintenance cost.
(s) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the repairs and maintenance
cost shall be made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation
or presentation of cost statements of an organisation.
(t) Repairs and maintenance costs shall be traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
(u) Where the repairs and maintenance cost is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned based
on either of the following the principles of (1) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity
and effect is the incurrence of cost and (2) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the
various cost objects in proportion to the benefits received by them.
(v) If the repairs and maintenance cost (including the share of the cost of reciprocal exchange of services) is
shared by several cost objects, the related cost shall be measured as an aggregate and distributed among
the cost objects.
6. Fixed Assets and depreciation
(a) Proper and adequate records shall be maintained for assets used for production of goods or rendering of
services under reference in respect of which depreciation has to be provided for. These records shall, inter-
alia, indicate grouping of assets under each good or service, the cost of acquisition of each item of asset
including installation charges, date of acquisition and rate of depreciation.
(b) Depreciation and amortisation shall be measured based on the depreciable amount and the useful life. The
residual value of an intangible asset shall be assumed to be zero unless:
(i) there is a commitment by a third party to purchase the asset at the end of its useful life; or
(ii) there is an active market for the asset and:
a. residual value can be determined by reference to that market; and
b. it is probable that such a market will exist at the end of the asset’s useful life.
c. The residual value of a fixed asset shall be considered as zero if the entity is unable to estimate the
(t) Cost of small assets shall be written off in the period in which they were purchased as per the accounting
policy of the entity.
(u) Depreciation of an asset shall not be considered in case cumulative depreciation exceeds the original cost
of the asset, net of residual value.
(v) Where depreciation for an addition of an asset is measured on the basis of the number of days for which the
asset was used for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, depreciation of the asset for
assigning to cost of object shall be measured in relation to the period, the asset actually utilized.
(w) Depreciation shall be traced to the cost object to the extent economically feasible.
(x) Where the depreciation is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned based on either of the
following two principles; namely:-
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost and
(ii) Benefits received - overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
7. Overheads
(a) Proper records shall be maintained for various items of indirect expenses comprising overheads pertaining to
goods or services under reference. These expenses shall be analysed, classified and grouped according to
functions.
(b) Overheads representing procurement of resources shall be determined at invoice or agreed price including
duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts (other than cash
discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
(c) Overheads other than those referred to above shall be determined on the basis of cost incurred in connection
therewith.
(d) Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the overheads.
(e) Finance costs incurred in connection with procured or self-generated resources shall not form part of
overheads.
(g) Overhead variances attributable to normal reasons shall be treated as part of overheads. Overhead
variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be excluded from overheads.
(h) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to overheads
shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are related.
(i) Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the overheads.
(j) Credits or recoveries relating to the overheads, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted from the total
overhead to arrive at the net overheads. Where the recovery exceeds the total overheads, the balance
recovery shall be treated as other income.
(k) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the overheads shall be made
only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an entity.
(l) While assigning overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be the
guiding principle. The cost which can be traced directly to a cost object shall be directly assigned.
(m) Overheads shall be classified according to functions, viz., works, administration, selling and distribution, head
office, corporate etc.
(n) Assignment of overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following two principles; (1)
Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost and (2)
Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the benefits
received by them.
(o) The variable production overheads shall be absorbed to products or services based on actual capacity
utilisation.
(p) The fixed production overheads shall be absorbed based on the normal capacity.
(q) Assignment of Administration Overheads shall be in accordance with para No. 8.
(r) Marketing overheads that can be identified to a product or service shall be assigned to that product or
service.
(s) Marketing overheads that cannot be identified to a product or service shall be assigned to the products or
services on the most appropriate basis.
8. Administrative Overheads
(a) Administrative overheads shall be the aggregate of cost of resources consumed in activities relating to
general management and administration of an organisation.
(b) In case of leased assets, if the lease is an operating lease, the entire rentals shall be included in the
administrative overheads. If the lease is a financial lease, the finance cost portion shall be segregated and
treated as part of finance costs.
(c) The cost of software (developed in house, purchased, licensed or customised), including up-gradation cost
shall be amortised over its estimated useful life.
(d) The cost of administrative services procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or agreed price
including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts (other than
cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
(e) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or any amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to any
Administrative overheads shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
(f) Administrative overheads shall not include any abnormal administrative cost.
(g) Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the administrative overheads.
(h) Credits or recoveries relating to the administrative overheads including those rendered without any
consideration, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net administrative overheads.
(i) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the administrative overheads
shall be made only if it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or
presentation of cost statements of an organisation.
(j) While assigning administrative overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner
shall be the guiding principle.
(k) Assignment of administrative overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following two
principles; namely:-
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received - overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
9. Transportation Cost
(a) Proper records shall be maintained for recording the actual cost of transportation showing each element
of cost such as freight, cartage, transit insurance and others after adjustment for recovery of transportation
cost. Abnormal costs relating to transportation, if any, are to be identified and recorded for exclusion of
computation of average transportation cost.
(b) In case of a manufacturer having his own transport fleet, proper records shall be maintained to determine
the actual operating cost of vehicles showing details of various elements of cost, such as salaries and wages
of driver, cleaners and others, cost of fuel, lubricant grease, amortized cost of tyres and battery, repairs
and maintenance, depreciation of the vehicles, distance covered and trips made, goods hauled and
transported to the depot.
(c) In case of hired transport charges incurred for despatch of goods, complete details shall be recorded as to
date of despatch, type of transport used, description of the goods, destination of buyer, name of consignee,
challan number,quantity of goods in terms of weight or volume, distance involved, amount paid and other
related details.
(d) Records shall be maintained separately for inward and outward transportation cost specifying the details
particulars of goods despatched, name of supplier or recipient, amount of freight etc.
(e) Separate records shall be maintained for identification of transportation cost towards inward movement of
material (procurement) and transportation cost of outward movement of goods removed or sold for both
home consumption and export.
(f) Records for transportation cost from factory to depot and thereafter shall be maintained separately.
(g) Records for transportation cost for carrying any material or product to job-workers place and back shall be
maintained separately so as include the same in the transaction value of the product.
(h) Records for transportation cost for goods involved exclusively for trading activities shall be maintained
separately and the same shall not be included for claiming any deduction for calculating assessable value
excisable goods cleared for home consumption.
(i) Records of transportation cost directly allocable to a particular category of products shall be maintained
separately so that allocation can be made.
(j) For common transportation cost, both for own fleet or hired ones, proper records for basis of apportionment
shall be maintained.
(k) Records for transportation cost for exempted goods, excisable goods cleared for export shall be maintained
separately.
(l) Separate records of cost for mode of transportation other than road like ship or air are to be maintained,
which shall be included in total cost of transportation.
(m) Inward transportation costs shall form the part of the cost of procurement of materials which shall be identified
for proper allocation or apportionment to the materials or products.
(n) Outward transportation cost shall form the part of the cost of sale and shall be allocated or apportioned to
the materials and goods on a suitable basis.
(o) The following basis shall be used, in order of priority, for apportionment of outward transportation cost
depending upon the nature of products, unit of measurement followed and type of transport used, namely:-
(i) Weight;
(iii) Tonne-Km;
(q) For determining the transportation cost per unit, distance shall be factored in to arrive at weighted average
cost.
(r) Abnormal and non recurring cost shall not be a part of transportation cost.
10. Royalty and Technical Know-how
(a) Adequate records shall be maintained showing royalty or technical know-how fee including other recurring
or non-recurring payments of similar nature, if any, made for the goods or services under reference to
collaborators or technology suppliers in terms of agreements entered into with them.
(b) Royalty and technical know-how Fee paid or incurred in lump-sum or which are in the nature of ‘one–time’
payment, shall be amortised on the basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from the related
asset. Amortisation of the amount of royalty or technical know-how fee paid for which the benefit is ensued
in the current or future periods shall be determined based on the production or service volumes estimated
for the period over which the asset is expected to benefit the entity.
(c) Amount of the royalty and technical know-how fee shall not include finance costs and imputed costs.
(d) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to amount of
royalty and technical know-how fee shall be reduced to measure the amount of royalty and technical know-
how fee.
(e) Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the amount of
royalty and technical know-how fee.
(f) Credits or recoveries relating to the amount royalty and technical know-how fee, material and quantifiable,
shall be deducted to arrive at the net amount of royalty and technical know-how fee.
(g) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the amount of royalty and
technical knowhow fee shall be made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more
appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements of an organisation.
(h) Royalty and technical know-how fee that is directly traceable to a cost object shall be assigned to that
cost object. In case such fee is not directly traceable to a cost object then it shall be assigned on any of the
following basis, namely:-
(i) Units produced;
(ii) Units sold; or
(iii) Sales value.
(i) The amount of royalty fee paid for mining rights shall form part of the cost of material.
(j) The amount of royalty and technical know-how fee shall be assigned on the nature or purpose of such fee.
The amount of royalty and technical know-how fee related to product or process know how shall be treated
as cost of production; if related to trademarks or brands shall be treated as cost of sales.
11. Research and Development Expenses
(a) Research and development costs shall include all the costs that are directly traceable to research or
development activities or that can be assigned to research and development activities strictly on the basis
of (a) cause and effect or (b) benefits received. Such costs shall include the following elements, namely:-
(i) the cost of materials and services consumed in research and development activities.
(ii) cost of bought out materials and hired services as per invoice or agreed price including duties and
taxes directly attributable thereto net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be
credited.
(iii) the salaries, wages and other related costs of personnel engaged in research and development
activities;
(iv) the depreciation of equipment and facilities, and other tangible assets, and amortisation of intangible
assets to the extent that they are used for research and development activities;
(v) overhead costs, other than general administrative costs, related to research and development activities.
(vi) costs incurred for carrying out research and development activities by other entities and charged to
the entity; and
(vii) expenditure incurred in securing copyrights or licences;
(viii) expenditure incurred for developing computer software;
(ix) costs incurred for the design of tools, jigs, moulds and dies;
(x) other costs that can be directly attributed to research and development activities and can be identified
with specific projects.
(b) Subsidy or grant or incentive or amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to research and
development activity, if any, shall be reduced from the cost of such research, and development activity.
(c) Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the research and development
cost.
(d) Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the research and development cost.
(e) Research and development costs shall not include imputed costs.
(f) Credits or recoveries relating to research and development cost, if material and quantifiable, including
from the sale of output produced from the research and development activity shall be deducted from the
research and development cost.
(g) Research and development costs attributable to a specific cost object shall be assigned to that cost object
directly.Research and development costs that are not attributable to a specific product or process shall not
form part of the product cost.
(h) Development cost which results in the creation of an intangible asset shall be amortised over its useful life.
Assignment of development costs shall be based on the principle of “benefits received”.
(i) Research and development costs incurred for the development and improvement of an existing process or
product shall be included in the cost of production. In case the Research and development activity related
to the improvement of an existing process or product continues for more than one accounting period, the
cost of the same shall be accumulated and amortised over the estimated period of use of the improved
process or estimated period over which the improved product shall be produced by the entity after the
commencement of commercial production, as the case may be, if the improved process or product is
distinctly different from the existing process or product and the product is marketed as a new product. The
amount allocated to a particular period shall be included in the cost of production of that period. If the
expenditure is only to improve the quality of the existing product or minor modifications in attributes, the
principle shall not be applied.
(j) Development costs attributable to a saleable service namely, providing technical know-how to outside
parties shall be accumulated separately and treated as cost of providing the service.
12. Quality control expenses
(a) Adequate records shall be maintained to indicate the expenses incurred in respect of quality control
department or cost centre or service centre for goods or services under reference. Where these services
are also utilized for other goods or services of the company, the basis of apportionment to goods or services
under reference and to other goods or services shall be on equitable and reasonable basis and applied
consistently.
(b) Quality control cost incurred in-house shall be the aggregate of the cost of resources consumed in the quality
control activities of the entity. The cost of resources procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or
agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts
(other than cash discounts),taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the Tax Authorities. Such cost
shall include cost of conformance to quality, namely, (a) prevention cost; and (b) appraisal cost.
(c) Identification of quality control costs shall be based on traceability in an economically feasible manner.
(d) Quality control costs other than those referred to above shall be determined on the basis of amount incurred
in connection therewith.
(e) Finance costs incurred in connection with the self-generated or procured resources shall not form part of
quality control cost.
(f) Quality control costs shall not include imputed costs.
(g) Any Subsidy or grant or incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any quality
control cost shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are
related.
(h) Any abnormal portion of the quality control cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of
the cost of quality control.
(i) Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the quality control
cost.
(j) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the quality control cost shall be
made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation
of cost statements of an organisation.
(k) Quality control cost that is directly traceable to the cost object shall be assigned to that cost object.
Assignment of quality control cost to the cost objects shall be based on benefits received by them on the
principles, namely:-
(i) Cause and effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost and
(ii) Benefits received - overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits receivedby them.
13. Pollution control expenses
(a) Adequate records shall be maintained to indicate the expenses incurred in respect of pollution control.
The basis of apportionment to goods or services under reference and to other goods or services shall be on
equitable and reasonable basis and applied consistently.
(b) Pollution control costs shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to pollution control activity.
Direct cost shall include the cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage,
utilities, resources for testing and certification and other identifiable resources consumed in activities such as
waste processing, disposal, remediation and others. Indirect cost shall include the cost of resources common
to various pollution control activities such as pollution control registration and such like expenses.
(c) Costs of pollution control which are internal to the entity shall be accounted for when incurred. They shall be
measured at the historical cost of resources consumed.
(d) Future remediation or disposal costs which are expected to be incurred with reasonable certainty as part of
onerous contract or constructive obligation, legally enforceable shall be estimated and accounted based
on the quantum of pollution generated in each period and the associated cost of remediation or disposal in
future.
(e) Contingent future remediation or disposal costs e.g. those likely to arise on account of future legislative
changes on pollution control shall not be treated as cost until the incidence of such costs become reasonably
certain and can be measured.
(f) External costs of pollution which are generally the costs imposed on external parties including social costs are
difficult to estimate with reasonable accuracy and are excluded from general purpose cost statements.
(g) Social costs of pollution are measured by economic models of cost measurement. The cost by way of
compensation by the polluting entity either under future legislation or under social pressure cannot be
quantified by traditional models of cost measurement. They are best kept out of general purpose cost
statements.
(h) Cost of in-house pollution control activity shall include cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower,
equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such activity.
(i) Cost of pollution control activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity shall include charges
payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage,
utilities, and other costs incurred by the entity for such jobs.
(j) Cost of pollution control jobs carried out by contractor at its premises shall be determined at invoice or
agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts
(other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost shall also include the cost
of other resources provided to the contractors.
(k) Cost of pollution control jobs carried out by outside contractors shall include charges made by the contractor
and cost of own materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities and other costs
used in such jobs.
(l) Each type of pollution control namely, water, air, soil pollution shall be treated as a distinct activity, if material
and identifiable.
(m) Finance costs incurred in connection with the pollution control activities shall not form part of pollution control
costs.
(n) Pollution control costs shall not include imputed costs.
(o) Price variances related to pollution control, where standard costs are in use, shall be treated as part of
pollution control cost. The portion of usage variances attributable to normal reasons shall be treated as part
of pollution control cost. Usage variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be excluded from pollution
control cost.
(p) Subsidy or grant or incentive or amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to Pollution
control activity, if any, shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
(q) Any Pollution control cost resulting from abnormal circumstances, if material and quantifiable, shall not form
part of the pollution control cost.
(r) Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form
part of the pollution control cost.
(s) Credits or recoveries relating to the pollution control activity, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to
arrive at the net pollution control cost.
(t) Research and development cost to develop new process, new products or use of new materials to avoid
or mitigate pollution shall be treated as research and development costs and not included under pollution
control costs. Development costs incurred for commercial development of such product, process or material
shall be included in pollution control costs.
(u) Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the pollution control cost
shall be made only if, it is required by law or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or
presentation of cost statements of an organisation.
(v) Pollution Control costs shall be traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
(w) Direct costs of pollution control such as treatment and disposal of waste shall be assigned directly to the
product, where traceable economically.
(x) Where these costs are not directly traceable to the product but are traceable to a process which causes
pollution, the costs shall be assigned to the products passing through the process based on the quantity of
the pollutant generated by the product.
(y) Where the pollution control cost is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be treated as overhead and
assigned based on either of the following two principles; namely:-
(1) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost and
(2) Benefits received - overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
(t) While assigning cost of services, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be the
guiding principle.
(u) Where the cost of services rendered by a service cost centre is not directly traceable to a cost object, it shall
be assigned on the most appropriate basis.
(v) The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a service cost centre to the cost centres consuming
services is to be derived from logical parameters related to the usage of the service rendered. The parameter
shall be equitable, reasonable and consistent.
15. Packing expenses
(a) Proper records shall be maintained separately for domestic and export packing showing the quantity and
cost of various packing materials and other expenses incurred on primary or secondary packing indicating
the basis of valuation.
(b) The packing material receipts shall be valued at purchase price including duties and taxes, freight inwards,
insurance, and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes
and duties refundable or to be credited) that can be quantified at the time of acquisition.
(c) Finance costs directly incurred in connection with the acquisition of packing material shall not form part of
packing material cost.
(d) Self-manufactured packing materials shall be valued including direct material cost, direct employee cost,
direct expenses, job charges, factory overheads including share of administrative overheads comprising
factory management and administration and share of research and development cost incurred for
development and improvement of existing process or product.
(e) Normal loss or spoilage of packing material prior to receipt in the factory shall be absorbed in the cost of
balance materials net of amounts recoverable from suppliers, insurers, carriers or recoveries from disposal.
(f) The forex component of imported packing material cost shall be converted at the rate on the date of the
transaction. Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise shall not form part of the
packing material cost.
(g) Any demurrage, detention charges or penalty levied by the transport agency or any authority shall not form
part of the cost of packing materials.
(h) Any subsidy or grant or incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to packing
material shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
(i) Issue of packing materials shall be valued using appropriate assumptions on cost flow, namely, First In First
Out, Last In First Out, weighted average rate. The method of valuation shall be followed on a consistent basis.
(j) Wherever, packing material costs include transportation costs, the determination of costs of transportation
shall be in accordance with para No. 9 on determination of cost of transportation.
(k) Packing material costs shall not include imputed costs.
(l) Where packing materials are accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to such materials shall
be treated as part of packing material cost and the portion of usage variances due to normal reasons shall
be treated as part of packing material cost. Usage variances due to abnormal reasons shall be treated as
part of abnormal cost.
(m) The normal loss arising from the issue or consumption of packing materials shall be included in the packing
materials cost.
(n) Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall be excluded from the packing material cost.
(o) The credits or recoveries in the nature of normal scrap arising from packing materials if any, shall be deducted
from the total cost of packing materials to arrive at the net cost of packing materials.
(p) Packing material costs shall be directly traced to a cost object to the extent it is economically feasible.
(q) Where the packing material costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, these may be assigned on
(d) Normal capacity shall be determined vis-a-vis installed capacity after carrying out adjustments for
(i) holidays, normal shut down days and normal idle time;
(ii) normal time lost in batch change over;
(iii) time lost due to preventive maintenance and normal break downs of equipment’s;
(iv) loss in efficiency due to ageing of the equipment; or
(v) number of shifts;
(e) Capacity utilization is actual production measured as a percentage of installed capacity.
19. Work-in-progress and finished stock
The method followed for determining the cost of work-in-progress and finished stock of the goods and for
services under delivery or in-process shall be appropriate and shall be indicated in the cost records so as
to reveal the cost element that have been taken into account in such computation. All conversion costs
incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition shall be taken into account while
computing the cost of work-in-progress and finished stock. The method adopted for determining the cost of
work-in progress and finished goods shall be followed consistently.
20. Captive consumption
If the goods or services under reference are used for captive consumption, proper records shall be maintained
showing the quantity and cost of each such goods or services transferred to other departments or cost
centres or units of the company for self-consumption and sold to outside parties separately.
21. By-Products and Joint Products
(a) Proper records shall be maintained for each item of by-product, if any, produced showing the receipt, issues
and balances, both in quantity and value. The basis adopted for valuation of by-product for giving credit
to the respective process shall be equitable and consistent and shall be indicated in cost records. Records
showing the expenses incurred on further processing, if any, and actual sales realisation of by-product shall
be maintained. The proper records shall be maintained in respect of credits or recoveries from the disposal
of by-products.
(b) Proper records shall be maintained the cost up to the point of separation of products or services shall be
apportioned to joint products or services on reasonable and equitable basis and shall be applied consistently.
The basis on which such joint costs are apportioned to different products or services arising from the process
shall be indicated in the cost records. Proper records shall be maintained in respect credits or recoveries from
the disposal of joint products or services.
22. Adjustment of cost variances.
Where the company maintains cost records on any basis other than actual such as standard costing,
the records shall indicate the procedure followed by the company in working out the cost of the goods
or services under such system. The cost variances shall be shown against separate heads and analyzed
into material, labour, overheads and further segregated into quantity, price and efficiency variances. The
method followed for adjusting the cost variances in determining the actual cost of the goods or services
shall be indicated clearly in the cost records.The reasons for the variances shall be duly explained in the cost
records and statements.
23. Reconciliation of cost and financial accounts
The cost statements shall be reconciled with the financial statements for the financial year specifically
indicating the expenses or incomes not considered in the cost records or statements so as to ensure accuracy
and to adjust the profit of the goods or services under reference with the overall profit of the company. The
variations, if any, shall be clearly indicated and explained.
24. Related party transactions
(a) Related Party means related party as defined under clause (76) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18
of 2013).
(b) “Normal” price means price charged for comparable and similar products in the ordinary course of trade
and commerce where the price charged in the sole consideration of sale and such sale is not made to a
related party. Normal price can be construed to be a price at which two unrelated and non-desperate
parties would agree to a transaction and where such transaction is not clouded due to the proximity of the
parties to the transaction and free from influence though the parties may have shared interest.
(c) The basis adopted to determine Normal price shall be classified as under:
(i) Comparable uncontrolled price method;
(ii) Resale price method;
(iii) Cost plus method;
(iv) Profit split method;
(v) Transactional net margin method; or
(vi) Any other method, to be specified.
(d) In respect of related party transactions or supplies made or services rendered by a company to a company
termed “related party relationship” and vice-a-versa, records shall be maintained showing contracts entered
into, agreements or understanding reached in respect of -
(i) purchase and sale of raw materials, finished goods, rendering of services, process materials and rejected
goods including scraps and other related materials;
(ii) utilisation of plant facilities and technical know-how;
(iii) supply of utilities and any other services;
(iv) administrative, technical, managerial or any other consultancy services;
(v) purchase and sale of capital goods including plant and machinery; and
(vi) any other payment related to the production of goods or rendering of services under reference.
(e) These records shall also indicate the basis followed for arriving at the rates charged or paid for such goods
or services so as to enable determination of the reasonableness of such rates in so far as they are in any way
related to goods or services under reference.
25. Expenses or incentives on exports
(a) Proper records showing the expenses incurred on the export sales, if any, of the goods or services under
reference shall be separately maintained so that the cost of export sales can be determined correctly.
Separate cost statements shall be prepared for goods or services exported giving details of export expenses
incurred or incentive earned.
(b) Proper records shall be maintained giving the details of export commitments license-wise and the fulfillment
of these commitments giving the reasons for non-compliance, if any. In case, duty free imports are made,
the cost statements shall reflect this fact. If the duty free imports have been made after actual production,
the statement shall reflect this fact also.
26. Production Records
Quantitative records of all finished goods (packed or unpacked) or services rendered showing production,
issues for sales and balances of different type of the goods or services under reference, shall be maintained.
The quantitative details of production of goods or services rendered shall be maintained separately for self-
produced, third party on job work, loan license basis etc.
27. Sales records
Separate details of sales shall be maintained for domestic sales at control price, domestic sales at market
price, export sales under advance license, export sales under other obligations, export sales at market price,
and sales to related party or inter unit transfer. In case of services details of domestic delivery or sales at
control price, domestic delivery or sales at market price, export delivery or sales under advance license,
export delivery or sales under other obligations, export delivery or sales at market price, and delivery or sales
to related party or inter unit transfer. Such details shall be maintained separately for each plant or unit wise
or service center wise for total as well as per unit sales realization.
28. Cost statements
(a) Cost statements (monthly, quarterly and annually) showing quantitative information in respect of each good
or service under reference shall be prepared showing details of available capacity, actual production,
production as per excise records, capacity utilization (in-house), stock purchased for trading, stock and other
adjustments, quantity available for sale, wastage and actual sale during current financial year and previous
year.
(b) Such statements shall also include details in respect of all major items of costs constituting cost of production
of goods or services, cost of sales of goods or services and margin in total as well as per unit of the goods
or services. The goods or services emerging from a process, which forms raw material or an input material
or service for a subsequent process, shall be valued at the cost of production or cost of service up to the
previous stage.
(c) Cost Statements (monthly, quarterly and annually) in respect of reconciliation of indirect taxes showing
details of total clearances of goods or services, assessable value, duties or taxes paid, CENVAT or VAT or
Service Tax credit utilized, duties or taxes recovered and interest or penalty paid.
(d) If the company is operating more than one plant, factory or service centre, separate cost statements as
specified above shall be prepared in respect of each plant, factory or service centre.
(e) Any other statement or information considered necessary for suitable presentation of costs and profitability
of goods or services produced by the company shall also be prepared.
29. Statistical Records
(a) The records regarding available machine hours or direct labour hours in different production departments
and actually utilized shall be maintained for production of goods or rendering of services under reference
and shortfall suitably analyzed. Suitable records for computation of idle time of machines or labour shall also
be maintained and analyzed.
(b) Proper records shall be maintained to enable the company to identify the capital employed, net fixed assets
and working capital separately for the production of goods or rendering of services under reference and
other goods or services to the extent such elements are separately identifiable. Non-identifiable items shall
be allocated on a suitable and reasonable basis to different goods or services. Fresh investments on fixed
assets for production of goods or rendering of services under reference that have not contributed to the
production of goods or rendering of services during the relevant period or year shall be indicated in the cost
records. The records shall, in addition, show assets added as replacement and those added for increasing
existing capacity.
30. Records of Physical Verification
Records of physical verification may be maintained in respect of all items held in the stock such as raw
materials, process materials, packing materials, consumables stores, machinery spares, chemicals, fuels,
finished goods and fixed assets etc. Reasons for shortages or surplus arising out of such verifications and the
method followed for adjusting the same in the cost of the goods or services shall be indicated in the records.
(a) Number of Industries/Sectors/Products/Services (CETA Heading Level, wherever applicable as per rules)
covered under regulated sectors
Details of such industries/sectors/products/services
(b) Number of Industries/Sectors/Products/Services (CETA Heading Level, wherever applicable as per rules) covered under
non-regulated sectors
Details of such industries/sectors/products/services
I (a).*Category of the auditor Individual Partnership firm Limited liability partnership (LLP)
(b) (i) *Membership number of the cost auditor or member representing the firm/LLP
(ii) *City
(iii)*State
(iv)*Country
(d) *Date of the board meeting in which cost auditor was appointed (DD/MM/YYYY)
(6)(a)*Is there any change in cost auditor(s) appointed from the previous financial year Yes No Not applicable
Attachments
List of attachments
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Declaration
dated * to sign this form and declare that all the requirements of Companies Act, 2013 and the rules
made thereunder in respect of the subject matter of this form and matters incidental thereto have been complied with. I
also declare that all the information given herein above is true, correct and complete including the attachments to this
form and nothing material has been suppressed.
*Designation
Note: Attention is drawn to provisions of Section 448 and 449 which provide for punishment for false statement /
certificate and punishment for false evidence respectively.
This Form has been taken on file maintained by the Central Government through electronic mode and on
the basis of statement of correctness given by the company
Form CRA-3
[Pursuant to rule 6(4) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014]
I/We, ……………………........... having been appointed as Cost Auditor(s) under section 148(3) of the Companies Act,
2013(18 of 2013) of…………………(mention name of the company) having its registered office at………………………
(mention registered office address of the company) (hereinafter referred to as the company), have audited the
Cost Records maintained under section 148 of the said Act, in compliance with the cost auditing standards, in
respect of the………………….[mention name(s) of Product(s)/service(s)] for the period/year………………..(mention
the financial year) maintained by the company and report, in addition to my/our observations and suggestions
in para 2.
(i) I/We have/have not obtained all the information and explanations, which to the best of my/our knowledge
and belief were necessary for the purpose of this audit.
(ii) In my/our opinion, proper cost records, as per rule 5 of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014
have/have not been maintained by the company in respect of product(s)/service(s) under reference.
(iii) In my/our opinion, proper returns adequate for the purpose of the cost audit have/have not been received
from the branches not visited by me/us.
(iv) In my/our opinion and to the best of my/our information, the said books and records give/do not give the
information required by the Companies Act, 2013, in the manner so required.
(v) In my/our opinion, the company has/does not have adequate system of internal audit of cost records which
to my/our opinion is commensurate to its nature and size of its business.
(vi) In my/our opinion, information, statements in the annexure to this cost audit report gives/does not give a
true and fair view of the cost of production of product(s)/rendering of service(s), cost of sales, margin and
other information relating to product(s)/service(s) under reference.
(vii) Detailed unit-wise and product/service-wise cost statements and schedules thereto in respect of the
product /service under reference of the company duly audited and certified by me/us are/are not kept in
the company.
2. Observations and suggestions, if any, of the Cost Auditor, relevant to the cost audit.
Notes:
(2) If as a result of the examination of the books of account, the cost auditor desires to point out any material
deficiency or give a qualified report, he/she shall indicate the same against the relevant para (i) to (vii) in the
prescribed form of the Cost Audit Report giving details of discrepancies he/she has come across.
(3) The report, suggestions, observations and conclusions given by the cost auditor under this paragraph shall be
based on verified data, reference to which shall be made here and shall, wherever practicable, be included
PART - A
1. General Information
2 Name of company
14 Whether cost auditors report has been qualified or has any reservations or
contains adverse remarks
(1) Briefly describe the cost accounting policy adopted by the Company and its adequacy or otherwise to
determine correctly the cost of production/operation, cost of sales, sales realization and margin of the
product(s)/service(s) under reference separately for each product(s)/service(s). The policy shall cover, inter
alia, the following areas:
(b) Accounting for material cost including packing materials, stores and spares, employee cost, utilities
and other relevant cost components.
(g) Methodology for valuation of Inter-Unit/Inter Company and Related Party transactions.
(h) Treatment of abnormal and non-recurring costs including classification of other non-cost items.
(2) Briefly specify the changes, if any, made in the cost accounting policy for the product(s)/service(s) under
audit during the current financial year as compared to the previous financial year.
(3) Observations of the Cost Auditor regarding adequacy or otherwise of the Budgetary Control System, if any,
followed by the company.
Current Previous
Year Year
1.
2.
3.
4.
……………
Note: Explain the difference, if any, between Turnover as per Annual Accounts and Turnover as per Excise/
Service Tax Records
PART-B
For Manufacturing Sector
2. Actual Production
(a) Self manufactured
(b) Produced under leasing arrangements
(c) Produced on loan license / by third parties on job work
(d) Total Production
3. Production as per Excise Records
4. Capacity Utilization (in-house) %
5. Finished Goods Purchased
(a) Domestic Purchase of Finished Goods
(b) Imports of Finished Goods
(c) Total Finished Goods Purchased
6. Stock and Other Adjustments
(a) Change in Stock of Finished Goods
(b) Self/Captive Consumption (incl. samples etc.)
(c) Other Quantitative Adjustments, if any (wastage etc.)
(d) Total Adjustments
7. Total Available Quantity for Sale [2(d) +5(c) + 6(d)]
8. Actual Sales
(a) Domestic Sales of Product
(b) Domestic Sales of Traded Product
(c) Export Sale of Product
(d) Export Sale of Traded Product
(e) Total Quantity Sold
2. ABRIDGED COST STATEMENT (for each product with CETA heading separately)
Name of Product
CETA heading
Unit of Measure
Finished Finished
Captive Other Quantity
Production Goods Stock
Consumption Adjustments Sold
Purchased Adjustment
Current Year
Previous Year
Sl No. Particulars Current Year Previous Year
Rate Rate
Amount Amount
per per
(`) (`)
Unit (`) Unit (`)
25 Administrative Overheads
Notes:
1. Separate Cost Statement shall be prepared for each CETA Heading representing the product.
2. In case the same product has different unit of measure, separate cost statement shall be provided for
different unit of measures.
3. The items of cost shown In the Proforma are Indicative and the same shall be reflected keeping in mind
the materiality of the item of cost in the product. The Proforma may be suitably modified to meet the
requirement of the industry/product.
4. In case the company follows a pre-determined or standard costing system, the above cost statement
should reflect figures at actuals after adjustment of variances if any.
Name of Product
CETA heading
Sl. Description of Category UOM Current Year Previous Year
No Material
Quantity Rate per Amount Quantity Rate per Amount
Unit (`) Unit (`)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Name of Product
CETA heading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Name of Product
CETA heading
Sl. No. Description of Industry Specific Operating Expenses Current Year Previous Year
Amount Amount
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PART-C
For Service Sector
Name of Service
1. Available Capacity
5. Actual Sales
NOTES:
1. Separate Cost Statement shall be prepared for each service
2. The items of cost shown in the proforma are indicative and the same shall be reflected keeping in mind
the materiality of the Item of cost in the service.
3. The Proforma may be suitably modified to meet the requirement of the Industry/service.
4. In case the Company follows a pre-determined or standard costing system, the above cost statement
shall reflect figures at actuals after adjustment of variances, if any.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sl. No. Description of Industry Specific Operating Expenses Current Year Previous Year
Amount Amount
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PART-D
Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
.......etc.
Service 1
Service 2
Service 3
...... etc.
Total
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Total
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Note: Show abnormal wastages, expenses on strikes/lock-outs and any other items of expenses or incomes of
abnormal nature etc. not considered in cost separately
Value Addition:
3 Net Sales
7 Value Added
2 Shareholders as dividend
A. Financial Position
1 Share Capital
6 Capital Employed
7 Net Worth
B. Financial Performance
1 Value Added
2 Net Revenue from Operations of Company
3 Profit before Tax (PBT)
C. Profitability Ratios
1 PBT to Capital Employed (B3/A6) %
2 PBT to Net worth (B3/ A7) %
3 PBT to Value Added (B3/B4) %
4 PBT to net revenue from Operations (B3/B4) %
Notes. 1. Capital Employed means average of net fixed assets (excluding effect of revaluation of Fixed assets) plus
Non-current investments and net current assets existing at the beginning and close of the financial year.
2. Net Worth is as defined under clause (57) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Sl. Name of the Name of Nature of Quantity Transfer Amount Normal Basis adopted
no. Related the Transaction in Kgs. Price ` Price to determine
Party Product / (Sale,
the Normal
Service Purchase
etc.) Price
10
Notes: 1. Details shall be furnished for each Related Party and Product /Service separately.
2.
Details of Related Party transactions without Indicating the Normal Price and the basis thereof shall be
considered as incomplete Information.
Duties/Taxes Paid
10 Cenvat/VAT Credit Utillised- Inputs
11 Cenvat/VAT Credit Utllised – Capital Goods
12 Cenvat/VAT Credit Utillised – Input Services
13 Cenvat/VAT Credit Utilised – Others
14 Total (10 to 13)
15 Paid through PLA/Cash
16 Total Duties/Taxes paid (14 + 15)
17 Duties/Taxes recovered
18 Difference between Duties/Taxes Paid and
Recovered
19 Interest/Penalty/Fines Paid (interest paid on
price revision)
Note: Provide separate amounts in notes in respect of item 4 above.
Note.
(1) Wherever, there is any significant variation in the current year’s figure over the previous year’s figure for any
item shown under each para of the Annexure to the Cost Audit Report, reasons thereof shall be given by
the Cost Auditor.
(2) Wherever, duration of the current year or the previous year is not 12 (twelve) months, same shall be clearly
indicated in the Report.
(d) * SRN of 23C/ CRA-2 filed for appointment of Cost Auditor(s) Pre-fill
3. (a) *Financial year for which cost auditor was initially appointed
(d) *Date of Board of Directors meeting in which Annexure to the cost audit report was
approved (DD/MM/YYYY)
4. (a) *State number of Industries/ Sectors/ Product(s)/ Service(s) (CETA heading level, wherever applicable as per
Rules) for which the Cost Audit Report is being submitted
(i) Regulated
(ii) Non-Regulated
Page 1 of 4
5 (a) *State number of Industries/ Sectors/ Product(s)/ Service(s) (CETA heading level, wherever applicable as
per Rules) not covered in the Cost Audit Report
(i) Regulated
(ii) Non-Regulated
(b) (i) Details of such Industries/ Sectors/ product(s)/ service(s) of the company under regulated sector
(b) (ii) Details of such Industries/ Sectors/ product(s)/service(s) of the company under non-regulated sector
(a).*Category of the auditor Individual Partnership firm Limited liability partnership (LLP)
(b)(i) *Membership number of the Cost Auditor/ member representing the Cost Auditor’s
Firm/LLP
(ii) * Name of the Cost Auditor/ member representing the Cost Auditor’s Firm/LLP
Line II
(ii) *City
(iii) *State
(iv) Country
(d) *Date of the board meeting in which cost auditor was appointed (DD/MM/YYYY)
Page 2 of 4
COST AND MANAGEMENT AUDIT
7. (a) *Whether the cost auditor's report has been qualified Yes No
(c) *Whether the cost auditor's report has any adverse remarks Yes No
If yes, please state
(d) *Whether the cost auditor's report contain any observations or suggestions
Attachments
List of attachments
(1) *XBRL document in respect of the cost audit report
and company’s information and explanations on every Attach
qualification and reservation contained therein
Remove attachment
Declaration
*To the best of my knowledge and belief, the information given in this form and its attachments is correct and complete
I am authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company vide *resolution number *dated
to sign and submit the application.
(DD/MM/YYYY)
It is confirmed that the attached XBRL document(s) are the XBRL converted copy(s) of the duly signed cost audit report as
required under Section 148(2) and company's information and explanations as required under Section 148(6) of the
Companies Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder. It is further confirmed that such document(s) have been prepared
using XBRL taxonomy as notified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for this purpose.
*Designation
Note: Attention is drawn to provisions of Section 448 and 449 which provide for punishment for false statement / certificate and
punishment for false evidence respectively.
This form has been taken on file by the Central Government through electronic mode and on
the basis of statement of correctness given by the company
FAQ-1
19/03/2015
1.1 Which Rules govern maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit as per Section 148 of the
Companies Act, 2013?
The Central Government issued Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 on June 30, 2014.
Subsequently, it issued Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Amendment Rules, 2014 on December 31,
2014. The Amendment Rules has introduced certain changes to the original Rules issued on June 30, 2014.
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 read with the Amendment Rules 2014 are now
applicable and governs the maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit as per Section 148 of
the Companies Act, 2013.
1.2 What is the applicability of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 and what is the date on
which it becomes effective and applicable?
(a) The Rules have classified sectors/industries under Regulated and Non-Regulated sectors. The sectors/
industries covered under Table A of the Rules are under the Regulated Sector and sectors/industries
covered under Table B are under the Non-Regulated Sector.
(b) Every company, including foreign companies defined in clause (42) of section 2 of the Act, engaged
in the production of the goods or providing services, specified in Tables A and B, having an overall
turnover from all its products and services of rupees thirty five crore or more during the immediately
preceding financial year, shall be required to maintain cost accounting records.
However, foreign companies having only liaison office in India and engaged in production, import and
supply or trading of medical devices listed in Sl. 33 of Table B are exempted. Further, companies which are
classified as a micro enterprise or a small enterprise including as per the turnover criteria under sub-section
(9) of section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006) are also
excluded from the purview of the Rules.
(c) The Rules are effective from April 1, 2014 in respect of certain class of companies and for the others it
is effective from April 1, 2015 as detailed below:
3. Petroleum products regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas 2709 to 2715;
Regulatory Board under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory
Board Act, 2006 (19 of 2006);
4. Drugs and pharmaceuticals 2901 to 2942; 3001 to 3006.
5. Fertilizers; 3102 to 3105.
6. Sugar and industrial alcohol; 1701; 1703; 2207
1.3 The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI-CMA) had, from time to time, issued FAQs subsequent to
implementation of Companies (Cost Accounting Records) Rules, 2011 and Companies (Cost Audit report)
Rules, 2011. Will the clarifications and FAQs remain valid subsequent to Companies (Cost Records and
Audit) Rules, 2014 coming into effect?
The FAQs and clarifications issued earlier are no longer valid. The same may be considered as withdrawn
and not applicable for the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 unless specifically mentioned
in these FAQs.
1.4 What constitutes the cost records under Rule 2(e)?
As per Rule 2(e) the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, “cost records” means ‘books of
account relating to utilization of materials, labour and other items of cost as applicable to the production of
goods or provision of services as provided in section 148 of the Act and these Rules’. There cannot be any
exhaustive list of cost accounting records. Any transaction - statistical, quantitative or other details - that
has a bearing on the cost of the product/activity is important and form part of the cost accounting records.
Cost records are to be kept on regular basis to make it possible to “calculate per unit cost of production/
operations, cost of sales and margin for each of its products for every financial year on monthly/quarterly/
half-yearly/annual basis“. What is required is to maintain such records and details in a structured manner on
a regular basis so that accumulation is possible on a periodical basis.
1.5 The Rules state that cost records are to be maintained in Form CRA-1. However, CRA-1 does not prescribe
any format but only provides principles to be followed for different cost elements. What are the role and
status of Cost Accounting Standards/GACAP and its applicability vis-à-vis CRA-1?
The principles of maintenance of cost accounting records have been notified in the Rules in CRA-1. The
principles are in sync with the cost accounting standards. The Rules are principle based and no formats
have been prescribed for maintenance of cost accounting records like pre-2011 industry specific rules. No
separate format based records maintenance has been prescribed even for the Regulated Industry and
the prescription has left it open for industry to maintain cost accounting records according to its size and
nature of business so long as it determines a true and fair view of the cost of production, cost of sales and
margin of the products/services. The cost audit report is required to be in conformity with the “cost auditing
standards” as referred to in Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013.
It is also to be noted that the Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India has made it mandatory
for cost accountants in practice to follow and conform to the Cost Accounting Standards issued by it and
it is incumbent on the cost auditors to report any deviations from cost accounting standards.
1.6 What is the meaning of “Turnover” in relation to the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014?
Sub-section 91 of Section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 defines “turnover” as “the aggregate value of
the realization of amount made from the sale, supply or distribution of goods or on account of services
rendered, or both, by the company during a financial year. For the purposes of these Rules, “Turnover”
means gross turnover made by the company from the sale or supply of all products or services during the
financial year. It includes any turnover from job work or loan license operations but exclude duties and
taxes. Export benefit received should be treated as a part of sales.
1.7 Whether overall annual Turnover/individual turnover definition will include other operational income like
Job work income, scrap sale, trading turnover, export benefits, sales of services etc.?
The Turnover shall include other operational income like Job work income, scrap sale, trading turnover,
export benefits, sales of services etc.
1.8 Is maintenance of cost accounting records mandatory for a multi-product company where all the products
are not covered under the Rules even if the Turnover of the individual product/s that are covered under the
Rules is less than rupees thirty five crores?
The Rules provide threshold limits for the company as a whole irrespective of whether all its products are
as per the prescribed industry/sector provided under Table A or Table B. The Rules do not provide any
minimum product specific threshold limits for maintenance of cost accounting records and consequently
the company would be required to maintain cost accounting records for the products covered under
Table-A or Table-B or both even if the turnover of such products is below rupees thirty five crores.
1.9 What is the difference between Cost Accounting policy and Cost Accounting system?
Cost Accounting Policy of a company state the policy adopted by the company for treatment of individual
cost components in cost determination.
The Cost Accounting system of a company, on the other hand, provides a flow of the cost accounting
data/information across the activity flow culminating in arriving at the cost of final product/service.
1.10 A company meets the threshold limits for both maintenance of cost records and cost audit in Year-0
(previous year) and consequently comes under the purview of the Rules in Year-1 (current year). If the
turnover of company gets reduced to lower than the prescribed threshold limit in Year-1 (current year),
whether Cost Records and Cost Audit will be applicable for Year-2 (next year).
Rule 3 of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 states that a company engaged in the
production of the goods or providing of services as prescribed having an overall turnover from all its products
and services of rupees thirty five crore or more during the immediately preceding financial year, shall include
cost records for such products or services in their books of account. Since the threshold limit for applicability
of maintenance of cost accounting records is met in Year-0, the cost records are required to be maintained
from Year-1. Once the maintenance of cost records becomes applicable, it would be maintained on a
continuous basis in the subsequent years also. In the same line, cost audit will be applicable from Year-1 and
for every year thereafter.
1.11 How to identify products covered under 4-digit CETA Code as mentioned in the Rules?
Central Excise Tariff Act Heading has been defined in Rule 2(aa) of Companies (Cost Records and Audit)
Rules 2014. It states “Central Excise Tariff Act Heading” means the heading as referred to in the Additional
Notes in the First Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 [5 of 1986].
First Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 states – “heading” in respect of goods, means a
description in list of tariff provisions accompanied by a four-digit number and includes all sub-headings of
tariff items the first four-digits of which correspond to that number.
1.12 The Rules prescribed in 2011 had introduced the concept of reporting under “Product Group”. The present
Rules are silent about Product Group. What is the requirement of preparation of cost statements of products/
services so far as maintenance of cost accounting records is concerned and reporting thereof in the cost
audit report?
The concept of “Product Group” has been dispensed with in the present Rules. The cost records referred to in
sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 is required to be maintained on regular basis in such manner as to facilitate calculation
of per unit cost of production or cost of operations, cost of sales and margin for each of its products and
activities. Hence, it is imperative that the cost accounting records are required to be maintained and cost
statements prepared for each and every product/service/activity that the company is engaged in.
So far as reporting is concerned, Abridged Cost Statement for every product identified with the CETA Code
is required to be provided. For activities/services for which CETA Code is not applicable, the Abridged Cost
Statement shall be for each service/activity.
1.13 Whether separate Form CRA-2 is required to be filed by a company having two or more different types of
products covered under cost audit?
CRA-2 Form (intimation for appointment of cost auditor to Central Government) has replaced the earlier
Form 23C (application seeking approval for appointment of cost auditor). A single Form CRA-2 is required to
be filed providing details of the sectors/industries covered under cost audit and details of cost auditor. For
Companies appointing multiple cost auditors, only one single Form CRA-2 is required to be filed. Provision
has been made in the Form to accommodate details of multiple cost auditors.
1.14 The Tables listing the industry/sector/product/service in the Rules have described the same by way of
description as well as CETA Heading, wherever applicable. For certain sectors, the coverage under the
CETA Heading are apparently not in line with the description of the sector. How to determine the coverage
in such cases?
The description and the CETA Heading have to be read harmoniously and construed to be supplementing
each other. The CETA Heading has been provided in the amended Rules in addition to what was provided
in the original Rules issued in June 2014. The CETA Codes are inclusive and all products covered under the
codes are covered irrespective of the description.
For example, in case of Petroleum Industry, the description states “Petroleum products regulated by the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act,
2006 (19 of 2006)” and the CETA Headings are 2709 to 2715. Hence, all products covered under CETA
Headings 2709 to 2715 are included as well as activities like storage, transportation, distribution of Crude Oil
or Gas etc. and any other activity that is defined under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
Act, 2006 and regulated by the PNGRB are covered.
Similarly, Rubber and allied products would include all rubber products as specified under CETA Codes 4001
to 4017 and will not be restricted only to such rubber products regulated by the Rubber Board.
Companies engaged in manufacturing Machinery and mechanical appliances falling under CETA Codes
8401 to 8402; 8801 to 8805; 8901 to 8908 are similarly covered irrespective of its ultimate customer/consumer,
subject to the company meeting the threshold limits prescribed and it is not necessary that the products
have to be exclusively used in defence, space and atomic energy sectors.
1.15 What is meant by Telecommunication Services and what is its coverage?
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 has covered “Telecommunication services made
available to users by means of any transmission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds
or intelligence of any nature (other than broadcasting services) and regulated by the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997)”. The Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 defines “telecommunication service” as “service of any description
(including electronic mail, voice mail, data services, audio text service, video text services, radio paging
and cellular mobile telephone services) which is made available to users by means of any transmission or
reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature, by wire, radio, visual or
other electro-magnetic means but shall not include broadcasting services”.
Subsequently, the Central Government has included broadcasting services within the ambit of
telecommunication services by notifying “broadcasting services and cable services to be telecommunication
service”. [Notification No. 39 issued by Ministry of Communication and Information Technology dated 9
January 2004, S.O. No. 44(E) issued by TRAI, vide F. No. 13-1/2004].
In view of the above, Telecommunication Services made available to users and regulated by the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 would include all
such services being regulated by TRAI including broadcasting services.
1.16 What is the coverage of “Roads and other infrastructure projects” under Item 10 of Table B of the Rules?
“Roads and other infrastructure projects” has been defined to be corresponding to para No.(1)(a) as
specified in Schedule VI of the Companies Act, 2013. Sub-clause (a) to Para (1) of Schedule VI of the
Companies Act, 2013 covers “Roads, national highways, state highways, major district roads, other district
roads and village roads, including toll roads, bridges, highways, road transport providers and other road-
related services”. Hence, every activity including construction and maintenance of the above projects are
covered under the Rules.
1.17 What is the coverage of Construction Industry under Item 21 of Table B of the Rules?
Construction Industry has been defined to be corresponding to para No. (5)(a) as specified in Schedule
VI of the Companies Act, 2013. Para (5) of Schedule VI of the Companies Act, 2013 pertains to “Industrial,
commercial and social development and maintenance” and covers “real estate development, including
an industrial park or special economic zone” as per sub-clause (a). Hence, every construction activity in
relation to the above are covered under the Rules.
1.18 What is the coverage of Aeronautical Services?
Clause 3(B)(8) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 covers under the ambit of the Rules
“Aeronautical services of air traffic management, aircraft operations, ground safety services, ground
handling, cargo facilities and supplying fuel rendered by airports and regulated by the Airports Economic
Regulatory Authority under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 (27 of 2008)”.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 has defined “aeronautical services” as follows:
(i) For navigation, surveillance, and supportive communication thereto for air traffic management;
(ii) For the landing, housing or parking of an aircraft or any other ground facility offered in connection with
aircraft operations at an airport;
(iii) For ground safety services at an airport;
(iv) For ground handling services relating to aircraft, passengers and cargo at an airport;
(v) For the cargo facility at an airport;
(vi) For supplying fuel to the aircraft at an airport;
The Rule has covered all the above services under the ambit of maintenance of cost accounting records
and cost audit subject to threshold limits.
However, all airports and aircraft operations belonging to or subject to the control of the Armed Forces or
paramilitary Forces of the Union are excluded from the scope of these Rules.
1.19 Whether maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit thereof, subject to threshold limits
prescribed, is applicable to products which are for 100% captive consumption?
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 has specified different products and services for which
maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit thereof, subject to threshold limits prescribed, is
mandatory.
In case a product is manufactured and 100% captively consumed for production of some other product
which is also covered under these Rules and is subject to cost audit, then the cost of such captively
consumed product would form part of the final product which is also under cost audit and as such a
separate cost audit report for the captively consumed product will not be necessary.
However, if the product is partly for captive consumption and partly sold, or if the product is 100% captively
consumed for production of some other product which is not covered under these Rules, then cost audit
would be applicable for such captively consumed product(s).
1.20 What would be the treatment of cost consumption of electricity from a captive generating plant and
applicability of cost audit to such captive generating plants?
Rule 3(A)(2) dealing with generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity has excluded captive
generation as defined in the Electricity Rules, 2005. It may be noted that in case of a company whose
product(s)/service(s) are covered under the Rules and it consumes electricity from the captive generating
plant, determination of cost of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity as per CRA-1
would be mandatory since the cost of consumption of electricity has to be at cost. Hence, maintenance
of cost records for generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity would be applicable.
However, cost audit will not be applicable to such captive plants, provided the entire generation is
consumed captively and no portion is sold outside.
1.21 A Company is engaged in both Regulated and Non-Regulated sectors and all its products are not covered
under the Rules. How to determine applicability of cost audit for the products covered under the Regulated
and Non-Regulated sectors since different threshold limits have been prescribed under Rule 4?
Rule 4 states that cost audit would be applicable for products under:
(a) Table A if the overall turnover of the company is at least ` 50 crore and
(b) Table B if the overall turnover of the company is ` 100 crore.
Hence, the coverage of cost audit for a company where all its products are covered under Table A or Table
B or a combination of the two would be guided by these threshold limits.
In case of a multi-product company where all its products are not covered under Table A or Table B or a
combination of both, then the following would apply:
(a) If the overall turnover of the company is more than ` 50 crore but less than `100 crore, then only
products covered under Table-A will be covered under cost audit provided the sum total of all the
products of the company covered under Table A and Table B is more than ` 25 crore.
(b) If the overall turnover of the company is more than `100 crore, then:
(i) products under both Table A and Table B will be covered under cost audit provided the sum
total of all the products of the company covered under Table A and Table B is more than `
35 crore
(ii) only products of Table A will be covered if the sum total of all the products of the company
covered under Table A and Table B is more than ` 25 crore but less than ` 35 crore.
Explanation: Rule 4 has defined threshold limits for Table A and Table B separately but the aggregate
turnover of the individual product or products or service or services has been defined to be all products for
which cost records are required to be maintained under rule 3.
1.22 A company does job work for others. The raw materials are supplied to the company by the principal and
the job worker gets conversion charges only. The Job Worker company pays the excise duty which is
reimbursed by the principal. Will the job worker be covered under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit)
Rules, 2014?
The Rules are applicable to a company. If the products of the Job Worker is listed under Table A or Table
B of the Rules and the Job Worker company meets the threshold limits as prescribed, then the job worker
company will be required to maintain cost accounting records. If the threshold criteria of the cost audit as
prescribed are met, the company would be covered under cost audit also. Payment of excise duty by the
Job Worker and in turn getting reimbursement for it is immaterial for application of the Rules.
1.23 Whether companies registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (corresponding to Section 25 of
the Companies Act, 1956) and One Person Company (OPC) introduced in Companies Act, 2013 covered
under the Rules?
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 are applicable to every company registered under
the Companies Act, 2013 which are engaged in production of goods or providing of services listed in
Table-A or Table-B of Rule 3. Different threshold limits have been prescribed in the Rules for applicability of
maintenance of cost accounting records and coverage under cost audit. Exemption has been granted
only to companies which are classified as a micro enterprise or a small enterprise including as per the
turnover criteria under sub-section (9) of section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development
Act, 2006 (27 of 2006) and foreign companies having only liaison offices engaged in Production, import
and supply or trading of medical devices specified under Item 33 of Table-B of Rule 3. Any other legal entity
registered as a company that meets the conditions stated in Rule 3 and Rule 4 are covered.
1.24 The manufacturing process of a company generates Metal Scrap during production of its main products
which may or may not be covered under cost audit. Such scrap is sold in the market after the same is
cleared under CETA Codes that are covered in the Rules. Will the company be covered under cost audit for
generation of scrap?
Generation of scrap is not a production or processing or manufacturing but is incidental to manufacture
of its main products. The Rules are applicable to production of goods or providing of services. CETA Codes
have been inducted in the Rules for proper identification of Products that are manufactured. The act of
payment of Excise Duty is immaterial in the context of application of the Rules. The generation of scrap and
its consequent sale in the market cannot be construed to be covered under the Rules.
1.25 Whether Value Addition and Distribution of Earnings [Part D, Para 3] is to be computed based on Cost record
data or audited financial data?
Value Addition statement is to be computed based on audited financial accounts.
1.26 Whether Financial Position and Ratio Analysis [Part D, Para 4] is to be computed based on Cost record
data or audited financial data?
Financial Position and Ratio Analysis is to be computed based on audited financial accounts. This reporting
Para has been aligned with the nomenclature of Schedule III of the Companies Act, 2013.
1.27 What is the procedure for appointment of cost auditor under the Companies Act, 2013?
The cost auditor is to be appointed by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the Audit
Committee, where the company is required to have an Audit Committee. The cost auditor proposed to be
appointed is required to give a letter of consent to the Board of Directors. The company shall inform the cost
auditor concerned of his or its appointment as such and file a notice of such appointment with the Central
Government within a period of thirty days of the Board meeting in which such appointment is made or
within a period of one hundred and eighty days of the commencement of the financial year, whichever is
earlier, through electronic mode, in form CRA-2, along with the fee as specified in Companies (Registration
Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
Any casual vacancy in the office of a cost auditor, whether due to resignation, death or removal, shall be
filled by the Board of Directors within thirty days of occurrence of such vacancy and the company shall
inform the Central Government in Form CRA-2 within thirty days of such appointment of cost auditor.
1.28 Who can be appointed as a cost auditor?
Only a Cost Accountant, as defined under section 2(28) of the Companies Act, 2013, can be appointed as
a cost auditor.
Clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 defines “Cost
Accountant”. It means a Cost Accountant who holds a valid certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of
section 6 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and is in whole-time practice. Cost Accountant
includes a Firm of Cost Accountants and a LLP of cost accountants.
1.29 What are the eligibility criteria for appointment as a cost auditor?
Eligibility Criteria under Section 141 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 10 of the Companies (Audit
and Auditors) Rules, 2014 and Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013. The following persons are not eligible
for appointment as a cost auditor:
(a) A body corporate. However, a Limited Liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability
Partnership Act, 2008 can be appointed. [Section 141(3)(a)].
(b) An officer or employee of the company. [Section 141(3)(b)].
(c) A person who is a partner, or who is in the employment, of an officer or employee of the company.
[Section 141(3)(c)].
(d) A person who, or his relative or partner is holding any security of or interest in the company or any of
its subsidiary or of its holding or associate company or a subsidiary of such holding company. [Section
141(3)(d)(i)].
(e) Relatives of any partner of the firm holding any security of or interest in the company of face value
exceeding ` 1 lakh. [Section 141(3)(d)(i) and Rule 10(1) of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules,
2014].
(f) A person who is indebted to the company or its subsidiary, or its holding or associate company or a
subsidiary or such holding company, for an amount exceeding ` 5 lakhs. [Section 141(3)(d)(ii) and Rule
10(2) of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014].
(g) A person who has given any guarantee or provided any security in connection with the indebtedness
of any third person to the company or its subsidiary, or its holding or associate company or a subsidiary
of such holding company, for an amount exceeding ` 1 lakh. [Section 141(3)(d)(iii) and Rule 10(3) of
Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014].
(h) A person or a firm who, whether directly or indirectly, has business relationship with the company or
its subsidiary, or its holding or associate company or subsidiary of such holding company or associate
company. [Section 141(3)(e) and Rule 10(4) of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014].
“Business Relationship” is defined in Rule 10(4) of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 and
the same shall be construed as any transaction entered into for a commercial purpose, except
commercial transactions which are in the nature of professional services permitted to be rendered by
a cost auditor or a cost audit firm under the Act and commercial transactions which are in the ordinary
course of business of the company at arm’s length price - like sale of products or services to the cost
auditor, as customer, in the ordinary course of business, by companies engaged in the business of
telecommunications, airlines, hospitals, hotels and such other similar businesses.
(i) A person whose relative is a director or is in the employment of the company as a director or key
managerial personnel of the company. [Section 141(3)(f)].
(j) A person who is in the full time employment elsewhere or a person or a partner of a firm holding
appointment as its auditor if such person or persons is at the date of such appointment or reappointment
holding appointment as auditor of more than twenty companies. [Section 141(3)(g)].
(k) A person who has been convicted by a court for an offence involving fraud and a period of ten years
has not elapsed from the date of such conviction. [Section 141(3)(h)].
(l) Any person whose subsidiary or associate company or any other form of entity, is engaged as on date
of appointment in consulting and providing specialised services to the company and its subsidiary
companies: [Section 141(3)(i) and Section 144].
(a) accounting and book keeping services
(b) internal audit
(c) design and implementation of any financial information system
(d) actuarial services
(e) investment advisory services
(f) investment banking services
(g) rendering of outsourced financial services
(h) management services
1.30 The Companies Act, 2013 has introduced provision regarding rotation of auditors. Is the provision of rotation
of auditors applicable to cost auditors also?
The provisions for maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit are governed by Section
148 of the Companies Act, 2013. The provisions of Section 148 clearly states that no person appointed
under Section 139 as an auditor of the company shall be appointed for conducting audit of cost records of
the company. Section 148 also provides that qualifications, disqualifications, rights, duties and obligations
applicable to auditors (financial) shall apply to a cost auditor appointed under this section. The eligibility,
qualifications and disqualifications are provided in Section 141 of the Act and powers and duties are
provided in Section 143. Section 143(14) specifically states that the provisions of Section 143 shall mutatis
mutandis apply to a cost auditor appointed under Section 148. There are no other provisions governing the
appointment of a cost auditor.
Section 139(3) of the Act, applicable to appointment of auditors (financial), and Rule 6 of Companies (Audit
and Auditors) Rules, 2014 deals with the provision of rotation of auditors and these provisions are applicable
only to appointment of auditors (financial). The Act does not provide for rotation in case of appointment
of cost auditors and the same is not applicable to a cost auditor. It may, however, be noted that though
there is no statutory provision for rotation of cost auditors, individual companies may do so as a part of their
policy, as is the practice with Public Sector Undertakings.
1.31 What is the procedure to be followed for fixing the remuneration of a cost auditor?
Rule 14 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 has laid down the procedure of appointment
and fixing the remuneration of a cost auditor. It states as follows:
Remuneration of the Cost Auditor: For the purpose of sub-section (3) of section 148,—
(a) in the case of companies which are required to constitute an audit committee—
(i) the Board shall appoint an individual, who is a cost accountant in practice, or a firm of cost
accountants in practice, as cost auditor on the recommendations of the Audit committee, which
shall also recommend remuneration for such cost auditor;
(ii) the remuneration recommended by the Audit Committee under (i) shall be considered and
approved by the Board of Directors and ratified subsequently by the shareholders;
(b) in the case of other companies which are not required to constitute an audit committee, the Board
shall appoint an individual who is a cost accountant in practice or a firm of cost accountants in
practice as cost auditor and the remuneration of such cost auditor shall be ratified by shareholders
subsequently.
1.32 What are the duties of the Companies in relation to provisions of Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013 and
the Rules framed thereunder?
Every company required to get cost audit conducted under Section 148(2) of the Companies Act, 2013
shall:-
(a) Appoint a cost auditor within one hundred and eighty days of the commencement of every financial
year;
(b) Inform the cost auditor concerned of his or its appointment;
(c) File a notice of such appointment with the Central Government within a period of thirty days of the
Board meeting in which such appointment is made or within a period of one hundred and eighty days
of the commencement of the financial year, whichever is earlier, through electronic mode, in form
CRA-2, along with the fee as specified in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014;
(d) Within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of a copy of the cost audit report, furnish the
Central Government with such report alongwith full information and explanation on every reservation or
qualification contained therein, in form CRA-4 along with fees specified in the Companies (Registration
Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
1.33 Is a cost auditor required to audit and certify monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly cost statements?
As per Rule 5, every company under these rules including all units and branches thereof are required, in
respect of each of its financial year, to maintain cost records in form CRA-1. The cost records are required to
be maintained on regular basis in such manner so as to facilitate calculation of per unit cost of production
or cost of operations, cost of sales and margin for each of its products and activities for every financial year
on monthly or quarterly or half-yearly or annual basis. The cost auditor is appointed to conduct audit of the
cost records and make report thereon for the financial year for which he is appointed. It is not incumbent
upon the cost auditor to certify monthly, quarterly, half-yearly cost statements.
1.34 CRA-3 requires Details of Material Consumed, Details of Utilities Consumed and Details of Industry Specific
Operating Expenses respectively [Part B and Part C, Para 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c)]. In case of companies where
number of materials or utilities or industry specific operating expenses is more than 10 each, which items
should be disclosed in the respective paras?
It is to be noted that the cost audit report is required to be filed in XBRL mode and there is no provision for
extending the number of items under any of the heads to accommodate more than 10 items. Hence, in
cases where number of such items is more than 10 under any of the heads of material or utility or industry
specific operating expenses, the 9 main items in terms of value should be provided separately and the
balance items should be clubbed together under “Others” and shown as the tenth item.
1.35 Whether figures are to be provided for Rupees per Unit or Amount in Rupees in the Product and Service
Profitability Statement [CRA-3, Part D, Para 1]?
Amount in Rupees are required to be provided under this Para. The number of products or services will
be equal to the number of products and services covered under cost audit and for which Abridged Cost
Statement has been provided.
1.36 Is there any obligation on the part of cost auditor to report offence of fraud being or has been committed in
the Company by its officers or employees?
Sub-rule (7) of Rule 6 of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 states that “the provisions
of sub-section (12) of section 143 of the Act and the relevant rules made thereunder shall apply mutatis
mutandis to a cost auditor during performance of his functions under section 148 of the Act and these
rules”.
As per sub-section (12) of section 143 of the Companies Act 2013, extract of which is given above, it is
obligatory on the part of cost auditor to report offence of fraud which is being or has been committed in the
company by its officers or employees, to the Central Government as per the prescribed procedure under
the Rules.
As per the proviso to above sub-section, it has been stated that in case of a fraud involving lesser than the
specified amount, the auditor shall report the matter to the audit committee constituted under section 177
or to the Board in other cases within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.
FAQ-2
08/07/2015
Frequently Asked Questions on
Maintenance of Cost Accounting Records and
Cost Audit under Companies Act, 2013
2.1 What types of Educational Services are covered under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014?
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 covers “Education services, other than such similar
services falling under philanthropy or as part of social spend which do not form part of any business”.
Any company imparting training or education by means of any mode is covered under Education Services.
However, auxiliary services provided by companies, as a separate independent entity, to educational
institutions viz., (i) transportation of students, faculty and staff; (ii) catering service including any mid-day
meals scheme; (iii) security or cleaning or house-keeping services in such educational institution; (iv) services
relating to admission to such institution or conduct of examination are not included under Education Services.
In case the educational institution covered under the Rules is providing the above auxiliary services as a part
of their total operations, then the institution will be required to maintain records for such auxiliary services also.
2.2 What types of Health Services are covered under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014?
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 covers “Health services, namely functioning as or
running hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinical centres or test laboratories”.
Any company engaged in providing Health services through functioning as or running hospitals, diagnostic
centres, clinical centres, test laboratories, physiotherapy centres and post-operative/treatment centres are
covered within the ambit of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014. Further, companies running
hospitals exclusively for its own employees are excluded from the ambit of these Rules, provided however, if
such hospitals are providing health services to outsiders also in addition to its own employees on chargeable
basis, then such hospitals are covered within the ambit of these Rules.
It is clarified that companies engaged in running of Beauty parlours / beauty treatment are not covered
under these Rules.
2.3 A company is engaged in construction of residential housing, offices, industrial units, Roads, Bridges, Marine
facilities etc. having sites in India and abroad. The company also has Joint venture projects in India and
abroad. Whether Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 would be applicable to the company?
All companies engaged in construction business either as contractors or as subcontractors, who meet with
the threshold limits laid down in the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 and undertake jobs with
the use of own materials [whether self-manufactured/produced or procured from outside] shall be required
to maintain cost records and get cost audit conducted as per the provisions of the Companies (Cost Records
and Audit) Rules, 2014.
The provisions of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 would also apply for construction
activities undertaken under BOT/BOOT mode, or the projects undertaken as EPC contractor or the projects
undertaken abroad by a company incorporated in India.
The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, do not make any distinction between the Contractor
and Sub-Contractor and accordingly all such companies will be included within the ambit of the Rules.
2.4 A company is engaged in manufacturing products on its own as well as purchase the same products from
other companies. The outsourced products are treated as trading activity in the financial accounts. Same
products are also manufactured by supply of materials to converters. What would be treatment of such
products for the purposes of maintenance of cost accounting records and cost audit?
Products manufactured by the company as well as conversion activity through third parties will be covered
under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 and the company would be required to maintain
cost accounting records and get cost audit conducted subject to threshold limits. The finished products
bought from outside parties (treated as Trading Activity in Financial Accounts) would be reflected as “Cost
of Finished Goods Purchased” in Abridged Cost Statement.
2.5 The Companies (Cost Records & Audit) Rules, 2014 provides exemption from cost audit to a company which
is covered under rule 3, and whose revenue from exports, in foreign exchange, exceeds seventy five per
cent of its total revenue. How to determine the percentage to total revenue in the following cases:
(i) In a company who is manufacturing Pharmaceutical products, the revenue from export of pharmaceutical
products earned in foreign exchange divided by total revenue including other income etc. is 58%.
(ii) The revenue in foreign exchange earned from export of pharmaceutical products plus revenue in
foreign exchange earned from rendering of research & development service divided by total revenue
including other income etc.is 82%.
Cost audit is applicable for specified products/services. Rule 4(3) states “The requirement for cost audit under
these rules shall not apply to a company which is covered in rule 3, and (i) whose revenue from experts,
in foreign exchange, exceeds seventy five per cent of its total revenue”. The inclusion or coverage of a
company under Rule 3 is in respect of products/services listed under Table-A and Table-B and consequently
the computation of 75% is to be calculated for the specific products/services covered under Rule 3 and not
in respect of all the products/services of the company.
The total revenue and turnover of R&D Activities, not being covered under Rule 3 cannot be taken into
consideration for computation of 75%.
In this connection it is also clarified that “total revenue” of a company is to be considered as the total
revenue as defined in Schedule III of the Companies Act, 2013. Total Revenue as defined in Schedule III is
Total Operating Revenue plus Other Incomes.
2.6 A company has units in SEZ and in non-SEZ areas. The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 has
exempted companies operating in special economic zones from cost audit. What would be applicability of
the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 on such a company in respect of maintenance of cost
accounting records and cost audit?
Rule 3 of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 is specific and it has mandated maintenance
of cost accounting records on all products/activities listed under Table-A and Table-B subject to threshold
limits. No exemption is available to any company from maintenance of cost accounting records once it
meets the threshold limits. Hence, the above company would be required to maintain cost accounting
records for all its units including the one located in the special economic zone.
In view of the provisions of Rule 4(3)(ii) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 the unit located
in the special economic zone would be outside the purview of cost audit and the company would not be
required to include particulars of such unit in its cost audit report. The other units of the company located
outside the special economic zone would be covered under cost audit subject to the prescribed threshold
limits.
2.7 A cost auditor is required to certify under Para 1(vii) of the Cost Audit Report – “Detailed unit-wise and product/
service-wise cost statements and schedules thereto in respect of the product/service under reference of the
company duly audited and certified by me/us are/are not kept in the company”. Whether product Cost
Sheet prepared SKU wise/ type-wise/ size-wise/ specification-wise by the company is required to be certified
by the cost auditor and kept in the company?
Rule 5(2) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014 requires that “the cost records referred to in
sub-rule (1) shall be maintained on regular basis in such manner as to facilitate calculation of per unit cost of
production or cost of operations, cost of sales and margin for each of its products and activities”.
The Rules have identified products as per CETA heading as defined in Rule 2(aa) which states “Central
Excise Tariff Act Heading means the heading as referred to in the Additional Notes in the First Schedule to
the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985[5 of 1986]”.
First Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 states – “heading” in respect of goods, means a
description in list of tariff provisions accompanied by a four-digit number and includes all sub-headings of
tariff items the first four-digits of which correspond to that number.
The above definitions make it clear that maintenance of cost accounting records should conform to the
CETA Heading and detailed unit-wise and product/service-wise cost statements and schedules thereto are
required to be certified by the cost auditor.
2.8 In the abridged cost statement, what are Industry specific operating expenses? When should this be used?
Industry Specific operating expenses are those which are peculiar to a particular industry such as
Telecommunication Industry which shows expenses such as Network Operating cost, License fee, Radio
Spectrum charges, Microwave charges etc. which are peculiar to this Industry and should be disclosed
separately in the cost statement. The Industry Specific operating expenses will vary from industry to industry
depending upon the nature of operations. The industry specific operating expenses shall have to be
identified and reported upon in the abridged cost statement.
2.9 What is installed capacity and how is this different from total available capacity? How the installed capacity
is to be calculated in a multi-product company using the same machine/ facilities? Should installed
capacity be the capacity at the beginning of the year or at the end of the year under audit?
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India has defined “Installed Capacity is the maximum productive
capacity, according to the manufacturer’s specifications or determined through an expert study” [CAS-2
of Cost Accounting Standards]. The Installed Capacity to be disclosed in the Quantitative Details of CRA-
3 is to be considered as at the beginning of the year. Capacity enhanced during the year should be
considered as the increase in Installed Capacity during the year on pro-rata basis. Available capacity is
the total installed capacity after adjustment of capacity enhanced during the year and if any capacity
is available by means of leasing arrangement or taking on third-party capacity for increasing the total
capacity.
If the same available capacity is utilised for production of multiple products, the following different basis
may be adopted to determine the available capacity in respect of each of the products:
(i) If the company has a system of allocating the total available capacity for production of multiple
products, then such allocated available capacity is to be considered for the products being
manufactured by utilising the same production facility.
(ii) If the production allocation is not pre-determined and changes from period to period, then the
capacity utilisation is to be determined on the basis of total production of all the products taken
together and the total available capacity should be considered for all the products.
2.10 Whether each and every transactions with Related Parties is to be disclosed under Para D-5 of Annexure to
the Cost Audit Report?
Details of related Party Transaction are required to be provided in respect of each Related Party and each
Product/Service for the year as a whole and not transaction-wise.
2.11 Revised Form CRA-2 has been made available by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs conforming to the
Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 on 31st December, 2014. What are the required attachments
to Form CRA-2?
The Form has provided an attachment button for attachment of certified copy of the Board Resolution
appointing the cost auditor. The consent letter of the cost auditor should be attached as optional
attachment.
2.12 Is CRA-3 applicable for companies whose financial year commenced prior to April 1, 2014? Which Rules are
applicable to companies whose financial year commenced on January 1, 2014?
The Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 are
applicable from April 1, 2014. Companies that were covered under the erstwhile Companies (Cost
Accounting Records) Rules, 2011 and met the threshold limits prescribed therein are required to get the
cost audit of their companies audited for the financial year 01/01/2014 to 31/12/2014 under the 2011 Rules
and submit their respective reports under Companies (Cost Audit Report) Rules, 2011.
Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 is applicable to companies maintaining calendar financial
year from 01/01/2015 onwards subject to the products/services being covered under Table-A or Table-B of
Rule 3 and meeting the prescribed threshold limits.
2.13 The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 requires submission of a single cost audit report at
company level. What is the procedure of certifying and submission of cost audit report of a company where
more than one cost auditor is appointed?
In case of a company having more than one cost auditor, it would be necessary for the company to
appoint/designate one cost auditor as the lead cost auditor for consolidation of the report.
The individual cost auditors appointed for specific units/products would be required to audit and provide
Para numbers A-4, B-1, B-2, B-2A, B-2B, B-2C, C-1, C-2, C-2A, C-2B, C-2C (as applicable), D-1 in respect of the
products/services coming under the purview of their respective audits. The individual auditors would also
be required to submit to the Board of Directors the individual cost audit report as per Form of the Cost Audit
Report given in CRA-3.
The lead auditor would be responsible for preparing the Para numbers A-3, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6 and
consolidate Para numbers A-4, B-1, B-2, B-2A, B-2B, B-2C, C-1, C-2, C-2A, C-2B, C-2C (as applicable), D-1
received from the individual cost auditors.
The consolidated report should contain the reports of all the individual cost auditors including the report of
the Lead Cost Auditor. In case individual cost auditors have any observations or suggestions or qualifications,
they would be required to mention the same under Para 2 of the cost audit report and the lead auditor
would have to mention the specific observations and/or qualifications of all the individual cost auditors in
the place provided for the same in the under Para A-1.
The consolidated report so prepared would be converted to XBRL and submitted to the Central Government
by the Company in Form CRA-4.
2.14 The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 covers “Generation, transmission, distribution and
supply of electricity” with no corresponding CETA Heading. Whether the Quantitative Information and
Abridged Cost Statement in respect of Electricity are required to be reported under the Service Sector in the
absence of a CETA Heading?
The reporting of electricity generation activity will be considered under “Manufacturing” and should be
shown under CETA Heading 2716. Transmission and Distribution activities should be reported under the
“Service Sector”.
2.15 A Company is engaged in both Regulated and Non-Regulated sectors and all its products are not covered
under the Rules. How to determine applicability of cost audit for the products covered under the Regulated
and Non-Regulated sectors since different threshold limits have been prescribed under Rule 4?
The above issue was clarified in FAQ-1 vide FAQ 1.21. The issue is further clarified by means of the following
example for ease of understanding.
Case 1 5 10 15 19 34 No No
Case 2 5 10 15 25 40 Yes No
Case 4 0 25 25 26 51 Yes No
2.16 What is the status of companies after the notification of Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014,
who have not filed cost audit report and/or compliance report pertaining to any year prior to financial year
commencing on or after April 1, 2014?
Companies that were covered under the Companies (Cost Accounting Records) Rules, 2011 or any of the
6 industry specific Cost Accounting Records Rules and were required to file Compliance Report and/or Cost
Audit Report for and upto any financial year commencing prior to April 1, 2014 are required to comply with
the erstwhile Rules and file the Compliance Report and/or Cost Audit Report in XBRL Mode for the defaulted
years. For this purpose, the Costing Taxonomy 2012 will continue to be available and such reports would be
required to be filed in Form A-XBRL and Form I-XBRL, as the case may be.
2.17 Many Companies have filed Form 23C as well as Form CRA-2 for 2014-15 in respect of different products
and/or multiple cost auditors, if applicable. Which SRN Number has to be reported in the cost audit report
while filing the same in XBRL Mode?
(a) Companies who have filed multiple Form 23C in respect of multiple cost auditors will be required to
provide the SRN Numbers against each Form 23C filed.
(b) In case the company after filing individual Form 23C has also filed Form CRA-2, in such case the
company will be required to provide the SRN Number of the latest CRA-2 only since the details of
multiple cost auditors, if applicable for the company, would be covered under one Form CRA-2.
2.18 A company is engaged in manufacturing of multiple products. Some of the products are covered under
the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 and some are not. Part-A, Para 4 of the Annexure
to the Cost Audit Report (Product/Service Details for the company as a whole) requires Net Operational
Revenue to be reported for each CETA Heading for both the current year and the previous year. Can the
Net Operational Revenue of all the Products that are not covered under the Rules be reported in this Para as
a single line item?
Part-A, Para 4 of the Annexure to the Cost Audit Report of Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules,
2014 require reporting of Net Operational Revenue of every CETA Heading separately comprised in the
Total Operational Revenue as per Financial Accounts. Hence, the company would be required to report
Net Revenue of every CETA Heading irrespective of whether the same is covered under maintenance of
cost accounting records and cost audit or not. In case some of the Products are under the same CETA
Heading but having different units of measurement (UOM), then Net Revenue is to be reported for separate
UOMs. It may be noted that the number of quantitative details and abridged cost statements will have to
be provided for each unique combination of CETA Heading and UOM of the Products which are covered
under cost audit.
If the company is engaged in manufacturing of products as well as providing of services and/or trading,
such services which are covered under the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014 will be required
to be reported separately according to the definition provided in the Rules classified under different types
of services within the same class of service. It may be noted that the number of quantitative details and
abridged cost statements will have to be provided for each classification of service covered under cost
audit.
Other services that are not covered under the Rules and Revenue from Trading Activity may be reported
under suitable heads denoting the service/activity.
The New Taxonomy has introduced a separate line item in this Para to report “Other Operating Incomes”
which will form part of the Total Operating Revenue.
CAS –1
(REVISED 2015)
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON
“CLASSIFICATION OF COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD - 1 (CAS - 1) (Revised 2015) issued by the Council of the Institute
of Cost Accountants of India for determination of “CLASSIFICATION OF COST”. In this Standard, the standard
portions have been set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material
which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles of Classification of Cost for determining the cost of product or service.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles of Classification of Cost
for disclosure and presentation in the cost statements of a product or service.
3. Scope
This standard shall be applied to cost statements, which require classification, presentation and disclosure of
cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal Cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/
or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation.
4.2 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
Administrative overheads shall exclude production overheads, marketing overheads and interest and
finance charges. Administrative overheads do not include administration cost relating to production,
factory, works or manufacturing.
4.3 Classification of cost: Classification of cost is the arrangement of items of costs in logical groups having
regard to their nature (subjective classification) and purpose (objective classification).
4.4 Conversion cost: Conversion cost is the production cost excluding the cost of direct materials.
4.5 Cost: Cost is a measurement, in monetary terms, of the amount of resources used for the purpose of
production of goods or rendering services.
Manufacturing of goods or rendering services involves consumption of resources. The type of cost
often referred to in the costing system depends on the purpose for which cost is incurred. For example,
material cost is the price of materials consumed for manufacturing a product or for rendering a service.
4.6 Cost Centre: Any unit of an entity selected with a view to accumulating all cost under that unit. The
unit can be division, department, section, group of plant and machinery, group of employees or
combination of several units.
Cost Centre is the logical unit for accumulation of cost. Cost Centre may be of two types –personal and
impersonal cost centres. Personal cost centre consists of a person or a group ofpersons. Cost centres
which are not personal cost centres are impersonal cost centres. Cost centres may also be classified into
broad types i.e. Operating Cost Centres and Support- Service Cost Centres. Operating Cost Centres are
those which are in the chain of operations like machine shop, welding shop, assembly shop, operation
theatre, callcentre and so on. Support-service Cost centres are for rendering services to operating cost
centre like power house, maintenance, stores, help desk, transport for call centre staff and so on.
4.7 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.8 Cost of Production: Cost of production of a product or a service consists of cost of materials consumed,
direct employee costs, direct expenses, production overheads, quality control costs, packing costs,
research and development costs and administrative overheads relating to production.
Cost of production of a service means cost of the service rendered. To arrive at cost of production of
goods, including those dispatched for captive consumption, adjustment for stock of work-in-process,
finished goods, recoveries for sales of scrap, wastage and the like, shall be made.
4.9 Cost of Transportation: Cost of Transportation comprises of the cost of freight, cartage, transit insurance
and cost of operating fleet and other incidental charges whether incurred internally or paid to an outside
agency for transportation of goods but does not include detention and demurrage charges.
Cost of transportation is classified as inward transportation cost and outward transportation cost.
4.10 Cost Unit: Cost Unit is a form of measurement of volume of production of a product or a service. Cost Unit
is generally adopted on the basis of convenience and practice in the industry concerned.
Examples:
• Power - MW
• Cement - MT
• Automobile - Number
• Transportation - Tonne- Kilometre
4.11 Development Cost: Development cost is the cost for application of research findings or other knowledge
to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved materials, devices, products,
processes, systems or services before the start of commercial production or use.
4.12 Direct Employee Cost: Employee costs, which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way.
4.13 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can be
identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material cost and direct employee cost.
Examples:
• Royalties charged on production
• Job charges
• Hire charges for use of specific equipment for a specific job
• Software services specifically required for a job
4.14 Direct Materials: Materials, the costs of which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way.
4.15 Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred
in handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the
ultimate consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
The cost of any non manufacturing operations such as packing, repacking and labelling at an
intermediate storage location will be part of distribution cost.
Examples:
• Secondary packing
• Outward transportation cost
• Warehousing cost
• Cost of delivering the products to customers
• Clearing and forwarding charges
• Cost of mending or replacing packing materials at distribution point.
4.16 Employee Cost: Benefits paid or payable for the services rendered by employees (including temporary,
part time and contract employees) of an entity.
Explanation:
1 Contract employees include employees engaged by the employer on contract basis; either directly
or through a contractor but does not include employees of any contractor engaged in the entity
for a contractual job.
2 Compensation paid to employees for the past period on account of any dispute / court orders in
the current period shall form part of employee cost, but not a part of production cost.
3 Short provisions of prior period employee cost in current period shall form part of the employee cost
in the current period, but not a part of production cost.
Employee cost includes payment made in cash or kind.
4.17 Fixed Costs: Fixed costs are costs which do not vary with the change in the volume of activity. Fixed
indirect costs are termed fixed overheads.
4.18 Indirect Employee Cost: Employee cost, which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.19 Indirect Expenses: Expenses, which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.20 Indirect Materials: Materials, the costs of which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.21 Marketing overheads: Marketing Overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
4.22 Material Cost: The cost of material used for the purpose of production of a product or rendering a
service.
4.23 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance.
The above definition is also applicable for normal capacity in relation to a service being rendered.
4.24 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
4.25 Packing Material Cost: The cost of material of any nature used for the purpose of packingof a product.
Packing material can be classified into primary packing material and secondary packing material.
Primary packing material is essential to hold and preserve the product for its use by the customer and
secondary packing material enables to store, transport, inform the customer, promote and otherwise
make the product marketable.
4.26 Prime cost: Prime cost is the aggregate of direct material cost, direct Employee cost and direct expenses.
4.27 Production Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning. Production overheads include administration costs relating to production,
factory, works or manufacturing.
4.28 Research Cost: Research cost is the cost of original and planned investigation undertaken with the
prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding.
4.29 Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and
include all indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
Selling overheads are also known as selling costs.
4.30 Semi Variable Costs: Semi Variable Costs are the costs that contain both fixed and variable elements.
They partly change with the change in the level of activity.
4.31 Support-Service Cost Centre: The cost centre which primarily provides auxiliary services across the
entity.
The cost centre which provides services to production, operation or other service cost centre but not
directly engaged in manufacturing process or operation or in rendering a service is a support-service
cost centre. A support-service cost centre renders services to other cost centre’s/other units and in
some cases to outside parties.
Examples:
• Engineering
• Workshop
• Quality control
• Quality assurance
• Designing
• Laboratory
• Help desk
• Transport for call centre staff
4.32 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual cost with the standard cost with a
view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper measure
to control them.
4.33 Variable Costs: Variable costs are the cost which tends to directly vary with the volume of activity.
Variable indirect costs are termed as variable overheads.
5. Principles of Classification of Costs
5.1 Costs shall be classified by the process of grouping the components of cost under a common designation
on the basis of similarities of nature, attributes or relations. Items grouped together under common
heads shall be further classified according to their fundamental differences.
It is the process of identification of each item and the systematic placement of like items together
according to their common features. The same costs may appear in several different classifications
depending on the purpose of classification.
Cost is classified normally in terms of managerial objective. Its presentation normally requires sub-
classification. Such sub-classification may be according to nature of the cost elements, functional lines,
areas of responsibility, or some other useful break-up. The appropriate sub-classification depends upon
the uses to be made of the cost report.
Cost may be classified with reference to the nature of expense, its traceability to a cost object (direct/
indirect), its relation to functions /activities, its behaviour (fixed, semi-variable or variable)and its
relationship to production process.
5.2 Scheme of classification shall be such that every item of cost is classified.
6. Classification of Costs
6.1.1 Items of costs differ on the basis of their nature. Costs shall be gathered together in their natural
groupings such as material, employee and expenses. The elements of cost can be classified in
the following three categories :
i) Material
ii) Employee
iii) Expenses
6.1.2 Material Costs are cost of materials used for the purpose of production of a product or rendering
of a service, net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable that can be quantified
with reasonable accuracy.
6.1.3 Employee Costs are consideration, including benefits paid or payable to employees, permanent
or temporary, for the purpose of production of a product or rendering of a service.
It is the aggregate of all kinds of consideration paid and payable for the services rendered by
employees of an entity (including temporary, part time and contract employees). Consideration
includes wages, salaries, and other payments, including benefits, as applicable.
6.1.4 Expenses are costs other than material cost and employee cost for the purpose of production of
a product or rendering of a service.
Examples:
• Cost of utilities
6.2.1 Classification shall be on the basis of method of assigning cost to a cost object. If a cost can be
assigned to a cost object in an economically feasible way, it shall be termed as direct to that cost
object. A cost that cannot be assigned directly shall be indirect cost.
6.2.2 Direct Material Costs are the cost of materials which can be assigned to a cost object in an
economically feasible way.
Raw materials consumed for production of a product or rendering of a service which are
identifiable to the product or service form the direct material cost. Direct material cost includes
cost of procurement, freight inward, taxes & duties and insurance directly attributable to the
acquisition of the material. Trade discounts, rebates, duty drawbacks, refunds of duties/taxes
and other similar items are deducted in determining the costs of direct material.
6.2.3 Direct Employee Cost are employee costs, which can be assigned to a cost object in an
economically feasible way.
Example :
The cost of wages of those workers who are readily identified or linked with a cost centre or
cost object, including the fringe benefits like provident fund contribution, gratuity, ESI, overtime,
incentives, bonus, ex-gratia, leave encashment and wages for holidays and idle time.
6.2.4 Direct Expenses are expenses, which can be assigned to a cost object.
Examples:
6.2.5 Indirect Material Costs are cost of materials, which cannot be directly assigned to a particular
cost object in an economically feasible way.
Examples:
• Lubricants
6.2.6 Indirect Employee costs are employee costs, which cannot be directly assigned to a particular
cost object in an economically feasible way.
Examples:
6.2.7 Indirect Expenses are expenses, which cannot be directly assigned to a particular cost object in
an economically feasible way.
Examples:
• Insurance
6.3 By function
• Production/ Project;
• Administration;
• Selling;
• Distribution;
• Research;
• Development;
6.4.1 Costs shall be classified based on behaviour in response to the changes in the activity levels such
as, fixed cost, variable cost and semi-variable cost.
6.5.1 Costs shall also be classified on the basis of nature of production or operation process.
6.5.2 Batch Cost shall be the aggregate cost related to a cost unit which consist of a group of similar
articles or services which maintain its identity throughout one or more stages of production or
operation.
6.5.3 Process cost shall be the cost of production or operation process where goods are produced or
services rendered from a sequence of continuous or repetitive operations or processes during a
period.
6.5.4 Operation Cost shall be the cost a specific operation involved in production of goods or rendering
of services.
6.5.5 Contract cost shall be the cost of a contract agreed upon between the contractee and the
contractor.
6.5.6 Joint costs are the costs of common resources used for producing two or more products or
rendering two or more services simultaneously.
7. Presentation
7.1 The cost items in the cost statement shall be presented on ‘basis of relevant classification’.
7.2 The classification of cost items shall be followed consistently from period to period.
8. Disclosure
8.1 Any change in classification of cost shall be made only if it is required by law or for compliance
with a Cost Accounting Standard or such change would result in a more appropriate preparation or
presentation of cost statements of an entity.
8.2 Any change in classification of cost which has a material effect on the cost of the product shall be
disclosed in the cost statements. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly,
the fact shall be indicated in the cost statement.
CAS – 2
(REVISED 2015)
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON CAPACITY DETERMINATION
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard - 2 (Revised 2015) on “Capacity Determination” issued by the
Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. This standard replaces CAS-2 (Revised 2012) on Capacity
Determination. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic type. These are to be read in the
context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the capacity of a facility for
producing goods or providing services by an entity.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification and determination of capacity of
an entity for ascertainment of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost
statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determination of capacity with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard shall be applied to the cost statements, including those requiring attestation, which require
determination of capacity for assignment of overheads.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal Idle Capacity: Abnormal idle capacity is the difference between normal capacity and actual
capacity utilization where the actual capacity is lower than the normal capacity.
4.2 Actual capacity utilization: Actual capacity utilization is measured in terms of volume of production
achieved or service provided in a specified period.
Volume may be measured in terms of units produced or services provided or equivalent machine or
man hours, as applicable.
Actual capacity utilization is usually expressed as a percentage of installed capacity.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost Centre, customer, product, process, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Installed capacity: Installed capacity is the maximum capacity of producing goods or providing
services, determined either based on technical specification of the facility or through a technical
evaluation.
4.5 Normal Capacity: Normal capacity is the volume of production or services achieved or achievable on
an average over a period under normal circumstances taking into account the reduction in capacity
resulting from planned maintenance.
4.6 Normal Idle Capacity: Normal idle capacity is the difference between installed and normal capacity.
5. Determination of Capacity:
5.1 Capacity shall be determined in terms of units of production or services or equivalent machine or man
hours.
5.2 Installed capacity
Installed capacity is usually determined based on:
i) Technical specifications of facility.
6. Presentation
6.1 Cost Statements shall present Installed capacity, normal capacity and actual production of goods or
services provided, in absolute terms.
6.2 Actual Capacity utilization shall be presented as a percentage of installed capacity.
7. Disclosure:
7.1 The cost statements shall disclose the following:
a. Basis for arriving at different types of capacity.
b. Changes in the installed capacity or normal capacity with reason thereof.
c. Capacity enhanced through outsourcing.
d. Capacity outsourced to others.
e. Details of actual production of goods or services provided.
a) Self-Manufactured goods or services provided through in-house facility
b) Goods Produced or services provided through outsourcing
f. Reasons for low capacity utilization.
g. Abnormal cost due to under-utilization of capacity.
7.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
7.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8. Effective date
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2016 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statement.
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard on Production and Operation Overheads (CAS-3) (Revised 2015)
issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. This standard replaces CAS-3 (Revised 2011) on
Overheads. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic type. This standard shall be read in
the context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Production or Operation
Overheads.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment
of Production or Operation Overheads, for determination of the cost of goods produced or services
provided and for the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Production or Operation Overheads with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard shall be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Production or Operation Overheads including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected or
due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation.
Overhead Absorption Rate = Production or Operation Overheads of the Activity divided by the volume
of activity.
For example the rate obtained by dividing the overheads of a Machine Shop by machine hours.
4.3 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
Administrative overheads shall exclude production overheads, marketing overheads and finance
cost. Production overheads includes administration cost relating to production, factory, works or
manufacturing.
4.4 Cost Centre: Any unit of an entity selected with a view to accumulating all costs under that unit. The
unit can be division, department, section, group of plant and machinery, group of employees or
combination of several units.
A cost centre includes a process, function, activity, location, item of equipment, group of persons or
any other unit in relation to which costs are accumulated.
4.5 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, product, process, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.6 Fixed costs: Fixed costs are costs which do not vary with the change in the volume of activity. Fixed
indirect costs are termed fixed overheads.
4.7 Imputed Cost: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.8 Indirect Employee Cost: Employee cost, which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.9 Indirect Expenses: Expenses, which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.10 Indirect Material Cost: Material cost that cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.11 Normal capacity: Normal capacity is the volume of production or services achieved or achievable on
an average over a period under normal circumstances taking into account the reduction in capacity
resulting from planned maintenance (In line with paragraph 4.5 of CAS – 2 (Revised 2015)).
4.12 Production or Operation Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in providing
service.
The terms Production Overheads, Operation Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and
Manufacturing Overheads denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
Production or Operation Overheads include administration cost relating to production, factory, works or
manufacturing and providing of services.
In addition Production or Operation Overheads shall also be classified on the basis of behaviour such as
variable Production or Operation Overheads, semi-variable Production or Operation Overheads and
fixed Production or Operation Overheads.
• Variable Production or Operation Overheads comprise of expenses which vary in proportion to the
change of volume of production or activity or services provided.
• Semi Variable Costs are the costs that contain both fixed and variable elements. They partly
change with the change in the level of activity.
• Fixed overhead are indirect costs which do not vary with the change in the volume of production
or activity or service provided.
4.13 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual cost with the standard cost with a
view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper measure
to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
4.14 Variable costs: Variable costs are the cost which tends to directly vary with the volume of activity.
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Production or Operation Overheads representing procurement of resources shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto
net of discounts (other than cash discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
5.2 Production or Operation Overheads other than those referred to in paragraph 5.1 shall be determined
on the basis of cost incurred in connection therewith.
In case of machinery spare fabricated internally or a repair job carried out internally, it will include cost
incurred on material, employees and expenses.
5.3 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the Production or Operation
Overheads.
5.5 Production or Operation Overhead variances attributable to normal reasons shall be treated as part
of Production or Operation Overheads. Overhead variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be
excluded from Production or Operation Overheads.
5.6 Any subsidy, Grant, Incentive or amount of similar nature received or receivable with respect to
Production or Operation Overheads shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to
which such amounts are related.
5.7 Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid or payable to statutory authorities or other third parties
shall not form part of the Production or Operation Overheads.
5.8 Credits or recoveries relating to the Production or Operation Overheads, material and quantifiable,
shall be deducted from the total Production or Operation overheads to arrive at the net Production or
Operation Overheads. Where the recovery exceeds the total Production or Operation Overheads, the
balance recovery shall be treated as other income.
5.9 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Production or Operation
Overheads shall be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an entity.
6. Assignment
6.1 While assigning Production or Operation Overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically
feasible manner shall be the guiding principle. The cost which can be traced directly to a cost object
shall be directly assigned.
6.2 Assignment of Production or Operation Overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the
following two principles;
i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of
cost.
ii) Benefits received – Production Overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in
proportion to the benefits received by them.
In case of facilities created on a standby or ready to serve basis, the cost shall be assigned on the basis
of expected benefits instead of actual.
6.3.1 The variable Production or Operation Overheads shall be absorbed to products or services
based on actual production.
6.3.2 The fixed Production or Operation Overheads shall be absorbed based on the normal capacity.
7. Presentation
7.2 If material, element wise and behaviour wise details of the Production or Operation Overheads shall be
presented.
8. Disclosures
Related party as per the applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the
date of the statement
4. Any Subsidy, Grant, Incentive or any amount of similar nature received or receivable reduced
from Production or Operation Overheads.
6. Any abnormal cost not forming part of the Production or Operation Overheads.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment
of the Production or Operation Overheads during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the Production or Operation Overheads shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such
change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2016 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statement.
CAS-4
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON
COST OF PRODUCTION FOR CAPTIVE CONSUMPTION
The following is the text of the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD 4 (CAS-4) issued by the Council of the Institute of
Cost and Works Accountants of India on “Cost of Production for Captive Consumption”. The standard deals with
determination of cost of production for captive consumption. In this Standard, the standard portions have been
set in bold italic type. These should be read in the context of the background material which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
The Cost Accounting principle for determination of cost of production is well established. Similarly, rules for levy
of excise duty on goods used for captive consumption are also well defined. Captive Consumption means the
consumption of goods manufactured by one division and consumed by another division(s) of the same organization
or related undertaking for manufacturing another product(s). Liability of excise duty arises as soon as the goods
covered under excise duty are manufactured but excise duty is collected at the time of removal or clearance
from the place of manufacture even if such removal does not amount to sale. Assessable value of goods used for
captive consumption is based on cost of production. According to the Central Excise Valuation (Determination of
Price of Excisable Goods) Rules 2000, the assessable value of goods used for captive consumption is 115% (110%
w.e.f. 05-08-2003) of cost of production of such goods, and as may be prescribed by the Government from time
to time.
2. Objective
2.1 The purpose of this standard is to bring uniformity in the principles and methods used for determining the
cost of production of excisable goods used for captive consumption.
2.2 The cost statement prepared based on standard will be used for determination of assessable value of
excisable goods used for captive consumption.
2.3 The standard and its disclosure requirement will provide better transparency in the valuation of excisable
goods used for captive consumption.
3. Scope
3.1 The standard is to be followed for determining the cost of production to arrive at an assessable value of
excisable goods used for captive consumption.
3.2 Cost of production will include various cost components. They are already defined in Cost Accounting
Standard-1 (Classification of Cost – CAS-1). Thus, this standard has to be read in conjunction with CAS-1.
4. Definitions
4.1 Cost of Production: Cost of production shall consist of Material Consumed, Direct Wages and Salaries,
Direct Expenses, Works Overheads, Quality Control cost, Research and Development Cost, Packing
cost, Administrative Overheads relating to production.
To arrive at cost of production of goods dispatched for captive consumption, adjustment for Stock of
work-in-Process, finished goods, recoveries for sales of scrap, wastage etc shall be made.
4.2 Captive Consumption: Captive Consumption means the consumption of goods manufactured by one
division or unit and consumed by another division or unit of the same organization or related undertaking
for manufacturing another product(s).
4.3 Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a period or season under
normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity resulting from planned maintenance.
(CAS-2)
The variable production overheads shall be absorbed in production cost based on actual capacity
utilisation.
The fixed production overheads and other similar item of fixed costs such as quality control cost, research
and development costs, administrative overheads relating to manufacturing shall be absorbed in the
production cost on the basis of the normal capacity or actual capacity utilization of the plant, whichever
is higher.
Stock of work-in-progress shall be valued at cost on the basis of stages of completion as per the cost
accounting principles. Similarly, stock of finished goods shall be valued at cost. Opening and closing
stock of work-in-progress shall be adjusted for calculation of cost of goods produced and similarly
opening and closing stock of finished goods shall be adjusted for calculation of goods despatched.
In case the cost of a shorter period is to be determined, where the figures of opening and closing stock
are not readily available, the adjustment of figures of opening and closing stock may be ignored.
A production process may result in more than one product being produced simultaneously. In case joint
products are produced, joint costs are allocated between the products on a rational and consistent
basis. In case by-products are produced, the net realisable value of by-products is credited to the cost
of production of the main product.
For allocation of joint cost to joint products, the sales values of products at the split off point i.e. when the
products become separately identifiable may become the basis. Some other basis may be adopted.
For example, in case of petroleum products, each product is assigned certain value based on its certain
properties, may be calorific value and these values become the basis of apportionment of joint cost
among petroleum products.
The production process may generate scrap or waste. Realized or realizable value of scrap or waste
shall be credited to the cost of production.
In case, scrap or waste does not have ready market and it is used for reprocessing, the scrap or waste
value is taken at a rate of input cost depending upon the stage at which such scrap or waste is recycled.
The expenses incurred for making the scrap suitable for reprocessing shall be deducted from value of
scrap or waste.
Miscellaneous income relating to production shall be adjusted in the calculation of cost of production,
for example, income from sale of empty containers used for despatch of the captively consumed goods
produced under reference.
In case any input material, whether of direct or indirect nature, including packing material is supplied
free of cost by the user of the captive product, the landed cost of such material shall be included in the
cost of production.
5.15 Moulds, Tools, Dies & Patterns etc received free of cost
The amortization cost of such items shall be included in the cost of production.
Interest and financial charges being a financial charge shall not be considered to be a part of cost of
production.
Abnormal and non-recurring cost arising due to unusual or unexpected occurrence of events, such as
heavy break down of plants, accident, market condition restricting sales below normal level, abnormal
idle capacity, abnormal process loss, abnormal scrap and wastage, payments like VRS, retrenchment
compensation, lay-off wages etc. The abnormal cost shall not form the part of cost of production.
6. Cost Sheet
The cost sheet should be prepared in the format as par Appendix – 1 or as near thereto as possible. The
manufacturer will be required to maintain cost records and other books of account in a manner, which
would facilitate preparation and verification of the cost of production. For manufacturers covered under
the ambit of Section 148(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, i.e., where Cost Accounting Records are statutorily
required to be maintained, the Cost Accountant certifying the cost of production for captive consumption
shall verify the correctness of the cost from these records. However, for manufacturers not covered under
Section 148(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, it is desirable that they also maintain cost accounting records in
line with the records so prescribed as to facilitate determination and certification of cost of production.
7. Disclosure
(i) If there is any change in cost accounting principles and practices during the concerned period which
may materially affect the cost of production in terms of comparability with previous periods, the same
should be disclosed.
(ii) If opening stock and closing stock of work-in-progress and finished goods are not readily available for
certification purpose, the same should be disclosed.
Appendix – 1
Name of the Manufacturer :
Address of the Manufacturer :
Registration No of Manufacturer :
Description of product captively consumed :
Excise Tariff Heading :
I/We, have verified above data on test check basis with reference to the books of account, cost accounting
records and other records. Based on the information and explanations given to me/us, and on the basis of
generally accepted cost accounting principles and practices followed by the industry, I /We certify that the
above cost data reflect true and fair view of the cost of production.
Date : Seal & Signature of Cost Accountant
Place : Membership No.
Summary and Reconciliation of Excise Duty payable and paid on products captively consumed during the period
ended ___________________________
Period/Quarter UOM Total Quantity transferred Cost Of Excise Duty Excise Duty Difference In
Production Goods Paid On Payable during Excise Duty
Quantity For Captive For Other Cleared The Basis Of the period Payable and
Consumption Than Captive During The CAS-4 on the basis Paid
Consumption Period As Per (`) of audited (`)
CAS-4 accounts
(`) (`)
1 First Period
2 Second Period
3 Third Period
5 Total
I/We certify that the above summary and reconciliation statement have been prepared with reference to
provisional / audited accounts, CAS-4 certificates, cost accounting standards and generally accepted cost
accounting principles.
CAS -5
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD
ON DETERMINATION OF
AVERAGE (EQUALIZED) COST OF TRANSPORTATION
The following is the text of the Cost Accounting Standard 5 (CAS-5) issued by the Council of the Institute of Cost &
Works Accountants of India on “Determination of Average (Equalized) Cost of Transportation”. This standard deals
with the determination of average transportation cost of a product. In this standard the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. These are to be read in the context of the background material which has been set
in the normal type.
1. Introduction:
1.1 The cost accounting principles for tracing/identifying an element of cost, its allocation/apportionment
to a product or service are well established. Transportation cost is an important element of cost
for procurement of materials for production and for distribution of product for sale. Therefore, Cost
Accounting Records should present transportation cost separately from the other cost of inward materials
or cost of sales of finished goods. The Finance Act 2003 also specifies the certification requirement of
transportation cost for claiming deduction while arriving at the assessable value of excisable goods
cleared for home consumption/ export. There is a need to standardize the record keeping of expenses
relating to transportation and computation of transportation cost.
2. Objective
2.1 To bring uniformity in the application of principles and methods used in the determination of averaged/
equalized transportation cost.
2.2 To prescribe the system to be followed for maintenance of records for collection of cost of transportation,
its allocation/apportionment to cost centres, locations or products.
For example, transportation cost needs to be apportioned among excisable, exempted, non-excisable
and other goods for arriving at the average of transportation cost of each class of goods.
2.3 To provide transparency in the determination of cost of transportation.
3. Scope
3.1 This standard should be applied for calculation of cost of transportation required under any statute or
regulations or for any other purpose. For example, this standard can be used for :
(a) determination of average transportation cost for claiming the deduction for arriving at the
assessable value of excisable goods
(b) Insurance claim valuation
(c) Working out claim for freight subsidy under Fertilizer Industry Coordination Committee
(d) Administered price mechanism of freight cost element
(e) Determination of inward freight costs included or to be included in the cost of purchases
attributable to the acquisition.
(f) Computation of freight included in the value of inventory for accounting on inventory or valuation
of stock hypothecated with Banks / Financial Institution, etc.
4. Definitions
The following terms are used in this standard with the meaning specified :
4.1 Cost of Transportation comprises of the cost of freight, cartage, transit insurance and cost of operating
fleet and other incidental charges whether incurred internally or paid to an outside agency for
transportation of goods but does not include detention and demurrage charges.
Explanation :
Cost of transportation is classified as inward transportation cost and outward transportation Cost.
4.2 Inward Transportation cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection with materials /goods
received at factory or place of use or sale/removal.
4.3 Outward Transportation cost is the transportation expenses incurred in connection with the sale or
delivery of materials or goods from factory or depot or any other place from where goods are sold /
removed
4.4 Freight is the charges paid or payable for transporting materials/ goods from one location to another.
4.5 Cartage is the expenses incurred for movement of goods covering short distance for further transportation
for delivery to customer or storage.
4.6 Transit insurance cost is the amount of premium to be paid to cover the risk of loss /damage to the
goods in transit.
4.7 Depot is the bounded premises /place managed internally or by an agent, including consignment
agent and C & F agent, franchisee for storing of materials/goods for further dispatch including the
premises of Consignment Agent and C&F Agent for the purpose.
Depot includes warehouses, go-downs, storage yards, stock yards etc.
4.8 Equalized transportation cost means average transportation cost incurred during a specified period.
4.9 Equalized freight means average freight.
6. Treatment of cost:
6.1 Inward transportation costs shall form the part of the cost of procurement of materials which are to be
identified for proper allocation/ apportionment to the materials / products.
6.2 Outward transportation cost shall form the part of the cost of sale and shall be allocated / apportioned
to the materials and goods on a suitable basis.
Explanation :
Outward transportation cost of a product from factory to depot or any location of sale shall be included
in the cost of sale of the goods available for sale.
6.3 The following basis may be used, in order of priority, for apportionment of outward transportation cost
depending upon the nature of products, unit of measurement followed and type of transport used :
(i) Weight
(ii) Volume of goods
(iii) Tonne-Km
(iv) Unit / Equivalent unit
(v) Value of goods
(vi) Percentage of usage of space
Once a basis of apportionment is adopted, the same should be followed consistently.
6.4 For determining the transportation cost per unit, distance shall be factored in to arrive at weighted
average cost.
6.5 Abnormal and non recurringcost shall not be a part of transportation cost.
Explanation
Penalty, detention charges, demurrage and cost related to abnormal break down will not be included
in transportation cost.
7. Cost Sheet
The cost sheets shall be prepared and presented in a form as per Appendices 1,2 and 3 or as near thereto.
Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 show the details of information to be maintained for compilation of transport cost
for own fleet and hired transportation charges respectively. Appendix 1 is applicable where the organization
is having its own fleet.
The directly allocable cost of own fleet (outward) shall be identified against different categories of products as
shown in Appendix 3 and same shall be indicated there. Similarly, total common cost of own fleet (outward)
shall be apportioned to different categories of products as shown in Appendix 3 on a basis which should be
specified. The basis of apportionment may be adopted depending on the nature of product as indicated in
para 6.3. Similar approach shall also be applied for hired outward transport charges.
More columns may be required to be shown in Appendix 3 specifying different types of transactions. For
example : Sale on specific rate basis, sale of waste, scrap, return from customer, goods sent for job work,
goods received after job work etc.
Unit of Measurement (UM) may vary depending upon the nature of the product. For example, Number, MT,
Meter, Litre etc.
Proper records shall be maintained to show separately the Transportation Cost relating to sending of jobs to
job contractors/convertors and receipt back of processed jobs/converted materials.
An enterprise shall be required to maintain cost records and other books of account in a manner which would
facilitate preparation and verification of cost of transportation and other related charges and its apportioning
to various products.
8. Transaction value :
‘Transaction value’ shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4 of The Central Excise Act, 1944 or
Section 14 of The Customs Act , 1962 or as defined in any other Act or Regulations as the case may be.
9. The standard will be operative from the date of issue.
Appendix 1
Name of the Manufacturer:
Address of the Manufacturer:
Statement of Operating Cost of own Fleet for the period…….
Sl No
A QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION
A1 Number of Vehicles
A2 Number of trips
A3 Goods Transported – inward (UM)
A4 Goods transported – outward (UM)
A5 Goods transported – inward – Km
A6 Goods transported – outward – Km
A7 Total Goods transported inward – basis of apportionment ( Specify)
A8 Total Goods transported outward – basis of apportionment ( Specify)
A9 Total ( A7+A8)
B COST INFORMATION (`)
Cost of Operation
Variable Cost
B1. Salaries & Wages of Drivers, Cleaners and others
B2. Fuel & Lubricants
B3. Consumables
B4. Amortized cost of Tyre, Tube & Battery
B5. Spares
B6. Repair & Maintenance
B7. Other Variable Cost ( specify)
B8. Total Variable Cost (B1 to B7)
Fixed Cost
B9. Insurance
B10. Licence Fee, Permit Fee and Taxes
B11. Depreciation
B12. Other Fixed Costs ( Specify)
B13. Total Fixed Cost ( B9 to B12)
B14. Total Operating Cost (B8+B13)
C APPORTIONMENT (Basis to be specified) - usage
C1. Inward Transport Cost ( B14 * A7/ A9)
C2. Outward Transport Cost (B14 * A8/A9)
C3. Transit insurance for inward movement
C4. Transit insurance for outward movement
C5. Total transportation cost for inward movement (C1+C3)
C6. Total transportation cost for outward movement (C2+C4)
Note :
1. Cost of Battery, and Tyres and Tubes shall to be amortised over its useful life.
2. Asset Register shall be maintained for determination of depreciation and amortization cost.
3. Separate Cost Sheet shall be prepared for different types of vehicles
Appendix 2
Name of the Manufacturer:
Address of the Manufacturer:
Statement of Hired Outward Transportation Cost for the period ending…….
A Quantitative Information
A1 Quantity of goods transported – outward (UM)
B (COST INFORMATION) (`)
B1 Hired Transport Charges
B2 Transit Insurance
B3 Other ( specify)
B4 Total Transportation cost ( B1 to B3)
Appendix -3
Name of the Manufacturer:
Address of the Manufacturer:
Statement of apportionment of Outward Transportation Cost to different goods and Determination of Averaged
Outward Transport Cost for the period ending…….
A Quantitative Total Excisable goods Specific Goods Exempted Goods Goods Goods Others
Information Rated Cleared Goods Cleared Cleared Cleared
Goods for Export On MRP from from
Basis Factory to Depot to
Customer Customer
Product- Product- Product-
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
A1 Goods
transported
Outwards (UM *)
A2 Goods
Transported
Outward (KM)
B Outward
Transport Cost
(`)
B1 Directly
allocated
own fleet
transportation
cost (`)
B2 Basis of
Apportionment
of own fleet Cost
(Specify)
B3 Common own
fleet transport
cost to be
apportioned
B4 Directly
allocated hired
transportation
charges (`)
B5 Basis of
Apportionment
of hired
transportation
cost (Specify)
B6 Common
hired transport
charges to be
apportioned
B7 Total Transport
Cost (B1+ B3+ B4
+ B6)
B8 Averaged
transport cost
per unit (B7/A1)
(`)
I /We, have verified above data and calculation in the appendix 1, 2 and 3 on test check basis with reference to
the books of account, cost accounting records and other records. Based on the information and explanations
given to me/us, and on the basis of generally accepted cost accounting principles and practices followed by the
industry, I /We certify that the above cost data reflect true and fair view of averaged transport cost.
CAS-6
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON MATERIAL COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD 6 (CAS 6) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “MATERIAL COST”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic
type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with principles and methods of determining the Material Cost.
Material for the purpose of this standard includes raw materials, process materials, additives,
manufactured / bought out components, sub-assemblies, accessories, semi finished goods, consumable
stores, spares and other indirect materials. This standard does not deal with Packing Materials as a
separate standard is being issued on the subject.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
material cost, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in
cost statements.
1.3 The Standard deals with the following issues.
• Principle of Valuation of receipt of materials.
• Principle of Valuation of issue of materials.
• Assignment of material cost to cost objects.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the material cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of material costs including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/
or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted fromCAS-1 Para 6.5.19).
4.2 Administrative overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Defectives: Materials, products or intermediate products that do not meet quality standards. This may
include reworks or rejects.
4.4.1 Reworks: Defectives which can be brought up to the standards by putting in additional resources.
Rework includes repairs, reconditioning and refurbishing.
4.4.2 Rejects: Defectives which cannot meet the quality standards even after putting in additional
resources.
Rejects may be disposed off as waste or sold for salvage value or recycled in the production process.
4.5 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.6 Intermediate Product: An intermediate product is a product that requires further processing before it is
saleable.
4.7 Materials:
4.7.1 Direct Materials: Materials the costs of which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1-6.2.3).
4.7.2 Indirect Materials: Materials, the costs of which cannot be directly attributed to particular cost
object (Adapted from CAS 1– 6.2.8).
4.8 Material Cost: The cost of material used for the purpose of production of a product or rendering a
service.
4.9 Production overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
4.10 Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed off
without further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the process in
place of raw material.
4.11 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions
The standard cost serves as a basis of cost control and as a measure of productive efficiency when
ultimately posed with an actual cost. It provides management with a medium by which the effectiveness
of current results is measured and responsibility for deviation is placed (Adapted from CAS 1_ Para 6.7.5).
Standard costs are used to compare the actual costs with the standard cost with a view to determine
the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper measure to control them.
4.12.1 Waste: Material lost during production or storage and discarded material which may or may not
have any value.
4.12.2 Spoilage: Production that does not meet the quality requirements or specifications and cannot
be rectified economically.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1.1 The material receipt should be valued at purchase price including duties and taxes, freight
inwards, insurance, and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade
discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the taxing authorities) that
can be quantified with reasonable accuracy at the time of acquisition.
Examples of taxes and duties to be deducted from cost are cenvat credits, credit for countervailing
customs duty, sales tax set off/ vat credits and other similar items of credit recovered/ recoverable.
5.1.2 Finance costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of materials shall not form part of
material cost.
5.1.3 Self manufactured materials shall be valued including direct material cost, direct employee cost,
direct expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads relating to production
but excluding share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing overheads.
In case of captive consumption, the valuation shall be in accordance with Cost Accounting
Standard 4.
5.1.4 Spares which are specific to an item of equipment shall not be taken to inventory, but shall
be capitalized with the cost of the specific equipment. Cost of capital spares and/or insurance
spares, whether procured with the equipment or subsequently, shall be amortised over a period,
not exceeding the useful life of the equipment.
5.1.5 Normal loss or spoilage of material prior to reaching the factory or at places where the services
are provided shall be absorbed in the cost of balance materials net of amounts recoverable from
suppliers, insurers, carriers or recoveries from disposal.
5.1.6 Losses due to shrinkage or evaporation and gain due to elongation or absorption of moisture etc.,
before the material is received shall be absorbed in material cost to the extent they are normal,
with corresponding adjustment in the quantity.
The adjustment for moisture will depend on whether dry weight is used for measurement.
5.1.7 The forex component of imported material cost shall be converted at the rate on the date of the
transaction. Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise shall not form
part of the material cost.
Explanation: The date on which a transaction (whether for goods or services) is recognised in
accounting in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
5.1.8 Any demurrage or detention charges, or penalty levied by transport or other authorities shall not
form part of the cost of materials.
5.1.9 Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment received/receivable with respect to any
material shall be reduced from cost for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
5.2.2 Where materials are accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to materials shall be
treated as part of material cost.
5.2.3 Any abnormal cost shall be excluded from the material cost.
5.2.4 Wherever, material costs include transportation costs, determination of costs of transportation
shall be governed by CAS 5 – Cost Accounting Standard on Determination of Average (Equalized)
Cost of Transportation.
5.2.5 Material cost may include imputed costs not considered in financial accounts. Such costs which
are not recognized in financial accounts may be determined by imputing a cost to the usage or
by measuring the benefit from an alternate use of the resource.
5.3 Self manufactured components and sub-assemblies shall be valued including direct material cost,
direct employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, share of administrative overheads relating
to production but excluding share of other administrative overheads, finance cost and marketing
overheads. In case of captive consumption, the valuation shall be in accordance with Cost Accounting
Standard 4.
5.4 The material cost of normal scrap/ defectives which are rejects shall be included in the material cost of
goods manufactured. The material cost of actual scrap / defectives, not exceeding the normal shall be
adjusted in the material cost of good production. Material Cost of abnormal scrap /defectives should
not be included in material cost but treated as loss after giving credit to the realisable value of such
scrap / defectives.
6. Assignment of costs
The basis of assignment of costs to the cost of product or service is dealt within this section.
6.1.1 Assignment of material costs to cost objects: Material costs shall be directly traced to a Cost
object to the extent it is economically feasible and /or shall be assigned to the cost object on
the basis of material quantity consumed or similar identifiable measure and valued as per the
principles laid under Paragraph 5.
6.1.2 Where the material costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, these may be assigned on
a suitable basis like technical estimates.
6.2.1 Where a material is processed or part manufactured by a third party according to specifications
provided by the buyer, the processing/ manufacturing charges payable to the third party shall
be treated as part of the material cost.
6.2.2 Wherever part of the manufacturing operations / activity is subcontracted, the subcontract
charges related to materials shall be treated as direct expenses and assigned directly to the cost
object.
6.3.1 The cost of indirect materials shall be assigned to the various Cost objects based on a suitable
basis such as actual usage or technical norms or a similar identifiable measure.
6.3.2 The cost of materials like catalysts, dies, tools, moulds, patterns etc, which are relatable to
production over a period of time shall be amortized over the production units benefited by such
cost.
6.3.3 The cost of indirect material with life exceeding one year shall be included in cost over the useful
life of the material.
7. Presentation
Cost Statements governed by this standard, shall present material costs as detailed below:
7.1 Direct Materials shall be classified in the cost statement under suitable heads.
E.g.
• Raw materials,
• Components,
• Sub-assemblies
7.2 Direct Materials shall be classified as Purchased - indigenous, imported and self manufactured.
7.3 Indirect Materials shall be classified in the cost statement under suitable heads.
Indirect materials may be grouped under major heads like tools, stores and spares, machineryspares,
jigs and fixtures, consumable stores, etc., if they are significant.
8. Disclosures
The following information should be disclosed in the cost statements dealing with determination of material
cost.
8.1 Quantity and rates of major items of materials shall be disclosed. Major items are defined as those who
form 5% of cost of materials.
8.3 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the determination of the material
cost during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on the cost of the
material shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly, the
fact shall be indicated.
8.4 Any abnormal cost excluded from the material cost shall be disclosed.
8.5 Any demurrage or detention charges, penalty levied by transport or other authorities excluded from the
material cost shall be disclosed.
8.6 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment reduced from material cost shall be disclosed.
8.7 Cost of Materials procured from related parties (Related party as per the applicable legal requirements
relating to the cost statement as on the date of statements)shall be disclosed
8.8 Any cost imputed in arriving at the material cost shall be disclosed.
8.9 Disclosures shall be made only where significant, material and quantifiable.
8.10 Disclosures may be made in the body of the Cost statement or as a footnote or as a separate schedule.
CAS – 7
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON EMPLOYEE COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD 7 (CAS - 7) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “EMPLOYEE COST”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic
type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Employee cost.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
Employee cost, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure
in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Employee cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Employee cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Abnormal Idle time: An unusual or atypical idle time occurrence of which is irregular and unexpected
or due to some abnormal situations.
E.g.: Idle time due to a strike, lockout or an accident
4.3 Administrative overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
4.4 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.5 Direct Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can be attributed to a Cost object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.2.4 (Direct labour cost)).
4.6 Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred
in handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the
ultimate consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer
The cost of any non manufacturing operations such as packing, repacking, labelling, etc. at an
intermediate storage location will be part of distribution cost.
4.7 Employee cost: Benefits paid or payable for the services rendered by employees (including temporary,
part time and contract employees)of an entity.
Explanation:
1. Contract employees include employees directly engaged by the employer on contract basis but
does not include employees of any contractor engaged in the organisation.
2. Compensation paid to employees for the past period on account of any dispute / court orders
shall not form part of Employee Cost.
3. Short provisions of prior period made up in current period shall not form part of the employee cost
in the current period.
Employee cost includes payment made in cash or kind.
For example:
Employee cost
• Salaries, wages, allowances and bonus / incentives.
• Contribution to provident and other funds.
• Employee welfare
• Other benefits
Employee cost – Future benefits
• Gratuity.
• Leave encashment.
• Other retirement/separation benefits.
• VRS/ other deferred Employee cost.
• Other future benefits
Benefits generally include
• Paid holidays.
• Leave with pay.
• Statutory provisions for insurance against accident or health scheme.
• Statutory provisions for workman’s compensation.
• Medical benefits to the Employees and dependents.
• Free or subsidised food.
• Free or subsidised housing.
• Free or subsidised education to children.
• Free or subsidised canteen, crèches and recreational facilities.
• Free or subsidised conveyance.
• Leave travel concession.
• Any other free or subsidised facility.
• Cost of Employees’ stock option.
4.8 Idle time: The difference between the time for which employees are paid /payable to employees and
the employees’ time booked against cost objects.
The time for which the employees are paid includes holidays, paid leave and other allowable time offs
such as lunch, tea breaks.
4.9 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.10 Indirect Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can not be directly attributed to a particular cost object
(Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.2.10).
4.11 Marketing overheads: Marketing overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
4.12 Overtime Premium: The extra amount payable beyond the normal wages and salaries for beyond the
normal working hours.
4.13 Production Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
4.14 Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and
include all indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
4.15 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Employee Cost shall be ascertained taking into account the gross pay including all allowances payable
along with the cost to the employer of all the benefits.
5.2 Bonus whether payable as a Statutory Minimum or on a sharing of surplus shall be treated as part of
employee cost. Ex gratia payable in lieu of or in addition to Bonus shall also be treated as part of the
employee cost.
5.3 Remuneration payable to Managerial Personnel including Executive Directors on the Board and other
officers of a corporate body under a statute will be considered as part of the Employee Cost of the year
under reference whether the whole or part of the remuneration is computed as a percentage of profits.
Explanation: Remuneration paid to non executive directors shall not form part of Employee Cost but
shall form part of Administrative Overheads.
5.4 Separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, termination etc. shall be amortised over
the period benefitting from such costs.
5.5 Employee cost shall not include imputed costs.
5.6 Cost of Idle time is ascertained by the idle hours multiplied by the hourly rate applicable to the idle
employee or a group of employees.
5.7 Where Employee cost is accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons related to
Employee cost shall be treated as part of Employee cost. Variances due to abnormal reasons shall be
treated as part of abnormal cost.
5.8 Any Subsidy, Grant, Incentive or any such payment received or receivable with respect to any Employee
cost shall be reduced for ascertainment of cost of the cost object to which such amounts are related.
5.9 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the Employee cost.
5.10 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Employee
cost.
5.11 The cost of free housing, free conveyance and any other similar benefits provided to an employee shall
be determined at the total cost of all resources consumed in providing such benefits.
5.12 Any recovery from the employee towards any benefit provided e.g. housing shall be reduced from the
employee cost.
5.13 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the determination of the Employee cost should
be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements
of an enterprise.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Where the Employee services are traceable to a cost object, such Employees’ cost shall be assigned
to the cost object on the basis such as time consumed or number of employees engaged etc or similar
identifiable measure.
6.2 While determining whether a particular Employee cost is chargeable to a separate cost object, the
principle of materiality shall be adhered to.
6.3 Where the Employee costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, these may be assigned on
suitable basis like estimates of time based on time study.
6.4 The amortised separation costs related to voluntary retirement, retrenchment, and termination etc. for
the period shall be treated as indirect cost and assigned to the cost objects in an appropriate manner.
However unamortised amount related to discontinued operations, shall not be treated as employee
cost.
6.5 Recruitment costs, training cost and other such costs shall be treated as overheads and dealt with
accordingly.
6.6 Overtime premium shall be assigned directly to the cost object or treated as overheads depending on
the economic feasibility and the specific circumstance requiring such overtime.
6.7 Idle time cost shall be assigned direct to the cost object or treated as overheads depending on the
economic feasibility and the specific circumstances causing such idle time.
Cost of idle time for reasons anticipated like normal lunchtime, holidays etc is normally loaded in the
Employee cost while arriving at the cost per hour of an Employee/a group of Employees whose time is
attributed direct to cost objects.
7. Presentation
7.1 Direct Employee costs shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
7.2 Indirect Employee costs shall be presented in cost statements as a part of overheads relating to
respective functions e.g. manufacturing, administration, marketing etc.
7.3 The cost statement shall furnish the resources consumed on account of Employee cost, category
wise such as wages salaries to permanent, temporary, part time and contract employees piece rate
payments, overtime payments, Employee benefits (category wise)etc. wherever such items form a
material part of the total Employee cost.
8. Disclosures
CAS-8
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON COST OF UTILITIES
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 8 (CAS-8) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “COST OF UTILITIES”, for comments. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set
in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the cost of utilities.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
cost of utilities, for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure
in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the cost of utilities with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
3.1 This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of cost of utilities including those requiring attestation.
3.2 For determining the cost of production to arrive at an assessable value of excisable utilities used for
captive consumption, Cost Accounting Standard 4 on Cost of Production for Captive Consumption
(CAS 4) shall apply.
3.3 This standard shall not be applicable to the organizations primarily engaged in generation and sale of
utilities.
3.4 This standard does not cover issues related to the ascertainment and treatment of carbon credits, which
shall be dealt with in a separate standard.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Committed Cost: The cost of maintaining stand-by utilities shall be the committed cost.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.5 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings
to the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs(Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.6 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance ( Adapted from CAS 2 paragraph 4.4).
In case of any standby utility the normal capacity will be the same as actual production of the utility.
The normal capacity of a utility meant for captive consumption would be based on the normal capacity
for the production facility of the end product of the consuming unit.
4.7 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
4.8 Stand-by utilities: Any utility created as backup against any failure of the main source of utilities.
4.9 Utilities: Significant inputs such as power, steam, water, compressed air and the like which are used for
manufacturing process but do not form part of the final product.
5. Principles of measurement
5.1 Each type of utility shall be treated as a distinct cost object.
5.2 Cost of utilities purchased shall be measured at cost of purchase including duties and taxes,
transportation cost, insurance and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of trade
discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be credited) that can be quantified with reasonable
accuracy at the time of acquisition.
5.3.1 Cost of self generated utilities for own consumption shall comprise direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses and factory overheads.
5.3.2 In case of Utilities generated for the purpose of inter unit transfers, the distribution cost incurred for
such transfers shall be added to the cost of utilities determined as per paragraph 5.3.1.
5.3.3 Cost of Utilities generated for the inter company transfers shall comprise direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost and share of administrative
overheads.
5.3.4 Cost of Utilities generated for the sale to outside parties shall comprise direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads, distribution cost, share of administrative
overheads and marketing overheads.
The sale value of such utilities will also include the margin.
5.4 Finance costs incurred in connection with the utilities shall not form part of cost of utilities.
5.5 The cost of utilities shall include the cost of distribution of such utilities.
The cost of distribution will consist of the cost of delivery of utilities up to the point of consumption.
5.6 Cost of utilities shall not include imputed costs.
5.7 Where cost of utilities is accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to utilities shall be
treated as part of cost of utilities and the portion of usage variances due to normal reasons shall be
treated as part of cost of utilities. Usage variances due to abnormal reasons shall be treated as part of
abnormal cost.
5.8 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable with respect to any cost of
utilities shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
5.9 The cost of production and distribution of utilities shall be determined based on the normal capacity or
actual capacity utilization whichever is higher and unabsorbed cost, if any, shall be treated as abnormal
cost (Adapted from paragraph 5.7 of CAS 3). Cost of a Stand-by Utility shall include the committed costs
of maintaining such a utility.
5.10 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the cost of utilities.
5.11 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the cost of
utilities.
5.12 Credits/recoveries relating to the utilities including cost of utilities provided to outside parties, material
and quantifiable, shall be deducted from the total cost of utility to arrive at the net cost of utility.
5.13 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the cost of utilities should
be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements
of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 While assigning cost of utilities, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall be
the guiding principle.
6.2 Where the cost of utilities is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned on the most
appropriate basis.
6.3 The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a utility to the departments consuming services is to
be derived from usage parameters.
7. Presentation
7.1 Utilities costs shall be presented as a separate cost head for each type of utility in the cost statement, if
material.
7.2 Where separate cost statements are prepared for utilities, cost of utilities shall be classified as purchased
or generated. Such statement shall also include cost of utilities consumed along with quantitative
information by individual consuming units, inter unit transfers, inter company transfers and sale to outside
parties wherever applicable.
8. Disclosures
8.1 The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of distribution of Cost of Utility to the consuming centres.
2. The cost of purchase, production, distribution, marketing and price with reference to sales to
outside parties.
3. Where cost of utilities is disclosed at standard cost, the price and usage variances.
4. The cost and price of Utility received from/supplied to related parties (Related party as per the
applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
5. The cost and price of Utility received from/supplied as inter unit transfers and intercompany
transfers
6. Cost of utilities incurred in foreign exchange.
7. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Cost of utilities.
8. Credits/recoveries relating to the Cost of utilities.
9. Any abnormal cost excluded from Cost of utilities.
10. Penalties and damages paid etc excluded from cost of utilities.
8.2 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment of
the Cost of utilities during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on the Cost
of utilities. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
CAS 9
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON PACKING MATERIAL COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD - (CAS - 9) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “PACKING MATERIAL COST”, for comments. In this Standard, the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has
been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Packing Material Cost.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
Packing Material Cost, for determination of the cost of product, and the presentation and disclosure in
cost statements.
1.3 Packing Materials for the purpose of this standard are classified into primary and secondary packing
materials.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the packing material cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Packing Material Cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/
or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 Para 6.5.19).
For example: the cost of packing material which is rejected after issue due to abnormal causes such
as misprinting, use of material of wrong specification etc. (net of realisable value) may be treated as
abnormal cost.
4.2 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity. Administrative overheads shall exclude any overhead relating to production, operations and
marketing.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Direct Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 7 Para 4.6).
4.5 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can be
identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material or direct employee cost (Adapted
from CAS 1 Para 6.2.6 and also proposed in the CAS on Direct Expenses). Examples of Direct Expenses
are royalties charged on production, job charges, hire charges for use of specific equipment for a
specific job, cost of special designs or drawings for a job, software services specifically required for a
job, travelling Expenses for a specific job.
4.6 Direct Materials: Materials, the costs of which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way.
4.7 Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred
in handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the
ultimate consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
For example:
• Secondary packing
• Transportation cost
• Warehousing cost
• Cost of delivering the products to customers etc.
• Clearing and forwarding charges
• Cost of mending or replacing packing materials at distribution point.
4.8 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.9 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.10 Marketing overheads: Marketing Overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
4.11 Packing Materials: Materials used to hold, identify, describe, store, protect, display, transport, promote
and make the product marketable.
4.11.1 Defectives: Materials, products or intermediate products that do not meet quality standards.
This may include reworks or rejects.
4.11.1.1 Reworks: Defectives which can be brought up to the standards by putting in additional
resources (Adapted from CAS 6 Para 4.4.1).
4.11.1.2 Rejects: Defectives which can not meet the quality standards even after putting in additional
resources (Adapted from CAS 6 Para 4.4.2).
Rejects may be disposed off as waste or sold for salvage value or recycled in the production
process.
4.11.2 Packing Material Cost: The cost of material of any nature used for the purpose of packing of a
product.
4.11.3 Primary Packing Material: Packing material which is essential to hold and preserve the product
for its use by the customer.
For example:
• Pharmaceutical industry: Insertions related to product, Foils for strips of tablets/capsules, vials.
• Industrial gases: Cylinders / bottles used for filling the gaseous products
• Confectionary Industry: Butter paper and wrappers.
4.11.4 Reusable Packing Material: Packing materials that are used more than once to pack the
product.
4.11.5 Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed
off without further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the
process in place of raw material.
4.11.6 Secondary Packing Material: Packing material that enables to store, transport, inform the
customer, promote and otherwise make the product marketable.
For example:
• Pharmaceutical industry: Cartons used for holding strips of tablets and card board boxes
used for holding cartons.
• Textile industry: Card board boxes used for holding cones on which yarn is woven.
• Confectionary Industry: Jars for holding wrapped chocolates, Cartons containing packs of
biscuits.
4.12 Packing Material Development Cost: Cost of evaluation of packing material such as pilot test, field test,
consumer research, feed back, and final evaluation cost.
4.13 Production overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably. Production overheads shall include
administration cost relating to production, factory, works or manufacturing.
4.14 Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and
include all indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
4.15 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Principle of valuation of receipts of packing material:
5.1.1 The packing material receipts should be valued at purchase price including duties and taxes,
freight inwards, insurance, and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement (net of
trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be credited) that can be quantified at
the time of acquisition.
Examples of taxes and duties to be deducted from cost are CENVAT credits, credit for
countervailing customs duty, sales tax set off/ vat credits and other similar items of credit
recovered/ recoverable.
5.1.2 Finance costs directly incurred in connection with the acquisition of Packing Material shall not
form part of Packing Material Cost.
5.1.3 Self manufactured packing materials shall be valued including direct material cost, direct
employee cost, direct expenses, job charges, factory overheads including share of administrative
overheads comprising factory management and administration and share of research and
development cost incurred for development and improvement of existing process or product.
5.1.4 The valuation of captive consumption of packing materials shall be in accordance with paragraph
5 of Cost Accounting Standard 4.
5.1.5 Normal loss or spoilage of packing material prior to receipt in the factory shall be absorbed in
the cost of balance materials net of amounts recoverable from suppliers, insurers, carriers or
recoveries from disposal.
5.1.6 The forex component of imported packing material cost shall be converted at the rate on the
date of the transaction. Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise
shall not form part of the packing material cost.
Explanation: The date on which a transaction (whether for goods or services) is recognised in
accounting in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
5.1.7 Any demurrage, detention charges or penalty levied by the transport agency or any authority
shall not form part of the cost of packing materials.
5.1.8 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable with respect to packing
material shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
For example: First In First Out, Last In First Out, Weighted Average Rate.
5.3 Wherever, packing material costs include transportation costs, determination of costs of transportation
shall be governed by CAS 5 – Cost Accounting Standard on determination of average (equalized) cost
of transportation.
5.4 Packing Material Costs shall not include imputed costs. However in case of Cost of Production of
Excisable Goods for Captive Consumption the computation of cost shall be as per CAS 4.
5.5 Where packing materials are accounted at standard cost, the price variances related to such materials
shall be treated as part of packing material cost and the portion of usage variances due to normal
reasons shall be treated as part of packing material cost. Usage variances due to abnormal reasons
shall be treated as part of abnormal cost.
5.6 The normal loss arising from the issue or consumption of packing materials shall be included in the
packing materials cost.
5.7 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall be excluded from the packing material
cost.
5.8 The credits/recoveries in the nature of normal scrap arising from packing materials if any, should be
deducted from the total cost of packing materials to arrive at the net cost of packing materials.
6. Assignment of Cost
6.1 Assignment of packing material costs to cost objects: Packing material costs shall be directly traced to
a cost object to the extent it is economically feasible.
6.2 Where the packing material costs are not directly traceable to the cost object, these may be assigned
on the basis of quantity consumed or similar measures like technical estimates.
6.3 The packing material cost of reusable packing shall be assigned to the cost object taking into account
the number of times or the period over which it is expected to be reused.
6.4 Cost of primary packing materials shall form part of the cost of production.
6.5 Cost of secondary packing materials shall form part of distribution overheads.
7. Presentation
7.1 Packing Materials shall be classified as primary and secondary and within this classification as purchased
– indigenous, imported and self manufactured.
7.2 Where separate cost statements are prepared for packing costs, the cost of packing materials consumed
shall be presented in terms of type of packing in which the materials are used (For example; Bale, Bag,
Carton, Pallet). Such statements shall also include cost and quantitative information, wherever it is found
material and quantifiable.
8. Disclosures
2. Where Packing Materials Cost is disclosed at standard cost, the price and usage variances.
3. The cost and price of Packing Materials received from/supplied to related parties (Related party
as per the applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the
statement).
5. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Packing Materials Costs.
8. Penalties and damages paid etc. excluded from Packing Materials Costs.
8.2 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Packing Materials Costs during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the Packing Materials Cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is
not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
CAS-10
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON DIRECT EXPENSES
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 10 (CAS-10) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “DIRECT EXPENSES”, for comments. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set
in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Direct Expenses.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
Direct Expenses, for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure
in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Direct Expenses with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Direct Expenses including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.3 Direct Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can be directly attributed to a cost object in an
economically feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.2.4 (Direct labour cost)).
4.4 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can
be identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material cost and direct employee cost
(Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph 6.2.6).
Examples of Direct Expenses are royalties charged on production, job charges, hire charges for use of
specific equipment for a specific job, cost of special designs or drawings for a job, software services
specifically required for a job, travelling Expenses for a specific job.
4.5 Direct Material Cost: The cost of material which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1-6.2.3).
4.6 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.7 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.8 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
4.9 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Identification of Direct Expenses shall be based on traceability in an economically feasible manner.
5.2.1 Direct expenses incurred for the use of bought out resources shall be determined at invoice or
agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net
of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
5.2.2 Direct expenses other than those referred to in paragraph 5.2.1 shall be determined on the basis
of amount incurred in connection therewith.
Examples: in case of dies and tools produced internally, the cost of such dies and tools will
include direct material cost, direct employee cost, direct expenses, factory overheads including
share of administrative overheads relating to production comprising factory management and
administration.
In the case of research and development cost, the amount traceable to the cost object for
development and improvement of the process for the existing product shall be included in Direct
Expenses.
5.2.3 Direct Expenses paid or incurred in lump-sum or which are in the nature of ‘one – time’ payment,
shall be amortised on the basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from such direct
expenses.
Examples: Royalty or Technical know-how fees, or drawing designing fees, are paid for which the benefit
is ensued in the future period. In such case, the production / service volumes shall be estimated for the
effective period and based on volume achieved during the Cost Accounting period, the charge for
amortisation be determined.
5.3 If an item of Direct Expenses does not meet the test of materiality, it can be treated as part of overheads.
5.4 Finance costs incurred in connection with the self generated or procured resources shall not form part
of Direct Expenses.
5.5 Direct Expenses shall not include imputed costs. In case of goods produced for captive consumption,
treatment of imputed cost shall be in accordance with Cost Accounting Standard – 4 (CAS-4).
5.6 Where direct expenses are accounted at standard cost, variances due to normal reasons shall be
treated as part of the Direct Expenses. Variances due to abnormal reasons shall not form part of the
Direct Expenses.
5.7 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable with respect to any Direct
Expenses shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts are
related.
5.8 Any abnormal portion of the direct expenses where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of
the Direct Expenses.
5.9 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Direct
Expenses.
5.10 Credits/ recoveries relating to the Direct Expenses, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to
arrive at the net Direct Expenses.
5.11 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Direct Expenses
should be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements
of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Direct Expenses that are directly traceable to the cost object shall be assigned to that cost object.
7. Presentation
7.1 Direct Expenses, if material, shall be presented as a separate cost head with suitable classification. e.g.
• Subcontract charges
• Royalty on production
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of Direct Expenses to the cost objects/ cost units.
3. Where Direct Expenses are accounted at standard cost, the price and usage variances.
4. Direct expenses representing procurement of resources and expenses incurred in connection with
resources generated.
5. Direct Expenses paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the applicable legal
requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
7. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Direct Expenses.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment
of the Direct Expenses during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on
the Direct Expenses. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall
be indicated.
CAS - 11
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – (CAS-11) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set
in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the administrative overheads.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
administrative overheads, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation and
disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the administrative overheads with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of administrative overheads including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/
or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 Para 6.5.19).
4.2 Absorption of overheads: Assigning of overheads to cost objects by means of appropriate absorption
rate.
Overhead Absorption Rate = Overheads of the Cost object / Quantum of base.
4.3 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
Administrative overheads shall exclude production overheads (Paragraph reference 4.13 CAS -9),
marketing overheads (Paragraph reference 4.11 CAS -7) and finance cost. Production overheads
includes administration cost relating to production, factory, works or manufacturing.
4.4 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.5 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.6 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.7 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance (Adapted from CAS 2 Para 4.4).
4.8 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Administrative overheads shall be the aggregate of cost of resources consumed in activities relating to
general management and administration of an organisation.
It usually represents the cost of shared services, cost of infrastructure and general management costs.
Administrative overheads comprise items such as employee costs, utilities, office supplies, legal expenses
and outside services. The principles of measurement of Material Cost, Employee Costs, Utilities, Repairs
and Maintenance and Depreciation found in the respective standards will apply to these elements
included in administrative overheads.
5.2 In case of leased assets, if the lease is an operating lease, the entire rentals shall be included in the
administrative overheads. If the lease is a financial lease, the finance cost portion shall be segregated
and treated as part of finance costs.
5.3 The cost of software (developed in house, purchased, licensed or customized), including up-gradation
cost shall be amortised over its estimated useful life.
When hardware requires up-gradation along with software up-gradation, it is recommended that
compatible estimated lives be used for the two sets of cost.
5.4 The cost of administrative services procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or agreed
price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts
(other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited.
5.5 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any amount of similar nature received/receivable with respect to any
Administrative overheads shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which
such amounts are related.
5.6 Administrative overheads shall not include any abnormal administrative cost.
5.7 Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not
form part of the administrative overheads.
5.8 Credits/ recoveries relating to the administrative overheads including those rendered without any
consideration, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net administrative overheads.
5.9 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the administrative
overheads should be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an organisation.
6. Assignment of Cost
6.1 While assigning administrative overheads, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible
manner shall be the guiding principle.
6.2 Assignment of administrative overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following two
principles;
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to
the benefits received by them (Adapted from of CAS 3 Para 5.1).
The costs of shared services should be assigned to user activities on the basis of actual usage.
Where the resources by way of infrastructure are shared the cost should be assigned on a readiness to
serve basis.
7. Presentation
7.1 Administrative overheads shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
7.2 Element wise details of the administrative overheads based on materiality shall be presented.
8. Disclosures
• Cost of administrative activities received from or supplied to related parties (Related party as per
the applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
• Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any amount of similar nature received / receivable reduced from
administrative overheads.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the administrative overheads during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the administrative overheads shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change
is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS – 12
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 12 (CAS - 12) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE COST”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been
set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set
in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the repairs and maintenance cost.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
repairs and maintenance cost, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation
and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the repairs and maintenance cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of repairs and maintenance cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.2 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can be
identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material cost and direct employee cost.
Examples of Direct Expenses are royalties charged on production, job charges, hire charges for use of
specific equipment for a specific job, cost of special designs or drawings for a job, software services
specifically required for a job, travelling Expenses for a specific job.
4.3 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.4 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.5 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance (Adapted from CAS 2 paragraph 4.4).
4.6 Production overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
Production overheads shall include administration cost relating to production, factory, works or
manufacturing.
4.7 Repairs and maintenance cost: Cost of all activities which have the objective of maintaining or restoring
an asset in or to a state in which it can perform its required function at intended capacity and efficiency.
Repairs and Maintenance activities for the purpose of this standard include routine or preventive
maintenance, planned (predictive or corrective) maintenance and breakdown maintenance.
The repair or overhaul of an asset which results in restoration of the asset to intended condition would
also be a part of Repairs and Maintenance activity.
Major overhaul is a periodic (generally more than one year) repair work carried out to substantially
restore the asset to intended working condition.
4.8 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Repairs and maintenance cost shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to repairs and
maintenance activity.
Direct cost includes the cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage,
utilities and other identifiable resources consumed in such activity. Indirect cost includes the cost of
resources common to various repairs and maintenance activities such as manpower, equipment usage
and other costs allocable to such activities.
5.2 Cost of in-house repairs and maintenance activity shall include cost of materials, consumable stores,
spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such activity.
5.3 Cost of repairs and maintenance activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity shall include
charges payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower,
equipment usage, utilities, and other costs incurred by the entity for such jobs.
5.4 Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by contractor at its premises shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto
net of discounts (other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost shall
also include the cost of other resources provided to the contractors.
5.5 Cost of repairs and maintenance jobs carried out by outside contractors shall include charges made
by the contractor and cost of own materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage,
utilities and other costs used in such jobs.
5.6.1 Each type of repairs and maintenance shall be treated as a distinct activity, if material and
identifiable.
For example, routine or preventive maintenance, planned (predictive or corrective) maintenance
and breakdown maintenance should be identified separately.
5.6.2 Cost of repairs and maintenance activity shall be measured for each major asset category
separately.
5.7 Cost of spares replaced which do not enhance the future economic benefits from the existing
asset beyond its previously assessed standard of performance shall be included under repairs and
maintenance cost.
5.8 High value spare, when replaced by a new spare and is reconditioned, which is expected to result in
future economic benefits, the same shall be taken into stock.
Such a spare shall be valued at an amount that measures its service potential in relation to a new spare
which amount shall not exceed the cost of reconditioning the spare. The difference between the total of
the cost of the new spare and the reconditioning cost and the value of the reconditioned spare should
be treated as repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: The cost of new spare is ` 1 crore and the value of the existing spare after reconditioning is estimated
at ` 20 lacs, the difference of ` 80 lacs should be treated as repairs and maintenance cost.
5.9 The cost of major overhaul shall be amortized on a rational basis.
5.10 Finance costs incurred in connection with the repairs and maintenance activities shall not form part of
Repairs and maintenance costs.
5.11 Repairs and maintenance costs shall not include imputed costs.
5.12 Price variances related to repairs and maintenance, where standard costs are in use, shall be treated
as part of repairs and maintenance cost. The portion of usage variances attributable to normal reasons
shall be treated as part of repairs and maintenance cost. Usage variances attributable to abnormal
reasons shall be excluded from repairs and maintenance cost.
5.13 Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or amount of similar nature received / receivable with respect to repairs and
maintenance activity, if any, shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which
such amounts are related.
5.14 Any repairs and maintenance cost resulting from some abnormal circumstances, if material and
quantifiable, shall not form part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: Major fire, explosions, flood and similar events are abnormal circumstances referred above.
5.15 Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not
form part of the repairs and maintenance cost.
Example: A penalty imposed by a regulatory authority for wrongful construction or damages paid to
third party for the loss caused due to improper working of property, plant & equipment, should not be
included in repairs and maintenance cost.
5.16 Credits/ recoveries relating to the repairs and maintenance activity, material and quantifiable, shall be
deducted to arrive at the net repairs and maintenance cost.
5.17 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the repairs and
maintenance cost should be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of
a cost accounting standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation
of cost statements of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Repairs and maintenance costs shall be traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
6.2 Where the repairs and maintenance cost is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned
based on either of the following two principles;
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to
the benefits received by them.
6.3 If the repairs and maintenance cost (including the share of the cost of reciprocal exchange of services)
is shared by several cost objects, the related cost shall be measured as an aggregate and distributed
among the cost objects as per principles laid down in Cost Accounting Standard – 3.
7. Presentation
7.1 Repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of
cost.
7.2 Asset category wise details of repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented separately.
7.3 Activity wise details of repairs and maintenance cost, if material, shall be presented separately.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of repairs and maintenance cost to the cost objects/ cost units.
2. Where standard cost is applied in repairs and maintenance cost, the price and usage variances.
3. Repairs and maintenance cost of Jobs done in-house and outsourced separately.
4. Cost of major overhauls, asset category wise and the basis of amortisation.
5. Repairs and maintenance cost paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the applicable
legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
7. Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any amount of similar nature received / receivable reduced
from repairs and maintenance cost.
10. Penalties and damages excluded from the repairs and maintenance cost.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the repairs and maintenance cost during the period covered by the cost statement which
has a material effect on the repairs and maintenance cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such
change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS – 13
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON COST OF SERVICE COST CENTRE
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 13 (CAS - 13) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “Cost of Service Cost Centre”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in
bold italic type. These are to be read in the context of the background material which has been set in normal
type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the cost of Service Cost Centre.
1.2 This standard covers the Service Cost Centre as defined in paragraph 4.11 of this standard. It excludes
Utilities and Repairs & Maintenance Services dealt with in CAS-8 and CAS-12 respectively.
1.3 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
Cost of Service Cost Centre, for determination of the Cost of product or service, and the presentation
and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Cost of Service Cost Centre with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to the preparation and presentation of cost statements, which require
classification, measurement and assignment of Cost of Service Cost Centre, including those requiring
attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an entity.
Administrative overheads shall exclude production overheads (Paragraph reference 4.13 CAS -9),
marketing overheads (Paragraph reference 4.11 CAS -7)and finance cost. Production overheads
includes administration cost relating to production, factory, works or manufacturing.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Distribution Overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred
in handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the
ultimate consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
The cost of any non manufacturing operations such as packing, repacking, labelling, etc. at an
intermediate storage location will be part of distribution cost.
4.5 Imputed Cost: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.6 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.7 Marketing overheads: Marketing overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
4.8 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance (Adapted from CAS 2 paragraph 4.4).
4.9 Production Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
4.10 Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and
include all indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
4.11 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
4.12 Stand-by service: Any facility created as backup against any failure of the main source of service.
4.13 Support-Service Cost Centre: The cost centre which primarily provides auxiliary services across the
entity.
The cost centre which provides services to Production, Operation or other Service Cost Centre but not
directly engaged in manufacturing process or operation is a service cost centre. A service cost centre
renders services to other cost centres / other units and in some cases to outside parties.
Examples of service cost centres are engineering, workshop, research & development, quality control,
quality assurance, designing, laboratory, welfare services, safety, transport, Component, Tool stores,
Pollution Control, Computer Cell, dispensary, school, crèche, township, Security etc.
Administrative Overheads include cost of administrative Service Cost Centre.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Each identifiable service cost centre shall be treated as a distinct cost object for measurement of the
cost of services subject to the principle of materiality.
5.2.1 Cost of service cost centre shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost attributable to
services being rendered by such cost centre.
5.2.2 Cost of in-house services shall include cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower,
equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such service.
Cost of other resources includes related overheads.
5.2.3 Cost of services rendered by contractors within the facilities of the entity shall include charges
payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower,
equipment usage, utilities, and other resources provided to the contractors for such services.
5.2.4 Cost of services rendered by contractors at their premises shall be determined at invoice or
agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net
of discounts (other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost
shall also include the cost of resources provided to the contractors.
5.2.5 Cost of services for the purpose of inter unit transfers shall also include distribution costs incurred
for such transfers.
5.2.6 Cost of services for the purpose of inter-company transfers shall also include distribution cost
incurred for such transfers and administrative overheads.
5.2.7 Cost of services rendered to outside parties shall also include distribution cost incurred for such
transfers, administrative overheads and marketing overheads.
5.3 Finance costs incurred in connection with the Service Cost Centre shall not form part of the cost of
Service Cost Centre.
5.4 The cost of service cost centre shall not include imputed costs.
5.5 Where the cost of service cost centre is accounted at standard cost, the price and usage variances
related to the services cost Centre shall be treated as part of cost of services. Usage variances due to
abnormal reasons shall be treated as part of abnormal cost.
5.6 Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any such payment received / receivable with respect to any service
cost centre shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
5.7 The cost of production and distribution of the service shall be determined based on the normal capacity
or actual capacity utilization whichever is higher and unabsorbed cost, if any, shall be treated as
abnormal cost (Adapted from Paragraph 5.7 of CAS 3). Cost of a Stand-by service shall include the
committed costs of maintaining such a facility for the service.
5.8 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the cost of the service cost
centre.
5.9 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the cost of the
service cost centre.
5.10 Credits/recoveries relating to the service cost centre including charges for services rendered to outside
parties, material and quantifiable, shall be reduced from the total cost of that service cost centre.
5.11 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the cost of Service Cost
Centre shall be made, only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an enterprise.
6. Assignment of Cost
6.1 While assigning cost of services, traceability to a cost object in an economically feasible manner shall
be the guiding principle.
6.2 Where the cost of services rendered by a service cost centre is not directly traceable to a cost object,
it shall be assigned on the most appropriate basis.
6.3 The most appropriate basis of distribution of cost of a service cost centre to the cost centres consuming
services is to be derived from logical parameters which could be related to the usage of the service
rendered. The parameter shall be equitable, reasonable and consistent.
7. Presentation
7.1 Cost of service cost centre shall be presented as a separate cost head for each type of service in the
cost statement, if material.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of cost of each service cost centre to the consuming centres.
2. The cost of purchase, production, distribution, marketing and price of services with reference to
sales to outside parties
3. Where the cost of service cost centre is disclosed at standard cost, the price and usage variances
4. The cost of services received from / rendered to related parties (Related party as per the applicable
legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
6. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from cost of Service Cost Centre.
9. Penalties and damages paid excluded from cost of Service Cost Centre.
8.2 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the cost of service cost centre during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the cost of service cost centre shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change
is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be disclosed.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule
prominently.
CAS - 14
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON POLLUTION CONTROL COST
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard - 14 (CAS - 14) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “POLLUTION CONTROL COST”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in
bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material, which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with principles and methods of determining the Pollution control costs.
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
pollution control costs, for determination of Cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in
cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Pollution Control Costs with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should to be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Pollution Control Costs including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Air pollutant: Air Pollutant means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including noise) present in
the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other
living creatures or plants or property or environment (Section 2 (a) of The Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981).
4.2 Air Pollution: Air pollution means the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant (Section 2 (b) of
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981).
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service,which can
be identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material cost and direct employee cost
(Adapted from Paragraph 4.4 of CAS - 10).
4.5 Environment: Environment includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among
and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and
property (Section 2 (a) of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986).
4.6 Environmental Pollutant: Environmental Pollutant means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in
such concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment (Section 2 (b) of The Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986).
4.7 Environment Pollution: Environmental pollution means the presence in the environment of any
environmental pollutant (Section 2 (c) of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986).
4.8 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.9 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.10 Normal capacity: Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a
number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity
resulting from planned maintenance (Adapted from CAS 2 paragraph 4.4).
4.11 Pollution Control: Pollution Control means the control of emissions and effluents into environment. It
constitutes the use of materials, processes, or practices to reduce, minimize, or eliminate the creation of
pollutants or wastes. It includes practices that reduce the use of toxic or hazardous materials, energy,
water, and / or other resources.
4.12 Production overheads: Indirect costs involved in the production of a product or in rendering service.
The terms Production Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Manufacturing Overheads
denote the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
Production overheads shall include administration cost relating to production, factory, works or
manufacturing.
4.13 Soil Pollutant: Soil Pollutant is a substance which is the source of soil contamination.
4.14 Soil Pollution: Soil pollution means the presence of any soil pollutant(s) in the soil which is harmful to the
living beings when it crosses its threshold concentration level.
4.15 Standard Cost: A predetermined cost of a product or service based on technical specifications and
efficient operating conditions.
Standard costs are used as scale of reference to compare the actual costs with the standard cost
with a view to determine the variances, if any, and analyse the causes of variances and take proper
measure to control them. Standard costs are also used for estimation.
4.16 Water pollution: Water pollution means such contamination of water or such alteration of the physical,
chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or trade effluent or of any
other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water (whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to,
create a nuisance or render such water harmful or injurious to public health or safety, or to domestic,
commercial, industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses, or to the life and health of animals or plants
or of aquatic organisms (Section 2 (e) of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974).
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Pollution Control costs shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to Pollution Control
activity.
Direct cost includes the cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage,
utilities, resources for testing & certification and other identifiable resources consumed in activities such
as waste processing, disposal, remediation and others.
Indirect cost includes the cost of resources common to various Pollution Control activities such as
Pollution Control Registration and such like expenses.
5.2 Costs of Pollution Control which are internal to the entity should be accounted for when incurred. They
should be measured at the historical cost of resources consumed.
5.3 Future remediation or disposal costs which are expected to be incurred with reasonable certainty as part
of Onerous Contract or Constructive Obligation, legally enforceable shall be estimated and accounted
based on the quantum of pollution generated in each period and the associated cost of remediation or
disposal in future.
For example future disposal costs of solid waste generated during the current period should be estimated
on, say, a per tonne basis.
5.4 Contingent future remediation or disposal costs e.g. those likely to arise on account of future legislative
changes on pollution control shall not be treated as cost until the incidence of such costs become
reasonably certain and can be measured.
External costs of pollution which are generally the costs imposed on external parties including social
costs are difficult to estimate with reasonable accuracy and are excluded from general purpose cost
statements.
Social costs of pollution are measured by economic models of cost measurement. The cost by way of
compensation by the polluting entity either under future legislation or under social pressure cannot be
quantified by traditional models of cost measurement. They are best kept out of general purpose cost
statements.
5.5 Cost of in-house Pollution Control activity shall include cost of materials, consumable stores, spares,
manpower, equipment usage, utilities, and other resources used in such activity.
5.6 Cost of Pollution Control activity carried out by outside contractors inside the entity shall include charges
payable to the contractor and cost of materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment
usage, utilities, and other costs incurred by the entity for such jobs.
5.7 Cost of Pollution Control jobs carried out by contractor at its premises shall be determined at invoice
or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of
discounts (other than cash discount), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited. This cost shall also
include the cost of other resources provided to the contractors.
5.8 Cost of Pollution Control jobs carried out by outside contractors shall include charges made by the
contractor and cost of own materials, consumable stores, spares, manpower, equipment usage, utilities
and other costs used in such jobs.
5.9 Each type of Pollution Control e.g. water, air, soil pollution shall be treated as a distinct activity, if material
and identifiable.
5.10 Finance costs incurred in connection with the Pollution Control activities shall not form part of Pollution
Control costs.
5.12 Price variances related to Pollution Control, where standard costs are in use, shall be treated as part of
Pollution Control cost. The portion of usage variances attributable to normal reasons shall be treated as
part of Pollution Control cost. Usage variances attributable to abnormal reasons shall be excluded from
Pollution Control cost.
5.13 Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or amount of similar nature received / receivable with respect to Pollution
Control activity, if any, shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such
amounts are related.
5.14 Any Pollution Control cost resulting from abnormal circumstances, if material and quantifiable, shall not
form part of the Pollution Control cost.
5.15 Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not
form part of the Pollution Control cost.
5.16 Credits / recoveries relating to the Pollution Control activity, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted
to arrive at the net Pollution Control cost.
5.17 Research and development cost to develop new process, new products or use of new materials to
avoid or mitigate pollution shall be treated as research and development costs and not included under
pollution control costs. Development costs incurred for commercial development of such product,
process or material shall be included in pollution control costs.
5.18 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Pollution Control
cost should be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Pollution Control costs shall be traced to a cost object to the extent economically feasible.
Direct costs of pollution control such as treatment and disposal of waste shall be assigned directly to the
product, where traceable economically.
Where these costs are not directly traceable to the product but are traceable to a process which
causes pollution, the costs shall be assigned to the products passing through the process based on the
quantity of the pollutant generated by the product.
6.2 Where the Pollution Control cost is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be treated as overhead
and assigned based on either of the following two principles;
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to
the benefits received by them.
Typical of such costs are costs such as administration costs relating to pollution control activities, costs of
certification such as ISO 14000 and registration fees payable to pollution control authorities
6.3 If the Pollution Control cost (including the share of the cost of reciprocal exchange of services) is shared
by several cost objects, the related cost shall be measured as an aggregate and distributed among the
cost objects as per principles laid down in Cost Accounting Standard – 3.
7. Presentation
7.1 Pollution Control cost, if material, shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of cost.
7.3 Activity wise details of Pollution Control cost, if material, shall be presented separately.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of Pollution Control cost to the cost objects/ cost units.
2. Where standard cost is applied in Pollution Control cost, the price and usage variances.
4. Pollution Control cost paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the applicable legal
requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement)
6. Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any amount of similar nature received / receivable reduced
from Pollution Control cost.
10. Related party as per the applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the
date of the statement
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Cost incurred on pollution control relating to prior periods and taken to reconciliation directly shall be
disclosed separately.
8.4 Where estimates are made of future costs to be incurred on pollution control, the basis of estimate shall
be disclosed separately.
8.5 If a descriptive note dealing with the social cost of pollution caused by the entity and the control of
such pollution is contained in the same document as the cost statement, the cost Statement shall carry
a reference to such descriptive note.
8.6 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.7 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Pollution Control cost during the period covered by the cost statement which has a
material effect on the Pollution Control cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not
ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS - 15
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON SELLING AND DISTRIBUTION OVERHEADS
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD -15 (CAS-15) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “SELLING AND DISTRIBUTION OVERHEADS”. In this standard, the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. These are to be read in the context of the background material which has been set
in normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Selling and Distribution Overheads.
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of Selling
and Distribution Overheads, for determination of the cost of sales of product or service, and the presentation
and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Selling and Distribution Overheads with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Selling and Distribution Overheads including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and
/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (CAS 3 (Revised 2011) Para 4.1).
4.2 Absorption of overheads: Assigning of overheads to cost objects by means of appropriate absorption
rate.
Overhead Absorption Rate = Overheads of the Cost object / Quantum of base.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Distribution overheads: Distribution overheads, also known as distribution costs, are the costs incurred
in handling a product or service from the time it is ready for despatch or delivery until it reaches the
ultimate consumer including the units receiving the product or service in an inter-unit transfer.
The cost of packing, repacking, labelling, etc. at an intermediate storage location will be part of
distribution cost.
For Example:
1. Packing, repacking / labelling at an intermediate storage location
2. Transportation cost
3. Cost of warehousing (cover depots, godowns, storage yards, stock yards etc,)
Note:
In case of machinery involving technical help in installation, such expenses for installation are part of
cost of production and not considered as cost of Selling and Distribution Overheads.
4.5 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.6 Indirect expenses: Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.7 Marketing Overheads: Marketing overheads comprise of selling overheads and distribution overheads.
4.8 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
4.9 Selling Overheads: Selling overheads are the expenses related to sale of products or services and
include all indirect expenses incurred in selling the products or services.
For Example:
1. Salaries of sales personnel
2. Travelling expenses of sales personnel
3. Commission to sales agents
4. Sales and brand promotion expenses including advertisement, publicity, sponsorships,
endorsements and similar other expenses.
5. Receivable Collection costs
6. After sales service costs
7. Warranty costs
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Selling and Distribution Overheads shall be the aggregate of the cost of resources consumed in the
selling and distribution activities of the entity. The cost of resources procured from outside shall be
determined at invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly
attributable thereto net of discounts (other than cash discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be
credited by the Tax Authorities.
Post sales costs such as warranty cost, product liability cost, after sales service shall be estimated on a
reasonable basis.
5.2 Selling and Distribution Overheads, the benefits of which are expected to be derived over a long period,
shall be amortised on a rational basis.
5.3 Selling and distribution overheads shall not include imputed cost.
5.4 Cost of after Sales Service provided in terms of sale agreement for a class of transactions, shall be
determined on rational and scientific basis, net of any recovery on the service.
5.5 Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any such payment received / receivable with respect to any Selling
and Distribution Overheads shall be reduced from the cost of the sales of the cost object.
5.6 Any abnormal cost relating to selling and distribution activity shall be excluded from the Selling and
Distribution Overheads.
5.7 Any demurrage or detention charges, or penalty levied by transportation or other authorities in respect
of distribution activity shall not form part of the Selling and Distribution Overhead.
5.8 Penalties and damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Selling
and Distribution Overheads.
5.9 Credits / recoveries relating to the Selling and Distribution Overheads including those rendered without
any consideration, material and quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net Selling and
Distribution Overheads.
5.10 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Selling and Distribution
Overheads shall be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an entity.
6. Assignment of Cost
6.1 Selling and Distribution Overheads directly traceable shall be assigned to the relevant product sold or
services rendered.
6.2 Transportation cost relating to distribution shall be assigned as per CAS – 5, where relevant and
applicable.
6.3 Assignment of Selling and Distribution Overheads to the cost objects shall be based on either of the
following two principles;
(i) Cause and Effect - Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
(ii) Benefits received – overheads are to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to
the benefits received by them.
7. Presentation
7.1 Selling and Distribution overheads shall be presented as a separate cost head in the cost statement.
A reporting entity may use the term marketing Oveheads in place of Selling and Distribution overheads.
7.2 Element wise details of the Selling and Distribution overheads shall be presented, if material.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of Selling and Distribution Overheads to the cost objects.
3. Cost of Selling and Distribution services rendered to related parties (Related party as per the
applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
4. Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive and any such payment reduced from Selling and Distribution
Overheads.
6. Penalties and damages excluded from the Selling and Distribution Overheads.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and assignment
of the Selling and Distribution Overheads during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the Selling and Distribution Overheads shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such
change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2013 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements.
CAS -16
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 16 (CAS – 16) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India on “DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been
set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set
in normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and assignment of Depreciation and
Amortisation for determination of the cost of product or service, and the presentation and disclosure in cost
statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Depreciation and Amortisation with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require measurement, assignment, presentation and
disclosure of Depreciation and Amortisation, including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified:-
4.1 Amortisation: Amortisation is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an intangible asset
over its useful life.
It refers to expensing the acquisition cost minus the residual value of intangible assets such as Franchise,
Patents and Trademarks or Copyrights in a systematic manner over their estimated useful economic life
so as to reflect their consumption in the production of goods and services.
4.2 Asset: An Asset is a resource;
(a) controlled by an entity as a result of past events; and
(b) from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
An asset is a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events from which future economic
benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise. In case of some assets which are acquired for safety or
environmental reasons, the acquisition of such assets may not provide future economic benefits directly
but may be necessary for an entity to obtain the future economic benefits from other assets. Such items
also qualify for recognition as assets.
4.3 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.4 Current asset: An entity shall classify an asset as current when :
(a) it expects to realise the asset, or intends to sell or consume it, in its normal operating cycle;
(b) it holds the asset primarily for the purpose of trading;
(c) it expects to realise the asset within twelve months after the reporting period; or (d)the asset is cash
or a cash equivalent unless the asset is restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability
for at least twelve months after the reporting period.
4.5 Depreciation: Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its
useful life.
4.6 Depreciable amount: The cost of an asset, or other amount substituted for cost in the financial statement,
less its residual value.
4.7 Depreciable fixed and Intangible assets are assets which:
(i) are expected to be used during more than one accounting period;
(ii) have a limited useful life; and
(iii) are held by an enterprise for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to
others, or for administrative purposes and not for the purpose of sale in the ordinary course of
business.
Land is not a depreciable asset as it does not have a defined useful life.
4.8 Residual (salvage) value: The estimated amount that an entity would currently obtain from disposal of
an asset, after deducting the estimated costs of disposal, if the assets were already of the age and in
the condition expected at the end of its useful life.
4.9 Useful life of asset: Useful life of asset is either:
(a) the period over which a asset is expected to be available for use by an entity ; or
(b) the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from use of the asset by the
entity.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Depreciation and Amortisation shall be measured based on the depreciable amount and the useful life.
The residual value of an intangible asset shall be assumed to be zero unless:
(a) there is a commitment by a third party to purchase the asset at the end of its useful life; or
(b) there is an active market for the asset and:
I. residual value can be determined by reference to that market; and
II. it is probable that such a market will exist at the end of the asset’s useful life.
III. The residual value of a fixed asset shall be considered as zero if the entity is unable to estimate
the same with reasonable accuracy.
The minimum amount of depreciation to be provided shall not be less than the amount calculated
as per principles and methods as prescribed by any law or regulations applicable to the entity and
followed by it.
5.2 In case of regulated industry the amount of depreciation shall be the same as prescribed by the
concerned regulator.
5.3 While estimating the useful life of a depreciable asset, consideration shall be given to the following
factors:
(a) Expected physical wear and tear;
(b) Obsolescence; and
(c) Legal or other limits on the use of the asset.
5.4 The useful life of an intangible asset that arises from contractual or other legal rights shall not exceed the
period of the contractual or other legal rights, but may be shorter depending on the period over which
the entity expects to use the asset.
If the contractual or other legal rights are conveyed for a limited term that can be renewed, the useful
life of the intangible asset shall include the renewal period(s) only if there is evidence to support renewal
by the entity without significant cost. The useful life of a re-acquired right recognised as an intangible
asset in a business combination is the remaining contractual period of the contract in which the right
was granted and shall not include renewal periods.
The useful life of an intangible asset, in any situation, shall not exceed 10 years from the date it is available
for use.
5.5 Depreciation shall be considered from the time when a depreciable asset is first put into use.
An asset which is used only when the need arises but is always held ready for use. Example: fire extinguisher,
stand by generator, safety equipment shall be considered to be an asset in use. Depreciable assets will
be considered to be put into use when commercial production of goods and services commences.
Depreciation on an asset which is temporarily retired from production of goods and services shall be
considered as abnormal cost for the period when the asset is not in use.
5.6 Depreciation of any addition or extension to an existing depreciable asset which becomes an integral
part of that asset shall be based on the remaining useful life of that asset.
5.7 Depreciation of any addition or extension to an existing depreciable asset which retains a separate
identity and is capable of being used after the expiry of the useful life of that asset shall be based on the
estimated useful life of that addition or extension.
5.8 The impact of higher depreciation due to revaluation of assets shall not be assigned to cost object.
5.9 Impairment loss on assets shall be excluded from cost of production.
5.10 The method of depreciation used shall reflect the pattern in which the asset’s future economic benefits
are expected to be consumed by the entity.
5.11 An entity can use any of the methods of depreciation to assign depreciable amount of an asset on a
systematic basis over its useful life.
For example:
(a) Straight-line method;
(b) Diminishing balance method; and
(c) Units of production method.
5.12 The method of amortisation of intangible asset shall reflect the pattern in which the economic benefits
accrue to entity.
5.13 The methods and rates of depreciation applied shall be reviewed at least annually and, if there has
been a change in the expected pattern of consumption or loss of future economic benefits, the method
applied shall be changed to reflect the changed pattern.
5.14 Spares purchased specifically for a particular asset, or class of assets, and which would become
redundant if that asset or class of asset was retired or use of that asset was discontinued, shall form part
of that asset. The depreciable amount of such spares shall be allocated over the useful life of the asset.
5.15 Cost of small assets shall be written off in the period in which they were purchased as per the accounting
policy of the entity.
5.16 Depreciation of an asset shall not be considered in case cumulative depreciation exceeds the original
cost of the asset, net of residual value.
5.17 Where depreciation for an addition of an asset is measured on the basis of the number of days for
which the asset was used for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, depreciation of
the asset for assigning to cost of object shall be measured in relation to the period, the asset actually
utilized.
6. Assignment of Costs
6.1 Depreciation shall be traced to the cost object to the extent economically feasible.
6.2 Where the depreciation is not directly traceable to cost object, it shall be assigned based on either of
the following two principles:
i. Cause and effect - cause is a process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
ii. Benefits received– depreciation is to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion to the
benefits received by them.
7. Presentation
Depreciation and Amortisation, if material, shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of
cost.
8. Disclosures
4. Amount of depreciation that is not included in cost because of temporary retirement of assets from
production of goods and services.
8.2 Disclosure shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the cost statement or as a foot note or in a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of Depreciation and Amortisation during the period covered by the cost statement which
has a material effect on Depreciation and Amortisation shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such
change is not ascertainable wholly or partly, the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2014 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements
CAS-17
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON INTEREST AND FINANCING CHARGES
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard (CAS 17) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants
of India for determination of “INTEREST AND FINANCING CHARGES”. In this Standard, the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. These are to be read in the context of the background material which has been set
in normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of Interest
and Financing Charges.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles, methods of determining
and assigning the Interest and Financing Charges with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Interest and Financing Charges including those requiring attestation.
This standard does not deal with costs relating to risk management through derivatives.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
(b) from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
4.2 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
(a) it expects to realise the asset, or intends to sell or consume it, in its normal operating cycle;
(c) it expects to realise the asset within twelve months after the reporting period; or
(d) the asset is cash or a cash equivalent unless the asset is restricted from being exchanged or used
to settle a liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period.
(c) the liability is due to be settled within twelve months after the reporting period ; or
(d) it does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months
after the reporting period.
4.5 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.6 Intangible Asset: An intangible asset is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance.
4.7 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
Examples are:
1. interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term borrowings:
4. Financing Charges in respect of finance leases and other similar arrangements: and
5. exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to the extent they are regarded as
an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Interest and financing charges, finance costs, and borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.8 Net current asset: Net current asset is the excess of current assets over current liabilities
Current Liabilities shall include short term borrowings and that part of long term borrowings which are
classified as current liabilities
Short term borrowing is the borrowing which is repayable within one year from the date of disbursal as
per Loan Agreement.
Long term borrowing is the borrowing which is repayable after one year from the date of disbursal as
per Loan Agreement.
5. Principles of Measurement:
(a) acquisition / construction/ production of qualifying assets including fixed assets; and
(b) Other finance costs for production of goods/ operations or services rendered which cannot be
classified as qualifying assets.
5.2 Interest and Financing Charges directly attributable to the acquisition /construction/ production of a
qualifying asset shall be included in the cost of the asset.
5.3 Interest and Financing Charges shall not include imputed costs.
5.4 Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or amount of similar nature received / receivable with respect to Interest and
Financing Charges if any, shall be reduced to ascertain the net interest and financing charges.
5.5 Penal Interest for delayed payment, Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory
authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Interest and Financing Charges.
In case the company delays the payment of Statutory dues beyond the stipulated date, interest paid
for delayed payment shall not be treated as penal interest.
5.6 Interest paid for or received on investment shall not form part of the other financing charges for
production of goods / operations or services rendered;
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Assignment of Interest and Financing Charges to the cost objects shall be based on either of the following
principles;
I. Cause and effect- cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of cost.
II. Benefits received- Interest and Financing Charges are to be apportioned to the various cost
objects in proportion to the benefits received by them.
7. Presentation
Interest and Financing Charges shall be presented in the cost statement as a separate item of cost of sales.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of Interest and Financing Charges to the cost objects/ cost units.
2. Where predetermined cost is applied in Interest and Financing Charges, the rate and usage
variances.
5. Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any amount of similar nature received / receivable reduced
Interest and Financing Charges.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Interest and Financing Charges incurred relating to prior periods and taken to reconciliation directly
shall be disclosed separately.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.5 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Interest and Financing Charges during the period covered by the cost statement
which has a material effect on the Interest and Financing Charges shall be disclosed. Where the effect
of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2014 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements.
CAS -18
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard-18 (CAS-18) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants
of India for determination of “RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS”. In this Standard, the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has
been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Research, and Development Costs
and their classification, measurement and assignment for determination of the cost of product or service, and
the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Research, and Development Costs with reasonable accuracy and presentation of the same.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements that require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Research, and Development Costs including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adapted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.3 Direct Employee Cost: Employee cost, which can be attributed to a Cost Object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1 Para 6.2.4 (Direct labour cost)).
4.4 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of a product or rendering a service, which can be
identified or linked with the cost object other than direct material or direct employee cost (Adapted
from CAS 1 Para 6.2.6).
Examples of Direct Expenses are royalties charged on production, hire charges for use of specific
equipment for a specific job, cost of special designs or drawings for a job, software services specifically
required for a job, travelling Expenses for a specific job.
4.5 Direct Materials: Materials, the cost of which can be attributed to a cost object in an economically
feasible way (Adapted from CAS 1-6.2.3).
4.6 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose
4.7 Indirect Employee Cost: The employee cost which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost
object.
4.8 Indirect Material Cost: Material cost that cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.9 Indirect expenses: Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a particular cost object.
4.10 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
4.11 Research and Development:
4.11.1 Research: Research is original and planned investigation undertaken with the prospect of
gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding (Adapted AS 26).
4.11.2 Development cost: Development cost is the cost for application of research finding or other
knowledge to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved materials,
devices, products, processes, systems, or services before the start of commercial production or
use.
4.11.3 Research Cost: Research cost is the cost of original and planned investigation undertaken with
the prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Research, and Development Costs shall include all the costs that are directly traceable to research
and/or development activities or that can be assigned to research and development activities strictly
on the basis of (a) cause and effect or (b) benefits received. Such costs shall include the following
elements:
1. The cost of materials and services consumed in Research, and Development activities.
2. Cost of bought out materials and hired services as per invoice or agreed price including duties
and taxes directly attributable thereto net of trade discounts, rebates, taxes and duties refundable
or to be credited.
3. The salaries, wages and other related costs of personnel engaged in Research, and Development
activities;
4. The depreciation of equipment and facilities, and other tangible assets, and amortisation of
intangible assets to the extent that they are used for Research, and Development activities;
5. Overhead costs, other than general administrative costs, related to Research, and Development
activities.
6. Costs incurred for carrying out Research, and Development activities by other entities and charged
to the entity; and
7. Expenditure incurred in securing copyrights or licences
8. Expenditure incurred for developing computer software
9. Costs incurred for the design of tools, jigs, moulds and dies
10. Other costs that can be directly attributed to Research, and Development activities and can be
identified with specific projects.
5.2 Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or amount of similar nature received / receivable with respect to Research,
and Development Activity, if any, shall be reduced from the cost of such Research, and Development
Activity.
5.3 Any abnormal cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part of the Research, and
Development Cost.
5.4 Fines, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not
form part of the Research, and Development Cost.
5.5 The amortisation of an intangible asset arising from the development activity shall be treated as set out
in the CAS 16 relating to Depreciation and Amortisation.
5.6 Research, and Development costs shall not include imputed costs.
5.7 Credits/recoveries relating to Research, and Development cost, if material and quantifiable, including
from the sale of output produced from the Research and Development activity shall be deducted from
the Research and Development cost.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Research, and Development costs attributable to a specific cost object shall be assigned to that cost
object directly.
Research, development costs that are not attributable to a specific product or process shall not form
part of the product cost.
6.2 Development cost which results in the creation of an intangible asset shall be amortised over its useful
life
6.3 Assignment of Development Costs shall be based on the principle of “benefits received”.
6.4 Research and Development Costs incurred for the development and improvement of an existing
process or product shall be included in the cost of production.
In case the Research and Development activity related to the improvement of an existing process or
product continues for more than one accounting period, the cost of the same shall be accumulated
and amortised over the estimated period of use of the improved process or estimated period over
which the improved product will be produced by the entity after the commencement of commercial
production, as the case may be, if the improved process or product is distinctly different from the
existing process or product and the product is marketed as a new product. The amount allocated to a
particular period shall be included in the cost of production of that period. If the expenditure is only to
improve the quality of the existing product or minor modifications in attributes, the principle shall not be
applied.
6.5 Development costs attributable to a saleable service e.g providing technical know-how to outside
parties shall be accumulated separately and treated as cost of providing the service.
7. Presentation
7.1 Research and Development costs relating to improvement of the process or products or services shall
be presented as a separate item of cost in the cost statement under cost of production.
7.2 Research, and Development costs which are not related to improvement of the process, materials,
devices, processes, systems, product or services shall be presented as a part of the reconciliation
statement.
8. Disclosures
8.1 The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. The basis of accumulation and assignment of Research and Development costs.
2. The Research, and Development costs paid to related parties(Related party as per the applicable
legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
3. Credit/recoveries from related parties
4. Research, and Development cost incurred in foreign exchange.
5. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from Research, and Development
cost.
6. Credits/recoveries deducted from the Research, and Development cost.
7. Any abnormal cost excluded from Research, and Development cost including cost of abandoned
projects and research activities considered abnormal.
8. Penalties and damages paid etc. excluded from Research, and Development cost.
8.2 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Research, and Development cost during the period covered by the cost statement
that has a material effect on the Research, and Development cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect
of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
CAS-19
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON JOINT COSTS
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard – 19 (CAS - 19) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India for determination of “JOINT COSTS”. In this standard, the standard portions have been set
in bold Italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has been set in
normal type.
1. Introduction
The standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and assignment of Joint Costs and the
presentation and disclosure in cost statement.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Joint Costs with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
The standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Joint Costs including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard within the meaning specified.
4.1 By-Product: Product with relatively low value produced incidentally in the manufacturing of the product
or service.
4.2 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.3 Imputed Cost: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose
4.4 Joint Costs: Joint costs are the cost of common resources used to produce two or more products or
services simultaneously.
4.5 Joint product: Products or services that are produced simultaneously, by the same process, identifiable
at the end of the process and recognised as main products or services having sufficient value.
4.6 Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed off
without further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the process in
place of raw material.
4.7 Split off point: The point in the production process at which joint products become separately identifiable.
The terms split off point and separation point are used interchangeably.
4.8 Waste: Material lost during production or storage and discarded material which may or may not have
any value.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 The principles and methods for measuring Joint costs upto the split off point will be the same as stipulated
in other cost accounting standards.
5.2 Cost incurred after split-off point on product separately identifiable shall be measured for the resources
consumed for each Joint/By-Product.
5.3 Cost incurred after split- off point for further processing of joint product/By-Product shall be the aggregate
of direct and indirect costs.
5.4 Cost of further processing of joint product/By-Product carried out by outside parties shall be determined
at invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, net of discounts (other than cash discount) taxes
and duties refundable or to be credited and other expenditure directly attributable to such processing.
This cost shall also include the cost of resources provided to outside parties.
5.5 In case the production process generates scrap or waste, realized or realizable value, net of disposal
cost, of scrap and waste shall be deducted from the cost of Joint Product.
5.6 Any Subsidy / Grant / Incentive or any such payment received / receivable with respect to any joint
product /By-Product shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost to which such amounts are related.
5.7 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the cost of the
joint product /By-Product.
6. Assignment
6.1 Joint cost incurred shall be assigned to joint products based on benefits received, which is measured
using any of the following methods:
(a) Physical Units Method.
(b) Net Realisable Value at split-off point.
Net realisable value for this purpose means the net selling price per unit multiplied by quantity (Quantity
sold). Net realizable value is to be adjusted for the post- split off costs.
(c) Technical estimates
6.2 The value of By-Product shall be estimated using any of the following methods for adjusting joint costs :
a. Net realizable value
Net realizable value for this purpose means the net selling price per unit multiplied by quantity
(Quantity sold). Net realizable value is to be adjusted for the post- split off costs.
b. Technical Estimates
This method may be adopted where the By-Product is not saleable in the condition in which it
emerges or comparative prices of similar products are not available.
7. Presentation
The Cost Statement shall present the element wise cost of individual products produced jointly and the value
assigned to By-Products.
8. Disclosures
8.1 The Cost statement shall disclose the basis of allocation of Joint costs to individual products and the
value assigned to the By-Products
8.2 The Cost statement shall also disclose:
8.3 The disclosure should be made only where material, significant & quantifiable.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of Cost Statements or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.5 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Joint costs and the value assigned to by-product during the period covered by the
cost statement which has a material effect on the Joint/ By-Products shall be disclosed. Where the effect
of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after ….. for being
applied for the preparation and certification of General Purpose Cost Accounting Statements.
CAS-20
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ROYALTY AND TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW FEE
The following is Cost Accounting Standard- (CAS-20) issued by the council of The Institute of Cost Accountants
of India for determination of “ROYALTY AND TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW FEE”. In this Standard, the standard portions
have been set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which
has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the amount of Royalty and Technical
Know-how Fee.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment of
the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee, for determination of the cost of product or service,
and their presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standardshouldbe applied to cost statements, which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee including those requiring
attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.3 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose.
4.4 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings
to the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs(Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.2 Royalty: Royalty is any consideration for the use of asset (tangible and/or intangible) to the owner.
Royalty is often expressed as a percentage of the revenues obtained by use of the owners asset
(tangible and/or intangible); per unit of production or sales value. It may relate to use of: Non-renewable
resource (petroleum and mineral resources) ; Patents; Trade marks; Franchise rights; Copy rights; art-
work, software and the like.
The terms Assets, tangible assets and intangible assets will have the same meaning as in the Accounting
Standards notified by the Central Government under the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules,2006.
4.5 Technical service fee: Technical service fee is any consideration payable to provider of technical or
managerial services.
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee paid or incurred in lump-sum or which are in the nature of ‘one –
time’ payment, shall be amortised on the basis of the estimated output or benefit to be derived from the
related asset.
Examples: Amortisation of the amount of Royalty or Technical Know-how fee paid for which the benefit
is ensued in the current or future periods shall be determined based on the production / service volumes
estimated for the period over which the asset is expected to benefit the entity .
5.2 Amount of the Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee shall not include finance costs and imputed costs.
5.3 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable with respect to amount of
Royalty and Technical Know-how fee shall be reduced to measure the amount of royalty and technical
know- how fee.
5.4 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the amount of
Royalty and Technical Know-how fee.
5.5 Credits/ recoveries relating to the amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee, material and
quantifiable, shall be deducted to arrive at the net amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee.
5.6 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the amount of Royalty
and Technical Know-how Fee should be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the
requirements of a cost accounting standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation
or presentation of cost statements of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Royalty and Technical Know-how fee that is directly traceable to a cost object shall be assigned to that
cost object. In case such fee is not directly traceable to a cost object then it shall be assigned on any
of the following basis:
a. Units produced
b. Units sold
c. Sales value
6.2 The amount of Royalty fee paid for mining rights shall form part of the cost of material.
6.3 The amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee shall be assigned on the nature/ purpose of such
fee.
The amount of royalty and technical know-how fee related to product or process know how shall be
treated as cost of production; if it is related to trademarks or brands shall be treated as cost of sales.
7. Presentation
7.1 The amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee shall be presented as a separate cost head with
suitable classification.
8. Disclosures
1. The basis of distribution of the amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee to the cost objects/
cost units.
2. Quantity and the related rate of items of the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee, as
applicable.
3. Royalty and Technical Know-how fee paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the
applicable legal requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement) .
5. Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive and any such payment reduced from the amount of Royalty and
Technical Know-how fee.
7. Penalties and damages excluded from the amount of Royalty and Technical Know-how fee
8.2 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.3 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee during the period covered by the cost
statement which has a material effect on the amount Royalty and Technical Know-how fee. Where the
effect of such change is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS-21
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON QUALITY CONTROL
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard (CAS -21) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost Accountants
of India for determination of “QUALITY CONTROL ”. In this standard, the standard portions have been set in bold
Italic type. These are to be read in context of the background material which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
The standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and assignment of Quality Control cost
and the presentation and disclosure in cost statement.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Quality Control cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
The standards shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Quality Control cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected
and/ or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation (Adopted from CAS 1 paragraph
6.5.19).
4.2 Cost Object: An activity, contract, cost centre, customer, process, product, project, service or any other
object for which costs are ascertained.
4.3 Defectives: Materials, products or intermediate products that do not meet quality standards. This may
include reworks or rejects.
4.3.1 Rework: Defectives which can be brought up to the standards by putting in additional resources.
Rework includes repairs, reconditioning and refurbishing.
4.3.2 Rejects: Defectives which cannot meet the quality standards even after putting in additional
resources.
Rejects may be disposed off as waste or sold for salvage value or recycled in the production
process.
4.4 Imputed Costs: Notional cost, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose
4.5 Interest and Finance charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds.
This will include interest and commitment charges on bank borrowings, other short term and long term
borrowings, amortisation of discounts or premium related to borrowings, amortisation of ancillary cost
incurred in connection with the arrangements of borrowings, finance charges in respect of finance
leases, other similar arrangements and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to
the extent they are regarded as an adjustment to the interest costs (Adapted from CIMA Terminology).
The terms Finance costs and Borrowing costs are used interchangeably.
4.6 Overheads: Overheads comprise costs of indirect materials, indirect employees and indirect expenses.
The quality of a product or service is fitness of that product or service for meeting its intended use as
required by customer.
4.8 Quality control: A procedure or a set of procedures exclusively designed to ensure that the manufactured
products or performed service adhere to a defined set of quality criterion or meets requirement of the
client or the customer.
4.9 Quality Control cost: Cost of resources consumed towards quality control procedures
4.10 Scrap: Discarded material having no or insignificant value and which is usually either disposed off
without further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the process in
place of raw material.
4.11.1 Waste: Material lost during production or storage and discarded material which may or may not
have any value.
4.11.2 Spoilage: Production that does not meet the quality requirements or specifications and cannot
be rectified economically.
5. Principles of Measurement:
5.1 Quality Control cost incurred in-house shall be the aggregate of the cost of resources consumed in the
Quality Control activities of the entity. The cost of resources procured from outside shall be determined at
invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto
net of discounts (other than cash discounts), taxes and duties refundable or to be credited by the Tax
Authorities.
• Cost of conformance to quality: (a) prevention cost; and (b) appraisal cost.
5.2 Identification of Quality Control costs shall be based on traceability in an economically feasible manner.
5.3 Quality Control costs other than those referred to in paragraph 5.2 shall be determined on the basis of
amount incurred in connection therewith.
5.4 Finance costs incurred in connection with the self generated or procured resources shall not form part
of Quality Control cost.
5.6 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable with respect to any Quality
Control cost shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the cost object to which such amounts
are related.
5.7 Any abnormal portion of the Quality Control cost where it is material and quantifiable shall not form part
of the Cost of Quality Control.
5.8 Penalties, damages paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not form part of the Quality
Control cost.
5.9 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the measurement of the Quality Control cost
shall be made only if, it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard, or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements
of an organisation.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Quality Control cost that is directly traceable to the cost object shall be assigned to that cost object.
6.2 Assignment of Quality Control cost to the cost objects shall be based on benefits received by them.
(i) Benefits received – Quality Control cost is to be apportioned to the various cost objects in proportion
to the benefits received by them.
7. Presentation
7.1 Quality Control cost, if material, shall be presented as a separate cost head with suitable classification.
8. Disclosures
8.1.1 The basis of distribution of Quality Control cost to the cost objects/ cost units.
8.1.2 Quantity and Cost of resources used for Quality Control cost as applicable.
8.1.3 Quality Control cost paid/ payable to related parties (Related party as per the applicable legal
requirements relating to the cost statement as on the date of the statement).
8.1.6 Penalties and damages excluded from the Quality Control cost
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the Quality Control cost during the period covered by the cost statement which has a
material effect on the Quality Control cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not
ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
CAS – 22
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON MANUFACTURING COST
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD – 22 (CAS - 22) issued by the Council of The Institute of Cost
Accountants of India for determination of “MANUFACTURING COST”. In this Standard, the standard portions have
been set in bold italic type. This standard should be read in the context of the background material which has
been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
1.1 This standard deals with the principles and methods of determining the Manufacturing Cost of excisable
goods.
1.2 This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement and assignment for
determination of the Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods and the presentation and disclosure in cost
statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods of
determining the Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods.
3. Scope
This standard should be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Manufacturing Cost of excisable goods.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Abnormal and non-recurring cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular
and unexpected and/or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operation.
4.2 Administrative Overheads: Cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of
an organisation.
Administrative overheads need to be analysed in relation to production/manufacturing activities and
other activities. Administrative overheads in relation to production/manufacturing activities shall be
included in the manufacturing cost.
Administrative overheads in relation to marketing, projects management, corporate office or any other
expense not related to the manufacturing activity shall be excluded from manufacturing cost.
4.3 Captive Consumption: Captive Consumption means the consumption of goods manufactured by one
division or unit and consumed by another division or unit of the same organization or related undertaking
for manufacturing another product(s), as defined in section4(3) of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
4.4 Defectives: End Product and/or intermediate product units that do not meet quality standards. This may
include reworks or rejects.
An intermediate product is a product that might require further processing before it is saleable to the
ultimate consumer.
4.4.1 Reworks: Defectives which can be brought up to the standards by putting in additional resources.
Rework includes repairs, reconditioning, retro-fitment and refurbishing.
4.4.2 Rejects: Defectives which cannot meet the quality standards even after putting in additional
resources.
Rejects may be disposed off as waste or sold for salvage value or recycled in the production
process.
4.5 Depreciation: Depreciation is a measure of the wearing out, consumption or other loss of value of a
depreciable asset arising from use, efflux of time or obsolescence through technology and market
changes. Depreciation does not include impairment loss.
Depreciation is allocated so as to charge a fair proportion of the depreciable amount in each accounting
period during the estimated useful life of the asset.
Depreciable amount of a depreciable asset is its historical cost, or other amount substituted for historical
cost in the financial statements, less the estimated residual value.
Useful life of asset is either
(i) the period over which a depreciable asset is expected to be used by the enterprise; or
(ii) the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from the use of the asset by the
entity.
Depreciation that is charged in audited financial statement should be considered.
4.6 Direct Expenses: Expenses relating to manufacture of an excisable good, which can be identified to
such excisable good other than direct material cost and direct employee cost.
4.7 Employee Cost: The aggregate of all kinds of consideration paid, payable and provisions made for future
payments for the services rendered by employees of an enterprise (including temporary, part time and
contract employees). Consideration includes wages, salary, contractual payments and benefits, as
applicable or any amount paid or payable on behalf of employee. This is also known as Labour Cost.
4.7.1 Direct Employee Cost: The cost of employees which can be attributed to an excisable good in an
economically feasible way.
4.7.2 Indirect Employee Cost: The cost of employees which cannot be directly attributed to a particular
excisable good.
4.8 Interest and Finance Costs: Costs incurred by an enterprise in connection with the borrowing of funds.
4.9 Manufacturing Cost: Manufacturing cost of an excisable good is the aggregate of costs of all resources
used in the process of its manufacturing.
Manufacturing cost includes cost of Materials (including process materials), Employee Cost, Cost of
Utilities, Packing Cost, Direct Expenses, Repairs &Maintenance Cost, Pollution Control Cost, Quality
Control Cost, Research & Development Cost, Cost of Inputs received free of cost or received at
concessional value from the buyer of the excisable good, Depreciation and Amortisation (including
amortisation cost of free tools, patterns ,dies, drawings, blue prints, technical maps, charts, engineering,
development, art work, design work, plans, sketches, packaging material and the like necessary for
production of excisable goods), Cost of Rework, reconditioning, retro-fitment, Manufacturing Overheads,
other costs allocable to such activity, adjustment for stock of work-in-process and recoveries for sales of
scrap and wastages and the like but does not include expenses of the above nature incurred for post
manufacturing purposes.
Manufacturing Cost and Cost of Production are used interchangeably.
4.10 Manufacturing Overheads: Indirect costs involved in the manufacturing process
The terms Manufacturing Overheads, Factory Overheads, Works Overheads and Production Overheads
have the same meaning and are used interchangeably. Manufacturing overheads shall include
administration cost relating to production, factory, works or manufacturing and depot.
Manufacturing Overheads shall be classified on the basis of behaviour as Variable Manufacturing
Overheads and Fixed Manufacturing Overheads.
Variable Manufacturing Overheads comprise of expenses which vary in proportion to the change in
volume of production. For example, cost of utilities etc.
Fixed Manufacturing overheads comprise of expenses which does not change with the change in
volume of production. For example, salaries, rent, repairs & maintenance, etc.
4.11 Material Consumed: Material Consumed includes materials directly identified for production of excisable
goods such as:
(a) Indigenous materials
(b) Imported materials
(c) Bought out items
(d) Self-manufactured items
(e) Process materials and other items
(f) Materials received free of cost or at concessional value from the buyer
(g) Accessories, on which cenvat credit is admissible, and which are cleared along with the final
product
(h) goods used for providing free warranty for excisable goods
Cost of material consumed consists of cost of material, duties and taxes, freight inwards, insurance
and other expenditure directly attributable to procurement. Trade discount, rebates and other similar
items are deducted for determining the cost of materials. Cenvat credit, credit for Countervailing
Customs Duty, Sales Tax set off, VAT, duty draw back and other similar duties subsequently recovered/
recoverable by the entity are also deducted.
4.12 Normal Capacity is the production achieved or achievable on an average over a period or season under
normal circumstances taking into account the loss of capacity resulting from planned maintenance.
Capacity may be determined in terms of units of production or equivalent machine or man hours.
4.13 Packing Material Cost: The cost of material of any nature used for the purpose of packing of excisable
good.
4.14 Quality Control Cost: The quality control cost is the expenses incurred relating to quality control activities
for adhering to quality standard. These expenses include salaries & wages relating to employees
engaged in quality control activity and other related expenses.
4.15 Repairs & Maintenance Cost: Cost of all activities which have the objective of maintaining or restoring
an asset in or to a state in which it can perform its required function at intended capacity and efficiency.
4.16 Research and Development Cost: The research and development cost incurred for development and
improvement of the process or the excisable good.
4.17 Royalty: Royalty is compensation/periodic payments for the use of asset (tangible and/or intangible) to
the owner for use of his asset in the production/manufacture, selling and distribution by an entity.
4.18 Scrap: Discarded material having some value in few cases and which is usually either disposed of
without further treatment (other than reclamation and handling) or reintroduced into the production
process.
4.19 Technical Know-how Fee: Technical Know-how Fee is a lump sum or periodical amount payable to
provider of Technical Know-how in the form of design, drawings, training of personnel, or practical
knowledge, skills or experience.
4.20.1 Waste: Material lost during production or storage due to various factors such as evaporation,
chemical reaction, contamination, unrecoverable residue, shrinkage, etc., and discarded
material which may or may not have any value.
4.20.2 Spoilage: Production that does not meet with dimensional or quality standards in such a way that
it cannot be rectified economically and is sold for a disposal value. Net Spoilage is the difference
between costs accumulated up to the point of rejection and the salvage value.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Manufacturing cost for each excisable good shall be measured separately.
5.2 Manufacturing cost of each excisable good shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating
to manufacturing activity.
5.3 Material cost shall be measured separately for each type of material, that is, for indigenous material,
imported material, bought out components and process materials, self-manufactured items, accessories
for each type of excisable good.
Cost of Inputs received free of cost or at concessional value from the buyer of the excisable good shall
be considered for determination of manufacturing cost.
5.4 The material cost of normal scrap/defectives which are rejects shall be included in the material cost of
excisable goods manufactured. The material cost of actual scrap/ defectives, not exceeding the normal
quantity shall be adjusted in the material cost of good production. Realized or realizable value of scrap
or waste shall be deducted for determination of manufacturing cost. Material Cost of abnormal scrap
/defectives should not be included in material cost but treated as loss after deducting the realisable
value of such scrap / defectives.
5.5 Employee Cost for each excisable good shall be measured separately.
5.6 The cost of utilities consumed for manufacturing of excisable good shall be measured for each type of
utility.
5.7 Packing material cost used for each type of excisable good shall be measured separately.
If excisable goods are transferred/dispatched duly packed, the cost of such packing shall include cost
of all types of packing in which the excisable goods are removed from the place of removal.
5.8 The Direct Expenses for manufacturing of excisable goods shall be measured for each excisable good
separately.
5.9 Repairs and maintenance cost for manufacturing of excisable goods shall be measured for each
excisable good separately.
5.10 Depreciation and Amortisation cost for manufacturing of excisable goods shall be measured for each
excisable good separately.
5.11 Research & Development cost for manufacturing of excisable goods shall be measured for each
excisable good separately.
5.12 Cost incurred for manufacturing of excisable goods after split-off point shall be measured for each
Joint/By-Product.
In case the manufacturing process generates scrap or waste, realized or realizable value net of cost of
disposal, of such scrap and waste shall be deducted from the cost of Joint Product.
5.13 Royalty and Technical Know-how Fee for manufacturing of excisable goods paid or incurred in lump-
sum or which are in the nature of ‘one-time’ payment, shall be amortised on the basis of the estimated
output or benefit to be derived from the related Technical Know how.
Royalty paid on sales shall not form part of manufacturing cost of excisable good.
5.14 Quality Control cost incurred in-house for manufacturing of excisable goods shall be the aggregate of
the cost of resources used in the Quality Control activities in relation to each excisable good. The cost
of resources procured from outside shall be determined at invoice or agreed price including duties and
taxes, and other expenditure directly attributable thereto net of discounts, taxes and duties refundable
or to be credited as input credit.
5.15 Manufacturing Overheads for excisable goods representing procurement of resources shall be
determined at invoice or agreed price including duties and taxes, and other expenditure directly
attributable thereto net of discounts; taxes and duties refundable or to be credited as input credit.
Manufacturing Overheads other than those referred to above shall be determined on the basis of cost
incurred in connection therewith.
5.16 Any abnormal cost, where it is material and quantifiable, shall not form part of the manufacturing cost
of excisable good.
5.17 Interest and other Finance costs are not part of manufacturing cost of excisable good.
5.18 Manufacturing cost of excisable good shall include cost of inputs received free of cost or at concessional
value from the buyer of excisable good and amortisation cost of free tools, pattern, dies, drawings, blue
prints, technical maps, charts, engineering, development, art work, design work, plans, sketches, and
the like necessary for production of excisable good. It shall also include cost of rework, reconditioning,
retro-fitment, Manufacturing Overheads and other costs allocable to such activity, adjustment for
stock of work-in-process and recoveries from sales of scrap and wastages and the like necessary for
production of excisable good.
In case any input material, whether of direct or indirect nature, including packing material, is supplied
free of cost or at concessional value by the buyer of the excisable good, the cost of such material shall
be included in the manufacturing cost.
For example: Amortisation Cost of Moulds, Tools, Dies & Patterns and Cost of Packing Material etc.
received free of cost or at concessional value from the buyer of excisable good shall be included in
manufacturing cost.
5.19 Any Subsidy/Grant/Incentive or any such payment received/receivable, from other entity, other than
the buyer with respect to any manufacturing cost of excisable good shall be deducted for ascertainment
of the manufacturing cost of excisable good to which such amounts are related.
5.20 The manufacturing cost of excisable good shall be determined based on the normal capacity or actual
capacity utilization whichever is higher and unabsorbed cost, if any, shall be treated as abnormal cost.
5.21 Fines, penalties, damages, demurrage and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third
parties shall not form part of the manufacturing cost of excisable good.
5.22 The forex component of imported material or other element of cost shall be converted at the rate on the
date of the transaction. Any subsequent change in the exchange rate till payment or otherwise shall not
form part of manufacturing cost of excisable good.
5.23 Credits/recoveries relating to the manufacturing cost, which are material and quantifiable, shall be
deducted from the total manufacturing cost to arrive at the net manufacturing cost of excisable good.
5.24 Work in process/progress stock shall be measured at cost computed for different stages of completion.
Stock of work-in-process/progress shall be valued at cost on the basis of stages of completion as per
cost accounting principles. Opening and closing stock of work-in-process/progress shall be adjusted for
computation of manufacturing cost of an excisable good.
6. Assignment of Cost
6.1 While assigning various elements of manufacturing cost of excisable goods, traceability to an excisable
good in an economically feasible manner shall be the guiding principle. The cost which can be traced
directly to each excisable good shall be directly assigned.
6.2 Assignment of manufacturing cost of excisable goods, which are not directly traceable to the excisable
good shall be based on either of the following two principles;
6.2.1 Cause and Effect – Cause is the process or operation or activity and effect is the incurrence of
cost.
6.2.2 Benefits received – to be apportioned to various cost objects in proportion to the benefits received
by them.
6.3 The variable manufacturing/production overheads shall be absorbed based on actual production.
6.4 The fixed manufacturing/production overheads and other similar item of fixed costs such as quality
control cost, research and development costs and administrative overheads relating to manufacturing
shall be absorbed in the manufacturing cost on the basis of the normal capacity or actual capacity
utilization of the plant, whichever is higher.
6.5 In case a production process results in more than one product being produced simultaneously, treatment
of joint products and by-products shall be as under:
6.5.1 In case joint products are produced, joint costs are allocated between the products on a rational
and consistent basis.
6.5.2 In case by-products are produced, the net realisable value of by-products is credited to the
manufacturing cost of the main product.
6.6 Miscellaneous Income relating to production/manufacture shall be adjusted in the determination of
manufacturing cost.
For example, income from sale of empty containers used for procurement of raw material shall be
deducted in determination of manufacturing cost.
7. Presentation
7.1 Cost statement as per Appendix 1 to this standard or as near thereto shall present following information:
7.1.1 Actual capacity utilization in absolute terms and as a percentage of normal capacity.
7.1.2 Cost information relating to various elements of Cost shall be presented separately.
8. Disclosures
8.1 Disclosure shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.2 If there is any change in cost accounting principles and practices during the period under review which
may materially affect the manufacturing cost of excisable good in terms of comparability with previous
period(s), the same shall be disclosed.
9. Effective date
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April 2015 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of Cost Accounting Statements for excisable goods.
Appendix 1
Cost Statement showing Manufacturing Cost of (Name of excisable good) for the period: _______________________
Date:
Seal & Signature of Cost Accountant
Place: Membership No.: Firm Regn. No. :
Note: Separate Cost Statement(s) shall be prepared for each excisable good
CAS-23
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON OVERBURDEN REMOVAL COST
The following is the Cost Accounting Standard (CAS-23) on “OVERBURDEN REMOVAL COST” issued by the Council
of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. In this standard, the standard portions have been set in bold Italic
type. These are to be read in context of the background material which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
The standard deals with the principles and methods of measurement and assignment of Overburden Removal
Cost and the presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity, consistency in the principles, methods of determining and
assigning Overburden Removal Cost with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
The standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, assignment,
presentation and disclosure of Overburden Removal Cost including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified. Any term not defined in
this Standard shall have the same meaning and expression as set out in the Glossary of Terms issued by the
Council.
4.1 Abnormal cost: An unusual or atypical cost whose occurrence is usually irregular and unexpected and/
or due to some abnormal situation of the production or operations.
4.2 Administrative overheads: cost of all activities relating to general management and administration of an
organization.
4.3 Amortization: Amortization is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an intangible asset
over its useful life.
4.4 Cost Object: This includes a product, service, cost centre, activity, sub-activity, project, contract,
customer or distribution channel or any other unit in relation to which costs are ascertained. [Adapted
from CIMA Terminology]
Activity includes mining operations also.
4.5 Current Ratio: the ratio of overburden removed to mineral produced in a particular patch of mine during
the year.
Quantity of mineral includes production and mineable mineral lying exposed.
Quantity of overburden removed is the net quantity after adjustment of opening and closing advance
stripping quantities.
4.6 Depreciation: Depreciation is a measure of the wearing out, consumption or other loss of value of a
depreciable asset arising from use, efflux of time or obsolescence through technology and market
changes. Depreciation is allocated so as to charge a fair proportion of the depreciable amount in each
accounting period during the estimated useful life of the asset.
4.7 Imputed Costs: Hypothetical or notional costs, not involving cash outlay, computed for any purpose at
any time.
4.8 Interest and Finance Charges: Interest, including any payment in the nature of interest for use of non-
equity funds and incidental cost that an entity incurs in arranging those funds
4.9 Mines overheads: indirect costs involved in the mining process for rendering services.
This relates to the activities of both Mineral extraction and Overburden Removal.
4.10 Mining Plan: It is the plan expected to provide information required to measure the stripping activity with
reasonable consistency.
4.11 Overheads: Overheads comprise of indirect materials, indirect employee costs and indirect expenses
which are not directly identifiable or allocable to a cost object.
4.13 Overburden Removal cost: is the cost incurred to remove the overlying material from the mine site.
4.14 Ratio Variance: It is the variance between current ratio and standard /average stripping ratio in terms
of quantity of mineral produced during the period.
4.15 Repair and Maintenance Cost: cost of all activities which have the objective of maintaining or restoring
an asset in or to a state in which it can perform its required function at intended capacity and efficiency.
4.16 Stripping Activity: It is the activity of overburden removal that benefits the identified component of an
ore to be mined by the entity.
Generally overburden is measured in cubic metres and ore in tonnes. Therefore, the Stripping ratio is
equal to Volume of overburden (m3)/ Weight of ore (in tonnes).
4.18 Standard stripping ratio: this is the ratio between the total quantity of overburden to be removed (in
cubic meters) and the total mineral to be extracted (in tonnes) during the Projected life of the project.
The term Standard stripping ratio and Average stripping ratio denote the same meaning and are used
interchangeably.
The Ratio shall be reviewed periodically, at least every five years, to take into account changes in
geological factors such as actual behavior of the soil and the Ore body. The ratio shall be reviewed
immediately if the geological factors alter radically, for example due to earthquake.
The reported quantity of Overburden is considered in cost statement where the variance between the
reported quantity and the measured quantity is within the permissible limits. Reported quantity is the
quantity of overburden that is necessary corresponding to actual quantity of mineral raised.
For example, 3:1 stripping ratio means that mining one Ton of ore will require mining three cubic meters
of waste rock (overburden).
4.19 Advance Stripping: Advance Stripping is the excess overburden removed in between the overburden
bench and assumed angle of repose drawn from the starting of Mineral bench from the surface of
Mineral than what is needed for extraction of Mineral.
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1. Overburden Removal Cost shall be the aggregate of direct and indirect cost relating to overburden
removal activity.
5.2. Direct cost includes the cost of consumable stores, spares like machinery spares, explosives and
detonators, manpower, equipment usage, utilities, payment made directly to contractors and other
identifiable resources consumed in such activity.
5.3. Indirect cost includes the cost of resources common to various mining operation including overburden
removal activity such as manpower,administrative overheads, loading and unloading equipment
usage and other costs allocable to such activities.
5.4 The overburden removal cost attributable to a development phase of a mine area shall be capitalised
as non-current asset when it is probable that future economic benefits to the area will flow to the entity
and such cost can be identified and measured separately.
5.5 The overburden removal cost attributable to developed area of mine shall be charged to production of
ore at the Standard stripping ratio.
The cost of advance stripping activity whose economic benefit is likely to flow to the entity during the
subsequent period, shall be capitalised and amortised.
If the removal of ore is more than the Standard stripping ratio, then the cost of short removal overburden
shall be charged to the cost of production either by creating the reserve or by adjusting the earlier
capitalized overburden removal cost.
5.6 Overburden shall be measured by multiplying the number of trips undertaken by equipment for
Overburden removal or by any electronic mode. Measurement at regular intervals may be carried out
by volume/ physical verification to arrive at fair quantity of overburden removed. Final assessment will
be made based on scientific methodology.
5.7 Current ratio is determined by dividing the actual overburden removed (net quantity after due
adjustment for opening & closing advance stripping quantity) with the actual production of mineral
including adjustment for mineable quantity of mineral lying exposed during the period.
5.8 Cost of overburden removal activity carried out by outsourcing shall be determined at agreed price as
per contract price including duties and taxes and other expenditure directly attributable thereto. The
cost shall also include the cost of resources provided to the contractor by the company.
5.9 Cost of overburden removal activity of each mine shall be computed and considered separately.
5.10 Subsidy/ grant/ incentive or amount of similar nature received/ receivable with respect to overburden
removal activity if any shall be reduced for ascertainment of the cost of the overburden removal for a
patch/ plot to which the amounts are related.
5.11 Any overburden removal cost resulting from some abnormal circumstances if material and quantifiable
shall not form part of the overburden removal cost.
Examples are fire, cave-in, flooding and other similar events of abnormal circumstances.
5.12 Fine, penalties, damages and similar levies paid to statutory authorities or other third parties shall not
form part of the overburden removal cost.
5.13 Interest & Finance charges incurred in connection with the overburden removal shall not form part of the
overburden removal cost.
5.14 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the determination of the overburden removal
cost should be made only if it is required by law or for compliance with the requirements of a cost
accounting standard or a change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of
cost statements of an enterprise.
6. Assignment of costs
6.1 Direct cost of overburden removal shall be assigned to the overburden removal activity.
6.2 The cost for equipment shall be assigned in the ratio of machine hours actually engaged for mineral and
overburden removal or any other appropriate method that apportions the cost in an equitable manner.
6.3 Administrative overheads and other indirect expenses shall be apportioned to mineral and overburden
on the basis of ratio of actual mineral produced and overburden removed during the period or on the
basis of actual machine hours engaged for mineral extraction, and overburden removal or any other
appropriate basis.
7. Presentation
7.1. Overburden removal, absorption and cost details shall be presented separately for each mine.
8. Disclosures
(ii) Where cost of removal is considered on the basis of standard ratio, any variation positive or
negative from the current ratio.
(iii) Any subsidy grant/ incentive and any such payment reduced from the cost of overburden removal.
(vi) Penalties and damages excluded from the overburden removal cost.
8.2 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the Cost Statement or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
8.4 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of the overburden removal cost during the period covered by the cost statement which has
a material effect on the overburden removal cost shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change
is not ascertainable wholly or partly the fact shall be indicated.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April, 2017 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of the General Purpose Cost Statements.
CAS - 24
COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON TREATMENT OF REVENUE IN COST STATEMENTS
The following is the COST ACCOUNTING STANDARD on “Treatment of Revenue in Cost Statements” (CAS-24) issued
by the Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set
in bold italic type. These are to be read in the context of the background material which has been set in normal
type.
1. Introduction
This standard deals with the principles and methods of classification, measurement, treatment and assignment
of revenue and its presentation and disclosure in cost statements.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to bring uniformity and consistency in the principles and methods for treatment
of revenue in cost statements with reasonable accuracy.
3. Scope
This standard shall be applied to cost statements which require classification, measurement, treatment,
assignment, presentation and disclosure of revenue including those requiring attestation.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified. Any term not defined in
this Standard shall have the same meaning and expression as set out in the Glossary of Terms issued by the
Council.
4.5 By-product: Product with relatively low value produced incidentally in the manufacturing of the product
or service.
4.6 Defectives: Materials, products or intermediate products that do not meet quality standards. This may
include reworks or rejects.
4.7 Intermediate product: An intermediate product is a product that requires further processing before it is
saleable.
4.6 Joint product: Products or services that are produced simultaneously, by the same process, identifiable
at the end of the process and recognised as main products or services having sufficient value.
4.7 Net Sales Realization: is the revenue from operations net of discounts and indirect taxes.
4.8 Other Income: is the income that cannot be classified as revenue from operations.
Examples:
• Profit on sale of fixed assets and investments;
• Interest from investments or deposits outside the business;
• Insurance claims received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Penalties or liquidated damages received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Fees received, not adjusted against an item of cost;
• Rent or lease from properties leased (unless the primary activity itself is leasing);
• Grants received;
• Royalties received (unless it is a part of major activity of the entity);
5. Principles of Measurement
5.1 Revenue from sale of goods or services provided during a reporting period shall be measured based on
the net sales realization.
5.2 Revenue from sale of joint products shall be measured separately for each main product or service sold.
5.3 Revenue from sale of goods or services shall be measured separately for each unit or location of an
entity for each type of goods sold or service provided. It shall be sub-classified into revenue from
exports, domestic sales, manufactured goods, operations, and trading activities.
5.4 Revenue from sale of goods or services shall be measured separately for sale of each type of by-
products, defectives, second grade products, rejects, scrap, spoilage, or wastes.
5.5 If a by-product is further processed before sale, sales realisation of such by-product shall be net of
further processing cost. Its net sales realisation shall be adjusted against the joint cost of production of
relevant main products.
5.6 Net Sales realization of defectives, second-grade products, rejects, scrap, spoilage, and waste products
shall be adjusted against the cost of production of related goods sold.
5.7 Revenue from sale of inputs, utilities, intermediate products, and shared or support services shall be
adjusted against the cost of purchase or cost of production of the related input, utility, intermediate
product and shared or support service.
5.8 Other income shall not be considered in determining profit or loss as per cost accounts.
5.9 Revenue generated from utilization of assets created under the CSR program shall not be considered in
determining profit or loss as per cost accounts.
5.10 Product or service related subsidies, grants, or incentives, received or receivable on sale of goods or
rendering of services shall be part of revenue from operations and shall be identified with each product
sold or service rendered.
5.11 Any subsidy, grant, incentive or any such payment received or receivable to support the current
operations of the entity other than those in the nature of capital grant and other than items referred in
paragraph 5.10 above shall be treated as reduction in the related cost.
Reference:
• para 5.13 of CAS-12, Cost Accounting Standard on Repair and Maintenance Cost;
• para 5.6 of CAS-13, Cost Accounting Standard on Cost of Service Cost Centre;
• para 5.4 of CAS-17, Cost Accounting Standard on Interest and Financing Charges;
• para 5.2 of CAS-18, Cost Accounting Standard on Research and Development Costs;
5.12 Any change in the cost accounting principles applied for the determination of revenue shall be made
only if it is required by law or regulations or for compliance with the requirements of a cost accounting
standard or the change would result in more appropriate preparation or presentation of cost statements
of an entity.
6. Assignment of Revenue:
Revenue for each type of product or service shall be assigned directly to that product or service to the extent
it is economically feasible.
Economic feasibility implies that it is practically feasible to assign the revenue to a particular product or
service with reasonable cost and efforts. Reasonable cost and efforts are matters of judgment.
7. Presentation:
7.2 Net sales realization for each product or service shall be indicated separately for exports, domestic
sales, manufactured goods, operations, and trading activities and matched against the cost of sales
(net of duties) and margin of respective product or service.
7.3 The quantity of goods sold or services provided, where applicable, and selling price per unit shall be
presented under each product or service.
8. Disclosures:
8.1 The cost statements shall disclose the following:
1. Revenue from sale of goods or services made to each related party with basis of determining the
selling price;
2. Revenue from by-products and costs of further processing after split-off point, reduced from cost
of relevant product;
3. Amount and nature of any subsidy, grant or incentive received or receivable and included in the
revenue.
8.2 Any change in the cost accounting principles and methods applied for the measurement and
assignment of revenue during the period covered by the cost statement which has a material effect on
the revenue shall be disclosed. Where the effect of such change is not ascertainable, wholly or partly,
the fact shall be indicated.
8.3 Disclosures shall be made only where material, significant and quantifiable.
8.4 Disclosures shall be made in the body of the cost statements or as a foot note or as a separate schedule.
9. Effective date:
This Cost Accounting Standard shall be effective from the period commencing on or after 1st April, 2017 for
being applied for the preparation and certification of Cost Accounting Statement for goods sold and services
provided.
The following is the Cost Auditing Standard (Cost Auditing Standard- 101) on “Planning an Audit of Cost Statements”.
In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic type. This Standard should be read in the
context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
Planning an audit of cost statements, records and other related documents is considered necessary to ensure
achievement of audit objectives with available resources and securing coordination with the auditee on
audit work.
2. Objective
The objective of this Standard is to guide the members in planning for the audit of cost statements so that it is
performed in an efficient and effective manner. Audit planning shall also include establishing the overall audit
strategy and audit plan for the conduct of the audit.
3. Scope
This Standard deals with the auditors’ responsibility to plan an audit of cost statements, records and other
related documents. The auditor shall prepare and document the overall audit strategy and audit plan.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Audit: Audit is an independent examination of financial, cost and other related information of an entity whether
profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form, when such an examination is conducted with a view
to expressing an opinion thereon.
4.2 Audit Partner: Audit partner means the partner in the firm who is a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants
of India and is in full time practice and is responsible for the audit and its performance, and for the report that is
issued on behalf of the firm, and who, where required, has the appropriate authority from a professional, legal
or regulatory body.
4.3 Audit Plan: A record of the planned nature, timing and extent of risk assessment procedures and further audit
procedures at the assertion level in response to the assessed risks.
4.4 Audit Risk: Audit risk is the risk that the cost auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion on the cost
statements that are materially misstated. Audit risk is a function of the risk of material misstatement and
detection risk.
(a) The risk of material misstatement has two components viz. Inherent Risk and Control risk.
(1) Inherent risk: the susceptibility of an assertion about the measurement, assignment or disclosure of
cost to a misstatement that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other
misstatements, before consideration of any related controls.
(2) Control risk: the risk that a misstatement that could occur in an assertion about the measurement,
assignment or disclosure of cost and that could be material, either individually or when aggregated
with other misstatements, will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis by
the entity’s internal, operational and management control.
(b) Detection risk: the risk that the procedures followed by the cost auditor to reduce audit risk to an acceptable
low level will not detect a misstatement that exists and that could be material, either individually or when
aggregated with other misstatements.
4.5 Audit Team: Audit team means all personnel performing an engagement, including any experts contracted
by the firm in connection with that engagement.
4.6 Auditee: Auditee means a company or any other entity for which cost audit is being carried out.
4.7 Cost Audit: Cost audit is an independent examination of cost statements, cost records and other related
information of an entity including a non-profit entity, when such an examination is conducted with a view to
expressing an opinion thereon.
4.8 Cost Auditor: “Cost Auditor” means an auditor appointed to conduct an audit of cost records and shall be a
cost accountant within the meaning of The Cost and Works Accountants Act 1959. “Cost Accountant” is a cost
accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of The Cost and Works Accountants Act,
1959 (23 of 1959) and who holds a valid certificate of practice under subsection (1) of section 6 and who is
deemed to be in practice under subsection (2) of section 2 of that Act and includes a firm of cost accountants.
4.9 Firm: Firm means a sole practitioner, partnership including LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) or any other entity
of professional cost accountants as may be permitted by law and constituted under The Cost and Works
Accountants Act & Regulations.
4.10 Initial Audit: Initial audit means an audit where:-
(a) The entity is subject to audit for the first time, as per the applicable laws, or
(b) The audit of the entity for the prior period was conducted by a different audit firm.
4.11 Misstatement: A difference between the amounts, classification, presentation or disclosure of a reported cost
statement item and the amount, classification, presentation, or disclosure that is required for the item to be
in accordance with the applicable cost reporting framework. Misstatements can arise from error or fraud.
Where the cost auditor expresses an opinion on whether the cost statements give a true and fair view,
misstatements also include those adjustments of amounts, classifications, presentation, or disclosures that,
in the cost auditor’s judgment, are necessary for the cost statements to be presented fairly, in all material
respects, or to give a true and fair view.
4.12 Overall Audit Strategy: Overall Audit Strategy sets the scope, timing and direction of the audit, and guides the
development of the detailed audit plan.
4.13 Risk Assessment: The audit procedures performed to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment,
including the entity’s internal control, to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement, whether due to
fraud or error, at the overall cost statement level and at the assertion level including items of cost, cost heads
and disclosure thereof.
5. Requirements
5.1 Prior to entering the planning phase, the Cost Auditor shall ensure that:
(a) the appointment as cost auditor is proper, he has received the letter of appointment and legal formalities
regarding his appointment have been complied with;
(b) the ethical requirements as per the regulations continue to be satisfied; (Refer 6.3)
(c) an understanding of the terms of reference including the units to be covered, products/services to be
covered, scope of coverage where the regulations leave it to be agreed between the auditor and the
auditee.
5.2 The audit partner and other key members of an audit team shall be involved in planning the audit, including
planning and participating in the discussion among audit team members. (Refer 6.4)
5.3 The Cost Auditor shall formulate an Overall audit strategy that sets the scope, timing and direction of the
audit.
The overall audit strategy guides the development of the audit plan.
5.4 In formulating the Overall audit strategy, the Cost Auditor shall consider all relevant factors. (Refer 6.5)
These relevant factors include:
(a) results of preliminary activities as specified in 5.1 above
(b) knowledge from previous audits and other engagements with the auditee
(c) knowledge of business
(d) nature and scope of the audit
(e) statutory deadlines and reporting format
(f) relevant factors determining the direction of the audit efforts
(g) nature, timing and extent of resources required for the audit.
5.5 The Cost Auditor shall develop an audit plan.
The audit plan will include the nature, extent and timing of risk assessment, audit procedures and other
activities (Refer 6.5, 6.6)
5.6 The Cost Auditor shall plan the nature, extent and timing of the direction and supervision of audit team
members and the review of their work.(Refer 6.7)
5.7 The Cost Auditor shall update the Overall audit strategy and the audit plan as required during the course of
audit. (Refer 6.8)
5.8 The Cost Auditor shall document the overall audit strategy, the audit plan and any significant changes
made therein during the audit engagements and the reasons for the changes.
5.9 In the initial audit, the Cost Auditor shall perform procedures regarding the acceptance of the client
relationship and the specific audit.
In case where the audit of the entity for the prior period was conducted by a different audit firm, the auditor
shall communicate with the previous auditor. (Refer 6.9)
6. Application Guidance
6.1 The nature and extent of planning activities will vary according to the:
(a) size and complexity of the entity’s activities, the number of products to be covered, the processes
and operations involved.
(a) the audit team members’ previous experience with the entity and the industry.
(b) changes in circumstances that occur during the audit.
6.2 Planning is not a discrete phase of an audit, but rather a continuous and iterative process. Planning includes
scheduling which involves determining the priority of audit procedures and their inter dependence. For
example, the risk assessment procedures are planned early in the audit process.
6.3 Prior to the performance of other significant activities for the current year’s audit, the auditor shall ensure that
{Refer 5.1 (b)} :
(a) After the Cost Auditor has accepted the appointment for an entity, there are no changes in his position
in relation to the entity that impede his arm’s length relationship with the entity. Such as, acceptance of
an assignment relating to designing and implementation of cost accounting system for the entity.
(b) Subsequent to his acceptance of the assignment, no issues about management integrity has cropped
up that may affect the auditor’s willingness to continue the engagement.
6.4 The involvement of the audit partner and other key members of the audit team in planning the audit draws
on their experience and insights, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the planning process.
(Refer 5.2)
6.5 Matters that are relevant in formulating the overall audit strategy and drawing up the audit plan include, in
addition to those mentioned earlier, the following (Refer 5.4, 5.5):
(a) The cost reporting framework generally prescribed, under the Companies Act and Rules prescribed
thereunder, as well as under any other law as applicable, on the basis of which the cost information to
be audited has been prepared, including need for reconciliation with financial reporting framework.
7. Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
The following is the Cost Auditing Standard (Cost Auditing Standard-102) on “Cost Audit Documentation”. In this
Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic type. This Standard should be read in the context of
the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
The purpose of this Standard is to provide guidance to the members in preparation of Audit Documentation
in the context of the audit of cost statements, records and other related documents.
Nature and Purpose of Cost Audit Documentation
Cost Audit documentation that meets the requirement of this Cost Auditing Standard and the specific
documentation requirements of other relevant Cost Auditing Standards provides:
(a) Evidence of the cost auditor’s basis for a conclusion about the achievement of the overall objectives of
the cost auditor; and
(b) Evidence that the cost audit was planned and performed in accordance with Cost Auditing Standards
and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Cost Audit documentation serves a number of additional purposes, including the following:
(a) Assisting the audit team to plan and perform the cost audit.
(b) Assisting members of the audit team responsible for supervision to direct and supervise the cost audit
work, and to discharge their review responsibilities.
(c) Enabling the audit team to be accountable for its work.
(d) Retaining a record of matters of continuing significance to future cost audits.
(e) Enabling the conduct of quality control reviews in accordance with the Guidance Manual for Audit
Quality issued by Quality Review Board (QRB).
(f) Enabling the conduct of external inspections in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory or other
requirements.
2. Objective
The objective of this Standard is to guide the members to prepare documentation that provides:
(a) A sufficient and appropriate record of the basis for the Cost Auditor’s Report; and
(b) Evidence that the audit was planned and performed in accordance with Cost Auditing Standards and
applicable legal & regulatory requirements.
3. Scope
This Standard deals with the cost auditor’s responsibility to prepare audit documentation for the audit of cost
statements, records and other related documents. The specific documentation requirements of other Cost
Auditing Standard’s do not limit the application of this Cost Auditing Standard. Laws or regulations may establish
additional documentation requirements.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this Standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Audit: Audit is an independent examination of financial, cost and other related information of an entity whether
profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form, when such an examination is conducted with a view
to expressing an opinion thereon.
4.2 Audit documentation: Audit Documentation means the records, in physical or electronic form, including
working papers prepared by and for, or obtained and retained by the Cost auditor, in connection with the
performance of the audit.
4.3 Audit file: Audit file means one or more folders or other storage media, in physical or electronic form, containing
the records that comprise the audit documentation for a specific Assignment or audit.
4.4 Audit Partner: Audit partner means the partner in the firm who is a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants
of India and is in full time practice and is responsible for the audit and its performance, and for the report that is
issued on behalf of the firm, and who, where required, has the appropriate authority from a professional, legal
or regulatory body.
4.5 Audit Team: Audit team means all personnel performing an engagement, including any experts contracted
by the firm in connection with that engagement.
4.6 Audit working papers: Audit working papers are the documents which record all audit evidence obtained
during audit. Such documents are used to support the audit work done in order to provide assurance that the
audit was performed in accordance with the relevant Cost Auditing Standards.
4.7 Cost Auditor: “Cost Auditor” means an auditor appointed to conduct an audit of cost records and shall be a
cost accountant within the meaning of The Cost and Works Accountants Act 1959. “Cost Accountant” is a cost
accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of The Cost and Works Accountants Act,
1959 (23 of 1959) and who holds a valid certificate of practice under subsection (1) of section 6 and who is
deemed to be in practice under subsection (2) of section 2 of that Act and includes a firm of cost accountants.
4.8 Firm: Firm means a sole practitioner, partnership including LLP (Limited Liability Partnership or any other entity
of professional cost accountants as may be permitted by law and constituted under The Cost and Works
Accountants Act & Regulations.
5. Requirements
5.1 The cost auditor as part of the audit documentation shall record audit procedures performed, relevant audit
evidence obtained, and conclusions reached. (Refer 6.1)
5.2 The Cost Auditor shall prepare audit documentation that is sufficient to enable another competent person,
having no previous connection with the said audit, including person undertaking peer review to understand:
(a) Conformance of audit procedures performed with legal and regulatory requirements;
(b) Conformance to Cost Auditing Standards. (Refer 6.6)
(c) The results of audit procedures performed
(d) The audit evidence obtained
(e) Significant matters arising during the audit, the conclusions reached thereon, and significant professional
judgments made in reaching those conclusions.(Refer 6.7 & 6.8)
5.3 The Cost Auditor shall record the discussions of significant matters with client personnel and outsiders.
(Refer 6.9).
5.4 The Cost Auditor shall record any departure from the standard requirement in a Cost Auditing Standard. (Refer
6.11)
5.5 In documenting the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures performed, the Cost Auditor shall record the
characteristics of the specific items or matters tested, the persons responsible for performing and reviewing
such procedures with relevant dates and extent of review. (Refer 6.12)
5.6 The Cost Auditor shall prepare audit documentation on a timely basis. (Refer 6.14)
5.7 If, in exceptional circumstances, Cost Auditor performs any new or additional audit procedures or draws new
conclusions, after the date of Cost Audit Report, then he shall document such circumstances and details of
such procedures performed. (Refer 6.15)
5.8 The cost auditor shall assemble the audit documentation in an audit file. (Refer 6.16)
6. Application Guidance
(a) Checklists
Example: Checklist of compliance with:-(1) The Rules, regarding maintenance of Cost Records, as
prescribed under the Companies Act,
(3) The Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles (GACAP) as prescribed by the Institute
Example: Audit Program for Material Cost, Employee Cost and others
(c) Analysis
Cost Audit relies more on analytical review than on substantive testing to establish true and fair view.
Example: Calorific value of different fuels used and average Cost per unit of calorific value and Specific
Heat Consumption.
Example: Supply of materials indicating price, quality terms, O & M contracts, Terms of supply of
contract labour and others
6.2. Audit documentation may be in paper form or electronic form. Where it is in electronic form, special care
may be required to protect against accidental deletion, or tampering.
6.3. The content and form of audit documentation will depend on a number of factors such as:
(d) the cost audit methodology and tools used. For example whether automated queries were used to get
audit evidence from cost records.
6.4. In particular, it is necessary to document the basis for a conclusion, not readily determinable from other
documentation. For example: consumption of materials by a product from technical norms, normal price for
a related party contract from Cost Auditor’s own sources of data of the industry.
6.5. Audit documentation must be sufficient and appropriate, and oral explanations by the Cost Auditor cannot
substitute for such documentation.
6.6. Audit documentation must contain evidence of conformance to requirements of Cost Auditing Standards in
respect of this Standard and other standards {Refer 5.2(b)}:
(c) Minutes of discussion with client personnel, with names of members of audit team present, particularly
of the audit partner when he is present
(d) Minutes of audit team discussions, with names of members of audit team present, particularly of the
audit partner when he is present.
6.7. Matters that give rise to significant risks of a material misstatement are significant matters. Those that causes
a revision of the Cost Auditor’s previous assessment of the risks of material misstatement is also a significant
matter. The Cost Auditor may have reached a certain conclusion regarding the misstatement of the Material
Cost in a Cost statement based on the availability of a well documented Bill of Materials but his assessment
of risk may undergo a change if he finds that there is considerable use of substitute and alternate materials in
the actual production process. Matters that cause the Cost Auditor significant difficulty in applying necessary
audit procedures are also significant, as for example heaps of bulk material in irregular shapes which make
volumetric measurement of stock in a physical stock taking unreliable. {Refer 5.2(e)}
6.8. Determining what are significant matters in an audit to warrant their inclusion in the documentation must
be objectively done. The conclusions reached and the application of professional judgment in respect of
these also needs to be documented. For example the determination of the normal capacity for applying
overheads is a significant matter in Cost Audit and requires not mere calculations but considerable judgment.
These should be adequately documented. {Refer 5.2(e)}
6.9. Records of discussions include Minutes of discussion of significant matters with management, those charged
with governance and others. It also includes Discussion with third parties seeking information or confirmation.
(Refer 5.3)
6.10. The Cost Audit Documentation in respect of smaller entities may be less detailed than what is indicated but
must include at the minimum the following:
(a) A description of the entity, the products produced, services provided and other activities
(b) An organization Chart showing the responsibility centres and the person responsible
(d) Internal controls over material cost, labour cost and expenses
(e) The risks of material misstatement assessed, for example, in respect of scrap recovery and disposal
(h) Significant matters noted during the audit, and conclusions reached
6.11. If, in exceptional circumstances, the Cost Auditor finds it necessary to perform alternative audit procedures
different from a corresponding requirement in a Cost Auditing Standards, the Cost Auditor shall document
how the alternative audit procedures performed achieve the aim of that requirement, and the reasons for
the departure. (Refer 5.4)
6.12. It is necessary in a Cost Audit to identify the specific matters or items tested. In connection with a Cost Audit
these may include Purchase Orders for supply of key raw materials, Goods Receipt Notes for materials, Issue
notes for materials, bills of contractors for supply of contract labour among others. Where the Cost Auditor
resorts to test checking, the basis used for selection, for example issues of spares above a certain value, and
the documents selected. (Refer 5.5)
6.13. Names of the team member preparing specific audit documents and details of their review by the Cost
Auditor are a necessary part of the Audit Documentation.
6.14. Preparing the audit Documentation on timely basis helps to enhance the quality of audit. Documentation
prepared after the audit work has been performed is likely to be less accurate than the documentation
prepared during execution. (Refer 5.6)
6.15. Facts which become known to the Cost Auditor after the date of the audit report but which if known earlier
would have caused the cost statements to be changed or the Cost Audit Report to be modified should be
added to the Cost Audit Documentation. The resulting changes to the audit documentation must also be
reviewed as the original documentation. (Refer 5.8)
6.16. The Cost Audit Documentation must be assembled as the audit goes on and the final assembly required
of audited documentation must be limited. Assembly the final audit file should be completed within a
reasonable time after the completion of the audit. After the assembly of the final audit file has completed,
the auditor should not delete or discard audit documentation of any nature before the end of its retention
period. (Refer 5.9)
6.17. The audit documentation is the property of the Cost Auditor. Unless otherwise specified by law or regulation,
he may at his discretion, make portions of, or extracts from audit documentation available to clients
6.18. The Cost Audit Documentation should be retained for at least ten years from the date of the Cost Audit
Report.
7. Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Cost Auditing Standard Overall Objectives of the Independent Cost Auditor and
the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Cost Auditing Standards - 103
The following is the Cost Auditing Standard (Cost Auditing Standard - 103) on “Overall Objectives of the Independent
Cost Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Cost Auditing Standards”. In this Standard, the
standard portions have been set in bold italic type. This Standard should be read in the context of the background
material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
This Standard on Auditing deals with the overall objectives of the independent cost auditor, the nature and
scope of a Cost audit the independent auditor’s overall responsibilities when conducting an audit of cost
statements in accordance with Cost Auditing Standards. It also explains the requirements establishing the
general responsibilities of the independent auditor applicable in all audits, including the obligation to comply
with the Cost Auditing Standards.
2. Objectives
The objective of this Standard is to lay down the overall objectives of the Cost Auditor and ensuring the Conduct
of the Audit of Cost Statements in accordance with the Cost Auditing Standards.
2.1. to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the cost statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to enable the auditor to express an opinion whether the
Cost Statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable Cost reporting
framework, Cost Accounting Standards(CAS) and Generally Accepted Cost Accounting Principles
(GACAP) as issued by the Institute, and give a true and fair view of the Cost of a product, activity or
service. In the case of a Cost Audit under the Companies Act and Rules prescribed thereunder, the
objective is to express an opinion on whether the Cost Statements subject to audit represent a true and
fair view of the cost of production, cost of sales and margin of products covered by the Cost Audit.
2.2. to report on the cost statements in the form required by law or by the Cost Auditing Standards in
accordance with the auditor’s findings.
Where reasonable assurance cannot be obtained, the cost auditor should qualify the opinion and in
extreme cases disclaim an opinion.
The Cost Auditors objective may extend to making observations and suggestions where required by
applicable regulations.
3. Scope
The scope of this standard is to establish overall objectives of the cost auditor while conducting an audit of
cost statements, in accordance with the cost auditing standards.
It also describes management responsibility for the preparation and presentation of the Cost Statement, to
identify the Cost Reporting framework and to lay down Cost Accounting policies.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1. Audit: Audit is an independent examination of financial, cost and other related information of an entity
whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form, when such an examination is conducted
with a view to expressing an opinion thereon.
4.2. Audit Partner: Audit partner means the partner in the firm who is a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants
of India and is in full time practice and is responsible for the audit and its performance, and for the report that
is issued on behalf of the firm, and who, where required, has the appropriate authority from a professional,
legal or regulatory body.
4.3. Audit Risk: Audit risk is the risk that the cost auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion on the cost
statements that are materially misstated. Audit risk is a function of the risk of material misstatement and
detection risk.
(a) The risk of material misstatement has two components viz. Inherent Risk and Control risk.
(1) Inherent risk: the susceptibility of an assertion about the measurement, assignment or disclosure of
cost to a misstatement that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other
misstatements, before consideration of any related controls.
(2) Control risk: the risk that a misstatement that could occur in an assertion about the measurement,
assignment or disclosure of cost and that could be material, either individually or when aggregated
with other misstatements, will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis by
the entity’s internal, operational and management control.
(b) Detection risk: the risk that the procedures followed by the cost auditor to reduce audit risk to an
acceptable low level will not detect a misstatement that exists and that could be material, either
individually or when aggregated with other misstatements.
4.4. Audit Team: Audit team means all personnel performing an engagement, including any experts contracted
by the firm in connection with that engagement.
4.5. Auditee: Auditee means a company or any other entity for which cost audit is being carried out.
4.6. Auditor: Auditor is used to refer to the person or persons conducting the audit, usually the audit partner or
other members of the audit team, or, as applicable the firm. Auditor includes Cost Auditor
4.7. Cost Audit: Cost audit is an independent examination of cost statements, cost records and other related
information of an entity including a non-profit entity, when such an examination is conducted with a view to
expressing an opinion thereon.
4.8. Cost Auditor: “Cost Auditor” means an auditor appointed to conduct an audit of cost records and shall be
a cost accountant within the meaning of The Cost and Works Accountants Act 1959. “Cost Accountant” is a
cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of The Cost and Works Accountants
Act, 1959 (23 of 1959) and who holds a valid certificate of practice under subsection (1) of section 6 and
who is deemed to be in practice under subsection (2) of section 2 of that Act and includes a firm of cost
accountants.
4.9. Firm: Firm means a sole practitioner, partnership including LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) or any other
entity of professional cost accountants as may be permitted by law and constituted under The Cost and
Works Accountants Act & Regulations.
4.10. Management: The person(s) with executive responsibility for the conduct of the entity’s operations. For some
entities in some jurisdictions, management includes some or all of those charged with governance.
4.11. Misstatement: A difference between the amounts, classification, presentation or disclosure of a reported
cost statement item and the amount, classification, presentation, or disclosure that is required for the item to
be in accordance with the applicable cost reporting framework. Misstatements can arise from error or fraud.
Where the cost auditor expresses an opinion on whether the cost statements give a true and fair view,
misstatements also include those adjustments of amounts, classifications, presentation, or disclosures that,
in the cost auditor’s judgment, are necessary for the cost statements to be presented fairly, in all material
respects, or to give a true and fair view.
4.12. Non-compliance: Acts of omission or commission by the entity, either intentional or unintentional, which are
contrary to the prevailing laws or regulations governing Cost Accounting, Cost Records and Cost Audit. Such
acts include transactions entered into by, or in the name of, the entity, or on its behalf, by those charged
with governance, management or employees. Non-compliance does not include personal misconduct
(unrelated to the business activities of the entity) by those charged with governance, management or
employees of the entity.
4.13. Overall Audit Strategy: Overall Audit Strategy sets the scope, timing and direction of the audit, and guides
the development of the detailed audit plan.
4.14. Professional Judgment: The application of relevant training, knowledge and experience, within the context
provided by cost auditing standards, cost accounting standards and ethical requirements, in making
informed decisions about the courses of action that are appropriate in the circumstances of the audit
engagement.
4.15. Professional Skepticism: An attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions which may
indicate possible misstatements due to error or fraud, and a critical assessment of audit evidence.
4.16. Risk Assessment: The audit procedures performed to obtain an understanding of the entity and its
environment, including the entity’s internal control, to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement,
whether due to fraud or error, at the overall cost statement level and at the assertion level including items of
cost, cost heads and disclosure thereof.
4.17. Those charged with governance: The person(s) or organisation(s) (e.g., a corporate trustee) with responsibility
for overseeing the strategic direction of the entity and obligations related to the accountability of the entity.
This includes overseeing the financial reporting process. For some entities in some jurisdictions, those
charged with governance may include management personnel, for example, executive members of a
governance board of a private or public sector entity, or an owner-manager.
5. Requirements
5.1. The cost auditor shall comply with the relevant ethical requirements including those pertaining to
independence in respect of cost audit engagements. (refer 6.1)
5.2. While conducting an audit, the cost auditor shall comply with each of the Cost Auditing Standards
relevant to the audit. A Cost Auditing Standard is relevant to the audit when the Cost Auditing
Standard is in effect and the circumstances addressed by the Cost Auditing Standard exist. (refer 6.2)
5.3. The cost auditor shall have an understanding of the entire text of the Cost Auditing Standard, including
its application and other explanatory material, to understand its objectives and to apply its requirements
properly.
5.4. The cost auditor shall not represent compliance with the cost auditing standards in the cost auditor’s report
unless the auditor has complied fully with all of the Cost Auditing Standards relevant to the audit.
5.5. In exceptional circumstances, the cost auditor may judge it necessary to depart from a relevant requirement
in a Cost Auditing Standard. In such circumstances, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures to
achieve the aim of that requirement.{Refer 6.2(c)}
5.6. The cost auditor shall plan and perform an audit with an attitude of professional skepticism recognizing that
circumstances may exist that cause the Cost Statements to be materially misstated. (refer 6.3)
5.7. The auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level
and thereby enable the auditor to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion.
(refer 6.4 )
5.8. The cost auditor shall exercise professional judgment in planning and performing the audit.
5.9. The cost auditor shall determine whether the Cost Reporting Framework followed by management in
preparing cost statements is in line with the Companies Act and the Rules prescribed thereunder. (refer 6.5)
5.10. The cost auditor shall not be required to perform audit procedures regarding the entity’s compliance with
laws and regulations governing cost audit in the absence of identified or suspected non-compliance.
(refer 6.6)
5.11. If an objective in a relevant Cost Auditing Standard cannot be achieved, the auditor shall evaluate whether
this prevents the auditor from achieving the overall objectives of the auditor and thereby requires the auditor,
in accordance with the Cost Auditing Standards, to modify the auditor’s opinion.
6. Application Guidance:
6.1 Audit and Ethics: The cost auditor should comply with relevant ethical requirements as per Code of Ethics issued
by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. This code establishes fundamental principles of professional
ethics relevant to the auditor while conducting an audit and provides a conceptual framework for applying
these principles. The fundamental principles with which the auditor is required to comply are Independence,
Integrity, Objectivity, Professional competence and due care, Confidentiality and Professional conduct. In
case of an audit engagement, it is in the public interest that the auditor should be independent of the entity
subject to the audit. The cost auditor’s independence from the entity safeguards the cost auditor’s ability to
form an opinion without being affected by influences that might compromise that opinion. Independence
enhances the auditor’s ability to act with integrity to be objective and to maintain an attitude of professional
skepticism. (Refer 5.1)
For Example: The provision of services for maintenance of cost records, design and implementation of Cost
Systems and internal audit are considered to erode the independence.
6.2 Conduct of audit: (Refer 5.2)
(a) The Cost Auditing Standards provide the standards for the cost auditor’s work in fulfilling the overall
objectives of the cost auditor. The Cost Auditing Standards deal with general responsibilities of the cost
auditor, as well as cost auditor’s further considerations relevant to the application of those responsibilities
to specific topics.
(b) In performing an audit, the cost auditor may be required to comply with legal or regulatory requirements
in addition to Cost Auditing Standards. In such cases in addition to complying with each of the Cost
Auditing Standard relevant to the cost audit, it may be necessary for the cost auditor to perform
additional audit procedures in order to comply with the legislative and regulatory requirements. The
Cost Auditing Standards do not override law or regulations that govern audit process.
The form of the cost auditor’s opinion will depend upon the applicable cost reporting framework and
any applicable laws or regulations such as Companies Act and Rules prescribed thereunder.
(c) The need for the auditor to depart from a relevant requirement is expected to arise only where the
requirement is for a specific procedure to be performed and, in the specific circumstances of the audit,
that procedure would be ineffective in achieving the aim of the requirement. (Refer 5.5)
6.3 Professional skepticism: An attitude of professional skepticism means the cost auditor makes a critical
assessment, with a questioning mind, of the validity of audit evidence obtained and be alert to audit
evidence that contradicts or brings into question the reliability of documents and responses to inquiries
and other information obtained from management and those charged with governance. An attitude of
professional skepticism is necessary throughout the cost audit process for the auditor to reduce the risk
of overlooking unusual circumstances, of over generalizing when drawing conclusions from cost audit
observations, and of using faulty assumptions in determining the nature, timing and extent of the cost audit
procedures and evaluating the results thereof. When making inquiries and performing other cost audit
procedures, the cost auditor should not be satisfied with less-than-persuasive audit evidence based on a
belief that management and those charged with governance are honest and have integrity. Accordingly,
representations from management are not a substitute for obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence
to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the cost auditor’s opinion. (Refer 5.6)
(a) A cost auditor conducting an audit in accordance with Cost Auditing Standards obtains reasonable
assurance that the Cost Statements taken as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error. Reasonable assurance is a concept relating to the accumulation of the audit
evidence necessary for the auditor to conclude that there are no material misstatements in the Cost
Statements taken as a whole. Reasonable assurance relates to the whole audit process.
A cost auditor cannot obtain absolute assurance because there are inherent limitations in an audit
that affect the cost auditor’s ability to detect material misstatements. These limitations result from
factors such as the following:
(1) The use of sample testing.
(2) The inherent limitations of internal control (for example, the possibility of management override or
collusion).
(3) The fact that most audit evidence is persuasive rather than conclusive.
Also, the work undertaken by the cost auditor to form an audit opinion is permeated by judgment, in
particular regarding:
(1) The gathering of audit evidence, for example, in deciding the nature, timing and extent of audit
procedures; and
(2) The drawing of conclusions based on the audit evidence gathered, for example, assessing the
reasonableness of the estimates made by management in preparing the Cost Statements.
(b) Further, other limitations may affect the persuasiveness of audit evidence available to draw conclusions
on particular assertions. (For example, transactions between related parties). In these cases certain
Cost Auditing Standard identify specified audit procedures which will, because of the nature of the
particular assertions, provide sufficient appropriate audit evidence in the absence of:
(1) Unusual circumstances which increase the risk of material misstatement beyond that which would
ordinarily be expected; or
(2) Any indication that a material misstatement has occurred.
Accordingly, because of the factors described above, an audit is not a guarantee that the Cost
Statements are free from material misstatement, because absolute assurance is not attainable. Further,
an audit opinion does not assure the future viability of the entity nor the efficiency or effectiveness
with which management has conducted the affairs of the entity.
6.4 Audit Risk and Materiality: Entities pursue strategies to achieve their objectives, and depending on the
nature of their operations and industry, the regulatory environment in which they operate, and their size and
complexity, they face a variety of business risks. Management is responsible for identifying such risks and
responding to them. However, not all risks relate to the preparation of the Cost Statements. The auditor is
ultimately concerned only with risks that may affect the cost statements. (Refer 5.7)
(a) The cost auditor obtains and evaluates audit evidence to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the Cost Statements give a true and fair view or in accordance with the applicable cost
reporting framework. The concept of reasonable assurance acknowledges that there is a risk the
audit opinion is inappropriate. The risk that the cost auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion
when the Cost Statements are materially misstated is known as “audit risk.”The cost auditor reduces
audit risk by designing and performing audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit
evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base an audit opinion. Reasonable
assurance is obtained when the auditor has reduced audit risk to an acceptably low level.
(b) Audit risk is a function of the risk of material misstatement in the cost statements (or simply, the “risk of
material misstatement”) (i.e., the risk that the Cost Statements are materially misstated prior to audit)
and the risk that the auditor will not detect such misstatement (“detection risk”). The cost auditor
performs audit procedures to assess the risk of material misstatement and seeks to limit detection
risk by performing further audit procedures based on that assessment. The audit process involves
the exercise of professional judgment in designing the audit approach, through focusing on what
can go wrong (i.e., what are the potential misstatements that may arise) at the assertion level and
performing audit procedures in response to the assessed risks in order to obtain sufficient appropriate
audit evidence.
(c) The cost auditor is concerned with material misstatements, and is not responsible for the detection
of misstatements that are not material to the Cost Statements taken as a whole. The cost auditor
considers whether the effect of identified uncorrected misstatements, both individually and in the
aggregate, is material to the Cost Statements taken as a whole. Materiality and audit risk are related.
In order to design audit procedures to determine whether there are misstatements that are material
to the cost statements taken as a whole, the cost auditor considers the risk of material misstatement
at two levels:
combined assessments of inherent and control risk depending on preferred audit techniques or
methodologies and practical considerations. The assessment of the risk of material misstatement
may be expressed in quantitative terms, such as in percentages, or in non-quantitative terms. In
any case, the need for the auditor to make appropriate risk assessments is more important than
the different approaches by which they may be made.
(g) “Detection risk” is the risk that the cost auditor will not detect a misstatement that exists in an assertion
that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other misstatements. Detection
risk is a function of the effectiveness of an audit procedure and of its application by the auditor.
Detection risk cannot be reduced to zero because the auditor usually does not examine all of cost
heads, items of cost, or disclosure and because of other factors. Such other factors include the
possibility that a cost auditor might select an inappropriate audit procedure, misapply an appropriate
audit procedure, or misinterpret the audit results. These other factors ordinarily can be addressed
through adequate planning, proper assignment of personnel to the audit team, the application of
professional skepticism, and supervision and review of the audit work performed.
Detection risk relates to the nature, timing, and extent of the auditor’s procedures that are determined
by the auditor to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level.
For a given level of audit risk, the acceptable level of detection risk bears an inverse relationship
to the assessment of the risk of material misstatement at the assertion level. The greater the risk of
material misstatement the auditor believes exists, the less the detection risk that can be accepted.
Conversely, the less risk of material misstatement the auditor believes exist, the greater the detection
risk that can be accepted.
6.5 Responsibility for the Cost Statements: The cost auditor is responsible for forming and expressing an opinion
on the Cost Statements. (Refer 5.9)
The term “Cost Statements” refers to a structured representation of the cost information, which ordinarily
includes accompanying notes, derived from cost accounting records and intended to communicate an
entity’s use of economic resources and the output obtained in accordance with a Cost reporting framework.
The term can refer to for example, a cost statement, reconciliation with financial accounts and related
explanatory notes.
(a) The requirements of the Cost reporting framework determine the form and content of the Cost
Statements and what constitutes a complete set of Cost Statements. For certain Cost reporting
frameworks, a single cost statement as such and the related explanatory notes constitute a complete
set of Cost Statements. For example: a Cost Statement under Cost Accounting Standard 4.
(b) The Cost auditor is not responsible for preparing and presenting the cost statements in accordance
with the applicable Cost reporting framework including inter-alia:
(1) Designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and
presentation of Cost Statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud
or error;
(2) Selecting and applying appropriate Cost accounting policies; and
(3) Making cost estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.
6.6 Non-compliance: The cost auditor shall request management to provide written representation that all
known instances of non-compliance or suspected non - compliance with laws and regulations governing
Cost Accounting, Cost Records and Cost Audit have been disclosed to the cost auditor. The representations
provide necessary audit evidence about management knowledge of identified or suspected non-
compliance with laws and regulations whose effects may have a material effect on the cost statement
however, written representation do not provide sufficient audit evidence on their own, and accordingly do
not affect the nature and extent of other audit evidence that is to be obtained by the cost auditor. (Refer
5.10)
7. Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Cost Auditing Standard on Knowledge of Business, its Processes and the Business Environment - 104
The following is the Cost Auditing Standard (Cost Auditing Standard - 104) on “Knowledge of Business, its Processes
and the Business Environment”. In this Standard, the standard portions have been set in bold italic type. This
standard should be read in the context of the background material, which has been set in normal type.
1. Introduction
In performing an audit of cost statement, records and other related documents, the cost auditor should have
the knowledge of the client’s business to enable him to understand the processes and express his opinion on
the cost statements.
The cost auditor’s level of knowledge for a cost audit engagement should include a general knowledge of
the economy and the industry within which the entity operates, and a more particular knowledge of how the
entity operates.
2. Objective
The objective of this standard is to enable the cost auditor to have knowledge of the client’s business which is
sufficient to identify and understand the events, transactions and practices that, in the cost auditor’s judgment
may have a significant effect on the examination of cost statements or on the preparation of the cost audit
report.
3. Scope
This standard deals with obtaining the knowledge of the client’s business, its processes and business environment
as it is important for the cost auditor and members of the audit team working on an audit engagement.
4. Definitions
The following terms are being used in this standard with the meaning specified.
4.1 Audit: Audit is an independent examination of financial, cost and other related information of an entity
whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form, when such an examination is conducted
with a view to expressing an opinion thereon.
4.2 Audit Plan: A record of the planned nature, timing and extent of risk assessment procedures and further audit
procedures at the assertion level in response to the assessed risk.
4.3 Audit Risk: Audit risk is the risk that the cost auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion on the cost
statements that are materially misstated. Audit risk is a function of the risk of material misstatement and
detection risk.
(a) The risk of material misstatement has two components viz. Inherent Risk and Control risk.
(1) Inherent risk: the susceptibility of an assertion about the measurement, assignment or disclosure of
cost to a misstatement that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other
misstatements, before consideration of any related controls.
(2) Control risk: the risk that a misstatement that could occur in an assertion about the measurement,
assignment or disclosure of cost and that could be material, either individually or when aggregated
with other misstatements, will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis by
the entity’s internal, operational and management control.
(b) Detection risk: the risk that the procedures followed by the cost auditor to reduce audit risk to an
acceptable low level will not detect a misstatement that exists and that could be material, either
individually or when aggregated with other misstatements.
4.4 Auditee: Auditee means a company or any other entity for which cost audit is being carried out.
4.5 Cost Auditor: “Cost Auditor” means an auditor appointed to conduct an audit of cost records and shall be
a cost accountant within the meaning of The Cost and Works Accountants Act 1959. “Cost Accountant” is a
cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of The Cost and Works Accountants
Act, 1959 (23 of 1959) and who holds a valid certificate of practice under subsection (1) of section 6 and
who is deemed to be in practice under subsection (2) of section 2 of that Act and includes a firm of cost
accountants.
4.6 Overall Audit Strategy: Overall Audit Strategy sets the scope, timing and direction of the audit, and guides
the development of the detailed audit plan.
4.7 Risk Assessment : The audit procedures performed to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment,
including the entity’s internal control, to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement, whether due to
fraud or error, at the overall cost statement level and at the assertion level including items of cost, cost heads
and disclosure thereof.
5. Requirements
5.1 The Cost Auditor shall have adequate level of understanding of the knowledge of Business, its Processes
and the Business Environment to develop a reasonable assurance in order to express an opinion on the cost
statements on which he is expressing an opinion.(refer 6.1)
5.2 The Entity and Its Environment: The cost auditor should obtain an understanding of the following:
(a) The nature of the entity, (including its operations covering Business processes, major inputs, Joint & By-
Products and Wastages and major outputs etc) and the entity’s ownership and governance structure.
(b) Relevant industry, regulatory, and other external factors including the applicable cost and financial
reporting framework.(refer 6.2)
(c) The entity’s selection and application of cost accounting policies.(refer 6.3)
(d) The measurement and review of the entity’s performance. (refer 6.4)
5.3 The Entity’s Internal Control: The cost auditor shall obtain an understanding of internal controls relevant to the
audit. (refer 6.5)
(a) Control Environment: The cost auditor shall evaluate whether management has created and
maintained a culture of honesty and ethical behaviour.
(b) The entity’s risk assessment process: The cost auditor shall obtain an understanding of whether the
entity has a process for: (refer 6.6, 6.7, 6.8)
(1) Identifying business risks relevant to cost reporting objectives;
(2) Assessing the likelihood of their occurrence;
(3) Estimating the significance of the risks; and
(4) Deciding about actions to address those risks.
(c) Cost Information System/ Management Information System: The cost auditor shall
obtain an understanding of the Information System including Management Information System,
relevant to cost reporting, including the following areas: (refer 6.9)
(1) The classes of transactions and their analysis, that are significant to the cost statements;
(2) The procedures, by which those transactions and their analysis are initiated, recorded,
processed, and reported in the management information systems and cost statements;
(3) The related cost accounting records, supporting information that are used to initiate, record,
process and report transactions; and
(4) The reporting process used to prepare the entity’s cost statements, including significant
estimates and disclosures.
(d) Control Activities: The auditor shall obtain an understanding of the control activities, relevant to the
audit.(refer 6.10)
(e) Monitoring of controls:
(1) The auditor shall obtain an understanding of the major activities, that the entity uses to monitor
internal control over reporting.(refer 6.11)
(2) The cost auditor shall evaluate the adequacy of the internal audit function in relation to cost
records. (refer 6.12)
5.4 IT (Information Technology) Environment and Control: The cost auditor shall evaluate and assess: (refer 6.13)
(1) IT Architecture, Systems and programmes in use in the entity;
(2) Controls on access to data;
(3) Controls on changes to data in master files, systems or programmes; an
(4) Integrity of information and security of the data
5.5 Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement: The cost auditor shall identify and assess the
risks of material misstatement at the cost statement level; and at the assertion level including items of cost,
cost heads and disclosures thereof.
For this purpose, the cost auditor shall: (refer 6.14, 6.15, 6.16)
(1) Identify risks including relevant controls that relate to the risk of material misstatements or a risk of
fraud;
(2) Assess whether the risk is related to recent significant economic, accounting or other developments
and, therefore, requires specific attention;
(3) Assess whether the risk involves significant transactions with related parties;
(4) Assess the degree of subjectivity in the measurement of information related to the risk.
(5) Assess whether there arises a need for revising the assessment of risk based on additional audit
evidence obtained.
5.6 Documentation: The auditor shall document:
(a) Key elements of the understanding obtained regarding each of the aspects of the entity and its
environment specified in paragraph 5.1 & 5.2 above and of each of the internal control components
specified in paragraphs 5.3 above; the sources of information from which the understanding was
obtained; and the risk assessment procedures performed;
(b) The identified and assessed risks of material misstatement at the cost statement level and at the
assertion level including items of cost, cost heads and disclosure thereof as required by paragraph
5.5 above; and
(c) The risks identified, and related controls about which the auditor has obtained an understanding, as a
result of the requirements in paragraphs 5.5 above.
6. Application Guidance
6.1 Obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, including the entity’s internal control, is a
continuous and dynamic process of gathering, updating and analysing information throughout the audit.
The understanding establishes a frame of reference within which the cost auditor plans the audit and
exercises professional judgment throughout the audit, for example, when: (Refer 5.2)
(a) Assessing risks of material misstatement of the cost statements;
(b) Considering the appropriateness of the selection and application of cost accounting policies, and
the adequacy of cost statement disclosures;
(c) Identifying areas where special audit consideration may be necessary, for example, abnormal losses,
lower yields, higher wastages, higher utilities consumption, related party transactions etc.
(d) Developing Models for use in performing analytical procedures;
(e) Responding to the assessed risks of material misstatement, including designing and performing further
audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence; and
(f) Evaluating the sufficiency and appropriateness of audit evidence obtained, such as the
appropriateness of assumptions and of management’s oral and written representations.
6.2 Relevant industry factors include industry conditions such as the competitive environment, supplier and
customer relationships, and technological developments etc. Examples of matters the cost auditor may
consider include: {Refer 5.2(b)}
(a) The market and competition
(b) Cyclical or seasonal activity
(c) Changes in product technology
(d) Business risk (for example, high technology, high fashion, ease of entry for competition)
(e) Declining or expanding operations
(f) Adverse conditions (for example, declining demand, excess capacity, serious price competition)
(g) Key ratios and operating statistics
(h) Specific cost accounting practices and problems
(i) Specific or unique practices (for example, relating to labour contracts, financing methods, accounting
methods).
(j) Energy supply sources and cost
(k) Environmental requirements and problems
6.3 An understanding of the entity’s selection and application of cost accounting policies may encompass
matters such as: {Refer 5.2(c)}
(a) The methods the entity uses to account for significant and unusual transactions (abnormal events).
(b) The effect of significant cost accounting policies in controversial or emerging areas for which there is
a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus.
(c) Changes in the entity’s cost accounting policies.
(d) Cost reporting framework, and laws and regulations that are new to the entity and when and how the
entity will adopt such requirements.
6.4 Management will measure and review those things they regard as important. Performance measures,
whether external or internal, create pressures on the entity. These pressures, in turn, may motivate
management to take action to improve the business performance or to misstate the cost or financial
statements. Accordingly, an understanding of the entity’s performance measures assists the cost auditor
in considering whether pressures to achieve performance targets may result in management actions that
increase the risks of material misstatement, including those due to fraud. Examples of internally-generated
information used by management for measuring and reviewing financial performance, and which the cost
auditor may consider, include: {Refer 5.2(d)}
(a) Key performance indicators and key ratios (financial and non-financial).
(b) Key trends and operating statistics.
(c) The possibility of IT personnel gaining access to privileges beyond those necessary to perform their
assigned duties thereby breaking down segregation of duties.
(d) Unauthorized changes to data in master files.
(e) Unauthorized changes to systems or programs.
(f) Failure to make necessary changes to systems or programs.
(g) Inappropriate manual interventions.
(h) Potential loss of data or inability to access data as required.
6.14 Risks at the cost statement level may derive in particular from a deficient control environment (although these
risks may also relate to other factors, such as declining economic conditions). For example, deficiencies such
as management’s lack of competence may have a more pervasive effect on the cost statements and may
require an overall response by the auditor. (Refer 5.5)
6.15 Risks of material misstatement at the cost statement level refer to risks that relate pervasively to the cost
statements as a whole and potentially affect many assertions. Risks of this nature are not necessarily risks
identifiable with specific assertions at the class of transactions, or disclosure level. Rather, they represent
circumstances that may increase the risks of material misstatement at the assertion level, for example,
through management override of internal control. Cost statement level risks may be especially relevant to
the auditor’s consideration of the risks of material misstatement arising from fraud. (Refer 5.5)
6.16 The auditor’s assessment of the identified risks at the assertion level provides a basis for considering the
appropriate audit approach for designing and performing further audit procedures. For example, the auditor
may determine that only by performing tests of controls may the auditor achieve an effective response to
the assessed risk of material misstatement for a particular assertion. (Refer 5.5)
7. Effective Date
This Standard is effective for audits on or after September 11, 2015.
Extension taxonomyorextension: A taxonomy that allows users to add to a published taxonomy in order to define
new elements or change element relationships and attributes (presentation, calculation, labels, and so forth)
without altering the original.
Face of the financial statements: Financial statements without the notes or schedules.
Fact: The occurrence in an instance document of a value or other information tagged by a taxonomy element.
Hierarchy: Trees (presentation, calculation, and so forth) used to express and navigate relationships.
Hypercube: XBRL technical term for a table.
Imputed value: A value that is not specifically provided but could be calculated based on other provided numbers
and calculation weights.
Instanceorinstance document: XML file that contains business reporting information and represents a collection of
financial facts and report-specific information using tags from one or more XBRL taxonomies.
Item: XBRL technical term for a kind of element.
Label: Human-readable name for an element; each element has a standard label that corresponds to the element
name, and is unique across the taxonomy.
Label type: A distinguishing name for each distinct element indicating the circumstances in which it should be
used; each is given a separate defining role to use in different presentation situations.
Line item: Elements that conventionally appear on the vertical axis (rows) of a table.
Link base: XBRL technical term for a relationships file.Only the ELRs which have dimensional relationships are
included in definition linkbase. The List of ELR definitions in Cost Audit Report are shown below:
The following is the summary of Extended link rolesUsed in linkbase in Cost Audit Report:
Presentation 23
Calculation 9
Definition 23
Mapping: Process of determining the elements that correspond to lines and columns in a financial statement and
which elements must be created by extension.
Name: Unique identifier of an element in a taxonomy.
Namespace: Every element has a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) that identifies the organization that maintains
the element definitions, with an indication of what the term covers. In the XBRL US GAAP Taxonomy, namespaces
start with http://xbrl.us/us-gaap. A namespace prefix is not the namespace.
Nillable: An attribute that appears on all taxonomy elements, and is used (false) on elements that, if used in an
instance document, must have a non-empty value. XBRL taxonomy tools normally have the default value for
nillable as “true.” There is no need for any extension to define an element with nillable “false.”
Not all: Is used where it is required to freeze the cells in a dimensional table. It restricts inputting of values for certain
combinations of primary elements and dimension members in the dimension table.
E.g. In Para D-6 – Reconciliation of Indirect Taxes, entry of data would be allowed to against only those elements
where there is symbol ‘x’ in that table, as follows:
Scaling: A process that automatically scales numeric data by value, thus saving time of entering zeros during the
entry or creation process. XBRL does not support the scaling of numeric values (all values must be reported in their
entirety); however, it is a feature commonly found in instance document creation software.
Scenario: Tag that allows for additional information to be associated with facts in an instance document; this
information encompasses in particular the reporting circumstances of the fact, as for example “actual or forecast.”
The scenario of any fact can be left unspecified.
Schema: Technical term for an element declaration file.
Segment: Tag that allows additional information to be included in the context of an instance document; this
information captures segment information such as an entity’s business units, type of debt, type of other income,
and so forth.
Sign value: Denotes whether a numeric fact in an instance has a positive (+) or negative (-) value.
Standard label: The default label for an element. An extension may override the standard label.
Table: An element that organizes a set of axes and a set of line items to indicate that each fact of one of the line
items could be further characterized along one or more of its axes. For example, if a line item is Sales and an axis
is Scenario, this means that an instance document could have facts that are either for an unspecified scenario or
for a specific scenario such as “actual or forecast.”
Tag (noun): Identifying information that describes a unit of data in an instance document and encloses it in angle
brackets (<>and ). All facts in an instance document are enclosed by tags that identify the element of the fact.
Tag (verb): To apply tags to an instance document.
Taxonomy, taxonomies: Electronic dictionary of business reporting elements used to report business data. A
taxonomy is composed of an element names file (.xsd) and relationships files directly referenced by that schema.
The taxonomy schema files together with the relationships files define the concepts (elements) and relationships
that form the basis of the taxonomy. The set of related schemas and relationships files altogether constitute a
taxonomy.
Typeordata type: Data types (monetary, string, share, decimal, and so forth) define the kind of data to be tagged
with the element name.
E.g. the List of new data types defined for para 2 of the annexure to the cost audit report, in respect of the details
of cost auditor(s), will be as follows:
Unit of measure: The units in which numeric items have been measured, such as dollars, shares, Euros, or dollars
per share.
Validation: Process of checking that instance documents and taxonomies correctly meet the rules of the XBRL
specification.
Weight: Calculation relationship attribute (-1 or +1) that works in conjunction with the balance of the parent and
child numeric elements to determine the arithmetic summation relationship.
B. Steps for filing Cost Audit report in XBRL format on MCA portal:
1. Creation of XBRL instance document
The first step for creating the instance document is tagging of the XBRL taxonomy elements with the information
in the Cost audit report of the company by means of mapping of the taxonomy elements with the Cost audit
report. This converts the report into XBRL form. We need to have a tool to create and xml file and convert it into
an instance document. There are several vendors, who provide sell this application, that has to be acquired for
the purpose.
Mapping is the process of comparing the concepts in the Cost audit report to the elements in the published
taxonomy, assigning a taxonomy element to each costing concept published by the company. Once the
tagging of Cost audit report/ compliance report elements with the published taxonomy elements is done, the
next step is to create the instance document. An instance document is a XML file that contains business reporting
information and represents a collection of costing information and report-specific information using tags from
the XBRL taxonomy. It is to be noted that no extensions to the core Taxonomy will be allowed. Separate instance
documents need to be created for the Cost Audit report, for the periods prior to and beginning after 1.04.2014.
Once the instance document has been prepared, it needs to be ensured that the instance document is a
valid instance document and all the information has been correctly captured in the instance document. MCA
Validation Tool provides for ‘human readable’ PDF printable form as well as a view of the instance document.
Once the validation has been performed the list of errors, which may have occurred will bedisplayed by the tool.
An “error” indicates that a mistake has happened, either in respect of the value of an item, or the format in which
the value of the item is to be entered, not the value of an item, not matching with the values as in the data base
of the MCA. E.g.: Date format 10-05-2016 is not the correct format, and it has to be entered as 10/05/2016
(8) For Cost accounting taxonomy for F.Y. 2011-12, if the following error appears – “Element
‘DateOfStartOfFirstPreviousFinancialYear’ is not present - Required, since element
‘DateOfEndOfFirstPreviousFinancialYear’ is present for date: 31/03/2012”.
In extended link role [100100] General information, in case the element –‘‘DateOfEndOfFirstPreviousFinancialYear’
is provided, then you are required to provide the value of ‘DateOfStartOfFirstPreviousFinancialYear’ and
vice-a-versa.
(9) In case the mandatory line-items of a table are not entered in the instance document.
• [‘DisclosureRelatingToAvailabilityOfCostRecordsOfBranchesNotVisitedExplanatory’ ,
The element(s) mentioned in square bracket should be present for all the mentioned typed members(explicit
members incase the error is for explicit member).
• For example: All the elements of ‘CostAccountingPolicyAbstract’ are mandatory - Required for date:
31/03/2012.
The elements which come under this abstract should be provided. Please refer Taxonomy and Business Rules
for the list of elements under this abstract.
(11) The elements are not entered for ordered explicit members.
The element should be present for the mentioned explicit member(s). For ordering refer to the presentation
linkbase.
At least one of the elements of the table should be present for one of the explicit members.
(13) The value of element should be provided in at least one of the dimensional member.
The value for given element should be selected “true” in at least one of all dimensional members in which it
is present .Please refer taxonomy and business specifications for such elements and corresponding values.
(14) All details for given product or activity group code should be provided.
• For example: All details of applicable ProductOrActivityGroupCode [1009]— are required for previous
year on role ‘[100340] Abridged cost statement of product or activity group’.
In this case provide the details of product or activity group code which is specified for corresponding ELR’s
which are specified in the error statement.
(15) An element having dimensional relationship is invalid with respect to scenario element in the referenced
context.
• For example: item {http://www.icwai.org/in/xbrl/2012-09-07/incost}
DisclosureRelatingToAdequacyOfInternalAuditOfCostRecordsExplanatory in context D2012— does not
have any valid hypercube set in any role.
The scenario element must be dimensionally valid for at least one definition base set for that element.
All the references to dimensions and dimensional values in scenario element should be as per taxonomy
including namespaces. It should not contain any combination of dimension values which are excluded by
notAll relationship defined for that element.
It should not contain reference to default dimension value. It should not contain reference to dimension
values whose usable attribute is set as false in taxonomy (Freezed).
B. Interpretation of validation errors [Annexure – I]
The following the instructions have to be followed to interpret those errors –
• All the Element Names will be shown within single quotes, like-’QuantityOfMaterialConsumed’
• All the values will be shown within square brackets like- [In Employment]
• All the explicit members must come within curly brackets like-{MaterialConsumed1Member}
• All the axis names will be shown within parenthesis like-(IdentificationOfProductOrActivityGroupAxis)
• Errors which start with “cvc” are those which have occurred for the reason that the instance document
generated is not as per valid taxonomy schema and the XML is not properly formed.
This is a basic level error and the software vendor needs to be contacted for these errors like- cvc-complex-
type.2.2. [The schema validator used is Xerces from Apache (http://xerces.apache.org/) which is Industry
Standard Schema Validator]
• In case of Costing Taxonomy 2012, in some of the errors you might see terms like- “table”, “axis”, “explicit-
members” and “typed-members”.
The same has been explained below for better understanding:
• Table (Hypercube)-is a collection of axes (dimensions) when grouped together define an entity.
• Axis (Dimension) - is a category used to analyze the information about the items having relationship with a
table.
• Explicit-members- are domains that are used to express an explicit dimension. It is an element defined in the
taxonomy.
• Typed-members- are domains that are used to express a typed dimension. The dimension value for simple
type domain is decided by the user creating instance document.
For example,
• The item ‘QuantityOfMaterialConsumed’ –has a table
‘DetailsOfMaterialConsumedOfProductGroupTable’—is described by an axis
‘DetailsOfMaterialConsumedOfProductGroupAxis’—This axis is further expressed by explicit-members such as-
‘MaterialConsumed1Member’,’MaterialConsumed2Member’ etc.
• The item ‘UnitOfMeasurementForProductOrActivityGroup’ –has a table
‘ProductOrActivityGroupTable’ which is described by an axis
• ‘IdentificationOfProductOrActivityGroupAxis’.—This axis is further expressed by a typeddomain
‘ProductOrActivityGroupDomain’—which is a simple type domain whose value is decided by the user
preparing the instance document.
In case warning messages are displayed, these are in respect of non- compliance to HTML guidelines. You should
convert the instance documents into PDF through the validation tool and verify the contents of the same. However
the warning messages will not disallow the pre-scrutiny through validation tool.
Various screen shots of cost XBRL sheets are given below.