Tag: Absorption

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a legal and ethical responsibility of companies to contribute to the social, economic, and environmental development of the society in which they operate. As per Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, companies meeting specific criteria are required to spend at least 2% of their average net profits of the preceding three years on CSR activities. Effective measurement and transparent presentation of CSR spendings are essential for regulatory compliance and stakeholder trust.

Measurement of CSR Spendings

a. Determining Eligible Expenditure

CSR spending includes all expenditures incurred on CSR activities listed in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. These include areas like education, health, environmental sustainability, gender equality, poverty eradication, and support to national heritage.

Only those expenses directly related to CSR activities qualify as CSR spendings. Administrative overheads should not exceed 5% of the total CSR expenditure.

b. Net Profit Calculation

The basis for CSR obligations is the average net profit of the company during the three immediately preceding financial years. Net profit is calculated as per Section 198 of the Companies Act, which includes operational profits but excludes capital profits, dividend income from subsidiaries, and revaluation gains.

c. Mode of Spending

CSR spending can be:

• Direct: Where the company itself undertakes the project.

• Indirect: Through registered trusts, societies, or Section 8 companies.

In both cases, the company must ensure accountability, monitoring, and impact evaluation of the project.

d. Surplus Treatment

Any surplus arising from CSR activities must be re-invested into CSR activities in the same financial year or within three years. It cannot be added to business profits.

e. Set-Off and Carry Forward

If a company spends more than the required amount in a financial year, it can set off the excess amount against future CSR obligations for up to three subsequent financial years, subject to Board approval and proper disclosure in the annual report.

Presentation of CSR Spendings:

a. Financial Statement Disclosure

Companies are required to present their CSR spending in the financial statements as per the Schedule III of the Companies Act. This includes:

• Total amount required to be spent.

• Amount actually spent.

• Reasons for shortfall, if any.

• Manner of spending (direct/through implementation agencies).

• Details of capital assets created or acquired.

These disclosures are presented as Notes to Accounts in the financial statements.

b. CSR Reporting in Annual Report

A comprehensive report on CSR is to be included in the Board’s Report forming part of the Annual Report. This report must contain:

• CSR policy of the company.

• Composition of CSR Committee.

• Average net profits and CSR obligation.

• Amount spent during the year.

• Project-wise spending details.

• Details of impact assessment, if applicable.

In case of a shortfall, the Board must explain the reasons and propose remedial measures.

c. Reporting for Ongoing Projects

For ongoing CSR projects, companies must disclose:

• Project name and duration.

• Total budget and expenditure incurred.

• Unspent amount and reason for delay.

• Transfer of unspent amount to Unspent CSR Account within 30 days of the end of financial year.

• Utilization of such amount within three financial years.

Failure to comply may lead to penalties under Section 135(7).

d. Audit and Assurance

Although CSR spending is not subject to a separate statutory audit, it is reviewed during statutory audit of financial statements. Companies must maintain proper books of accounts and supporting documents for CSR transactions.

For large projects or companies with significant CSR budgets, it is advisable to conduct third-party impact assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and provide transparency to stakeholders.

Challenges in Measurement and Presentation

• Attribution of costs in indirect projects.

• Determining project outcomes vs. expenditure.

• Managing multi-year projects with consistent budgeting.

• Aligning CSR reporting with sustainability or ESG reports.

• Tracking surplus generation and proper reinvestment.

To overcome these challenges, companies must adopt robust internal control systems, involve CSR professionals, and align their reporting with global best practices like GRI (Global Reporting Initiative).

Capital Asset for CSR refers to any tangible or intangible asset created or acquired by a company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. These may include buildings, equipment, or technology developed for educational, healthcare, or community benefit projects. However, such assets cannot be owned by the company. Ownership must rest with a public authority, registered trust, society, or a Section 8 company. The asset should be used solely for CSR purposes, ensuring community benefit and aligning with CSR policy mandates and legal provisions.

Features of Capital Asset for CSR:

• Non-Profit Ownership

Capital asset created under CSR must not be owned by the company itself. As per the Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021, ownership of the asset should be transferred to a Section 8 company, registered public trust, registered society, or a government authority. This ensures that the asset is used for public welfare and not for commercial gain. The transfer of ownership must be documented and aligned with CSR rules to avoid legal or tax-related issues and to ensure CSR compliance.

• Intended for Community Benefit

The primary purpose of a CSR capital asset is to benefit the community. Assets like hospitals, schools, or vocational centers must directly address social issues such as health, education, or livelihood. They must serve underprivileged or marginalized sections of society. The company must ensure that the asset is operational, maintained, and accessible to the intended beneficiaries. This focus on public welfare reinforces the essence of CSR, which is to give back to society and promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.

• Utilized for Permissible CSR Activities

Capital assets should only be created for CSR activities defined under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. These include projects related to education, healthcare, rural development, sanitation, and environmental sustainability. Companies cannot include capital assets built for business promotion or employee welfare under CSR. Proper planning and documentation are required to ensure that the asset aligns with CSR objectives and not with business interests, which is a key condition for claiming the expense as CSR-compliant.

• Proper Disclosure and Documentation

Companies must maintain transparent records and disclosures for CSR-related capital assets in their financial statements and annual CSR reports. This includes details such as cost, ownership, location, and purpose. The records ensure accountability and demonstrate that the asset has been created in accordance with the rules. Annual CSR filings submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) must clearly identify capital assets and their transfer details to the specified entities. Failure to comply may result in penalties or disqualification of CSR expenditure.

• Prohibition of Personal or Business Use

CSR capital assets cannot be used for business, personal benefit, or employee welfare purposes. The Companies Act strictly prohibits any direct or indirect benefit to the company or its employees (beyond CSR volunteers). For example, a building constructed for educational purposes cannot be used as a training center for the company’s staff. If violated, the company may face disqualification of such expenditure from CSR obligations, leading to regulatory scrutiny and possible penalties under the Companies Act or tax laws.

• Mandatory Transfer in Certain Cases

If a company ceases operations or dissolves the trust/society used for CSR implementation, it is mandatory to transfer the capital asset to another eligible entity within 90 days. This ensures that the asset continues to serve public interests and is not misused or lost. The transfer must be documented and reported to the MCA. This rule preserves the social value of the asset and ensures continuity in public benefit, even if the originating company changes its operations or exits the CSR initiative.

Surplus from CSR activities refers to any income or gains generated during the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, such as interest earned on unutilized CSR funds, income from CSR-related projects, or sale of assets created through CSR. As per the Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021, this surplus must not form part of the company’s business profits. Instead, it must be reinvested in the same CSR project, used for other CSR activities, or transferred to a fund specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. The rules ensure that CSR-generated surplus is utilized strictly for social and developmental purposes and not for commercial benefits. Companies are required to disclose such surplus and its utilization in their Annual CSR Report to maintain transparency and compliance with the law.

Reasons of Surplus from CSR Activities:

• Interest Earned on Unutilized CSR Funds:

When a company allocates funds for CSR activities but doesn’t utilize them immediately, the money may be temporarily parked in bank accounts or financial instruments. This generates interest income, which is considered surplus. Although not intentionally earned, this interest is directly related to CSR funds and is thus treated as surplus under CSR rules. As per CSR policy guidelines, this interest must be re-invested in CSR projects or transferred to specified funds, ensuring it is not used for any non-CSR business or operational purposes.

• Sale of Assets Created Under CSR:

Occasionally, CSR projects involve the creation of assets like equipment, infrastructure, or goods (e.g., machinery donated to an NGO). If these assets are later sold—either by the company or by the implementing agency—any proceeds received are considered surplus. This surplus cannot be credited to business profits. Instead, it must be used for further CSR activities or transferred to a Schedule VII fund. This rule ensures that the economic value created through CSR efforts stays within the domain of social development and is not diverted for commercial use.

• Income Generated from CSR Projects:

Sometimes CSR initiatives like skill development programs or women empowerment projects may generate income. For example, training programs in tailoring or handicrafts may lead to the production and sale of goods. The proceeds from these sales are considered surplus from CSR activities. Even if the income is earned indirectly, its source being CSR qualifies it as surplus. As per CSR regulations, such income must be reinvested into similar CSR initiatives or related programs, ensuring that the cycle of benefit continues and the funds are not reabsorbed into the business.

• Savings Due to Cost Efficiency:

At times, CSR projects may be executed under budget due to effective planning, discounts from vendors, or donations received during implementation. This results in unused funds or savings, which are categorized as surplus. These excess funds, even though resulting from cost efficiency, must still be used only for CSR purposes. The company must either utilize this surplus in the same project or allocate it to other CSR activities as allowed under Schedule VII. These savings cannot be carried over as business profit or used for regular corporate operations.

• Contributions or Donations Received:

CSR projects often involve collaborations with NGOs, government bodies, or community organizations. In such cases, if external donations or co-funding is received and leads to an excess of funds, the amount is classified as surplus from CSR. This applies especially when the company is the executing agency. While the intention behind such donations may be noble, CSR regulations require that the entire surplus be applied to CSR projects. It emphasizes transparency and ensures that contributions meant for social development are not misused or redirected to business gains.

• Short Fall in CSR Spent:

A shortfall in CSR spent occurs when a company fails to meet the minimum mandatory expenditure requirement on Corporate Social Responsibility under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. Companies with a net worth of ₹500 crore or more, turnover of ₹1,000 crore or more, or net profit of ₹5 crore or more must spend at least 2% of their average net profits (of the past three financial years) on CSR activities. If there is any unspent amount, especially related to ongoing projects, it must be transferred to a special “Unspent CSR Account” within 30 days from the end of the financial year. Failure to comply results in financial penalties and legal action as per the Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules.

• Excess in CSR Spent:

Excess in CSR spent occurs when a company spends more than the prescribed 2% of its average net profits on Corporate Social Responsibility activities in a given financial year, as mandated by Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. According to the Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021, such excess CSR expenditure can be carried forward and set off against the required CSR spending for up to three subsequent financial years, provided the excess amount is not related to surplus arising out of CSR activities. To utilize the excess in future years, the Board must pass a resolution approving the set-off. Proper disclosure of the excess amount and its future adjustment must be made in the Board’s Report and Annual CSR Report. This provision offers flexibility to companies in managing CSR obligations efficiently over multiple financial years.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is governed under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, which mandates certain companies to spend a portion of their profits on social and environmental activities. Proper accounting for CSR activities is crucial for transparency, ensuring that funds are allocated effectively and used for the intended purposes. The accounting for CSR expenses involves both recording and reporting the expenditures, as well as adhering to the statutory requirements as laid out by the Companies Act, 2013.

CSR Policy Framework:

Every company falling under the CSR applicability criteria must formulate a CSR policy, which outlines the objectives and activities to be pursued. This policy must be approved by the Board of Directors and must include areas such as education, health, gender equality, environmental sustainability, etc. The CSR policy also defines the amount to be spent and how the company will track its CSR contributions.

CSR Spend Recognition:

Under Section 135(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, the company is required to spend a minimum of 2% of its average net profit over the last three financial years on CSR activities. If the company fails to meet this requirement, it must explain the reasons in the Director’s Report.

CSR Expenditure Classification:

The expenditure on CSR activities should be recognized as “CSR expense” in the profit and loss statement. The company should create separate accounts for CSR expenditure, ensuring that it is not confused with other operational expenses. These expenses should be classified under the appropriate heads as per Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.

Accounting Entries:

• CSR Expense Debit
  When CSR expenditure is incurred, the following accounting entry is recorded:

Debit: CSR Expense (P&L Account)
Credit: Cash/Bank (Liability)

• CSR Liability Recognition

If the CSR funds are not utilized immediately but committed to be used in the future, the following entry is passed:

Debit: CSR Expense (P&L Account)
Credit: CSR Payable (Liability Account)

Capital vs Revenue CSR Expenditure

The CSR expenditure may be classified into either capital or revenue expenditure, depending on the nature of the activity. For example:

• Revenue CSR Expenditure: This includes donations, contributions, and expenses related to social activities like health, education, and welfare.

• Capital CSR Expenditure: This includes expenses related to long-term assets such as setting up a school, hospital, or infrastructure for a community. Such costs are capitalized and depreciated over time.

CSR Reporting and Disclosures:

The company is required to disclose CSR expenditure in its financial statements, along with details on the projects undertaken. The report must mention:

• The total CSR expenditure for the year

• The areas where the CSR activities were carried out

• The amount spent directly on CSR activities and any indirect expenses

The CSR policy and related details must be included in the annual report, and the company must specify whether it has complied with the mandatory 2% expenditure or provide reasons for non-compliance.

Unspent CSR Funds:

If the company is unable to spend the required CSR amount in a given year, the unspent funds must be transferred to a special account for CSR expenditure within six months of the end of the financial year. These funds should be spent within the next three years. If the company fails to spend the CSR amount within this period, it must explain the reasons in the Director’s Report.

Accounting for Unspent CSR Funds:

• Unspent CSR Funds Transfer:

Debit: CSR Expense (P&L Account)
Credit: Unspent CSR Fund (Liability Account)

CSR Audit:

Companies are required to ensure that CSR expenditures are properly audited, especially for companies with a CSR obligation of ₹10 crores or more. This ensures that the CSR activities are carried out as per the policy and guidelines established under the Companies Act, 2013. The audit helps verify the accuracy of the funds spent and the compliance with the CSR policy.