Defaulting Cost Auditors - File Your Form 23D Immediately
MINISTRY of Corporate Affairs vide General Circular No: 15/2011, dated April 11, 2011 had prescribed a revised procedure to be followed for appointment of cost auditors.
As per the revised procedure, each company is required to e-file its application with the Central Government in the prescribed Form 23C within ninety days from the date of commencement of each financial year, which shall be approved by MCA within 30 days.
After approval by MCA, the company is required to issue formal letter of appointment to the cost auditor, who shall, within 30 days of receipt of such letter of appointment, inform the Central Government in the prescribed Form 23D along with a copy of such appointment.
MCA has observed that:
Since April 1, 2011, though all the appointment applications made by the companies concerned in Form 23C have already been approved by the MCA, a large number of cost auditors have defaulted in filing the required Form 23D within the stipulated time. In many cases, the default period is even more than a year.
This has been viewed very seriously by the Ministry.
So they have advised all defaulting cost auditors to file their required Form 23D that have already become due till date, by December 16, 2012 positively.
In case of any further default, names of such defaulting members shall be sent to the Institute on December 17, 2012 intimating the Institute to initiate Disciplinary Proceedings against them.
In cases where the company concerned, after approval of Form 23C, has failed to issue the formal letter of appointment to the cost auditor, they shall do so within 15 days of the issue of this Circular enabling the cost auditor to file Form 23D within the extended time indicated above.
In case of non-compliance, the company and every officer thereof who is found to be in default shall be punishable as per provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.
The Ministry wants the Institute of Cost Accountants of India to circulate this for the information of all concerned.