ICAI clarification on applicability of provisions of section 143 of Cos Act 2013

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, at its adjourned 333rd meeting held on 18th June 2014, considered the issue of applicability of the provisions of section143(12) of the Companies Act 2013 to the financial periods beginning on or after 1st April 2014. In other words, whether the statutory auditor would be required to report pursuant to section 143(12) while carrying out audits offinancial statements for the interim periods, such as quarterly or half yearly audits.
The Council of the view that such quarterly/ half yearly audits are not carried out pursuant to the requirements of the Companies Act 2013 (rather to meet the specific requirements of the auditee company, for example, to comply with the listing agreement requirements) as the latter only envisages audit of theannual financial statements.

The Council, accordingly, felt that  prima facie , as a corollary, section143(12) would become applicable only for financial year (and not for a period) 2014-2015 and onwards. The Council is, however, in the process of communicating with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in this regard.  

APPLICABILITYOF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 143(12) OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2013 AND RELATED RULES TO PERIODS BEGINING ON OR BEFORE 31ST MARCH 2014

Section143(12) of the Companies Act 2013 requires the auditors of the companies to report to the Central Government on the frauds committed or being committed against the company.
The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, at its adjourned 333rd meeting held on 18th June 2014, considered the issue of applicability of the provisions of sections 143(3)(12) of the Companies Act 2013 and the related Rules to the audits of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014.
The Council noted that the sections 143(12) had come into force in respect of financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2014. The Council was of the view that the provisions of sections 143(12) of the Companies Act 2013 applied to the auditors appointed under the Companies Act 2013 to audit the financial  statements for the year beginning on or after 1st April 2014. As a corollary,the requirements of these sections and related Rules would not apply to auditsof financial statements of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014,even if the audits therefor were actually carried out and auditor’s report thereon issued on or after 1st April 2014.  

APPLICABILITYOF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 143(3)(i) OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2013 AND THE RELATED RULES  

Section143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 requires the auditors of the companies to report as whether the company has adequate internal financial controls system in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, at its adjourned 333rd meeting held on 18th June 2014, considered the issue of applicability ofthe provisions of sections 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 and the related Rules to the audits of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014.

The Council noted that the sections 143(3)(i) had come into force in respect of financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2014. The Council was of the view that the provisions of sections 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 applied to the auditors appointed under the Companies Act 2013 to audit the financial statements for the year beginning on or after 1st April 2014. As a corollary, the requirements of these sections and related Rules would not applyto audits of financial statements of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014, even if the audits therefor were actually carried out and auditor’sreport thereon issued on or after 1st April 2014. These would continue to be done as per the requirements of the Companies Act 1956.

The Council also decided that as a corollary, the provisions of section 143(3)(i)of the Companies Act 2013 would apply to the audits of the financial year beginning on or after 1st April 2014.

ICAI prescribed MS Word Foemat of Audit Engagement Letters u/s 143(30(i) of Companies Act 2013 Click Here >>