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Microlesson · 5-min read

Cash Flow Statement — Direct Method (AS 3)

## Cash Flow Statement — Direct Method

AS 3 requires the cash flow statement to classify cash flows under three sections. Under the direct method, actual gross cash receipts and gross cash payments are shown in each section.

### Three Sections

SectionNatureTypical InflowsTypical Outflows
A — OperatingCore business transactionsCash sales, cash from debtorsPayments to suppliers, wages, overheads, income tax
B — InvestingLong-term asset transactionsSale of PPE, sale of investmentsPurchase of PPE, purchase of investments
C — FinancingCapital structure changesShare issue, loans raisedLoan/debenture repayment, dividend paid, interest paid

### Format — Operating Activities (Direct Method)

```

Cash received from Trade Receivables X

Add: Cash Sales X

───

Total Cash Receipts from Customers X

Less: Cash paid to Trade Payables (X)

Less: Wages / Salaries (X)

Less: Office / Administrative Overheads (X)

Less: Selling & Distribution Expenses (X)

───

Cash Generated from Operations X

Less: Income Tax Paid (X)

───

Net Cash from Operating Activities (A) X

```

### Format — Investing Activities

```

Proceeds from sale of PPE / Investments X

Less: Purchase of PPE / Investments (X)

───

Net Cash from Investing Activities (B) (X)

```

### Format — Financing Activities

```

Proceeds from issue of shares X

Proceeds from loans raised X

Less: Repayment of loans / debentures (X)

Less: Dividend paid (X)

Less: Interest paid (X)

───

Net Cash from Financing Activities (C) X

```

### Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents (CCE)

```

Opening CCE + Net CF (A + B + C) = Closing CCE

```

Always verify this equation — it is a built-in accuracy check.

### Classification Rules (AS 3)

  • Interest paid → Financing Activities (permitted alternative: Operating)
  • Dividends paid → Financing Activities
  • Income tax paid → Operating Activities (unless specifically identifiable with investing/financing)
  • Use cash amounts only — not accrual amounts from the income statement

Worked example

### Example 1

Ques 4 — Direct Method (Figures in ₹'000)

A — Operating Activities₹'000
Cash received from Trade Receivables2,783
Less: Cash paid to Trade Payables(2,047)
Less: Employee Benefits Expense(69)
Less: Other Overheads(115)
Cash Generated from Operations552
Less: Income Tax Paid(243)
Net CF from Operating Activities (A)309
B — Investing Activities₹'000
Less: Purchase of PPE(102)
Net CF from Investing Activities (B)(102)
C — Financing Activities₹'000
Issue of Shares300
Less: Loan Repaid(250)
Less: Dividend Paid(80)
Net CF from Financing Activities (C)(30)

Net CF (A+B+C) = 309 − 102 − 30 = 177

Opening CCE = 35

Closing CCE = 35 + 177 = 212 ✓

### Example 2

LORI Question — Direct Method (₹)

Given: GP/Sales ratio = 25:100, so GP = ₹3,75,000

A — Operating Activities
Cash Sales15,00,000
Less: Payment to Trade Payables(6,10,000)
Less: Wages(5,55,000)
Less: Office Expenses(35,000)
Less: Selling Expenses(15,000)
Cash Generated from Operations2,85,000
Less: Income Tax Paid(55,000)
Net CF from Operating Activities (A)2,30,000
B — Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of investments (net)8,40,000
Less: Purchase of Machinery(13,50,000)
Net CF from Investing Activities (B)(5,10,000)
C — Financing Activities
Less: Dividend Paid(40,000)
Less: Bank Loan Repaid (incl. interest)(2,05,000)
Net CF from Financing Activities (C)(2,45,000)

Opening CCE = ₹2,25,000

Net CF (A+B+C) = 2,30,000 − 5,10,000 − 2,45,000 = (5,25,000)

Closing CCE = 2,25,000 − 5,25,000 = (3,00,000) [net overdraft position]

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using accrual-basis figures (e.g., 'sales' from the income statement) instead of actual cash collected — always use cash receipts from debtors, not credit sales
  • Treating interest paid as an operating expense outflow — under AS 3, interest paid is classified under Financing Activities
  • Placing income tax paid under Investing or Financing Activities — it belongs in Operating Activities unless it can be specifically identified with a financing/investing transaction
  • Including non-cash items (e.g., depreciation, profit on sale) as line items in the direct method statement — these are accrual adjustments, irrelevant to the direct method
  • Forgetting to verify Opening CCE + Net CF = Closing CCE at the end — this reconciliation is mandatory under AS 3
Bare-Act text Paragraphs 12–13 (Reporting Cash Flows from Operating Activities) · AS 3 (Revised) — Cash Flow Statements, ICAI · click to expand
An enterprise should report cash flows from operating activities using either: (a) the direct method, whereby major classes of gross cash receipts and gross cash payments are disclosed; or (b) the indirect method, whereby net profit or loss is adjusted for the effects of transactions of a non-cash nature, any deferrals or accruals of past or future operating cash receipts or payments, and items of income or expense associated with investing or financing cash flows. The direct method provides information which may be useful in estimating future cash flows and which is not available under the indirect method and is, therefore, considered more appropriate than the indirect method.
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