What are provisional financial statements?
Provisional financial statements are balance sheet and profit & loss account prepared for a period that has not yet been audited or finalised. They are generally compiled from books of account up to a recent date, with reasonable estimates for items like depreciation, taxation, and accruals, and are clearly marked as provisional.
When are provisional financials typically required?
They are commonly required for bank and NBFC loan applications, working capital renewals or enhancements, tender bids with strict deadlines, MSME credit programmes, and management or board decisions where waiting for audited financials would delay important actions.
What is the difference between provisional, certified, and audited financials?
Provisional financials are draft, in-progress statements based on books and estimates for a current or recent period. Certified financials are compiled from books and signed by a Chartered Accountant for a completed period without an audit opinion. Audited financials are independently audited and carry an opinion on truth and fairness from the statutory auditor.
Who can prepare and certify provisional financials?
Provisional financial statements are typically prepared and certified by a Chartered Accountant in practice based on books of account, supporting records, and management representations. The CA discloses the basis of preparation, period covered, and limitations, and signs the statements with a Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN).
Are provisional financials acceptable to banks?
Yes. Most banks and NBFCs accept provisional financials as part of credit appraisal, particularly when a part of the financial year has elapsed and audited financials for that year are not yet available. Banks typically combine provisional financials with the latest audited financials, ITRs, GST returns, and bank statements to assess the borrower.
What is CMA data and how is it linked to provisional financials?
CMA (Credit Monitoring Arrangement) data is a structured statement showing past audited, current provisional, and future projected financials of a borrower along with key ratios. Banks rely on CMA data for working capital and term loan appraisals, and provisional financials form a critical bridge between audited history and projected performance.
What information is required to prepare provisional financials?
Typical inputs include trial balance up to the cut-off date, bank statements, GST and TDS returns, sample vouchers, latest audited or certified financials, details of loans and statutory dues, fixed asset additions, and management estimates for items like depreciation, accruals, and tax provision.