Call-in-arrear and interest thereon:
If a shareholder makes a default in sending the call money due on allotment or on any calls according to the conditions, the money not so sent is called calls-in-arrear. In other words, the portion of called up capital which is not paid by the shareholder within a specified time is known as calls-in-arrear. The company is authorised to charge interest at a specified rate on calls-in-arrear from the due date to the date of actual payment of the allotment money or the calls. But if the Articles of Association are silent, Table A shall be applicable which provides for interest at 5% per annum. However, the directors have the right to waive the payment of interest on call-in-arrear.
Accounting treatment of calls-in-arrear:
There are two methods of dealing with the accounting of calls-in-arrear:
1. By opening Calls-in-arrear Account: In such a case, a separate account for calls-in-arrear is opened. If the amount of calls has not been paid by some shareholders, such amount is transferred to newly opened ‘Calls-in-arrear Account’. Thus allotment and other call accounts will not show any balance but the Calls-in-arrear account will show a debit balance equal to the total unpaid on allotment / calls, which will be shown as deduction form the amount of the subscribed capital on the liabilities side of the Balance Sheet.
Accounting treatment:
For calls-in-arrear:
Bank A/c Dr
Calls-in-arrear
To Share allotment A/c
To Share call A/c |
For receipt of arrear amount at subsequent date:
Bank A/c Dr
To Call-in-arrear A/c |
On making the interest on call-in-arrear due:
Shareholder’s
To Interest on call-in-arrear A/c |
For receipt of interest on calls-in-arrear:
Bank A/s Dr
To Shareholder’s A/c |
For transferring interest on calls-in-arrear A/c to P/L A/c at the end of the accounting year:
Interest on calls-in-arrear
To Profit and Loss A/c |
2. Without opening calls-in-arrear account: It is not necessary to open a separate account for calls-in-arrear. In that case, amount actually received from the shareholders is credited to the relevant allotment / call account and the various allotment / call accounts will show debit balance equal to the total unpaid amount of allotment / calls, which will be shown as deduction form the amount of the subscribed capital on the liabilities side of the Balance Sheet.
Accounting treatment:
For calls-in-arrear:
Bank A/c Dr
To Share allotment A/c
To Share call A/c |
For receipt of amount at subsequent date:
Bank A/c Dr
To Share allotment A/c
To Share call A/c |