What are Ind AS?
Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) are accounting standards notified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that are largely converged with IFRS. They prescribe principles for recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of transactions in financial statements of covered companies in India.
Which companies are required to adopt Ind AS?
Ind AS is applicable in phases primarily based on net worth, listing status, and parent-subsidiary relationships. Listed companies and unlisted companies above prescribed net worth thresholds, along with their holding, subsidiary, joint venture, and associate companies, are typically required to apply Ind AS.
What is Ind AS 101 and why is it important?
Ind AS 101 is the standard on First-Time Adoption of Indian Accounting Standards. It governs how a company prepares its first Ind AS financial statements, including the choice of optional exemptions, mandatory exceptions, and the preparation of the opening Ind AS balance sheet at the date of transition.
Which Ind AS standards usually have the biggest impact?
Areas that typically drive significant changes include Ind AS 109 (financial instruments), Ind AS 115 (revenue), Ind AS 116 (leases), Ind AS 36 (impairment), Ind AS 19 (employee benefits), Ind AS 12 (income taxes), Ind AS 21 (foreign exchange), and standards on business combinations and consolidation.
How does Ind AS impact systems and processes?
Ind AS adoption typically requires changes in chart of accounts, sub-ledgers for leases and financial instruments, fair value tools, ECL models, parallel ledger or dual reporting capabilities, and reporting templates. Processes around contracts, treasury, leases, and revenue often need to be redesigned.
How long does Ind AS implementation take?
Implementation timelines depend on the company's size, complexity, and IT landscape. A typical mid-sized group may require six to twelve months for diagnostic, conversion, system changes, and parallel run, with ongoing fine-tuning during the first reporting period under Ind AS.
Does Ind AS impact tax computations?
Yes. Ind AS-based profits often differ from those under earlier GAAP, leading to changes in book profits relevant for MAT, deferred tax, and certain tax adjustments under the Income Tax Act. Companies are required to carefully reconcile Ind AS profits with tax computations to avoid disputes.