File returns in e-format, cos told

 At present, companies file their annual returns and balance sheets with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs by filing up an e-form. Use of XBRL format would allow users of financial information to electronically retrieve data with greater accuracy.

“It has been decided by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to mandate certain class of companies to file balance sheets and, profit and loss account for the year 2010-11 onwards by using XBRL taxonomy,” MCA said in circular.

In the first phase, all listed companies along with their overseas and home subsidiaries, and those having a paid up capital of Rs 5 crore and above will have to file their annual returns and balance sheets using XBRL, it said. Sources said the MCA is mulling making filing of balance sheets for companies easier, as a host of them currently file statements of income, rather than balance sheets put up in the ministry’s website as a scanned document.