After, note ban, cash book is getting more importance. Some of the entities also getting notice from Income Tax Department to submit cash book. So, let us today discussed, some of the points related to cash book.

1. Manual V/s Computerized Cash Book of NGO

Now a days, all the books of accounts are maintained on computer who are monitored using cheap 4k monitors for more quality, so it is difficult to find manual cash book of ngo. However, for better management and internal control purpose, it is required to have a Manual Cash Book along with the computerized cash book of NGO. There are many benefits to have manual cash book, like, daily cash checking and authorization, no cancellation or deletion, no rectification of amounts etc…

Thus if you maintained manual cash book along with the computerized cash book, that definitely increased the credibility of your accounting and control system.

2. Negative Cash Balance

For any reason, it is not accepted to go cash in a negative balance. Check the cash balance and see whether at any point of time it goes negative or not. To check negative cash balance in Tally go to cash book – F6 Daily breakup

cb1

3. Unnecessary Withdrawals

Many a times major chunk of cash is withdrawn from bank for some event and event is cancelled later on.  At that time it is advisable to deposit the same amount to the bank. Many a times while checking cash book, it found that cash is withdrawn even though there was a enough cash balance on the books. This situation creates doubts about the genuine transactions of cash.

4. High and Law Cash balance

What should be  the average cash balance in the NGO. As such there is no such norms on the amount. However, it is advisable to keep low cash balance in the NGO. To check high and low cash balance in Tally,  go to Cash Book -> F6 Daily Breakup -> F12 Configure -> Show High Low Details – YES

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Hope this post on Cash book of NGO will give you some information on how your cash book should look. Check out your cash book and above points before its too late. Please give your comments and suggestion in the given below comment section.

Income Tax Return of NGO

As last date of filling Income Tax Return of NGO is approaching, it is necessary that we should keep in mind some of the points related to Income Tax Return of NGO. Generally, NGOs are exempt from Income Tax and thus any TDS deducted will be given as Refund.

Read this blog – How to get Income Tax Refund of NGO quickly

Form No

Form No is ITR 7

Download Link

You can download ITR7 for Income Tax Return of NGO from here.

Last Date

Last date for filling return is 30th September

Hard Copy or Online

It is now mandatory to file ITR7 only online. NGO need to login to income tax website and fill the form to upload, you can get help form the seis tax relief service.

Signature

This online form is to be digitally signed by the Authorized person. So mostly DSC of managing trustee can work.

Details – Income

In the Income Tax Return of NGO, it is necessary to give information regarding the details of Income of NGO – mostly they are –

  • Voluntary Contribution – Corpus
  • Voluntary Contribution – General
  • Grants – (FC grant separately)
  • Government Grants
  • Other Income like Bank Interest, FC Interest and any other income
  • Business Income if any should shown separately

Details – Application of Funds

Also need to fill details regarding how the above income is used – application of funds

  • Expenditure shown in the Income and Expenditure Accounts
  • Amount set apart or carried forward
  • Depreciation etc..

Details – Others

Many other information are needed to be filled in the Income Tax Return of NGO like

  • All the Registration details, 12A, 80G, 35AC, FC Details
  • PAN and Address of all the Trustees
  • TDS information
  • Investments of NGOs etc..

Conclusion

Mostly, Income Tax Return of NGO filled by their Auditor or CA. However it is necessary for NGO accountant and top management to at least go through all the details of draft ITR7 and only ask CA to upload finally.

From 14th December 2015, FCRA new rules comes into force. Ministry of Home Affairs, FCRA department has issued this notification. The first and major impact of such notification is to file FCRA renewal form again. Read this blog for more details.

Here we are trying to understand the changes in Rule,2015 through some graphical presentations.

1. First Change is Change in Forms

FCRA_New_Rules_1_2015

Forms nomenclature and details has been change in New Rules 2015. Kindly go to this link and click on “Sample Forms”. You can download all the forms from there for your reference. However, filling of forms in paper format or offline mode is not allowed.

FCRA Dos and Don’ts

As a crucial Act, an organization should take utmost care regarding FCRA. However, many myths prevails regarding what should be “Dos” and “Donts” regarding FCRA. Ministry of Home Affairs have clearly issued advisory in regard to this. You can download PDF from here. We try to make it simple and in Graphical Format. Lets Start with “Donts”

1. Do Not Mix Foreign Contribution with Domestic Receipts

Dont's1

Our Interpretation*

  1. Bank accounts must be separate (obviously)
  2. Do not Transfer funds from FC Bank to NonFC (even Direct Bank Transfer)
  3. Books of Accounts must be separate.
  4. Keep Separate Cash Box (it shows good cash control system)

Series – How to Configure Tally ERP9 for NGOs

Topic – Using Cost Category for Three Di-mention Reports

Do you need to provide different reports to different funding agencies in different format ? Are you using EXCEL as main tool to get report ? Do you need to take figures from Tally and present it in different formats ??? If, so than read this blog to configure Tally ERP9 in such a way to get almost all the reports from it.

What is the Problem ?

NGO need to report to different agencies / people in different formats. Like funding agencies wants  to know “Expenditure as per budget Head”, Trustees or Program Head wants to know about Project wise / Area wise / Activity wise expenditures and Auditor wants to know expenditure in standard format like nature wise expenses and so on…

What is the solution ?

To Create such an accounting system so that expenditures are entered once but get the reports from different Di-mentions. Tally ERP9 is capable of doing this by using Cost Category features. Lets take a look how we do it.

Step 1 – Configure General Settings

Gateway → F11 Features → Accounting Features → Cost/Profit Centers Management → Maintain Cost Center → Yes → More than once Cost Category → Yes

Step1_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 2 – Create Cost Category

Gateway → Account Info → Cost Categories → Create

I have Created two categories

1) Project wise Expenses – For entering expenses as per Budget Head of the Project

2) Nature wise Expenses – For entering expenses as per Nature like standard expenses i.e Telephone Exp etc..

Step2_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 3 – Create Cost Centers (Project Name)

Gateway → Account Info → Cost Centers → Create

I have Created three Projects – Project A, Project B and Project C expenses under Cost Category “Project wise expenditure”

Step3_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 4 – Create Ledger Account  (Budget Head)

Gateway → Account Info → Ledgers → Create

Create Ledger Account same as per Budget Head of the Funding Agencies under Project Name as group (Indirect Expenses) .  See below image – I have created Ledger “Communication – Field (PA) under “Project A Expenses” under “Indirect Expenses”

Step4_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 5 – Cost Center (Standard Expenses)

Gateway → Account Info → Cost Centers → Create

Now create Standard Expenditures under theses second type of Cost Category “Nature wise Expenditures”. I have Created Telephone Expenses and such other Standard expenses – see below image.

Step5_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 6 – Voucher Entry

Now whenever voucher entry is made you have to select two components i) Project wise and ii) Nature wise.- see below image.

Step6_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 7 – Reports

Gateway → Display → Statement of Accounts → Cost Centers → Category Summary

From this Report, you can get total expenses bifurcated in both way Nature wise Expenses and Project wise Expenses. Have a look.

Step7_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Step 7 – Reports (Continue…)

Gateway → Display → Statement of Accounts → Cost Centers → Cost Center Breakup

From this Report, you can get total expenses Project wise. Have a look.

Step7.1_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Conclusion – Use your creativity

By using cost category and your creativity, you can fulfill any requirements and have wonderful reports.

I have created Area wise expenditure to know exactly how much expenses in Rural Area and Urban Area or Filed office Expenses and Head office Expenses. Have a look….

Step7.2_TallyERP9_CostCategory

Audit Report of Trust

As per Income Tax Act, every Trust has to file Audit Report for the relevant Assessment Year in Form 10B.

E-Filling of Form 10B

This Audit Report of Trust has to be filled in Form 10B. It is mandatory to file this form online with Income Tax department website. This form is initiated by Chartered Accountant of Trust and later on approved by Authorized Representative (Trustee/secretary/chairman) of the Trust.

Last Date

Last Date for filling Audit Report of Trust in Form 10B is 30th September. So For Financial year 2013-14 last date is 30th September 2014.

Video Tutorial

Just go through our video below showing tutorial on how to file Audit Report of Trust.

myths-ARF

Advance Requisition Form is one of the important document which is very useful for Internal Control System. However there are many misunderstanding prevailing. Let us today, discuss five main myths regarding Advance Requisition Form in NGO.

Myths about Advance Requisition Form

 

1. Advance Requisition Form has to be prepared on Monthly

Generally, Advance Requisition form is to prepared on monthly basis. However it is not standard rule. NGO having more turnover can prepare it on fortnightly basis. Sometime, amount involved in project expenditure are not higher or geographical location of Field office is far from head office, even quarterly Advance Requisition From can be prepared.

2. Only Filed Staff has to prepare Advance Requisition Form

Anyone who is entitled to receive advance, has to prepare Advance Requisition Form in the NGO. Generally, in NGO, somehow, Management personnel receive advance money for project expenses or administrative expenses, are not preparing Advance Requisition Form. For Good Internal Control System,  even trustee or management is require to ask for advance only through Advance Requisition Form

3. It must be Accurate

Advance Requisition Form is kind of estimation of expenditure for next month. It may not be accurate. However care should be taken that figures of expenditure are purely on the basis of approved budget of projects and near to accurate.

4. Important only for giving Advance

Not at all, it is very good document for internal control system, one can check the track records of expenditures. Even comparison can be easily done for what advances ask and how it is used. So that there are many importance of one document, if prepare and analyze properly.

5. There is fixed format of Advance Requisition Form

Every NGO has to prepare format according to their requirements. Here you can find specimen copy of Advance Requisition Form. You can add or delete some of the information as per your requirements.

ARF

Summary

Once it is a part of the procedure of the NGO internal control system, it gives more transparency and efficiency in Financial and Management Control System

Hope this will help you in your NGO, if you have any question, you can ask here or chat with us. Also your comments are welcome on the above subjects.

Donation in Cash

Can an NGO collect donation in cash? yes. NGO can collect donation in cash. However it is advisable to take donation by cheque and make the system transparent.

Income Tax Act and Cash Donation

From 1/04/2013, the donor will not get any tax benefit for donation in excess of Rs. 10000 unless such sum is paid by any mode other than cash.

As per the new sub section 5(d) to section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961, any payment exceeding a sum of ten thousand rupees shall only be allowed as a deduction if such sum is paid by any mode other than cash.

Consequences

From the NGO point of view, NGO can accept donation in cash for more than Rs. 10000, but does not issue receipts claiming 80G exemption. From donor point of view, he can not get exemption under section 80G.

Also note that Rs. 10000 limit is per year per donor means a single donor cannot give more than Rs. 10000 in cash in entire year.

Applicability

This amendment will take effect from 1/04/2013 in relation to A.Y. 2014-15 and subsequent Assessment years.

New Financial Year has just started, and everyone is busy in closing books of accounts of last year. Sometimes, the closing of financial year is done in the month of June or July. If Accounts and Finance running from one financial year to another as it is, without change, sooner or later, it will become absolute. So, this is my advice that at least follow this 5 things at the beginning of the Financial Year.

1. Annual Budget

NGO has establish to fulfill a mission with the vision in mind. And to achieve that, one needs long term plan which breakdown in a yearly column. That is called Annual Budget.  Now a days, its a trend that from big funding agency to CSR companies to small donors, everyone asking whether you have prepared Annual Budget or not. The right time for the preparation of Annual Budget for NGOs is in the Last week of March or first week of April, not later than that. Read this blog on Annual Budget.

 

2. Changes in Multi-Year Projects

If you  have multi year project, most likely budget of such project will change with the change in financial year. Mostly salaries and staff payments have incremental components and increase in the next financial year. Thus, Accountant must have to ascertain such changes in new financial year  in particular budget and should communicate to program team well in advance.

 

3. Update Financial Manual

Financial Manual is a policy document and need to review every year. Every year, there are many changes in laws and regulations which affects the financial transactions of your organization. Generally, accountant used to start following the new laws and regulation but forget to modify Financial Manual Accordingly.

Example

Cash Expenditure limit was decreased from Rs. 20000 to Rs. 10000. But still many NGO has the limit of Rs. 20000 in their Financial Manual. Nobody bothers to read and update it.

 

4. Splitting Tally Database

Mostly, Accountants in NGOs are lazy to split Tally company and whereby separating database according to Financial Years.  I have seen many NGO accounts, where tally database is same since last 8 to 10 years. Obviously, because of this, size of database increase and speed to work in Tally getting slow to worse. So, It is advisable to split the tally company at the end of the Financial Year.

 

5. Chart of Accounts

Chart of Account is the base of accurate accounting and desirable presentations of Income & Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheet of NGOs. As, compared to corporate, NGO do not have standard format for its Financial Documents, but they can be created as digital documents in PDF format using software as sodapdf online. I observed, that accountant creates and alters ledger accounts as and when required. So, this is one of the important point to follow at the start of the Financial Year to prepare Chart of Accounts or modified according to the need.

 

Did I miss something?

Hope this will help you in your NGO, if you have any question,  you can ask here or chat with us. Also your comments are welcome on the above subjects.