Statements of Accounting Standards

(AS 12)

Accounting for Government Grants

The following is the text of the Accounting Standard (AS) 12

issued by the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India on 'Accounting for Government Grants'.

The Standard comes into effect in respect of accounting periods

commencing on or after 1.4.1992 and will be recommendatory in
nature for an initial period of two years. Accordingly, the
Guidance Note on 'Accounting for Capital Based Grants' issued by
the Institute in 1981 shall stand withdrawn from this date. This
Standard will become mandatory in respect of accounts for
periods commencing on or after 1.4.1994.

Introduction

1. This Statement deals with accounting for government grants.

Government grants are sometimes called by other names such
as subsidies, cash incentives, duty drawbacks, etc.

2. This Statement does not deal with:

(i) the special problems arising in accounting for government

grants in financial statements reflecting the effects of changing
prices or in supplementary information of a similar nature;

(ii) government assistance other than in the form of

government grants;

(iii) government participation in the ownership of the

enterprise.

Definitions

3. The following terms are used in this Statement with the

meanings specified:
3.1 Government refers to government, 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
which a grant is treated as part of shareholders' funds, and the
'income approach', under which a grant is taken to income over
one or more periods.

5.2 Those in support of the 'capital approach' argue as follows:

(i) Many government grants are in the nature of

promoters' contribution, i.e., they are given with reference
to the total investment in an undertaking or by way of
contribution towards its total capital outlay and no
 repayment is ordinarily expected in the case of such grants.
These should, therefore, be credited directly to shareholders'
funds.

(ii) It is inappropriate to recognise government grants in

the profit and loss statement, since they are not earned but
represent an incentive provided by government without
related costs.

5.3 Arguments in support of the 'income approach' are as follows:

(i) Government grants are rarely gratuitous. The

enterprise earns them through compliance with their
conditions and meeting the envisaged obligations. They
should therefore be taken to income and matched with the
associated costs which the grant is intended to compensate.

(ii) As income tax and other taxes are charges against income,
it is logical to deal also with government grants, which are
an extension of fiscal policies, in the profit and loss
statement.

(iii) In case grants are credited to shareholders' funds, no

correlation is done between the accounting treatment of the
grant and the accounting treatment of the expenditure to
which the grant relates.

5.4 It is generally considered appropriate that accounting for

government grant should be based on the nature of the
relevant grant. Grants which have the characteristics similar to
those of promoters' contribution should be treated as part of
shareholders' funds. Income approach may be more
appropriate in the case of other grants.

5.5 It is fundamental to the 'income approach' that government

grants be recognised in the profit and loss statement on a
systematic and rational basis over the periods necessary to
match them with the related costs. Income recognition of
government grants on a receipts basis is not in accordance
 with the accrual accounting assumption (see Accounting
Standard (AS) 1, Disclosure of Accounting Policies).

5.6 In most cases, the periods over which an enterprise

recognises the costs or expenses related to a government
grant are readily ascertainable and thus grants in recognition
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 support to an
enterprise rather than as an incentive to undertake specific
expenditure. Such grants may be confined to an individual
 enterprise and may not be available to a whole class of
enterprises. These circumstances may warrant taking the grant
to income in the period in which the enterprise qualifies to
receive it, as an extraordinary item if appropriate (see
Accounting Standard (AS) 5, Prior Period and Extraordinary
Items and Changes in Accounting Policies).

6.5 Government grants may become receivable by an enterprise

as compensation for expenses or losses incurred in a previous
accounting period. Such a grant is recognised in the income
statement of the period in which it becomes receivable, as an
extraordinary item if appropriate (see Accounting Standard
(AS) 5, Prior Period and Extraordinary Items and Changes in
Accounting Policies).

7. Non-monetary Government Grants

7.1 Government grants may take the form of non-monetary

assets, such as land or other resources, given at concessional
rates. In these circumstances, it is usual to account for such
assets at their acquisition cost. Non-monetary assets given free
of cost are recorded at a nominal value.

8. Presentation of Grants Related to Specific Fixed Assets

8.1 Grants related to specific fixed assets are government grants

whose primary condition is that an enterprise qualifying for
them should purchase, construct or otherwise acquire such
assets. Other conditions may also be attached restricting the
type or location of the assets or the periods during which they
are to be acquired or held.

8.2 Two methods of presentation in financial statements of grants

(or the appropriate portions of grants) related to specific fixed
assets are regarded as acceptable alternatives.

8.3 Under one method, the grant is shown as a deduction from

the gross value of the asset concerned in arriving at its book
value. The grant is thus recognised in the profit and loss
statement over the useful life of a depreciable asset by way of
 a reduced depreciation charge. Where the grant equals the
whole, or virtually the whole, of the cost of the asset, the asset
is shown in the balance sheet at a nominal value.

8.4 Under the other method, grants related to depreciable assets

are treated as deferred income which is recognised in the profit
and loss statement on a systematic and rational basis over 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 credited 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 fulfillment 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 related asset for
the purpose of balance sheet presentation.

9. Presentation of Grants Related to Revenue

9.1 Grants related to revenue are sometimes presented as a

credit in the profit and loss statement, either separately or
under a general heading such as 'Other Income'. Alternatively,
they are deducted in reporting the related expense.

9.2 Supporters of the first method claim that it is inappropriate to

net income and expense items and that separation of the grant
 from the expense facilitates comparison with other expenses
not affected by a grant. For the second method, it is argued
that the expense might well not have been incurred by the
enterprise if the grant had not been available and presentation
of the expense without offsetting the grant may therefore be
misleading.

10. Presentation of Grants of the nature of Promoters'

contribution

10.1 Where the government grants are of the nature of

promoters' contribution, i.e., they are given with reference to
the total investment in an undertaking or by way of
contribution towards its total capital outlay (for example,
central investment subsidy scheme) and no repayment is
ordinarily expected in respect thereof, the grants are treated as
capital reserve which can be neither distributed as dividend nor
considered as deferred income.

11. Refund of Government Grants

11.1 Government grants sometimes become refundable because

certain conditions are not fulfilled. A government grant that
becomes refundable is treated as an extraordinary item (see
Accounting Standard (AS) 5, Prior Period and Extraordinary
Items and Changes in Accounting Policies).

11.2 The amount refundable in respect of a government grant

related to revenue is applied first against any unamortised
deferred credit remaining in respect of the grant. To the extent
that the amount refundable exceeds any such deferred credit,
or where no deferred credit exists, the amount is charged
immediately to profit and loss statement.

11.3 The amount refundable in respect of a government grant

related to a specific fixed asset is recorded by increasing the
book value of the asset or by reducing the capital reserve or
the deferred income balance, as appropriate, by the amount
refundable. In the first alternative, i.e., where the book value
 of the asset is increased, depreciation on the revised book
value is provided prospectively over the residual 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-fulfillment 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.

Accounting Standard

(The Accounting Standard comprises paragraphs 13–23 of this

Statement. The Standard should be read in the context of
paragraphs 1–12 of this Statement and of the Preface to the
Statements of Accounting Standards.)

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 asset, the asset should be shown in the balance
 sheet at a nominal value. Alternatively, government grants
related to depreciable fixed assets may be treated as deferred
income which should be recognised in the profit and loss
statement on a systematic and rational basis over the useful
life of the asset, i.e., such grants should be allocated to income
over the periods and in the proportions in which depreciation
on those assets is charged. Grants related to non-depreciable
assets should be credited to capital reserve under this method.
However, if a grant related to a non-depreciable asset requires
the fulfillment of certain obligations, the grant should be
credited to income over the same period over which the cost of
meeting such obligations is charged to income. The deferred
income balance should be separately disclosed in the financial
statements.

15. Government grants related to revenue should be recognised

on a systematic basis in the profit and loss statement over the
periods necessary to match them with the related costs which
they are intended to compensate. Such grants should either be
shown separately under 'other income' or deducted in reporting
the related expense.

16. Government grants of the nature of promoters' contribution

should be credited to capital reserve and treated as a part of
shareholders' funds.

17. Government grants in the form of non-monetary assets, given

at a concessional rate, should be accounted for on the basis of
their acquisition cost. In case a non-monetary asset is given
free of cost, it should be recorded at a nominal value.

18. Government grants that are receivable as compensation for

expenses or losses incurred in a previous accounting period or
for the purpose of giving immediate financial support to the
enterprise with no further related costs, should be recognised
and disclosed in the profit and loss statement of the period in
which they are receivable, as an extraordinary item if
appropriate (see Accounting Standard (AS) 5, Prior Period and
Extraordinary Items and Changes in Accounting Policies).
19. A contingency related to a government grant, arising after the
grant has been recognised, should be treated in accordance
with Accounting Standard (AS) 4, Contingencies and Events
Occurring After the Balance Sheet Date.

20. Government grants that become refundable should be

accounted for as an extraordinary item (see Accounting
Standard (AS) 5, Prior Period and Extraordinary Items and
Changes in Accounting Policies).

21. The amount refundable in respect of a grant related to

revenue should be applied first against any unamortised
deferred credit remaining in respect of the grant. To the extent
that the amount refundable exceeds any such deferred credit,
or where no deferred credit exists, the amount should be
charged to profit and loss statement. The amount refundable in
respect of a grant related to a specific fixed asset should be
recorded by increasing the book value of the asset or by
reducing the capital reserve or the deferred income balance, as
appropriate, by the amount refundable. In the first alternative,
i.e., where the book value of the asset is increased,
depreciation on the revised book value should be provided
prospectively over the residual useful life of the asset.

22. Government grants in the nature of promoters' contribution

that become refundable should be reduced from the capital
reserve.

Disclosure

23. The following should be disclosed:

(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.