Companies Declaration and Payment of Dividend Rules 2014 as amended by the Companies (Declaration and Payment of Dividend) Second Amendment Rules, 2015.
Chapter VIII (Sections 123 to 127) of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with the provisions related to declaration and payment of dividend by a company. In accordance with the second proviso of sub-section (1) of section 123 of the CA 2013, a company shall declare dividend out of accumulated profits transferred to reserves by complying the Rules prescribed in this behalf.
Such Rules has now been prescribed by the Central Government vide notification dated 31st March, 2014 which has been effective from into force on the 1st day of April, 2014.
The Companies (Declaration and Payment of Dividend) Rules, 2014
[Published vide G.S.R. 241(E), dated 31-03-2014 and subsequently amended vide G.S.R. 397(E) dated 12-06-2014, G.S.R. 121(E) dated 24-02-2015 and G.S.R. 441(E) dated 29-05-2015]
In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 123 read with section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) and in supersession of the Companies (Central Government’s) General Rules and Forms, 1956 and other Rules prescribed under the Companies Act, 1956 on matters covered under these rules, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such suppression, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely: —
Rule-1: Short title and commencement
Rule-1(1): These rules may be called the Companies (Declaration and Payment of Dividend) Rules, 2014.
Rule-1(2): They shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 2014.
Rule-2: Definitions
Rule-2(1): In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, —
- (a) “Act” means the Companies Act, 2013;
- (b) “section” means section of the Act.
Rule-2(2): Words and expressions used in these rules but not defined and defined in the Act or in the Companies (Specification of Definitions Details) Rules, 2014, shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act or in the said Rules.
Rule-3: Declaration of dividend out of reserves:
In the event of inadequacy or absence of profits in any year, a company may declare dividend out of free reserves subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions, namely:
Rule-3(1): The rate of dividend declared shall not exceed the average of the rates at which dividend was declared by it in the three years immediately preceding that year:
Provided that this sub-rule shall not apply to a company, which has not declared any dividend in each of the three preceding financial year.
Rule-3(2): The total amount to be drawn from such accumulated profits shall not exceed one-tenth of the sum of its paid-up share capital and free reserves as appearing in the latest audited financial statement.
Rule-3(3): The amount so drawn shall first be utilised to set off the losses incurred in the financial year in which dividend is declared before any dividend in respect of equity shares is declared.
Rule-3(4): The balance of reserves after such withdrawal shall not fall below fifteen per cent of its paid up share capital as appearing in the latest audited financial statement.
Rule-3(5): No company shall declare dividend unless carried over previous losses and depreciation not provided in previous year or years are set off against profit of the company of the current year.
[Sub-rule (5) of Rule 3 has been omitted by the Companies (Declaration and Payment of Dividend) Second Amendment Rules, 2015 vide G.S.R. 441(E) dated 29th May, 2015.]