For non filing or late filing of the Audit Report, penalty at the rate of 0.1% of the turnover of sales is also leviable. As explained from beginning, under VAT Act the assessments will be sparing, based on selection criteria. Therefore, to have authentic checking of the returns/tax liability of the dealer, the VAT Audit provision has been introduced. The VAT Audit report in Form 704 is accordingly notified in the MVAT Rules right from 01.04.2005. However, the said Form is now replaced by Notification dated 26.08.2009 under Rule 17A(2) of MVAT Rules,2005 applicable from 01.04.2008. The newly introduced Form will accordingly be applicable from financial year 2008-2009. Some of the important aspects of this Form can be noted as under:

The Central Information Commission has slapped the maximum fine of Rs 25,000 provided under the RTI Act on the CEO of a cost accounting body for failure to give timely information in a case. The CIC slapped the fine on the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India’s (ICWAI) CEO, Sudhir Mukund Galande, while dismissing [...]

Instructions for filing of e-704 1)      It is necessary to use the downloaded form e 704 as is available on the web www.mahavat.gov.in 2)      There are few easy steps for filing of e 704 First login to www.mahavat.gov.in Click on the menu “Downloads” Select Form e 704 from the menu

A GOVERNMENT proposal to constitute a supervisory mechanism above the country’s three statutory institutes for accounting, company secretaryship and cost accounting and allowing their members to provide services in each other’s fields has been opposed by these regulators. Floated by the corporate affairs ministry, the proposal seeks to create an oversight mechanism that will oversee [...]

Quarterly cost audit by internal auditors in the listed companies should be explored in consultation with the market regulator SEBI to improve corporate governance, an expert group appointed by Corporate Affairs Ministry has suggested. ”The possibility of introducing quarterly limited review of cost details, in case of listed companies, may be examined in consultation with SEBI,” [...]

Central Council of the ICWAI has approved on 12th September 2009 the Cost Accounting Standards on Employee Cost (CAS-7) and Cost of Utilities (CAS-8). The same have been hosted on the website of the ICWAI.

Cost accounting body The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) will soon be known as “Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India (ICMAI)” with the government agreeing for a change of name of the body. “The request for the name change to Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India has [...]

Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister for Corporate Affairs, has expressed confidence that under the present scenario, the Cost and Management Accounting professionals can play a major role in government initiative to control the inflation and make essential goods and services available to the public at a reasonable price. Addressing the Council of Institute of Cost and [...]

It may now become compulsory for all big and medium manufacturing companies to get their cost accounts audited, if an expert group’s recommendation on the same is accepted by the government.

It is not just Indian accounting standards, which would converge fully with the International Financial Reporting Standards by 2011, but cost accounting standards, would also need to be in tune with the global model. The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, the apex body to regulate the profession of cost accountants, is working out the [...]