Clarification on Auditor’s Certificate on Return of Deposits pursuant to Rule 16 of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014

This has reference to Rule 16 of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014 and further amendments.

In this regard, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs vide its letter no. File No: P-01/08/2013- CL-V Vol. VI dated June 24, 2019 has clarified on the matter as under:

• The Auditor’s Certificate is mandatory only in case of return of deposits.
  
  
• For filing particulars of transactions not considered as deposits information contained therein as on 31st March of that year need not be from the duly audited Financial Statement.
  
  
• Only in case of Return of Deposit information contained therein as on 31st March of that year should be from duly audited financial statement of the company.
  
  

Also in order to provide guidance to members, the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board of ICAI has issued Illustrative Auditor’s Certificate on Return of Deposits, which is available on the below cited link:

Illustrative Auditor’s Certificate on Return of Deposits as at [state the year end] pursuant to Rule 16 of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014, as amended


(Chairman & Vice Chairman, Auditing and Assurance Standards Board)