Section 131 – Voluntary Revision Of Financial Statements

[Voluntary Revision of Financial Statement or Board’s Report]

As per Section 131 of Companies Act 2013[1], if it appears to the Directors of the Company at any time that the financial statement or board report doesn’t comply with the provisions of law or is prepared with some error or incorrect information that requires correction can apply to the Tribunal for its permission to revise the statements. The Company can file a revised statement not more than once in a financial year.

After the receipt of an order from the Tribunal, the Company can file a revised statement along with the copy of such order to ROC, provided that the Company can revise the financial statements of any of the preceding three financial years. The exact reason for such revision shall be mentioned in the board’s report of such a relevant financial year in which correction is being filed.

Before passing any order in this regard, Tribunal shall give notice to Central Government or any Income Tax Authorities if they have made a representation before Tribunal.

Section 131: Voluntary revision of financial statements or Board’s report.

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https://ibclaw.in/section-131-of-the-companies-act-2013-voluntary-revision-of-financial-statements-or-boards-report/

7 Major Keys for Voluntary Revision in India:

• It is a mandatory requirement to obtain the tribunal’s approval.
• A petition for approval of revision which is filed to NCLT, shall be advertised in the Newspaper.
• The Tribunal, on the petition’s receipt, shall send a notice to the Income-tax authority and the Regional Department for their relevant representations.
• Tribunal shall issue the notice for hearing to the original financial statements auditor.
• Any change in subscribers or directors shall be informed to the tribunal through an application.
• It is only permitted to file the revised statement once in a financial year.
• It is obligatory to mention the comprehensive reason for the revision in the revised board’s report.

Steps to Revise Accounts Voluntarily.

Following are the steps that the Company has to follow for reopening or revising its financial statement:

• Send Seven days’ notice to hold and convene board meetings for passing the necessary resolution and authorization for accounts revision.
• Conduct and hold the board meeting to consider the following matters and pass the necessary resolution:
• To take the in-principal approval from NCLT for revising the financial statement and board report.
• To authorize a practicing professional to represent NCLT on behalf of the Company.
• Apply to NCLT in form NCLT-1 along with necessary documents such as:
• Audited financial statement of the relevant period
• MOA & AOA of the Company
• Details of personnel responsible for making and maintaining financial records include MD, directors, Company Secretary, CFO, or any other principal officer in charge.
• Name and details of the auditor, along with the previous auditor who has audited the Company’s financial statements.
• Certified True Copy of Board Resolution passed in a board meeting.
• Affidavit for verifying the petition in forms NCLT-6.
• Bank draft as proof of payment of application fee.
• Memorandum of appearance or executed vakalatnama.
• Reason for revising the financial statements and board report.
• Advertise the petition in form NCLT-3A at least 14 days before the date of hearing in English newspaper and in the vernacular language in which the registered office of the Company is situated.
• The advertisement shall prescribe the following information:
• Date of presenting the application before NCLT.
• Details of the applicant along with an authorized representative.
• Grounds and reason for application.
• Statement to the effect that any person who is interested or affected in any way by such a petition or willing to oppose such an application shall send the notice of his intention to the bench and petitioner not later than two days before the hearing.
• The Company shall also advertise on its website after giving the advertisement in the newspaper.
• Affidavit in form NCLT-6 shall be filed with the Tribunal at least three days before the date of hearing as proof stating the petition has been advertised as per the rules.
• If the rules and requirements of advertisement and service of the petition are not duly complied with by the Company, Tribunal can dismiss the petition or give any such direction as it deems fit. Tribunal can even dispense the advertisement requirement.
• Tribunal shall issue the notice to the auditor who has audited the original financial statement. If it deems fit, Tribunal can pass the necessary order in the case.
• The current auditor is different from the one who has audited the statements under review.
• Afterreceiving chargess the tribunal order, a certified copy of the order passed by the Tribunal shall be filed with ROC in form INC-28 within 30 days of receipt of such orders.
• Hold and convene the general meeting to consider the revised financial statement, director’s statements, and auditor’s certificate before adopting a piece of revised financial information.
• Notice of such a general meeting and the reason for such revision shall be advertised in English and Vernacular newspapers.
• After the approval in the general meeting, the Company shall file the revised statement along with the auditor’s report with ROC in form INC-28 within 30 days of the conclusion of such meeting.

Scope of Voluntary Revision

Section 131 specifically provides that revision shall be restricted to the correction in the previous year’s financial statement or board report that doesn’t comply with the provisions of the companies act in case the copies of the previous financial statement have been delivered to the members of the Company, to ROC or has been laid before the Company in its General Meeting.

Voluntary Revision Vs. Compulsory Revision

VR: It is regulated under section 130 of the companies act 2013.

CR: It is governed under the provision of section 131 of companies act 2013 Petition filing.

VR: The central government, Income tax authority, SEBI, and such authorities can apply to revise the statements.

CR: The Company, through its representative such as practicing professionals, can apply to the Tribunal for the revision of its statement.Grounds for application.

VR: An application under this section can only be made if accounts are found to be fraudulent, misleading, or incorrect.

CR: The Company can apply if the statements are not made or prepared as per the law. Permissible revision Books can be revised for up to 8 previous financial years. Books cannot be revised for more than three preceding years.

Conclusion

No such provision for filing a revised statement prevailed earlier under the Companies Act 1956. Companies and their principal officers are relieved now with the introduction of this provision in the Companies Act 2013, as they are now permitted to file a revised statement.

For any further query concerning the revised statement or assistance relating to the complete procedure from applying Tribunal to filing a revised statement, you can contact us.

FAQ’s

1. What is voluntary financial statement?
   • Voluntary Revision of Financial Statement or Board’s Report
     
     The Company, after the receipt of an order of Tribunal, can file a revised statement along with the copy of such order to ROC, provided that the Company can revise the financial statements of any of the preceding three financial years.
2. How do you revise financial accounting?
   • The single most effective way of revising topics is through revision question practice. Read at least one examiner’s report for the paper before you start to familiarise yourself with the common mistakes to be looking out for. Start with those that are on discrete topics before attempting case-study questions.
3. Which approval is required for voluntary revision of financial statements?
   • The committee report on the Act provided that where accounts are revised for specific purposes, companies may revise their financial statements subject to the National Company Law Tribunal’s (the Tribunal’s) approval.
4. What does voluntary financial reporting consists of?
   • Voluntary disclosures can include strategic information such as company characteristics and strategy, nonfinancial information such socially responsible practices, and financial information such as stock price information.
5. Why is revising a financial plan important?
   • If you’re still using the financial plan you created two or three years ago, it may not align with your current goals or needs. Financial pictures change rapidly, so it’s important to take an in-depth look each year. You may find that your plan needs just a quick revision or it may need a complete overhaul.
6. When should a company make disclosures voluntarily?
   • Companies will only voluntarily disclose information if they are able to provide benefits greater than the costs incurred (Elliot and Jacobson, 1994). This often leads to information asymmetries because companies have more information about their company than shareholders or other stakeholders.