A Presentation by CA Paresh Vakharia On Issues on Tax Audit

A Lecture Meeting organised by Bombay Chartered Accountant Society

On 3rd October, 2007 at Indian Merchant Chamber, Mumbai

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SYNOPSIS
An overview of section 44AB of Income Tax Act. Audit Report in Form 3CB. Applicability of the Accounting standards in the case of Non corporate assessees. Application of Materiality concept. Issues arising from certification of particulars in Form No.3CD. General Issues.

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Every person,(a) carrying on business shall, if his total sales, turnover or gross receipts, as the case may be, in business exceed or exceeds forty lakh rupees in any previous year; or (b) carrying on profession shall, if his gross receipts in profession exceed ten lakh rupees in any previous year; or (c) carrying on the business shall, if the profits and gains from the business are deemed to be get his accounts of such previous year audited by an accountant before the specified date and furnish by that date the report of such audit in the prescribed form duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed: Provided that this section shall not apply
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An overview of section 44AB of Income Tax Act.

An overview of section 44AB of Income Tax Act.

Computation of cut off limit of 40 lakhs/ 10 lakhswhether Taxes/Duties includible Business v/s Profession Turnover in the case of speculative transactions or derivatives Multiple Businesses / Multiple Units

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Audit Report in Form 3CB

Modification to the prescribed format in line with AAS-28 Auditors Report. Opinion on True and Fair View Auditor to be guided by Accounting Standards and not necessarily by the provisions of Income Tax Act. Applicability of Accounting Standards of ICAI to Non Corporate Assessees. Accounting standards prescribed under Income Tax Act. Qualifications in Auditors Report.
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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

General Issues Information to be complied and authenticated by the assessee - Auditors duty to check the details, applying the auditing standards and techniques.

In the case of conflicting Judicial precedents, Auditor should state the Judgment relied upon. In the case of conflicting views with the assessee, the Auditor may state both the views and leave it to the Tax Department to decide the matter. The Auditor will be primarily guided by the Income Tax Act while reporting the particulars in Form 3CD unless the matter involves purely accounting aspects such as Accounting Ratios. 6 CA PARESH VAKHARIA
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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Clause 7(b) Change in profit sharing ratio- whether change in terms & conditions of remuneration to be reported? Clause 9(b) Books of Account maintained

Whether stock records are books of account. ERP Software- printing of books of account- books of account generated by computer system. Definition of books of account [section 2(12A)].
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Clause 11 Method of accounting. Change in accounting policy is not necessarily change in method of accounting. Deviation from accounting standards prescribed u/s 145. Clause 12 Deviation from method u/s 145A Scope of section 145A. Section 145A adjustments are neutral to profits. Implication under section 43B. Reconciliation statement pursuant to section 145A. CIT v/s Indo Nippon co. Ltd [261 ITR 275]. Refundable Taxes in the case of Exempt units.
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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Clause 13 Amounts not credited to the P&L account being Scope restricted to books of account. Items falling within the scope of section 28 [13(a)] Any item of income [13(d)] Non Corporate assessees - Amounts credited to capital Account. Interest on Income Tax Refunds. Capital receipt, if any, [13(e)] Clause 16(b) Employees contribution to provident fund. Compare with Employers contribution vide clause 21.
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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Clause 17

Amounts debited to P&L account being Expenditure of capital nature - [17(a)]

Resolve with statutory Audit. Is True & Fair view affected? Corporate assesseesDeferred tax liability not covered.

Expenditure of personal nature - [17(b)]

Amounts inadmissible under section 40(a) - [17(f)]

Amount of deduction inadmissible in terms of section 14A [17(l)]

Rules pursuant to section 14A(2) not prescribed yet. Dhanlakshmi Bank Ltd v/s ACIT12 SOT 625 (Cochin) 2007.
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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Clause 22 CENVAT credit availed of/ utilised and treatment of outstanding CENVAT. Income or Expenses of prior period Materiality aspect (Also check FBT Implication.) Clause 26 Deductions admissible under chapter VI A Audits conducted by other Auditors. Clause 27 Information about filing of TDS returns not covered. Information regarding tax deducted in time but deposited belatedly are not covered by the reporting requirements.

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Certification of prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD

Clause 28 (Quantitative Details) Records not maintained Auditors Duty. Shortages/Excess. Clause 32 Accounting Ratios Computation of Gross Profits. Data based on books of account and not on the basis of section 145A adjustments.
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Value of Fringe Benefits (annexure 2)

The format of reporting is not in line with the provisions of section 115WC and 115WB Refer column 5 titled deductions, if any. Treatment of prior period expenses involving fringe benefit. Concessional rate of travelling expensestraveling to be distinguished from other expenses.

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General Issue
Documentation. Management Representation Letter. Authentication by the Assessee. Branch Audit Reports. Tax Auditor also rendering services for Income Tax Return Preparation.

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH

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