Any organization must maintain accounting and tax records, recording the methods of their maintenance in its accounting policies. The accounting policy of the organization creates a unified system of accounting and document flow, which all employees and divisions of the company must follow. Lack of accounting policies is a serious violation for which the company can be fined. How to draw up an accounting policy for 2018, and what features should be taken into account - this is what our material is about.
Accounting policy of an enterprise: general requirements for registration
The accounting policy is drawn up in accordance with the rules established by the accounting law No. 402-FZ of December 6, 2011, as well as PBU 1/2008. In addition, each industry may have its own regulations that affect its content.
The accounting policy consists of two parts: accounting and tax. They can be drawn up as a single document consisting of two sections, or two separate provisions can be made.
The organization's accounting policies are applied continuously from year to year, and reasonable changes to it can only be made from the beginning of the reporting year. The order on the accounting policy is approved by the manager no later than 90 days after registration of the company. For example, the accounting policy for 2017 should have been adopted before December 31, 2016, and the document approved in 2017 will come into force only on January 1, 2018.
An organization's accounting policies should reflect accounting methods only for actual assets, transactions, and liabilities. It is advisable to fix in the text of the document those accounting aspects for which there is a choice from several options, or the law does not contain an unambiguous interpretation on them. For example: what methods of depreciation are used, how reserves are created, etc. It makes no sense to rewrite unambiguous provisions of the PBU, or the Tax Code, that do not offer a choice.
“Accounting policies of the organization” PBU 1/2008: changes
From 08/06/2017, amendments to PBU 1/2008 “Accounting Policy of the Organization” came into force (Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated 04/28/2017 No. 69n). Its provisions include, in particular, the following innovations:
- PBU “Accounting Policies” now applies to all legal entities, except credit and government organizations,
- a rule has been introduced on independent choice of the accounting method, regardless of the choice of other organizations, and subsidiaries choose from the standards approved by the main company (clause 5.1),
- the concept of rational accounting has been clarified - accounting information must be useful enough to justify the costs of its formation (clause 6),
- in cases where there is no specific method of accounting in federal standards, the organization develops it itself, based on paragraphs. 5 and 6 PBU 1/2008 and accounting recommendations, consistently referring to IFRS standards, federal (PBU) and industry accounting standards (clause 7.1), and to companies conducting simplified accounting (small enterprises, non-profit organizations, Skolkovo participants) , when forming an accounting policy, it is enough to be guided by the requirements of rationality (clause 7.2),
Contents of the accounting policy of the organization (LLC)
Accounting policies should reflect:
- list of regulations on the basis of which the company keeps records: Law on Accounting No. 402-FZ, PBU, Tax Code of the Russian Federation, etc.,
- working chart of accounts, designed as an annex to the accounting policy,
- positions responsible for organizing and maintaining records in the company,
- forms of the “primary” used, accounting and tax registers - unified forms, or independently developed,
- depreciation issues – calculation methods, frequency (monthly, once a year, etc.),
- limits on the value of fixed assets, the procedure for their revaluation,
- accounting of materials, finished products, goods,
- accounting of income and expenses,
- the procedure for correcting significant errors and the criteria for classifying them,
- other provisions that the organization deems necessary to reflect.
If the “accounting” part of the organization’s accounting policy is quite universal for everyone, then the tax part will be different for each taxation regime, but in any case should contain:
- information about the applied tax system, and if there is a combination of tax regimes - the procedure for maintaining separate accounting,
- how taxes are paid in separate divisions, if any,
- whether the company has tax benefits, and under what conditions they apply.
Accounting policy of the simplified tax system
The nuances of tax accounting policy when “simplified” depend on the selected object: “income” (6%) or “income minus expenses” (15%).
When applying the simplified tax system “income”, tax policy should reflect:
- income accounting procedure,
- indicate how the paid insurance premiums reduce the tax base,
- in what order and at what rate are taxes and advance payments calculated,
- tax register - KUDIR.
With the object “income minus expenses”, special attention should be paid not only to income, but also to expenses, indicating:
- the procedure for accounting for fixed assets, the method of calculating depreciation,
- composition of material costs,
- procedure for accounting for sales costs (if any),
- recognition of past losses in the current period,
- procedure for calculating and paying the minimum tax,
Otherwise, the tax policy points will be similar to those indicated for the simplified tax system for “income”.
OSNO accounting policies
One of the main points of tax policy under OSNO is accounting for income tax. The document should reflect:
- procedure for recognizing direct and indirect expenses of an enterprise (cash or accrual method),
- the procedure for accounting for fixed assets, whether increasing coefficients are used for depreciation, depreciation bonus, for which objects,
- methods for assessing materials, raw materials and goods,
- Are reserves formed to evenly distribute expenses throughout the year (vacations, bad debts, OS repairs, etc.),
- in what order is income tax and advance payments on it calculated and paid,
- applicable tax registers, etc.
The specifics of VAT accounting when developing accounting policies should be pointed out to those who are exempt from tax or who carry out transactions taxed at a rate of 0% - this concerns the order of distribution of “input” VAT.
Accounting policy: sample
It is impossible to create a sample accounting policy that would be equally suitable for all enterprises. Each case has its own characteristics, depending on the type of activity, the applied tax regime and many other factors. The accounting policy, an example of which is given here, was drawn up for an enterprise operating on OSNO.
When drawing up and changing the accounting policy for 2017, take into account a number of changes that are provided for by Order of the Ministry of Finance No. 209n. See below for an example of accounting policies for 2017.
Reasons for making changes to accounting policies
Regardless of the purposes for which the accounting policy was developed, the basis for adjusting its provisions is always the changes that have occurred, both within the institution and due to objective circumstances.
For example, changes in legislation, and for accounting purposes, in addition to legislation, changes in federal (industry) standards. The specified grounds, as well as changes in the types of activities of a budgetary institution, are not tied to the beginning:
- Tax period;
- Reporting year.
For tax accounting purposes, legislation refers only to legislation on taxes and fees, while accounting legislation consists of a number of federal laws and by-laws (hereinafter referred to as legal acts).
In 2016, the only change in federal legislation occurred that affected the accounting policies of budgetary institutions.
The change addresses a problem that arises in every budget institution from time to time. Accordingly, all institutions need to reflect changes in the document that serves as the basis for placing real estate on the balance sheet.
Since July 15, 2016, real estate has been transferred from off-balance sheet to balance sheet on the basis of an accounting certificate.
But the basis for generating a certificate to confirm the fact of economic life must require an extract from the Unified State Register of Rights instead of a title document. The corresponding changes were made by Federal Law No. 360-FZ of July 3, 2016.
Let us note that most regulatory legal acts are developed not at the federal, but at the regional and local levels. Such legal acts include various procedures for approving transactions and writing off property.
The accounting policies of each institution list all legislative acts and regulations that the institution applies in accounting. But first, these acts are necessary, since changes at the regional or local level could well have passed the attention of the accountant. If necessary, it is necessary to adjust the accounting policies.
An example of the accounting policy of a budgetary institution for 2017
Tax changes that need to be recorded in accounting policies
The endless reforms of accounting legislation are partially offset by the fact that the Tax Code of the Russian Federation has not been affected by changes. This conclusion follows from the draft Main Directions of Tax Policy for 2017-2019 published by the Ministry of Finance of Russia on October 5, 2016.
Typically, institutions draw up accounting policies in the form of a package of organizational and administrative documents (ORD), which depend, among other things, on the need to implement management tasks.
ORDs are provisions, orders, lists. In addition to the specifics of accounting on balance sheet and off-balance sheet accounts, individual operational documents may establish the following rules (procedure):
- Carrying out inventory;
- Assigning inventory numbers to accounting objects with a list of fixed assets that do not have inventory numbers;
- Separate accounting;
- Conducting cash transactions.
Features of the accounting policy of a budgetary institution for 2017 for accounting purposes
Order No. 209n introduced a number of changes to Instruction No. 157n, which must be reflected in the accounting policies. Check the working chart of accounts in the accounting policy
Accounting registers
Previously, salary accounting data was reflected in the Salary Payment Transactions Journal. Since 2017, the name of the salary register has been changed: Journal of settlement transactions for wages, salaries and stipends. Transactions for recording obligations were reflected in the Authorization Journal; now the authorization journal has been excluded from the list of accounting registers.
Correcting accounting errors
The procedure for correcting a discovered error when reporting has been submitted, but the founder has not yet approved it, was not prescribed in Instruction No. 157n until 2017. Now, correct errors in accounting after submitting reports, but before they are approved, as follows. On the last day of the reporting period, make the necessary entries: additional or using the “red reversal” method. Disclose information about them and what indicators in the reporting have been changed in the Explanatory Note. About bug fixes
Inventory
The inventory was carried out in the manner established by the accounting policy and order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated June 13, 1995 No. 49. Order No. 209n prescribed cases of mandatory inventory. In addition to cases by order of the Ministry of Finance No. 49, mandatory inventory was added when transferring property for management, free use, as well as the purchase and sale of a complex of accounting objects (property complex). It was clarified that the results of the inventory are reflected: in the accounting and reporting of the month in which it was completed; in annual reporting - for inventory at the end of the year; in accounting as of the date of liquidation or reorganization - for institutions that are liquidating or reorganizing.
Cost of land plots
Changes in the value of land plots: it was clearly stated that based on the results of the revaluation of the cadastral value, the cost of the plot in the accounting should be adjusted and reflected in the reporting.
Marking of soft equipment
Now clothes and shoes for pupils of organizations for orphans and children left without parental care are not marked.
You should also clarify the use of off-balance sheet accounts 17 and 18, 40 and 42.
You should also analyze all the letters from the Ministry of Finance issued in 2016 and make additions to your accounting policies. The most interesting clarifications issued in 2016 include letters from the Russian Ministry of Finance:
- dated July 15, 2016 No. 02-05-10/41796 (purchase of fuels and lubricants as part of the purchase or by a posted employee as part of other expenses for travel to the place of assignment and back on official vehicles);
- dated July 15, 2016 No. 02-05-10/41780, dated July 1, 2016 No. 02-06-10/38856 (hereinafter referred to as Letter No. 02-06-10/38856) – on the use of the budget classification code in the accounting account number when recording transactions with a non-financial asset.
Letter No. 02-06-10/38856 reflects issues of accounting for VAT transactions:
- From income from rental property;
- With funds from grants from individuals;
- With debt obligations.
It is also necessary to pay attention to other letters from the Russian Ministry of Finance:
- dated July 1, 2016 No. 02-07-10/38580 (on real estate under the right of operational management);
- dated July 21, 2016 No. 02-07-05/36038 (payment of accounts payable);
- dated April 25, 2016 No. 02-06-10/23859 (definition of the analytical group of the subtype of budget income for account 021006000 “Settlements with the founder”);
- dated April 19, 2016 No. 02-07-10/22438 (write-off of accounts payable to the budget);
- From March 25, 2016 No. 02-07-10/17036 (about medicines).
Features of the accounting policy of a budgetary institution for 2017 for tax purposes
Considering the lack of projects, there is no need to fear changes to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, which will come into force on January 1, 2017. It makes sense for accountants to study the clarifications of the Russian Ministry of Finance published in 2016 and, if necessary, make additions to the accounting policy regarding federal taxes on:
- Added value (hereinafter – VAT);
- Profit of organizations;
Accounting policy – 2017: how to register global changes
The letters from the Russian Ministry of Finance may be most useful for supplementing accounting policies:
- dated October 13, 2016 No. 03-03-10/59757, dated June 22, 2016 No. 03-03-06/3/36253 (accounting by a budgetary institution receiving subsidies for expenses when calculating income tax).
- dated July 7, 2016 No. 03-07-14/39827 (VAT on the purchase of services for the rental of municipal property assigned to an institution with the right of operational management).
RUSSIAN FEDERATION PROJECT
MUNICIPAL DISTRICT
BOLSHEGLUSHITSKY
SAMARA REGION
ADMINISTRATION
RURAL SETTLEMENT
BIG JERGUNOVKA
______________________________
RESOLUTION
dated ____________ 2017 No. ____
About the accounting policy for 2017.
In accordance with the Federal Law of January 1, 2001. “On Accounting”, “Unified Chart of Accounts and Instructions for its Application”, approved by order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated 01.01.2001. No. 000n, budget accounting accounts and Instructions for its application, approved by order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated 01.01.2001 No. 000n, provisions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation
I DECIDE:
1. Adopt the accounting policy for 2017 for the purposes of accounting and taxation of the Municipal Institution of the Administration of the rural settlement Bolshaya Dergunovka of the Bolsheglunitsky municipal district of the Samara region.
2. The resolution of the administration of the rural settlement Bolshaya Dergunovka of the Bolsheglunitsky municipal district of the Samara region dated 01/01/2001 is declared invalid. No. 1 “On accounting policies for 2017.”
2. This Resolution comes into force from the date of its adoption and applies to legal relations that arose from 02/01/2017.
3. Entrust control over the implementation of this Resolution to the Head of the rural settlement Bolshaya Dergunovka
Head of a rural settlement
Bolshaya Dergunovka
municipal district
Bolsheglushitsky
Samara region
APPROVED
Resolution
from "___" __________2017 No. ___
Accounting policy of the institution
_____________________________________________________
1. General Provisions
1.1. Regulations:
This Accounting Policy has been developed on the basis and taking into account the requirements and principles set out in the following regulatory documents, and is intended to generate complete and reliable information on the financial, property status and financial results of the activities of the Municipal Institution of the Administration of the Rural Settlement Bolshaya Dergunovka of the Bolsheglunitsky Municipal District of the Samara Region (hereinafter referred to as Institution):
- Federal Law "On Accounting" dated January 1, 2001. Federal Law “On Non-Profit Organizations” dated 01.01.2001 Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated 01.01.2001 No. 000n “On approval of a unified chart of accounts for state authorities, local governments, management bodies of state extra-budgetary funds, state academies of sciences , state (municipal) institutions and instructions for its use" Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated 01.07. 2013 No. 65n “On approval of the Instructions on the procedure for applying the budget classification of the Russian Federation” Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated 01/01/2001 N 162n “On approval of the Chart of Accounts of Budget Accounting and Instructions for its Application” Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated 01/01/2001 N 173n “On approval of forms of primary accounting documents and accounting registers used by public authorities (state bodies), local government bodies, management bodies of state extra-budgetary funds, state academies of sciences, state (municipal) institutions and Guidelines for their application" Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated 01.01 .2001 N 191n "On approval of the Instructions on the procedure for drawing up and submitting annual, quarterly and monthly reports on the execution of budgets of the budget system of the Russian Federation" Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated 01.01.2001 N 112n "On General requirements for the procedure for drawing up, approving and maintaining government budget estimates institutions" order of the Treasury of the Russian Federation dated January 1, 2001 N 24n "On the procedure for opening and maintaining personal accounts by territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury"
Section 1. On the organization of the accounting process
Organization of accounting work
Accounting is the formation of documented, systematized information about the objects provided for by the Federal Law “On Accounting”, and the preparation of accounting (financial) statements on its basis.
This order determines the procedure for maintaining accounting records and preparing financial statements in the Institution in accordance with Russian legislation and accounting and reporting rules.
Accounting in the Institution is maintained by centralized accounting on the basis of an agreement concluded with the MKU “Centralized Accounting” of the municipal district of Bolsheglunitsky, Samara Region. The accountant reports directly to the Head of the settlement and is responsible for maintaining budget records and timely submission of complete and reliable reports.
Head of the settlement:
- heads of organizations are responsible for organizing accounting in the Institution and compliance with the law when carrying out business operations. ensures that employees strictly comply with the accountant’s requirements for documenting business transactions and submitting the necessary documents and information to the accounting department.
Accountant:
- reports directly to the Head of the settlement, is responsible for the formation of accounting policies, maintaining accounting records, timely submission of complete and reliable financial statements, ensures compliance of business transactions with the legislation of the Russian Federation, control over the movement of property and fulfillment of obligations, ensures the safety and transfer to the archive of accounting documents and budget accounting registers.
Primary accounting documents and accounting standards
Business transactions by the Institution are documented by supporting documents drawn up according to the forms contained in the albums of unified forms of primary accounting documentation, forms approved by separate regulatory acts of government bodies (Order No. 173n).
The primary documents developed by the institution are documented in Appendix No. 1 to the Accounting Policy
Primary accounting documents may contain additional details in order to obtain additional information for tax accounting.
The institution has established the following List of officials who have the right to sign primary accounting documents:
- head of the settlement; senior accountant.
(Appendix to the Accounting Policy)
Set the following deadlines for submitting documents to the accounting department for processing:
- Advance reports for business trips - no later than 3 days after returning from a business trip; Time sheets - no later than the 25th of the reporting period for payroll;
- Business contracts, acts of work performed, invoices, invoices for material assets - within 3 days from the date of signing, Reports on the expenditure of material assets for the needs of the institution, primary documents for payroll - no later than the last calendar day of the month.
It is mandatory to submit to the accounting department when purchasing material assets, goods, works, services:
- by bank transfer - invoice, delivery note, certificate of completion of work (services).
Budget accounting registers
Accounting in the Institution using forms of budget accounting registers regulated by Instruction No. 157n.
The primary accounting documents verified and accepted for accounting are systematized by the dates of the transaction (in chronological order) and reflected in a cumulative manner in the budget accounting registers.
Budget accounting registers are generated electronically without the use of an electronic signature.
The list of responsible persons for maintaining budget accounting registers is determined by Appendix No. 3 to the Accounting Policy.
The frequency, procedure and timing of compiling forms of primary accounting documents and budget accounting registers are drawn up according to the approved Document Flow Schedule (Appendix to the Accounting Policy).
The procedure for storing primary documents and accounting registers
Storage of source documents and accounting registers reflecting financial and economic activities is ensured by the Head of the settlement at their location within the time limits established in accordance with the rules of the Document Flow Schedule and State Archives, but not less than five years after the reporting year:
- annual reporting - constantly; payroll documents - at least 75 years old; other documents - at least 5 years.
Responsibility for organizing the storage of primary (consolidated) accounting documents, accounting registers and financial statements (with compliance, ensuring safe storage conditions with ensuring compliance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation on the protection of state secrets in accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation of 01.01.2001 N 5485-1 " On state secrets") is borne by the head of the Institution.
Formation of a working Chart of Accounts
Working chart of accounts - a systematic list of accounting accounts is formed on the basis of the Unified Chart of Accounts (instruction No. 000n).
When forming a working Chart of Accounts, the Institution takes into account the formation of budget classification codes (BCC) of income and expenses used in budget accounting.
Accounting system
To maintain accounting records, an accounting and reporting system is used, consisting of fulfilling the requirements of budget accounting - a journal system using computer programs: SMETA, URM AS, SBIS +, SUFD.
Property valuation
Accounting for property, liabilities and facts of economic life is carried out in rubles and kopecks.
The obligation of autonomous institutions to develop accounting policies is established by Art. 8 of the Law on Accounting, paragraph 6 of Instruction No. 157n. In the article we will talk about what the accounting policy should be for 2017.
What should be used to guide the formation of accounting policies?
According to paragraph 2 of Art. 8 of the Law on Accounting, an economic entity independently forms its accounting policy in accordance with federal and industry standards. Currently, only drafts of individual federal standards have been developed (for example, “Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors”), which, even if approved, will only be applied from 2018. In this regard, when developing an accounting policy for 2017, an autonomous institution must primarily be guided by the Law on Accounting, instructions No. 157n, 183n; it must take into account the industry-specific features of the institution’s structure, as well as the powers it exercises (Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated August 17. 2016 No. 02-07-10/48198).At the same time, as the Ministry of Finance noted in the said letter, a state (municipal) institution can formulate an accounting policy by issuing both one normative act and a set of individual normative acts.
Who should formulate accounting policies?
By virtue of clause 6 of Instruction No. 157n, the accounting policy adopted by an autonomous institution is approved by order or directive of the head of the state (municipal) institution. At the same time, the current regulations do not answer the question of which of the organization’s specialists should develop accounting policies. Meanwhile, as follows from clause 5 of the draft federal standard “Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors”, accounting policies should be formed by the chief accountant of the institution or another individual (legal) person entrusted with accounting. Let us remind you that it is the chief accountant who is responsible for maintaining accounting records and timely submission of complete and reliable financial statements. In turn, approval of accounting policies is the responsibility of the head of the institution.In the event of transfer of responsibilities for maintaining accounting records and preparing accounting (financial) statements of an institution to centralized accounting, the body exercising the functions and powers of the founder has the right to determine the accounting policy to be applied.
How to make changes to accounting policies?
Please note that this procedure is strictly regulated. According to paragraph 5 of Art. 8 of the Accounting Law, accounting policies must be applied consistently from year to year. Thus, accounting policies for accounting purposes are formed only once - when an institution is created. However, the Accounting Law allows for its change when the conditions specified in paragraph 6 of Art. 8 of this law of circumstances:- changes in the requirements established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on accounting, federal and (or) industry standards;
- development or selection of a new method of accounting, the use of which leads to an increase in the quality of information about the object of accounting;
- a significant change in the operating conditions of an economic entity.
A significant change in the operating conditions of an economic entity may be its reorganization (merger, accession, division, spin-off, transformation). Let us recall that it is carried out by decision of the founder or body of a legal entity authorized to do so by the constituent documents (Article 57 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). Therefore, a reasonable decision would be to make changes to the accounting policies during the reorganization of the institution.
In order to ensure comparability of accounting (financial) statements for several years, changes in accounting policies are made from the beginning of the reporting year, unless otherwise determined by the reason for such a change (Clause 7, Article 8 of the Accounting Law).
Please note that any change in accounting policy must be formalized by a directive or order from the head of the institution.
What changes need to be made to the accounting policy?
Firstly, Order No. 209n introduces new accounts into the Chart of Accounts:0 210 13 000 “Calculations for VAT on advances paid”;
0 401 10 174 “Lost income.”
These changes entail amendments to the section of the accounting policy relating to the operating chart of accounts of the autonomous institution.
Secondly, since new accounts are introduced, the procedure for their application is accordingly added. This, in turn, entails making changes to the used correspondence of accounts to reflect standard transactions in an autonomous institution.
| Contents of operation | Debit | Credit |
| Adding correspondence to VAT invoices | ||
| The amount of VAT on the transferred advance has been allocated | 0 210 13 000 | 0 210 12 000 |
| Accepted for deduction of VAT presented by the supplier in the amount allocated when transferring an advance to the supplier on account of the upcoming delivery of goods (works, services) | 0 303 04 000 | 0 210 13 000 |
| Adding correspondence to accounts for lost income | ||
| A penalty was charged against the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the government contract | 0 209 40 000 | 0 401 10 140 |
| Lost income is reflected in the form of writing off the amount of the penalty in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated April 12, 2016 No. 44n | 0 401 10 174 | 0 209 40 000 |
In addition to correspondence on new accounts, the Ministry of Finance introduces correspondence on other transactions, which Instruction No. 183n did not previously contain. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the order in which the following transactions are reflected:
- calculations for subsidies received as part of government assignments;
- calculations for subsidies received for other purposes;
- calculations for compensation of institution expenses;
- changes in the cadastral value of land plots;
- assigning the actual cost of paid services provided to reduce the financial result of the current financial year.
1. The procedure for recording events after the reporting date. The Ministry of Finance, by Order No. 209n, introduced the following clarification into Instruction No. 157n: if, in order to comply with the deadlines for submitting financial statements and (or) due to the late receipt of primary accounting documents, information about an event after the reporting date is not used when preparing financial statements, information about this event and its valuation in monetary terms is disclosed in the explanatory note when submitting reports.
At the same time, according to paragraph 6 of Instruction No. 157n, the accounting entity (state (municipal) institution) in its accounting policy discloses the procedure for recognizing in accounting and disclosing events after the reporting date in the financial statements.
2. The procedure for conducting an inventory of property and liabilities. Due to the changes made to clause 20 of Instruction No. 157n, from 2016 it is mandatory to carry out an inventory:
- when establishing facts of theft or abuse, as well as damage to valuables;
- in the event of a natural disaster, fire, accident or other emergency caused by extreme conditions;
- when changing financially responsible persons (on the day of reception and transfer of cases);
- when transferring an organization’s property for rent, management, free use, as well as when purchasing or selling a complex of accounting objects (property complex);
- in other cases provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation or other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation.
3. Primary documents. The procedure for creating a primary accounting document is set out in clause 9 of Instruction No. 157n. According to the new provisions, if accounting is maintained by a centralized accounting department in accordance with the concluded agreement, the rules of document flow and the technology for processing accounting information are established in the manner prescribed by the agreement.
In what cases can accounting policies be supplemented?
Let us note that the answer to this question is not contained either in the Accounting Law or in Instruction No. 157n. However, a mention of what is not a change in accounting policy is currently in paragraph 10 of PBU 1/2008, approved by Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated October 6, 2008 No. 106n. We present this definition as reference material, since state (municipal) institutions do not use PBUs in their activities. So, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Finance presented in the said document, it is not considered a change in accounting policy to approve the method of accounting for facts of economic activity that differ in essence from facts that occurred previously, or that arose for the first time in the activities of the organization. In other words, additions to the accounting policy are made if something new appears in the activities of an autonomous institution (a new type of activity, a new type of assets, new operations, etc.), for which accounting rules are not established in it.For example, in March 2017, it is planned to open a pharmacy in a dental clinic to sell medicines and medical products. In this case, the chief accountant of the organization needs to supplement the accounting policy with methods for accounting for transactions related to retail trade (choose a method for valuing goods intended for sale (at purchase or sale prices), establish a procedure for calculating trade margins, etc.). The addition in this case can be made from the moment the institution began to engage in retail trade. Distortions in accounting in this case will not occur, since these operations did not previously take place in the activities of the institution.
What accounting policies can be adjusted?
In this section of the article we will consider individual recommendations of the Ministry of Finance that it gave during 2016 and which the chief accountant should pay attention to and, if necessary, include in the accounting policy of the organization.Method of filling out a time sheet. Forms of primary accounting documents, mandatory for use by public sector organizations, including government institutions, are approved by Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated March 30, 2015 No. 52n. Appendix 5 to this order defines the methods for filling out the work time sheet (f. 0504421):
- when registering cases of deviation from the normal use of working time;
- when reflecting actual working hours.
Method of writing off inventories. Paragraph 108 of Instruction No. 157n determines that the disposal (issue) of inventories is carried out at the actual cost of each unit or the average actual cost. As specialists from the financial department noted in Letter No. 02-07-10/17036 dated March 25, 2016, the use in accounting for different groups (types) of inventory (for example, medicines, food) of different write-off methods (at the actual cost of each unit or average actual cost) does not contradict the requirements of Instruction No. 157n. Because of this, the indication of these provisions in the accounting policy is appropriate and justified.
Calculations with accountable persons are usually prescribed in a separate section of the accounting policies. In addition, the Ministry of Finance recommends developing a regulation regarding the sending of employees on business trips and regulating the procedure for calculating travel expenses. The fact is that recently settlements with accountable persons are carried out using bank cards. In order to minimize cash circulation, and also based on the inexpediency of issuing organization cards to every employee sent on a business trip, the Ministry of Finance considers it possible to transfer funds issued as part of salary projects to the bank accounts of individuals - employees of institutions (see Letter dated March 31, 2016 No. 02‑03‑09/18115). At the same time, the financial department notes that in accordance with Art. 8 of the Law on Accounting, the local regulatory act defining the accounting policy of the institution should include provisions on the procedure for settlements with accountable persons.
Calculations for grants. According to Art. 2 of the Federal Law of August 23, 1996 No. 127-FZ grants - monetary and other funds transferred free of charge and irrevocably by citizens and legal entities for the implementation of specific scientific, scientific and technical programs and projects, innovative projects, conducting specific scientific research on the terms provided by the grant givers .
If, in accordance with grant agreements, grant recipients are institutions, then grant funds received by autonomous institutions must be accounted for by type of financial support code 2 - income-generating activity (institution’s own income). These clarifications are given in the Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated December 22, 2016 No. 02-07-10/77351.
In cases where, on the basis of agreements on the allocation of grants concluded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research with grant recipients - individuals, grant funds, by agreement between the grant recipient and the institution, are credited to the personal account of the institution, these funds should be reflected as funds at temporary disposal due to the fact that grant funds, received by individuals are not funds of the institution.
At the same time, when forming its accounting policy, the institution has the right to provide for keeping records of the receipt and expenditure of grant funds (including by type of payment) provided to individuals in analytical accounting registers (see Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated July 1, 2016 No. 02-06-10 /38856).
Marking of soft equipment. In accordance with paragraph 118 of Instruction No. 157n, soft inventory items are marked by the financially responsible person in the presence of the head of the institution or his deputy and an accounting employee with a special stamp with indelible paint without damaging the appearance of the item, indicating the name of the institution. When items are released for use, additional marking is carried out reflecting the year and month of their release from the warehouse.
As noted in the Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated July 27, 2016 No. 02-07-10/43970, as part of the formation of an accounting policy, an institution has the right, taking into account the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, to develop and approve in its structural divisions rules for accounting for soft inventory, including rules for marking. For example, the form of a marking stamp, conditional coding of the department to which soft inventory is issued.
Inventory procedure. In accordance with clause 20 of Instruction No. 157n, the inventory of property, financial assets and liabilities is carried out by the accounting entity in the manner determined by it as part of the formation of accounting policies, taking into account the provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation. When establishing an inventory procedure in accounting policies, it is necessary to be guided by the Methodological Guidelines approved by Order No. 49 of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated June 13, 1995. According to the Ministry of Finance, conducting an inventory of property by video and photographic recording of the actual presence or absence of property in real time with the presence of individual members of the commission for the location of the said property does not interfere with the achievement of the inventory goals established in the Methodological Instructions.
In addition, the conditions for conducting an inventory of property at its location are observed (clause 1.3 of the Methodological Instructions) with the possibility of a visual inspection of the object by all members of the commission, provided for in clause 2.3 of the Methodological Instructions.
Thus, in the opinion of the financial department, the proposed inventory procedure with video recording in real time does not contradict the provisions of the Methodological Instructions and can be established in the accounting policy of the accounting entity (see Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated December 23, 2016 No. 02-07-10/77499) .
Reserve for vacation pay. According to clause 302.1 of Instruction No. 157n, public sector organizations reflect information on the status and movement of amounts reserved for the purpose of uniform inclusion of expenses on the financial result of the institution for obligations that are not determined by the amount and (or) time of execution. Thus, the upcoming payment of vacations for actually worked time or compensation for unused vacations, including upon dismissal, including payments for compulsory social insurance of an employee (employee) of an autonomous institution, is reflected in account 0,401,60,000 “Reserves for future expenses.” In this case, the procedure for the formation of reserves (types of reserves formed, methods for assessing liabilities, date of recognition in accounting, etc.) is established by the institution as part of its accounting policy (see letters of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated July 1, 2016 No. 02-07-05/38558, dated 06/20/2016 No. 02‑07‑10/36122).
At the end of the article, we note once again that the accounting policy is a document that reflects the peculiarities of the functioning of a particular institution. Legislation allows changes in accounting policies strictly in established cases:
- when the requirements stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation on accounting change;
- when developing or choosing a new method of accounting, the use of which leads to an increase in the quality of information about the accounting object;
- when there is a significant change in the operating conditions of an economic entity.
At the end of 2016, the institution should have issued an order to amend the accounting policy for accounting purposes and list only those points that will be changed or supplemented.
Federal Law of December 6, 2011 No. 402-FZ “On Accounting”.
Instructions for the application of the Unified Chart of Accounts for public authorities (state bodies), local governments, management bodies of state extra-budgetary funds, state academies of sciences, state (municipal) institutions, approved. By Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated December 1, 2010 No. 157n.
Instructions for the use of the Chart of Accounts for accounting of autonomous institutions, approved. By Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated December 23, 2010 No. 183n.
Chart of accounts for accounting of autonomous institutions, approved. By Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated December 23, 2010 No. 183n.
Including the procedure and timing for the transfer of primary (consolidated) accounting documents based on the approved document flow schedule for reflection in accounting.
Accounting is a strict, structured system for collecting, recording and summarizing information about property objects, obligations, their movement, in monetary form, which is implemented through constant recording of all financial and economic transactions related to them.
The basis and scope of accounting lies in accounting policies being developed. There are standard principles for its organization, but each economic entity that establishes a double entry system in its activities is obliged to draw up its own clear and strictly regulated document on it, so that it serves as a guideline and standard for document management.
What it is
In Russia, accounting legislation consists of:
- Accounting Law No. 402 and other laws, codes, federal decrees and regulations;
- Accounting Regulations (PBU);
- other acts and guidelines containing thematic regulatory information - Letters and Resolutions of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation;
- internal documents of business entities.
Closely interact with accounting legislation civil law, which carries the foundations of lawful activity in Russia, administrative and criminal law, since sanctions in case of violation of the law can take the form not of internal reprimands and fines, but also of state liability.
Tax law is largely related to accounting; in order to complete each of them, the legislator often adopts amendments leading to the unity of these systems. Labor law is inseparable from accounting, since data on employees takes up a large part of general accounting.
Each of the listed industries provides for interconnected measures of responsibility in the absence of an accounting policy at the enterprise. The head of an economic entity is obliged to approve an internal act on it in accordance with PBU 1/2008. The standard was approved by the Russian Ministry of Finance in 2008, the latest edition dates back to 2015.
The regulation is aimed at legal entities, except credit institutions, and establishes for them general requirements for organizing accounting policies. Also, other PBUs contain additional rules in this area, and the Tax Code of Russia provides clear instructions on accounting policies for tax purposes.
Basically, PBU accounting policy refers to a set of accounting methods - grouping and summarizing information, valuation and observation.
The option for organizing such a policy depends on the main priorities and principles, the selection of which requires an integrated approach and the goal of optimizing activities. What factors need to be considered when making this choice:
- form of organization;
- industry;
- Kind of activity;
- parameters of internal aspects of work - economic, financial, administrative and managerial, production;
- scale;
- features of accounting and management departments;
- commercial policy.
For example, if an enterprise seeks to reduce the tax burden by optimizing the taxation of profits and property, then the accounting policy will require appropriate accounting decisions - depreciation with increasing rates, valuation of assets at the price of the last issue or delivery.
Accounting relates to accounting and is regulated not only by the Tax Code and Letters of the Ministry of Finance, but also by 402 of the Accounting Law.
Algorithm of actions:
- draw up a plan for future accounting- analyze expenses and income, distribute them by type of activity, develop a methodology for writing off costs for a particular activity, taking into account the requirements and recommendations of the law;
- “try on” the plan for the current accounting system- checking the chart of accounts for the presence of all necessary items, analyzing the available tools for maintaining separate accounting;
- actual application of the plan- inclusion in accounting policies, creation of new registers.
It is necessary to create an accounting policy document and approve it by the head of the business entity.
It states that the accounting policy at the enterprise should be developed by the chief accountant, and in his absence, by another responsible person. The approval of the policy document is assigned to the business manager.
A standard PM document consists of two sections - a policy for accounting purposes and a policy for tax accounting purposes. The reason for this combination is the requirements of the Tax Code of Russia and significant differences between the two forms of accounting. But it is also possible to create separate UP documents for each topic.
What needs to be included in the local management act for accounting:
- reporting forms, accounting registers and primary documents, report forms for personal use within the enterprise;
- chart of accounts necessary for accounting, including analytical, synthetic and subaccounts;
- assessment methods;
- regulations on the inventory of material and intangible objects, its rules and procedure;
- procedure and methods of verification for financial and economic transactions;
- methodology for working with accounting information and requirements for document flow;
- other provisions.
In terms of tax accounting, it is more difficult to formulate a policy, since the tax legislation does not have clear guidelines and recommendations on this issue. As a rule, when compiling this section, accountants take as a basis an already developed accounting policy in compliance with the requirements of the legislation on taxes and fees.
Tax accounting is a set of legitimate methods for calculating income and expenses and related other parameters necessary for taxation.
What is included in the UE for tax accounting:
- taxes paid;
- methods for determining expenses and income, and other features for each individual tax;
- the presence or absence of separate accounting - a list of general business expenses and methods of their distribution between tax regimes;
- reporting forms.
The developed accounting policy is approved by order or order of the head of the enterprise and comes into force on the first day of the next year. Usually the order is signed by the manager and chief accountant.
Changes for 2019
From January 1, 2019, there are changes in the legal regulation of the formation of accounting policies. Five new federal standards have been introduced. One is devoted to changes in accounting policies, all the rest are devoted to the rules for accounting for income, recalculation of objects in foreign currency, accounting for events after the reporting date, and drawing up a cash flow report.
When using special regimes, for example, by small and medium-sized businesses, the document has simplifications, but requires a strict separation of objects and obligations under different systems. As you can see, this sample shows the norms of both accounting and tax accounting for entities working with the main tax regime.
Important elements of an organization's accounting policy are discussed in this video.
