CARO:Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2016
Background of CARO
Section 143(11) of the Companies Act, 2013 (the Act) requires that auditor’s report of specified class of companies should include a statement on the prescribed matters. These reporting requirements have been prescribed under the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2016 (CARO 2016) issued by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on 29th March, 2016.
CARO 2016 has been issued in supersession of the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2015 and same shall be applicable from the financial year 2015-16
Applicability of CARO:
Every report made by the auditor under Section 143 of the Act for financial year commencing on or after 1st April, 2015 would include CARO 2016. It would include CARO 2016. It would be applicable to every company (except companies that are excluded) including a foreign company as defined under Section 2(42) of the Act.
The CARO 2016 would not be applicable to the auditor’s report on consolidated financial statements.
The following companies are exempted from CARO 2016 reporting:
- Banking company as defined under Section 5(c) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
- Insurance company as defined under Insurance Act, 1938
- Companies incorporated with charitable objects, etc. i.e. companies licensed to operate under Section 8 of the Act
- One person company as defined under Section 2(62) of the Act
- Small companies as defined under Section 2(85) of the Act
- Private company, not being a subsidiary or holding of a public company:
- with a paid up capital and reserves and surplus not more than INR 1 crore,
- does not have total borrowings exceeding INR 1 crore from any bank or financial institution at any point of time during the financial year, and
does not have a total revenue as defined in Schedule III to the Act (including revenue from discontinuing operations) exceeding INR 10 crore during the financial year as per the financial statements
Matters required to be included in Auditor’s Report as per CARO 2016
As per paragraph 3 of CARO 2016, following certain matters shall be included in the report made by the auditor under Section 143 of the Act, for the financial year commencing on or after 1st April, 2015
| Clause | Heads | Matters | Documentation |
| 3(i) | Fixed Assets | (a) Proper Records: Whether the company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed assets;
(b) Physical Verification: Whether these fixed assets have been physically verified by the management at reasonable intervals; Whether any material discrepancies were noticed on such verification and if so, whether the same have been properly dealt with in the books of account; (c) Title Deeds: Whether the title deeds of immovable properties are held in the name of the company. If not, provide the details thereof; |
(a) updated fixed assets register
(b) evidence of physical verification (c) list of freehold immovable properties with title deeds, name of property, location etc. |
| 3(ii) | Inventory | Whether physical verification of inventory has been conducted at reasonable intervals by the management; Whether any material discrepancies were noticed on such verification and if so, whether the same have been properly dealt with in the books of account; | (a) evidence of physical verification
(b) adjustment of discrepancies |
| 3(iii) | Loans given by company | Whether the company has granted any loans, secured or unsecured to companies, firms, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) or other parties covered in the register maintained under Section 189 of the Act. If so,
(a) Terms and Conditions: Whether the terms and conditions of the grant of such loans are not prejudicial to the company’s interest. (b) Regular Recovery: Whether the schedule of repayment of principal and payment of interest has been stipulated and whether the repayments or receipts are regular; (c) Steps for Recovery: If the amount is overdue, state the total amount overdue for more than 90 days, and whether reasonable steps have been taken by the company for recovery of the principal and interest. |
(a) verification of copy of Section 189 register
(b) whether repayment of principal and interest is regular |
| 3(iv) | Loan to Directors and investment by company | In respect of loans, investments, guarantees, and security whether provisions of Section 185 and 186 of the Act have been complied with. If not, provide the details thereof. | (a) compliance of Section 185 & 186
(b) refer PKF company law checklist |
| 3(v) | Deposits | In case, the company has accepted deposits, whether the following has been complied with:
· Directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI); · The provisions of Sections 73 to 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the rules framed thereunder; and · If an order has been passed by Company Law Board (CLB) or National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) or Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or any court or any other tribunal. However, if any of the above not complied with, the nature of contraventions should be stated. |
(a) compliance with RBI directives
(b) compliance with Sections 73 to 76 (c) whether order has been passed by CLB, NCLT, RBI |
| 3(vi) | Cost Records | If the Central Government has specified maintenance of cost records under Section 148 of the Act whether such accounts and records have been made and maintained. | (a) verification of cost records and accounts |
| 3(vii) | Statutory Dues | Following matters shall be reported for statutory dues and disputes for tax and duties.
(a) Statutory Dues for more than 6 Months: Whether the company is regular in depositing undisputed statutory dues with the appropriate authorities including: · Provident fund; · Employees’ state insurance; · Income tax; · Sales tax (VAT); · Service tax; · Duty of customs; · Duty of excise; · Value Added Tax (VAT); · Cess; and · Any other statutory dues. If the company is not regular in depositing such statutory dues, the extent of the arrears of outstanding statutory dues as at the last day of the financial year concerned for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable, shall be indicated by the auditor. (b) Dispute for Tax and Duty: In case dues of income tax or sales tax or service tax or duty of customs or duty of excise or value added tax have not been deposited on account of any dispute, then the amounts involved and the forum where dispute is pending shall be mentioned. Note that a mere representation to the concerned Department shall not constitute a dispute.
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(a) list of statutory dues
(b) check due dates and actual remittance dates (c) check if there are arrears of dues as on balance sheet date (d) identify legal tax related disputes |
| 3(viii) | Repayment of Loans | Whether the company has defaulted in repayment of loans or borrowing to a financial institution, bank, Government or dues to debenture holders? If yes, the period and the amount of default to be reported.
Note that in case of defaults to banks, financial institutions, and Government, lender wise details to be provided. |
(a) if loan restructured or default has been made good, the fact is to be disclosed
(b) lender-wise details in case of default to banks/FIs |
| 3(ix) | Utilisation of IPO and FPO | Whether moneys raised by way of Initial Public Offer (IPO) or further public offer (including debt instruments) and term loans were applied for the purposes for which those are raised. If not, the details together with delays or default and subsequent rectification, if any, as may be applicable, be reported; | (a) take copies of prospectus etc.
(b) whether actual spending is in line with the purpose specified in prospectus etc. |
| 3(x) | Reporting of Fraud | Whether any fraud by the company or any fraud on the Company by its officers or employees has been noticed or reported during the year; If yes, the nature and the amount involved is to be indicated; | (a) review internal audit reports
(b) enquiry from management about frauds |
| 3(xi) | Approval of Managerial Remuneration | Whether managerial remuneration has been paid or provided in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act? If not, state the amount involved and steps taken by the company for securing refund of the same; | (a) review secretarial audit report
(b) check resolutions of Remuneration Committee, Board and menbers |
| 3(xii) | Nidhi Company | Whether the Nidhi Company has complied with the Net Owned Funds to Deposits in the ratio of 1:20 to meet out the liability and whether the Nidhi Company is maintaining 10% unencumbered term deposits as specified in the Nidhi Rules, 2014 to meet out the liability; | (a) check whether ratios are maintained |
| 3(xiii) | Related Party Transactions | Whether all transactions with the related parties are in compliance with Sections 177 and 188 of the Act where applicable and the details have been disclosed in the Financial Statements etc., as required by the applicable accounting standards; | (a) ensure transcations have been below the limit
(b) cross-check disclosures of RPT as per ASs |
| 3(xiv) | Private Placement or Preferential Issue | Whether the company has made any preferential allotment or private placement of shares or fully or partly convertible debentures during the year under review and if so, as to whether the requirement of Section 42 of the Act have been complied with and the amount raised have been used for the purposes for which the funds were raised. If not, provide the details in respect of the amount involved and nature of non-compliance; | (a) check purpose of issue and if same is complied with
(b) check compliance with Section 42 (c) list all exceptions |
| 3(xv) | Non-cash transactions | Whether the company has entered into any non-cash transactions with directors or persons connected with him and if so, whether the provisions of Section 192 of the Act have been complied with; | (a) whether there are acquisition of assets from/by directors or connected persons
(b) check board minutes |
| 3(xvi) | Registration under RBI Act, 1934 | Whether the company is required to be registered under Section 45IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and if so, whether the registration has been obtained. | (a) get a copy of registration certificate |
Reasons to be stated for Unfavorable or Qualified Answers in CARO 2016
(1) Unfavourable or Qualified Answer:
Where, in the auditor’s report, the answer to any of the questions referred to in paragraph 3 is unfavourable or qualified, the auditor’s report shall also state the reasons for such unfavourable or qualified answer, as the case may be.
(2) Unable to Express Opinion:
Where the auditor is unable to express any opinion in answer to a particular question, his report shall indicate such fact together with the reasons why it is not possible for him to give an answer to such question.
Hence, as per paragraph 4 of CARO – 2016, the auditor must give the reasons for unfavourable or qualified answers to the above 16 clauses referred in paragraph 3 of CARO – 2016. However, if the auditor is not able to express his opinion the fact and reason for the same should be indicated in the report
Conclusion
The issue of CARO 2016 is a step in right direction, aimed at improving quality of auditors’ reporting and increase relevance to the stakeholders of the financial statements. Another welcome relief for the companies is that it would not be applicable on consolidated financial statements. The following conclusions can be figured out from the order:
- Scope: The MCA has relaxed the scope/application of CARO on the private companies by increasing applicability thresholds, thus, it would be applicable to less number of private companies.
- Increase in reporting requirements: CARO 2016 enhances the reporting requirements and thereby, would increase the reporting responsibility of the auditors relating to following important clauses:
- Utilization of public issue/follow-on-offer/term loans (including debt instruments)
- Compliance of Section 42 (offer or invitation for subscription of securities on private placement)
- Lender wise details in case of default of payment of dues to banks and financial institutions
- Loans given to related parties covered under Section 2(76) (i.e. Section defining related party) instead of Section 189 (i.e. Section on register of contracts or arrangements in which directors are interested)
- Related party transactions under Section 188 and 177 of the Act
- Loans, investments and guarantees comply with Section 185 & 186 of the Act
- Nature and amount of frauds by officers and employees
- Non-cash transactions with directors or persons connected with him under Section 192 of the Act
- Managerial remuneration has been paid in accordance with Section 197 read with Schedule V of the Act
- Internal Financial Control (IFC) reporting vs CARO 2016 clauses relating to maintenance of records of fixed assets and inventories including physical verification: The Act requires companies and auditors to report whether IFC is adequate and operating effectively. CARO 2016 continues to have clauses relating to fixed assets and inventories which would be dealt with IFC reporting. Therefore, the objective of continuing with these clauses in CARO 2016 is not clear.
The bottom line:
The decision to amend CARO indicates that MCA continues to enhance the reporting requirements by including issues that are expected to be relevant for stakeholders
