21 September 2010
IF THE CO. HAVING A RESERVE AND SURPLUS AND THE COMPANY WANT TO DECLARE DIVIDEND AFTER FINALIZATION OF BALANCE SHEET . IS THERE ANY RULES REGARDING THIS IF YES THEN PROVIDE THE SUGGESTION.
21 September 2010
Interim Dividend should not be declared out of reserves. While final Dividend may be paid out of Free Reserves, no Interim Dividend should be paid, in the event of a loss or inadequacy of profits, by transfers out of any reserves. Courtesy : - SS-3 of ICSI.
21 September 2010
if co. want to pay dividend out of reserve & surplus already having a profit in the current year .is it possible to pay the devidend out of res. & surplus from last year balance.is there any limit (like does not exceed 10% of paid capital )regarding this or not.
#### **1. Rules and Guidelines for Issuing Interim Dividend:**
1. **Interim Dividend Declaration:** - **Definition:** Interim dividend is declared by a company before the finalization of the annual accounts. It is paid out of the profits earned during the financial year or accumulated profits. - **Authority:** The Board of Directors can declare an interim dividend. It does not require the approval of shareholders, unlike a final dividend.
2. **Requirements:** - **Profit Availability:** The company must have sufficient profits (current or accumulated) to declare an interim dividend. The declaration should not exceed the profits available for distribution. - **Reserve and Surplus:** Interim dividend can be declared from the reserves and surplus, but it must be based on the profits of the current year or past profits.
3. **Regulatory Framework:** - **Companies Act, 2013 (India):** Section 123 of the Companies Act, 2013 governs the declaration of dividends. It specifies that dividends can be declared only out of profits and that any dividend declaration should comply with the provisions of the Act.
#### **2. Dividend Payment from Reserves and Surplus:**
1. **Payment from Reserves:** - **Legality:** It is permissible to pay dividends from accumulated reserves if there are no current profits. However, this is generally avoided unless there are significant accumulated profits. - **Conditions:** Payment of dividends from reserves should be done with caution and should be justified by having adequate reserves and surplus.
2. **Limits and Conditions:** - **No Specific Limit:** There is no specific percentage limit for the amount of dividend that can be declared from reserves. However, it should be reasonable and should not jeopardize the financial stability of the company. - **Disclosures:** If reserves are utilized for dividend payments, it should be disclosed in the financial statements and the Annual Report.
3. **Practical Considerations:** - **Shareholder Approval:** While interim dividends do not require shareholder approval, final dividends do. Ensure that all legal requirements and disclosures are adhered to. - **Financial Health:** Assess the financial health of the company before declaring dividends from reserves to ensure long-term sustainability.
#### **Practical Steps:**
1. **Board Resolution:** Pass a resolution by the Board of Directors to declare the interim dividend. Ensure that the decision is documented properly. 2. **Payment:** Make the payment to shareholders as per the declared interim dividend. 3. **Disclosure:** Disclose the interim dividend in the financial statements and annual report for transparency.
**Example Calculation:**
- **Reserves and Surplus (End of Previous Year):** ₹10,00,000 - **Current Year Profit:** ₹5,00,000 - **Interim Dividend Declared:** ₹3,00,000
In this scenario, the interim dividend of ₹3,00,000 can be declared from the combined reserves and current year profit if it does not exceed the total available profits and reserves.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that the dividend declaration process is compliant with legal requirements and is executed smoothly.