Attestation Services generally refer to the process of verifying and authenticating a document’s authenticity. In the context of professional or legal documents, it usually involves the certification of a document by a person authorized to verify its accuracy, often someone holding a Certificate of Practice (COP), such as a Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), or Cost Accountant.
What Does Attestation Typically Include?
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Financial Documents: Attestation services often cover audited financial statements like Profit & Loss (P/L) statements, Balance Sheets, and Tax Returns. However, this is just one part of attestation services.
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General Document Verification: It also involves the signature and stamp by an authorized professional (like a CA) on documents that need to be legally validated for official purposes, such as for submissions to government bodies, courts, or foreign authorities.
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Notary & Legal Certification: In many cases, attestation services include notary services or certification by a professional body to ensure that documents are genuine and properly executed, especially for matters like certificates, educational documents, contracts, and agreements.
Does Attestation Include Just Signing P/L & Balance Sheets?
No, it is not limited to just signing P/L & Balance Sheets. While it is an important part of attestation for financial reporting, attestation services can extend to a wide range of documents that require legal verification and official certification.
What Does Attestation Mean in a Broader Context?
- It means the process by which an authorized professional (e.g., a CA with COP) confirms that a document is true, accurate, and legally binding.
- This can include signing, stamping, and verifying documents like financial statements, tax documents, certificates, and agreements.
Attestation Services Defined
Attestation services are typically defined as document verification services performed by licensed professionals or authorized entities. These services help establish the authenticity of documents for various official and legal processes.