TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Accounting for Government Grants
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....vernment, Government agencies and similar bodies whether local, national or international. 3.2 Government grants are assistance 'by Government in cash or kind to an enterprise for past or future compliance with certain conditions. They exclude those forms of Government assistance which cannot reasonably have a value placed upon them and transactions with Government which cannot be distinguished from the normal trading transactions of the enterprise. Explanation 4. The receipt of government grants by an enterprise is significant for preparation of the financial statements for two reasons. Firstly, if a government grant has been received, an appropriate method of accounting therefor is necessary. Secondly, it is desirable to give an indication of the extent to which the enterprise has benefited from such grant during the reporting period. This facilitates comparison of an enterprise's financial statements with those of prior periods and with those of other enterprises. Accounting Treatment of Government Grants 5. Capital Approach versus Income Approach 5.1 Two broad approaches may be followed for the accounting treatment of government grants : the 'capital approach', under whic....
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....ition of specific expenses are taken to income in the same period as the relevant expenses. 6. Recognition of Government Grants 6.1 Government grants available to the enterprise are considered for inclusion in accounts : (i) where there is reasonable assurance that the enterprise will comply with the conditions attached to them; and (ii) where such benefits have been earned by the enterprise and it is reasonably certain that the ultimate collection will be made. Mere receipt of a grant is not necessarily a conclusive evidence that conditions attaching to the grant have been or will be fulfilled. 6.2 An appropriate amount in respect of such earned benefits, estimated on a prudent basis, is credited to income for the year even though the actual amount of such benefits may be finally settled and received after the end of the relevant accounting period. 6.3 A contingency related to a government grant, arising after the grant has been recognised, is treated in accordance with Accounting Standard (AS) 4, Contingencies and Events Occurring after the Balance Sheet Date. 6.4 In certain circumstances, a government grant is awarded for the purpose of giving immediate financial suppo....
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....r the useful life of the asset. Such allocation to income is usually made over the periods and in the proportions in which depreciation on related assets is charged. Grants related to non-depreciable assets are edited to capital reserve under this method, as there is usually no charge to income in respect of such assets. However, if a grant related to a non-depreciable asset requires the fulfilment of certain obligations, the grant is credited to income over the same period over which the cost of meeting such obligations is charged to income. The deferred income is suitably disclosed in the balance sheet pending its apportionment to profit and loss account. For example, in the case of a company, it is shown after 'Reserves and Surplus' but before 'Secured Loans', with a suitable description, e.g., 'Deferred government grants'. 8.5 The purchase of assets and the receipt of related grants can cause major movements in the cash flow of an enterprise. For this reason and in order to show the gross investment in assets, such movements are often disclosed as separate items in the statement of changes in financial position regardless of whether or not the grant is deducted from the relate....
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....idual useful life of the asset. 11.4 Where a grant which is in the nature of promoters' contribution becomes refundable, in part or in full, to the Government on non-fulfilment of some specified conditions, the relevant amount recoverable by the Government is reduced from the capital reserve. 12. Disclosure 12.1 The following disclosures are appropriate: (i) the accounting policy adopted for government grants, including the methods of presentation in the financial statements; (ii) the nature and extent of government grants recognised in the financial statements, including grants of non-monetary assets given at a concessional rate or free of cost. Main Principles 13. Government grants should not be recognised until there is reasonable assurance that (i) the enterprise will comply with the conditions attached to them, and (ii) the grants will be received. 14. Government grants related to specific fixed assets should be presented in the balance sheet by showing the grant as a deduction from the gross value of the assets concerned in arriving at their book value. Where the grant related to a specific fixed asset equals the whole, or virtually the whole, of the cost of the ass....