29 June 2012
Excerpt from Guidance note: The Revised Schedule VI requires disclosure of the amount of dividends proposed to be distributed to equity and preference shareholders for the period and the related amount per share to be disclosed separately. It also requires separate disclosure of the arrears of fixed cumulative dividends on preference shares. The Old Schedule VI specifically required proposed dividend to be disclosed under the head “Provisions.” In the Revised Schedule VI, this needs to be disclosed in the notes. Hence, a question that arises is as to whether this means that proposed dividend is not required to be provided for when applying the Revised Schedule VI. AS-4 Contingencies and Events Occurring After the Balance Sheet date requires that dividends stated to be in respect of the period covered by the Financial Statements, which are proposed or declared by the enterprise after the Balance Sheet date but before approval of the Financial Statements, should be adjusted.
Keeping this in view and the fact that the Accounting Standards override the Revised Schedule VI, companies will have to continue to create a provision for dividends in respect of the period covered by the Financial Statements and disclose the same as a provision in the Balance Sheet, unless AS-4 is revised. Hence, the disclosure to be made in the notes is over and above the disclosures pertaining to a) the appropriation items to be disclosed under Reserves and Surplus and b) Provisions in the Balance Sheet.
CAclubindia
