Common mistakes frequently observed in financial statements as per ICAI’s publications and reviews include:
1. Disclosure of Accounting Policies (AS 1)
- Inadequate disclosure of significant accounting policies, especially those governing primary operations.
- Policies merely state compliance with standards (e.g., “in accordance with AS”) without specific application methods.
2. Valuation of Inventories (AS 2)
- Incorrect valuation methods or non-disclosure of valuation methods used (e.g., FIFO, weighted average).
- Failure to recognize inventory write-downs due to obsolescence or market value declines.
3. Revenue Recognition (AS 9)
- Incorrect recognition timing, failing to align revenue with the period in which it was earned.
- Misclassification of revenue streams or failure to disclose significant judgments used in revenue recognition.
4. Accounting for Fixed Assets (AS 10)
- Misclassification of costs between capital and revenue expenditures.
- Non-disclosure of revaluation or impairment policies.
5. Related Party Disclosures (AS 18)
- Incomplete disclosure of related party transactions.
- Omitting material relationships or transactions that could influence decision-making.
6. Cash Flow Statements (AS 3)
- Misclassification of cash flows among operating, investing, and financing activities.
- Lack of reconciliation with cash and cash equivalents.
7. Employee Benefits (AS 15)
- Failure to recognize obligations for defined benefit plans.
- Inadequate disclosure of actuarial assumptions and obligations.
8. Earnings Per Share (AS 20)
- Incorrect calculation of diluted earnings per share.
- Omission of disclosures about calculation methodology.
9. Deferred Tax Accounting (AS 22)
- Errors in calculating deferred tax liabilities or assets, especially in temporary differences.
- Lack of disclosures regarding the basis of deferred tax asset recognition.
10. Segment Reporting (AS 17)
- Failure to disclose reportable segments based on business activities or geography.
- Misalignment between management’s internal reporting and disclosed segments.
These errors impact the reliability and transparency of financial statements, necessitating strict adherence to standards and rigorous audits.
