Section 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 requires the auditors of the companies to report as whether the company has adequate internal financial controls system in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, at its adjourned 333rd meeting held on 18th June 2014, considered the issue of applicability of the provisions of sections 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 and the related Rules to the audits of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014.

The Council noted that the sections 143(3)(i) had come into force in respect of financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2014. The Council was of the view that the provisions of sections 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 applied to the auditors appointed under the Companies Act 2013 to audit the financial statements for the year beginning on or after 1st April 2014. As a corollary, the requirements of these sections and related Rules would not apply to audits of financial statements of the periods beginning on or before 31st March 2014, even if the audits therefor were actually carried out and auditor’s report thereon issued on or after 1st April 2014. These would continue to be done as per the requirements of the Companies Act 1956.

The Council also decided that as a corollary, the provisions of section 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act 2013 would apply to the audits of the financial year beginning on or after 1st April 2014.