UDIN mandatory for all Audit Reports/ Certificates from 01/07/2019: ICAI

ICAI makes it mandatory for all Practicing Chartered Accountants to generate an 18 digit ‘Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN)’ from the ‘UDIN portal’ and mention the same on each document certified/ attested by them, w.e.f. 01/07/2019. It may be noted that ICAI has implemented UDIN in a phased manner, as under:

i) All Certificates: w.e.f. 01/02/2019,

ii) GST and Income Tax Audit Reports: w.e.f. 01/04/2019, and

iii) All Audit and Assurance Functions: w.e.f. 01/07/2019.

Further, Members may note that UDIN has to be generated the same day, i.e. on the date of signature of Audit Report/ Certificate, although a 15 days window is there for exceptional circumstances.

Over the years, ICAI has noticed that financial documents/ certificates attested by third person misrepresenting themselves as CA Members are misleading the Authorities and Stakeholders. ICAI is also receiving number of complaints of signatures of CAs being forged by non CAs. To curb such malpractices, ICAI has come out with an innovative concept of UDIN i.e. Unique Document Identification Number which is being implemented in phased manner. It will secure the certificates attested/ certified by practicing CAs, as the Member CAs have been advised to generate respective Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) for each such document for future reference by stakeholders (Regulators/ Banks/ Third parties) who wish to check authenticity thereof. UDIN is totally secure as it it does not contain any information of the client and can be viewed only by the Member and/ or the Regulators/ other Stakeholders, who are having the UDIN.

UDIN Implementation Phase III

As part of Phase III of UDIN initiative, ICAI makes it mandatory for all Member Chartered Accountants (CAs) in practice to generate UDIN in respect of all ‘Certificates/ Reports relating to Audit and Assurance Functions’, issued on or after 01/07/2019, as under:

ICAI Announcement dt. 01/07/2019 : ICAI makes UDIN mandatory for all Audit Reports/ Certificates from 01/07/2019

It has been noticed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India that Financial Documents/ Reports/ Certificates are being signed by Non-CAs misrepresenting themselves as CA Members thereby misleading the Regulators, Authorities and Stakeholders.

To curb this menace and malpractices, ICAI has conceptualised and implemented an innovative concept called Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN). ICAI at its 379th Council Meeting held on 17 – 18/12/2018 made generation of UDIN mandatory for every signature of Full time Practising Chartered Accountants in phased manner for the following services:

i) All Certificates with effect from 01/02/2019,

ii) GST and Income Tax Audit with effect from 01/04/2019, and

iii) All Audit and Assurance Functions with effect from 01/07/2019.

Therefore, UDIN is being made mandatory for all Audit and Assurance Functions like Documents and Reports certified/ issued by full time Practising Chartered Accountants from 01/07/2019.

Members are being advised to plan the Audits and Assurance functions accordingly as UDIN has to be generated on the date of signature dates of Certificates/ Report/ Audit Reports although a 15 days window is there for exceptional circumstances.

Further, non-compliance of UDIN directive may attract Disciplinary Proceedings as per Clause 1 of Part II of Second Schedule of The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.

For any information/ clarification, members may visit https://udin.icai.org or email at udin@icai.in

UDIN Implementation Phase II

As part of Phase II of UDIN initiative, ICAI makes it mandatory for all Member Chartered Accountants (CAs) in practice to generate UDIN in respect of all ‘GST & Tax Audit Reports’, issued on or after 01/04/2019, as under:

ICAI Announcement dt. 14/03/2019 : UDIN Being Made Mandatory in 2nd Phase for GST & Tax Audit Reports

You may be aware that Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) has been made mandatory as per the Council decision taken at its 379th Meeting held on 17 – 18/12/2018 in the following phases:

i) All Certification done by Practising CAs w.e.f. 01/02/2019.

ii) All GST & Tax Audit Reports w.e.f. 01/04/2019.

iii) All other attest functions w.e.f. 01/07/2019.

Since 01/02/2019 all certificates issued by Chartered Accountants had been made mandatory. Now in 2nd phase, w.e.f 01/04/2019, UDIN is being made mandatory for GST & Tax Audit Reports. Members are requested to make a note of above schedule of mandating UDIN and also adhere to the same while conducting Bank Audits.

Practising CAs have to register at UDIN portal (https://udin.icai.org/) to obtain UDIN. To authenticate the documents by various Regulators/ Banks/ Authorities/ Other Stakeholders, practicing CAs have to provide some financial figures and details which are found in the certificate issued.

Further, it is clarified that for generating UDIN, no certificates are required to be uploaded on the portal. For Process, FAQs and helpdesk you may visit https://udin.icai.org/. In case you need any further information/ clarification, please email at udin@icai.in or call at 011-30110480 / 444.

You are advised to register the documents certified by them on the UDIN portal and get these secured.

UDIN Implementation Phase I

As part of Phase I of UDIN initiative, ICAI makes it mandatory for all Member Chartered Accountants (CAs) in practice to generate UDIN in respect of all ‘Certificates’, issued on or after 01/02/2019, as under:

ICAI Press Release dt. 24/01/2019 : Mandatory Usage of UDIN for Certificates issued by Chartered Accountants w.e.f. 01/02/2019 to prevent forgery

It has been noticed that financial documents/ certificates attested by third person misrepresenting themselves as CA Members are misleading the Authorities and Stakeholders. ICAI is also receiving number of complaints of signatures of CAs being forged by non CAs. To curb the malpractices, the Professional Development Committee of ICAI has implemented in phased manner an innovative concept of UDIN i.e. Unique Document Identification Number. All Certificates are being made mandatory with effect from 01/02/2019 as per the Council decision taken at its 379th Meeting held on 17 – 18/12/2018.

Full time Practicing CAs can register themselves by visiting at https://udin.icai.org/ and generate UDIN by registering the certificates attested/ certified by them.

For any other further assistance/ clarification, you may reach us at 011–30110411/444 or email at udin@icai.in. In case of emergency, you may also call Mr. Vishal Agarwal at 9911539260.

MEMBERS ARE ADVISED TO REGISTER THE DOCUMENTS CERTIFIED BY THEM & GET THESE SECURED.

ICAI enables Bulk Generation of UDINs for Certificates

ICAI has enabled a facility on UDIN portal for Members to generate ‘Bulk UDINs (from 3~300)’ for various type of Certificates in one go, by keying in necessary information or uploading the same in an excel file.

ICAI Announcement dt. 17/06/2020 : ICAI enables Bulk Generation of UDINs for Certificates

Members to Mention UDIN after Membership Number in Audit Reports from 01/07/2019: ICAI

ICAI has advised Members signing Audit Reports on or after 01/07/2019 to mention the UDIN just after the Membership Number, with a view to bring uniformity. This requirement will be in addition to other requirements relating to the auditor’s signature prescribed in the relevant law or regulation and the Standards on Auditing.

ICAI Announcement dt. 04/06/2019 : ICAI Requires Members to Mention UDIN after Membership Number while Signing Audit Reports

UDIN mandatory for which type of Certificates?

ICAI has listed the type of Certificates which are covered/ not covered in the FAQs on UDIN, under the new compliance requirement for the practicing chartered accountants:

UDIN is mandatory for which type of Certificates from 01/02/2019?