Revenue Recognition on Dispatch vs Delivery under Ind AS 115
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- Last Updated on 29 June, 2025
1. Question
Vertex Alloys Limited (hereinafter the seller), an Ind AS-compliant supplier of alloy-based raw materials, received Purchase Order No. PO/2403 dated 22 March 2025 from Electro Mech Industries Limited (hereinafter the buyer) for the supply of alloy-based raw materials.
Against this order, the seller issued a tax invoice dated 30 March 2025 for Rs. 60,00,000. The goods were dispatched on 31 March 2025 and were received by the buyer on 3 April 2025.
Determine the appropriate accounting treatment in the seller’s books as on 31 March 2025 for the given scenarios, considering the relevant principles under the Ind AS framework.
(a) Scenario A – Delivery considered complete on dispatch of goods
Under this scenario, the terms of the contract specify that the delivery obligation is fulfilled when the goods are dispatched from the seller’s premises.
(b) Scenario B – Delivery considered complete on receipt of goods
Under this scenario, the terms of the contract specify that the seller bears transportation and insurance costs and remains responsible for the goods until they are delivered to the buyer’s location.
2. Relevant Provisions
Ind AS 115, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Para 31 – An entity shall recognise revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service (i.e. an asset) to a customer. An asset is transferred when (or as) the customer obtains control of that asset.
Para 33 – Goods and services are assets, even if only momentarily, when they are received and used (as in the case of many services). Control of an asset refers to the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset. Control includes the ability to prevent other entities from directing the use of, and obtaining the benefits from, an asset. The benefits of an asset are the potential cash flows (inflows or savings in outflows) that can be obtained directly or indirectly in many ways, such as by:
(a) using the asset to produce goods or provide services (including public services);
(b) using the asset to enhance the value of other assets;
(c) using the asset to settle liabilities or reduce expenses;
(d) selling or exchanging the asset;
(e) pledging the asset to secure a loan; and
(f) holding the asset.
Para 38 – If a performance obligation is not satisfied over time in accordance with paragraphs 35-37, an entity satisfies the performance obligation at a point in time. To determine the point in time at which a customer obtains control of a promised asset and the entity satisfies a performance obligation, the entity shall consider the requirements for control in paragraphs 31-34. In addition, an entity shall consider indicators of the transfer of control, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) The entity has a present right to payment for the asset—if a customer is presently obliged to pay for an asset, then that may indicate that the customer has obtained the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset in exchange.
(b) The customer has legal title to the asset—legal title may indicate which party to a contract has the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, an asset or to restrict the access of other entities to those benefits. Therefore, the transfer of legal title of an asset may indicate that the customer has obtained control of the asset. If an entity retains legal title solely as protection against the customer’s failure to pay, those rights of the entity would not preclude the customer from obtaining control of an asset.
(c) The entity has transferred physical possession of the asset—the customer’s physical possession of an asset may indicate that the customer has the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset or to restrict the access of other entities to those benefits. However, physical possession may not coincide with control of an asset. For example, in some repurchase agreements and in some consignment arrangements, a customer or consignee may have physical possession of an asset that the entity controls. Conversely, in some bill-and-hold arrangements, the entity may have physical possession of an asset that the customer controls. Paragraphs B64-B76, B77-B78 and B79-B82 provide guidance on accounting for repurchase agreements, consignment arrangements and bill-and-hold arrangements, respectively.
(d) The customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset—the transfer of the significant risks and rewards of ownership of an asset to the customer may indicate that the customer has obtained the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset. However, when evaluating the risks and rewards of ownership of a promised asset, an entity shall exclude any risks that give rise to a separate performance obligation in addition to the performance obligation to transfer the asset. For example, an entity may have transferred control of an asset to a customer but not yet satisfied an additional performance obligation to provide maintenance services related to the transferred asset.
(e) The customer has accepted the asset—the customer’s acceptance of an asset may indicate that it has obtained the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset. To evaluate the effect of a contractual customer acceptance clause on when control of an asset is transferred, an entity shall consider the guidance in paragraphs B83-B86.
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