Extension of last date for filing of Cost Audit Report for FY 2020-21 to Board of Directors

Extension of last date for filing of Cost Audit Report for FY 2020-21 to Board of Directors under Rule 6(5) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) vide General Circular No. 18/2021 dated 29th October 2021 has further extended the last date of filing of Cost Audit Report for the FY 2020-21 by the Cost Auditor to the Board of Directors of the Companies from 31st October, 2021 to 30th November, 2021 in view of the continued disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result, the Cost Audit Report in e-form CRA-4 can be filed by the Company within 30 days from the date of receipt of the copy of the Cost Audit Report by the Company.

Earlier, the MCA vide General Circular No. 15/2021 dated 10/09/2021 had extended the date to 30th November 2021.

As per the proviso to Rule 6(6) of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, the Companies which have got extension of time of holding Annual General Meeting under section 96 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013, may file e-form CRA-4 within resultant extended period of filing financial statements under section 137 of the Companies Act, 2013.

ICAI in its advisory has stated that, the aforesaid circular shall be read along with the relaxation granted by the Registrar of Companies of various States (Order dated- 23.09.2021) in respect of extension of timeline to conduct AGM of the Companies by two months beyond the due date within which the companies ought to have conducted their AGM for the FY 2020-21 ended on 31.03.2021.

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