A Brief about Company Accounts
Established in the year 2013 Indian companies act states that "It will govern all the companies and will provide guidelines for them which they are bound to adhere to." A company is an association of people who come across voluntarily to each other and contribute money to satisfy a common purpose.
The capital of the company is established by the contribution of money by people and its members. So the capital of a company is known as "share capital" and the contributors are known as "shareholders".
A company is an association of persons who contribute money voluntarily for a common purpose. The contribution of money by them forms the capital of the company. The persons who contribute are the members of the company. This contributed money is known as share capital of the company and the contributors are its shareholders. This is governed by the Indian Companies Act.
Accounting is the system of recording financial transactions in the form of financial statements. The different types of company accounts are (1) asset, (2) liability (3) equity, (4) revenue, and (5) expense. Each of these account types has sub-accounts to record the details of transactions.
What are Shares?
Share can be defined as a share in the share capital of the company which includes stocks. According to section 2(84), the company act 2013, a share capital can be divided into several units of smaller denominations. These units are called shares.
Types of Share Capital:
Share capital can be classified into two types:
Equity share capital
Preference share capital
Equity share capital:
Equity shares have the maximum risk and reward both in a business in case the company has involved itself with high profits then they are more likely to receive a high payment from high dividends and increment in reputation in the market.
In any case, if the company is subjected to a loss then there is a huge risk of either losing a part of the shares or losing the whole of the shares, equity shares are not at all preferential.
Preference share capital:
As per the Indian companies act established in 2013 under section 43(b), preference share capital consists of preference shares. These are some preferential rights that are subjected to preference shares and they can be stated as described below:
In order to receive a dividend: a particular amount of payment is first done to a person who is holding preference shares at a fixed rate or amount by the company and the equity shareholders are paid after the payment is done for preference shareholders.
Repayment of capital: Before paying the equity shareholders the preferential shareholders receive the whole repayment during the winding uptime.
Company accounts have a totally different format which is quite different from sole proprietorship or partnership. It facilitates different ownership structures like shares and debentures. A specific law is also subjected to a definite format for the final accounts of the company.
Now that we have an idea of company accounts, let’s try to understand the calls in arrears meaning.
Call in Arrear
A company issues its shares in the market and the public purchases its shares. The company may either call the whole amount or partially by way of ‘calls’. The company calls for money from shareholders when needed within a certain period. If the shareholder is not able to pay the call amount due on an allotment or on any calls according to the terms before or on the specific date fixed for payment, such amount is taken as ‘call in arrears’.
Calls in Arrears in Balance Sheet
Once the company confirms the allotment of shares to a person, it becomes a valid contract and he becomes the shareholder. He is liable to pay the entire amount of shares. In case if the shareholder is not able to pay the call amount due on the allotment, the unpaid amount becomes a call-in-arrears. Such an amount of calls in arrears is shown in the liability side of the balance sheet by deducting from the called up capital. In case if the shares are forfeited, then it is deducted from the forfeited account.
Calls in Advance in Balance Sheet
The company, according to terms on issue of shares, may call for partial payment instead of lump-sum by way of calls. If the company accepts the amount against the calls, which are not made yet, the amount received in advance is called ‘calls-in-advance’. In the balance sheet, the call-in-advance is shown in the subhead other current liability under the Current Liabilities.
Calls in Arrears Journal Entry
When the shareholders make default in payment, the amount due is stated as Calls in Arrears. This amount is shown in the journal by opening a separate account called the Calls in Arrears Account and all such calls in arrears are charged an interest of 5% p.a. until the amount is repaid. Finally, the total (call in arrears entry) is shown in the balance sheet as a deduction from the Called up Capital.
Calls in Advance Journal Entry
A company, well authorized by the Articles can accept calls in advance from its shareholders but in the journal entry, the amount of call in advance cannot be credited to the capital amount.
Calls in Arrears Example
When financing is demanded from shareholders on calls, the respective accounts are debited. There are certain situations in which some shareholders cannot pay their dues on the allotment and/or on calls within the stipulated time. The amount which is not paid by defaulter shareholders is termed as calls in arrears and it shows a debit balance. The opening of ‘calls in arrears account’ supports in preparing the balance sheet since it is deducted from called up capital.
An example:
XXX Ltd made its first call @ of Rs. 3 on 10,000 shares. Mr A has not paid on the first call on his 200 shares. However, he paid this default amount after one month.
FAQs on Company Accounts: Calls in Arrears Explained
1. What are Calls in Arrears in the context of company accounts?
Calls in Arrears refers to the portion of the called-up capital that has been demanded by a company from its shareholders but has not been paid by them by the specified due date. When a company issues shares, it may collect the full amount at once or in instalments (e.g., application, allotment, first call, second call). If a shareholder fails to pay the amount due on any call, that unpaid amount is termed Calls in Arrears.
2. How are Calls in Arrears presented in a company's Balance Sheet as per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus?
In the Balance Sheet, Calls in Arrears are shown as a deduction from the 'Subscribed Capital' under the head 'Shareholders' Funds'. Specifically, it is deducted from the 'Subscribed but not fully paid-up capital' to arrive at the final figure for Paid-up Capital that is shown on the face of the Balance Sheet. This presentation clearly shows the amount of capital the company has called but is yet to receive.
3. What is the journal entry for recording Calls in Arrears?
There are two methods, but the most common one involves opening a specific Calls in Arrears account. When a call amount is due but not received from some shareholders, the following entry is passed:
Calls in Arrears A/c Dr. (With the unpaid amount)
To Share [Specific] Call A/c (e.g., To Share First Call A/c)
This entry transfers the unpaid amount from the specific call account to the Calls in Arrears account, which shows a debit balance.
4. What is the key difference between Calls in Arrears and Calls in Advance?
The primary difference lies in the timing and nature of the payment. Here’s a clear comparison:
- Calls in Arrears: This is an amount that a shareholder has failed to pay after the company has officially demanded it. It represents a debt owed by the shareholder to the company.
- Calls in Advance: This is an amount that a shareholder pays before the company has officially demanded it. It represents a liability for the company until the relevant call is made.
Furthermore, the company can charge interest on Calls in Arrears, whereas it typically pays interest on Calls in Advance.
5. Is it mandatory for a company to charge interest on Calls in Arrears?
It is not strictly mandatory, but it is a common practice governed by the company's Articles of Association (AoA). If the AoA specify a rate for charging interest on arrears, the company must follow it. If the AoA are silent on this matter, the provisions of Table F of the Companies Act, 2013, apply, which allows a company to charge interest at a rate not exceeding 10% per annum on the unpaid amount.
6. What are the potential consequences for a shareholder who defaults on call payments?
Failure to pay call money can lead to serious consequences for a shareholder. After giving proper notice as per the Articles of Association, the company's Board of Directors has the right to initiate the process of forfeiture of shares. Forfeiture means cancelling the shares and taking away the membership of the defaulting shareholder. The amount already paid by the shareholder on these shares is then transferred to a Forfeited Shares Account and is not refunded.
7. Why is a separate 'Calls in Arrears' account opened? What is the alternative method of accounting?
Opening a separate 'Calls in Arrears' account provides a clear and consolidated view of the total amount due from defaulting shareholders. It simplifies tracking and reporting, especially for Balance Sheet preparation. The alternative method is to not open a Calls in Arrears account. In this case, the individual call accounts (e.g., Share Allotment A/c, Share First Call A/c) will continue to show a debit balance equal to the unpaid amounts. This method is less common as it can make the ledger look untidy and tracking arrears more complex.
8. How is the amount of Calls in Arrears calculated? Provide a simple example.
The amount is calculated by multiplying the number of shares held by the defaulting shareholder by the unpaid call money per share.
Example: ABC Ltd. made a first call of ₹3 per share on its 1,00,000 equity shares. A shareholder, Rohan, holding 500 shares, did not pay the first call money. The amount of Calls in Arrears would be calculated as:
Number of shares held by Rohan × Unpaid call money per share = 500 shares × ₹3 = ₹1,500. This is the amount that will be debited to the Calls in Arrears account.
