Rule 4 - Maintenance of records - Companies (Cost Accounting Records) Rules, 2011

Maintenance of records- 04. (1) Every company to which these rules apply, including all units and branches thereof shall, in respect of each of its financial year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2011, keep cost records. (2) The cost records referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be kept on regular basis in such manner so as to make it possible to calculate 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/quarterly/half-yearly/annual basis. (3) The cost records shall be maintained in accordance with the generally accepted cost accounting principles and cost accounting standards issued by the Institute; to the extent these are found to be relevant and applicable. The variations, if any, shall be clearly indicated and explained. (4) 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 with a view to achieve optimum economies in utilization of resources. These records shall also provide necessary data which is required to be furnished under these rules. (5) All such cost records and cost statements, maintained under these rules shall be reconciled with the audited financial statements for the financial year specifically indicating expenses or incomes not considered in the cost records or statements so as to ensure accuracy and to reconcile the profit of all product groups with the overall profit of the company. The variations, if any, shall be clearly indicated and explained. (6) All such cost records, cost statements and reconciliation statements, maintained under these rules, relating to a period of not less than eight financial years immediately preceding a financial year or where the company had been in existence for a period less than eight years, in respect of all the preceding years shall be kept in good order. (7) It shall be the duty of every person, referred to in sub-section (6) and (7) of section 209 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance by the company with the provisions of these rules in the same manner as he is liable to maintain accounts required under sub-section (1) of section 209 of the said Act.