15 February 2012
If tax audit is not applicable to the partnership firm, then stat. audit is applicable or not? I mean do they require to prepare balance sheet and p&l a/c and get it audited by CA ? Please reply with provision of partnership act.
25 July 2025
Great question! Here's the detailed explanation regarding **statutory audit of partnership firms**:
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### 1. **Is Statutory Audit Applicable to Partnership Firms?**
* **No specific statutory audit requirement** under the **Indian Partnership Act, 1932** mandates a partnership firm to get its accounts audited.
* The **Indian Partnership Act does not have any provision requiring audit of accounts or preparation of Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account** by a partnership firm.
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### 2. **When is Audit Required for Partnership Firms?**
* **Tax Audit under Section 44AB of Income Tax Act, 1961**:
* If the firm's turnover or gross receipts exceed Rs. 1 crore (limit can change with amendments), tax audit is mandatory. * If tax audit applies, the firm must prepare audited financial statements (Balance Sheet and P\&L).
* **Other laws**:
* Certain industries or contractual obligations may require audits, but this is outside the scope of the Partnership Act.
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### 3. **Summary**
| Requirement | Applicability to Partnership Firm | | ------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | Statutory Audit under Partnership Act | **Not required** (No provision) | | Tax Audit under Income Tax Act | Required if turnover exceeds threshold | | Voluntary Audit | Firms may opt for audit for credibility |
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### 4. **Provisions Reference**
* **Indian Partnership Act, 1932**:
* Does not mention audit or accounts preparation. * Section 18 allows partners to inspect books of accounts, but no audit requirement.
* **Income Tax Act, 1961**:
* Section 44AB requires tax audit if turnover limit exceeded.
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### 5. **Conclusion**
* Unless required by tax laws or contractual obligations, a partnership firm is **not mandated by the Partnership Act to get accounts audited**. * Preparation of financial statements is a **good practice** but not compulsory under the Partnership Act.
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If you want, I can also share a **simple checklist for preparing accounts for partnership firms** or more details on tax audit. Would you like that?