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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 12 — Revenue Nature Grants (Expense Reimbursement)

## Monetary Grants Relating to Revenue (Expense Reimbursement)

Revenue grants are received to reimburse operating expenses — salaries, rent, training, etc. Three scenarios exist based on timing.

---

### Scenario A: Grant Reimburses Expenses of One Year

Grant and expenses relate to the same accounting period.

Two alternative presentations (both acceptable):

#### Presentation 1 — Show Grant Separately as Other Income

```

P&L Account:

Salary Expense 90L [Dr]

Other Income (Govt Grant) 30L [Cr]

Net impact: 60L [Dr]

```

Journal:

```

Bank A/c Dr 30L → To P&L (Other Income – Govt Grant) 30L

Salary Exp Dr 90L → To Bank 90L

```

#### Presentation 2 — Deduct Grant Against Expense

```

P&L Account:

Salary Expense (net) 60L [Dr] [₹90L − ₹30L]

```

Journal:

```

Bank A/c Dr 30L → To Salary Expense A/c 30L

Salary Exp Dr 90L → To Bank 90L

```

Both presentations give identical net P&L impact.

---

### Scenario B: Grant Reimburses Expenses of Multiple Years (Lump Sum)

A single lump-sum grant is received upfront for expenses spread over several years.

Treatment: Credit to DGG and release to P&L proportionately each year.

```

Receipt:

Bank A/c Dr [lump sum] → To DGG A/c [lump sum]

Each Year:

DGG A/c Dr [year's share] → To P&L (Other Income) [year's share]

```

Year's share = Total grant ÷ Number of years covered

---

### Scenario C: Grant for Past Expenses Already Incurred

All conditions already fulfilled; no future obligations remain.

Treatment: Treat as Promoter's Contribution → Credit to Capital Reserve

```

Bank A/c Dr [grant] → To Capital Reserve [grant]

```

> Since no future performance is required, the grant is a one-time windfall. Treating it as P&L income would distort profitability. It strengthens the capital base permanently.

---

### Summary of Revenue Grant Scenarios

ScenarioGrant CoverageTreatment
AOne-year expensesP&L — Other Income or netted against expense
BMulti-year expenses (lump sum)DGG → release to P&L proportionately
CPast expenses (no conditions left)Capital Reserve

Worked example

### Example 1

Scenario A — Two presentations: Salary expense ₹90L. Government reimburses ₹30L (salary of 1st year of a 3-year scheme).

Presentation 1 (Other Income):

```

P&L: Salary Expense 90L | Other Income (Govt Grant) 30L | Net 60L

```

Presentation 2 (Deducted from expense):

```

P&L: Salary Expense (net) 60L

```

Both show ₹60L net cost — same result, different presentation.

### Example 2

Scenario B — Lump sum over 5 years: Company receives ₹100L lump sum to reimburse salary expenses of 5 years (₹90L salary per year expected).

Year 1 receipt:

```

Bank A/c Dr 100L

To DGG A/c 100L

```

Each year (transfer to P&L):

```

DGG A/c Dr 20L [100/5 = 20]

To P&L (Other Income) 20L

```

P&L each year: Salary Expense ₹90L, Other Income ₹20L, Net expense ₹70L

### Example 3

Scenario C — Past expenses: Company receives ₹30L as a grant for salary expenses incurred in the previous financial year. No conditions remain to be fulfilled.

Treatment:

```

Bank A/c Dr 30L

To Capital Reserve 30L

```

Not transferred to P&L at all — retained permanently in Capital Reserve.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Recognising the entire lump-sum multi-year grant (Scenario B) as income in the year of receipt — must be deferred via DGG and released proportionately over the covered years
  • Treating a past-expense grant (Scenario C) as Other Income — since no future conditions exist, it goes to Capital Reserve, not P&L
  • For Scenario A Presentation 2, showing gross salary as expense in P&L and netting only in notes — correct treatment nets the grant directly against the expense line
  • Confusing Scenario B (DGG → releases to P&L over years) with Scenario C (Capital Reserve, never to P&L) — the key differentiator is whether future obligations still exist
Reference: Paragraphs 18–20 (Grants Related to Revenue) — AS 12 — Accounting for Government Grants, ICAI
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