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Microlesson · 5-min read

Cash Flow Statement – Capital Grant Treatment

## Capital Grant Treatment in Cash Flow Statements

Capital grants received from government/agencies (related to acquisition of fixed assets) present a classification choice under AS 3.

### The Core Issue

Capital grants are amortised to P&L over the life of the asset (deferred income approach). This creates a mismatch:

  • P&L shows amortisation income each year (small amount)
  • Actual cash was received in one year (full amount)

### Two Acceptable Treatments

Option A – Operating Activity:

  • Deduct amortisation amount from operating CF (removing non-cash income from PBT)
  • Show actual cash received nowhere in operating section
  • Actual receipt may appear in financing activities

Option B – Investing Activity (ICAI Preferred):

  • Deduct amortisation from operating CF (removing non-cash income)
  • Show actual capital grant cash received under investing activities (since it relates to a capital asset acquisition)

> Exam Note: ICAI official solutions (e.g., ICAI Study Module Q8 of Cash Flow chapter) classify capital grant receipt under investing activities. Use this unless the question or institute solution specifies otherwise.

### Journal Context

Capital grant amortised: `Deferred Capital Grant A/c Dr → P&L Cr` (income recognised)

Actual receipt (year of receipt): `Bank Dr → Deferred Capital Grant A/c Cr`

The amortisation is a non-cash P&L credit — it inflated PBT, so deduct it in operating adjustments.

Worked example

### Example 1

Question LDR:

  • Capital Grant amortised in P&L = ₹10 (non-cash income booked in P&L)
  • Actual Capital Grant received = ₹18 (cash received)

Operating Activities: Deduct ₹10 (reversing non-cash P&L income)

Financing/Investing Activities: Show ₹18 received

Alternative (ICAI approach): Show ₹18 under Investing Activities as capital grant received related to capital asset.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Treating amortisation of capital grant as a cash inflow in operating activities instead of removing it as a non-cash item.
  • Showing the amortisation amount (not actual cash received) under investing or financing activities.
  • Not reversing the amortisation from operating activities when the actual receipt is shown elsewhere.
  • Always classifying capital grant under operating activities — ICAI prefers investing activities for asset-related grants.
Reference:
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