Difference Draft Tax Accounting Standard and AS issued by ICAI.

[Sachin Agarwal]

1. As per Accounting Standard AS 7 (para 21), revenue and expenditure should be recognized only when the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, whereas in case of TAS for Tax accounting for Construction Contracts there is no such provision (para 15).

 

2. According to existing AS 7, the outcome of a contact can be estimate reliably only when certain conditions are satisfied (para 22 & 23), whereas in case of TAS for Tax accounting for Construction Contracts no such conditions are prescribed.

 

3. As per existing AS 7, expected loss on contract should be recognized as expense immediately (para 35). However, TAS for Tax accounting for Construction Contracts does not have such provision of recognizing expected loss.

 

4. According to AS 7, when the outcome of a construction contract cannot be estimated reliably (para 31):

 

(a) revenue should be recognised only to the extent of contract costs incurred of which recovery is probable; and

(b) contract costs should be recognised as an expense in the period in which they are incurred. In other words, till the time outcome of construction contract can be estimate reliably entity should not recognize any profit in its books of account. While in case of TAS for Tax accounting for Construction Contracts, during the early stage of a contract when outcome of contract cannot be estimate reliably, contract revenue is recognized only to the extent of cost incurred, such early stage of a contract shall not extend beyond 25% of the stage of completion (para 19).

 

5. AS 7 requires more disclosures as compared to TAS for Tax accounting for Construction Contracts. 

Differences between AS 12 and TAS on ‘Accounting for Government Grants’

 

1. According to AS 12 (para 6.1) and TAS Tax Accounting for Government Grants (para 4) Government Grant should be recognized only when there is reasonable assurance that enterprise will comply with the conditions attached to the grant and it is reasonable to expect reasonable collection. However, in case of TAS Tax Accounting for Government Grants recognition of Government Grant should not be postponed beyond the date of actual receipt.

 

2. AS 12 (para 5) prescribes the two approaches for Accounting Treatment of Governments Grants i.e Capital Approach and Income Approach. TAS does not prescribe such approaches. 

 

3. As per AS 12 (para 8) there are two alternative approaches for treatment of Government Grants for Fixed Assets, viz., (i) Deduct the grant from the value of Fixed Asset and recognize the asset at reduced price, (ii) Grant should be treated as a deferred income and

should be credited to the capital reserve and recognized in profit and loss statement on a systematic and rational basis over the useful life of the assets. However, TAS Tax Accounting for Government Grants only prescribe the single approach i.e reduce the amount of grant from the value of assets and depreciate the balance amount (para 5).

 

4. According to AS 12 (para 9) grants related to revenue should either can be recognized separately in the Profit and Loss Account or 

can be deducted from the related expenses. In case of TAS, grant should be recognized as revenue (para 8).

 

5. TAS has more disclosure requirements as compared to AS 12 ‘Accounting for Governments Grants’.