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Microlesson · 5-min read

Percentage Completion Method (Stage of Completion)

## Percentage Completion Method (Stage of Completion Method)

### Core Principle

Revenue on construction contracts is recognised each year in proportion to work completed — not at the start or end of the contract.

### Three Methods to Determine Stage of Completion

Method 1: Cost-Based (Most Common in Exams)

```

% Completion = Costs incurred to date

──────────────────────── × 100

Total Estimated Cost

Total Estimated Cost = Costs incurred to date + Future estimated costs

```

Method 2: Surveys of Work Performed

An independent surveyor certifies the % of work completed.

Method 3: Physical Proportion

Based on physical measurement (e.g., 3,000 sq ft tiled out of 10,000 sq ft = 30%).

### Revenue and Profit Recognition – CDR Format

Step 1: Check if loss-making (Total Cost vs Total Revenue).

Step 2: Calculate % completion (cost-based method).

Step 3: Revenue to recognise (till date) = Total Contract Revenue × % completion.

Step 4: Revenue for current year = Revenue till date − Revenue booked in prior years.

Step 5: Cost for current year = Costs actually incurred in current year.

Step 6: Profit/Loss = Revenue (Step 4) − Cost (Step 5).

### Cumulative Application Rule

The % is applied cumulatively each year. Always compute 'till date' figures first, then deduct prior year amounts for the current year P&L.

### Costs Incurred to Date

```

Costs incurred to date = Work Certified + Work Uncertified

```

Work uncertified is adjusted for materials lying unused on-site (exclude unused materials).

### Changes in Estimates

Any revision to total estimated revenue or cost → change in accounting estimate → prospective treatment (no restatement of prior periods). Simply recalculate using revised totals from the current year.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example 1: Basic Percentage Completion (Ques 4)

Given:

  • Total Contract Revenue: ₹85 lakhs
  • Costs incurred to date: ₹45 lakhs (Material ₹17L + Labour ₹16L + Specific ₹5L + Sub-contract ₹7L)
  • Future estimated cost: ₹35 lakhs

Step 1: Loss check → Total cost = 45 + 35 = ₹80 lakhs < ₹85 lakhs → Not loss-making

Step 2: % Completion = 45 / 80 × 100 = 56.25%

Step 3: Revenue = 85 × 56.25% = ₹47.81 lakhs

P&L for the Year:

₹ lakhs
Contract Revenue47.81
Contract Cost45.00
Profit2.81

### Example 2

Example 2: Three-Year Contract with Revised Estimates (Illus 10)

Contract: Total Revenue = ₹9,000 (Year 1 estimated total cost ₹8,050; Year 2 revised to ₹8,200)

Year 1Year 2Year 3
Cost incurred (year only)2,0933,9752,132
Cost incurred (cumulative till date)2,0936,0688,200
Revised total estimated cost8,0508,2008,200
% Completion (till date)26%74%100%
Revenue recognised (till date)2,3406,8089,200
Revenue for year2,3404,4682,392
Cost for year2,0933,9752,132
Profit for year247493260

Year 1: % = 2,093/8,050 = 26%; Revenue = 9,000 × 26% = 2,340

Year 2: Cost revised to 8,200; Revenue revised to 9,200; % = 6,068/8,200 = 74%; Revenue till date = 9,200 × 74% = 6,808; Year 2 revenue = 6,808 − 2,340 = 4,468

Year 3: 100% complete; Revenue till date = 9,200; Year 3 revenue = 9,200 − 6,808 = 2,392

### Example 3

Example 3: Fixed Price with Escalation Clause (Ques 9)

Data (₹ in 000s):

  • Fixed price: ₹35,000; Escalation clause: 8% → Revised contract price = 35,000 × 1.08 = ₹37,800
  • Work certified: ₹17,500; Work not certified: ₹3,815 (includes ₹2,625 material issued, of which ₹1,400 lying unused)
  • Actual work uncertified cost = 3,815 − 1,400 = ₹2,675 (unused material excluded)
  • Costs incurred to date = 17,500 + 2,675 = ₹21,175 (note: 8% escalation already included)
  • Future estimated cost: ₹17,325
  • Total cost: 21,175 + 17,325 = ₹38,500

Loss check: Total cost ₹38,500 > Revenue ₹37,800 → Loss-making contract (loss = ₹700)

% Completion = 21,175 / 38,500 × 100 = 55%

Revenue to recognise = 37,800 × 55% = ₹20,790

P&L:

  • Contract Revenue: ₹20,790; Contract Expense: ₹21,175; Loss booked: ₹385
  • Total loss = ₹700; Additional provision = 700 − 385 = ₹315

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using future estimated costs (not incurred costs) as the numerator in the % completion formula.
  • Forgetting to subtract prior years' cumulative revenue when computing the current year's P&L — always work cumulatively then deduct.
  • Including unused materials lying on-site in costs incurred to date — only costs of materials actually incorporated into construction count.
  • Not revising the total estimated cost when new information becomes available — estimates must be updated each year.
  • Applying revised estimates only to the remaining period (prospective change) but forgetting that the cumulative % must be recalculated from scratch with the revised totals.
  • Using data about cash received from customers to determine % completion — cash receipts are irrelevant to the cost-based method.
Bare-Act text Para 22 (Recognition of Contract Revenue and Expenses) · AS 7 – Construction Contracts · click to expand
When the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, contract revenue and contract costs associated with the construction contract should be recognised as revenue and expenses respectively by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the balance sheet date.
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