Raghavi Kasa – Razorpay Blog https://razorpay.com/blog Articles and stories to help you run your business better Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:21:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 https://d6xcmfyh68wv8.cloudfront.net/blog-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png Raghavi Kasa – Razorpay Blog https://razorpay.com/blog 32 32 Management Accounting – Meaning, Importance & Limitations https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/management-accounting/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/management-accounting/#respond Sun, 18 Aug 2024 06:19:24 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=11369 What is Management Accounting?

Management accounting or managerial accounting is a special branch of accounting of presenting financial statements to managers of a business to help them make better-informed decisions. It is not disclosed to the public and is only used internally.

Management accounting is a prerequisite for all businesses. As long as managers know exactly what the financial position of the business is, they can make well-informed decisions to further business growth.

Importance of Managerial Accounting

Managerial accounting is the backbone of effective decision-making within an organization. It provides vital financial information tailored to the specific needs of management. This information is essential for:

  • Data-driven decision making: It provides data-driven insights to support informed choices about product pricing, budgeting, and investment opportunities.
  • Performance Evaluation: Managerial accounting tools help measure the performance of different departments and individuals against established benchmarks.
  • Cost Control: By identifying cost drivers and analyzing cost behavior, it helps in reducing expenses and improving profitability.
  • Process Improvement: Managerial accounting information can be used to streamline operations, eliminate waste, and enhance overall efficiency.
  • Risk Management: By assessing potential risks and their financial impact, it supports proactive risk mitigation strategies.

Ultimately, managerial accounting empowers management to make well-informed decisions, optimize resource utilization, and drive organizational success.

How Management Accounting Works

Management accounting provides financial and non-financial information to managers to help them make informed decisions about the business. The main functions of management accounting include:

  • Communicating financial information: Management accountants gather and analyze financial data from the business’s financial statements and other sources, and then communicate this information to managers in a way that is easy to understand and use.
  • Planning and budgeting: Management accountants help managers develop plans and budgets for the business. This includes setting goals, forecasting future financial performance, and allocating resources.
  • Costing: Management accountants track the costs of the business’s products, services, and activities. This information can be used to set prices, make pricing decisions, and control costs.
  • Decision-making: Management accountants use financial and non-financial information to help managers make informed decisions about the business. This includes decisions about pricing, products, marketing, and investments.
  • Performance evaluation: Management accountants track the performance of the business and identify areas for improvement. This information can be used to set goals, improve efficiency, and make better decisions.

Techniques of Management Accounting

Management accountants use a variety of techniques to communicate financial information to managers. Here are three of the most common techniques:

  • Cost accounting: Cost accounting is the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting financial information related to the costs associated with producing a product or providing a service. This information can be used to monitor costs, set prices, and make pricing decisions.
  • Performance accounting: Performance accounting is the process of measuring and reporting the performance of an organization or individual against predetermined goals and objectives. This information can be used to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make better decisions.
  • Strategic accounting: Strategic accounting is the process of analyzing an organization’s financial data in order to inform strategic decisions. This information can be used to identify trends in the market, assess the financial viability of potential business initiatives, and make data-driven decisions.

Types of Managerial Accounting

Managerial accounting encompasses a range of techniques and analyses.

Product costing

Product costing is the process of calculating the total costs involved in the production of a good or service. It identifies and measures the various direct, indirect, variable and fixed costs that go into the main revenue-generating activity.

This helps identify areas of high spending and low return, allowing managers to make decisions to improve spending and optimize processes.

Different costing methods, such as job order costing, process costing, and activity-based costing, are employed based on product characteristics. Accurate product costing is essential for pricing decisions, inventory valuation, profitability analysis, and overall business strategy.

Accounts Receivable Management

Accounts receivable (AR) management is another aspect of management accounting that can bring huge benefits to the company. AR can help businesses identify high-risk customers by categorizing invoices that routinely haven’t been cleared past the due date.

This data-driven approach helps in optimizing working capital, reducing bad debts, and improving overall financial performance. Moreover, efficient AR management can enhance customer relationships by providing timely and accurate invoicing, as well as responsive customer support.

Cash Flow Analysis

Cash flow analysis is a critical component of managerial accounting that provides insights into a company’s liquidity and ability to meet its short-term obligations. By examining the inflows and outflows of cash, businesses can identify potential cash shortages or surpluses, assess the efficiency of cash management, and make informed decisions regarding investments, financing, and operations.

Cash flow analysis is particularly valuable for forecasting future cash needs, managing working capital, and evaluating the overall financial health of a business. It helps in identifying areas where cash can be conserved or generated, such as optimizing inventory levels, accelerating collections, and delaying payments. By understanding the timing of cash flows, managers can make strategic decisions to ensure the company has sufficient cash to fund operations, invest in growth opportunities, and maintain financial stability.

Advantages and Objectives of Management Accounting

The primary objective of management accounting is to provide relevant and timely financial information to support the decision-making process. It involves:

  • Planning and Forecasting: Developing budgets and financial projections to guide organizational activities.
  • Decision Making: Analyzing costs, revenues, and other factors to evaluate alternative courses of action.
  • Performance Evaluation: Measuring the performance of individuals, departments, and the organization as a whole.
  • Cost Control: Identifying cost reduction opportunities and implementing measures to control expenses.
  • Profit Improvement: Analyzing profitability and identifying strategies to increase earnings.
  • Decision Making: Providing information to support strategic planning and decision-making.

Management Accounting in Business Decision Making

Here are some specific ways that management accounting can help businesses make better decisions:

  • Identify problems early on: Management accounting can help managers identify problems with products, pricing, or marketing campaigns early on so that corrective action can be taken before the problems become more serious.
  • Make better pricing decisions: Management accounting can help managers determine the optimal price for products and services by taking into account factors such as costs, demand, and competition.
  • Allocate resources more efficiently: Management accounting can help managers allocate resources such as labour, materials, and capital to their most productive uses.
  • Monitor the performance of the business: Management accounting can help managers track the performance of the business over time and identify areas for improvement.
  • Plan for the future and set realistic goals: Management accounting can help managers plan for the future and set realistic goals by providing information about the business’s financial position and performance.

By using management accounting, businesses can make better decisions that lead to improved profitability and efficiency.

Management Accounting vs Financial Accounting

Limitations of Management Accounting

Limitation Description
Limited scope Management accounting is limited to the internal needs of the organization and does not consider external factors.
Lack of standardization It does not have the same standards as financial accounting, which makes it difficult to compare performance from one organization to another.
Subjectivity It relies heavily on subjective measures, such as estimates and forecasts, which can lead to inaccurate results.
Reactive Management accounting is more of a reactive approach, as opposed to a proactive one, and can be too late to inform decisions.
Expensive It can be a costly endeavour, as it requires additional resources and personnel.

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FAQs

What are the functions of management accounting?

Management accounting provides financial information tailored to management needs. It aids in planning and decision-making by offering insights into costs, revenues, and performance. Additionally, it helps control costs, improve efficiency, and evaluate the performance of different organizational units. Ultimately, management accounting supports strategic goals by providing the necessary financial data for informed decision-making.

How is profit maximisation helpful in management accounting?

Profit maximization is a central goal in management accounting, driving cost control and revenue enhancement. By analyzing costs, revenues, and profitability, management accountants identify areas to increase efficiency and reduce expenses. This data-driven approach helps optimize resource allocation, pricing strategies, and operational decisions to maximize overall profitability. Additionally, profit maximization metrics inform performance evaluation and strategic planning.

Does management accounting help in financial accounting?

While management accounting primarily focuses on internal decision-making, it indirectly supports financial accounting. Cost information derived from management accounting is crucial for accurate inventory valuation and cost of goods sold calculation. Additionally, budgeting and forecasting data can inform financial projections and aid in financial planning. However, management accounting's primary goal differs from financial accounting's external reporting focus.

Is financial accounting the same as managerial accounting?

No, financial accounting and managerial accounting are distinct fields with different objectives. Financial accounting focuses on external reporting to stakeholders like investors and creditors, adhering to strict accounting standards. Managerial accounting, on the other hand, provides information for internal management decision-making, using various techniques to analyze financial data for operational efficiency and profitability.

Do managerial accountants need to follow GAAP?

No, managerial accountants don't need to follow GAAP. While financial accounting adheres to strict GAAP standards for external reporting, managerial accounting focuses on providing information for internal decision-making. This allows for flexibility in data presentation and analysis, tailored to specific management needs. Managerial accounting can use GAAP-based data as a starting point, but it's not bound by the same rigid rules.

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Payroll – Meaning, Step-by-Step Process, Calculation https://razorpay.com/payroll/what-is-payroll/ https://razorpay.com/payroll/what-is-payroll/#respond Tue, 06 Aug 2024 05:51:46 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=4751 What is Payroll?

Payroll is the compensation a company should pay to its employees for a specified period of time or on a given date. Payroll is generally managed by the Accounting or Human Resource department of a company. For some small businesses, payroll may be handled by the owner himself.

These days payroll is usually outsourced to third party companies that perform a wide range of payroll functions. The payroll consists of processes such as creating a list of paid employees, tracking their working hours, calculating pay, providing their salary on time, employee benefits, tax withholding.

RazorpayX Payroll is a fully-automated payroll and compliance software that automatically calculates and executes payroll with just 3 clicks every month. RazorpayX Payroll comes with best-in-industry employee self-serve portals, integrations with tools like Slack, Whatsapp, Zoho People and more.

Learn more: Features of RazorpayX Payroll

Functions of Payroll

Payroll as a function encompasses the following:

Payroll policy and process

Defining organisational payroll policy around payslip components like basic & variable pay, HRA, LTA and more

Calculating salary

Calculating gross salary, statutory and non-statutory deductions like PF, taxes, etc

Creating and maintaining records

The payroll function also creates and maintains payroll records such as payslips, time and attendance records, earnings, deductions, etc.

Tax and compliance

Payroll is also responsible for depositing dues like TDS and PF with appropriate authorities to comply with tax and other laws

Issuing salary

The primary duty of the payroll department is to disburse salary to the employees every month or week, depending on the payroll cycle as determined in the payroll policy.

Audit and reporting

Payroll function is also responsible for ensuring that proper documentation and reporting systems are in place for any audits or checks.

Answering queries

Both employees and management constantly have payroll and payslip-related queries. It is up to the payroll department to answer these queries and ensure all stakeholders have all the information they need.

Previously, businesses relied on spreadsheets or manual methods to calculate and disburse salaries. Today, automated payroll software helps businesses manage these complexities effortlessly.

A payroll cycle is the time gap between two salary disbursements. Businesses can opt to pay salaries on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Generally, in India, it is processed every month.

Read more: Payroll Service Provider

Advantages of Payroll

While there are benefits to a manual payroll process, automated payroll is the way to go today. Here’s why:

Reduced costs

Automated systems reduce the risk of payroll errors, which can lead to fewer penalties and fines. They also save time and resources, leading to lower labour costs.

Enhanced compliance

Automated systems can automatically calculate and withhold taxes and generate reports that can be used to verify compliance.

Improved employee satisfaction

Employees appreciate being paid accurately and on time. Automated payroll systems ensure that employees are paid correctly and on time, wh

ich can lead to improved employee satisfaction.

Error-free calculation

Automated payroll systems reduce the risk of errors in payroll calculations, leading to fewer discrepancies in employee paychecks.

Timely payments

Automated calculations and payment disbursals result in on-time payments with no errors. This results in happy employees and smooth business operations.

Time-saving

Manual payroll processes are time and resource-consuming. With automated payroll, most manual tasks are done automatically in a fraction of the time.

Data security

Robust, trustworthy payroll systems store employee data very securely. Data leaks and privacy issues are a one-in-a-million occurrence. With paper-based payroll, employee records can be stolen, mishandled or lost.

Easy data insights

With all employee data and records available digitally, employers can use analytics tools to forecast trends and employee behaviour.

Try Payroll for Free!

Components of Payroll

Payroll, the process of compensating employees for their work, involves several crucial components. Understanding these parts ensures accurate and efficient payment for your workforce. Here’s a breakdown of some key elements:

Basic Salary

This is the fixed amount of money an employee earns before any bonuses or deductions. The basic salary is fixed and is determined based on the employees’ experience, role and industry standards.

Basic salary forms the basis for other parts of your compensation, like allowances and bonuses, which can be added on depending on your performance or company policies.

Allowances

These are additional payments made on top of the base salary to compensate for work-related expenses. Common examples include housing allowances, transportation allowances, and meal allowances. The taxability of allowances can vary.

Deductions

These are amounts withheld from an employee’s paycheck before receiving their net salary. Deductions can be mandatory (like taxes) or voluntary (like contributions to PF).

Gross Salary

This represents the total amount an employee earns before deductions are applied. It’s the sum of the base salary and any allowances.

Net Salary (Take-Home Pay)

This is the final amount an employee receives after all deductions are subtracted from their gross salary.

Ad-hoc Pay

Ad hoc pay is a non-regular payment given to an employee outside of their normal paycheck. Unlike your regular salary, it’s a one-time bonus triggered by specific reasons like a stellar project completion or covering unexpected work expenses. These payments are typically handled quickly to address the immediate need, and they may or may not be taxable depending on the situation.

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)

TDS, or Tax Deducted at Source, acts like a prepayment of income tax deducted by your employer from your salary. This reduces your tax burden at year-end. The employer calculates the TDS amount based on your income, tax bracket, and investments. They then deposit this deducted tax to the government on your behalf.

Perks

These include perks offered by the employer, including gym memberships, company cars, accommodation, etc. They play a crucial role in attracting and retaining top talent.

Taxation

A significant aspect of payroll is calculating and withholding taxes from employee wages. This includes income tax and sometimes unemployment taxes. The appropriate tax rates and deductions depend on various factors like employee location, earnings level, and filing status.

Payroll Processing in India

Here are the series of steps involved in executing payroll successfully from ground zero. 

components of payroll

Processing payroll is a sensitive task that involves the efforts of multiple departments like HR, finance and legal. This process includes the following functions:

Pre-Payroll Activities

Step 1: Payroll policy structure

Establish a payroll policy as a first step before beginning the payroll process. A good payroll policy should address the following:

  1. Pay structure and compensation: Define salary components, pay grades, overtime rules, bonuses, commissions, and incentive plans.
  2. Payroll schedule: Determine pay periods (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), payday, and distribution methods (direct deposit, checks).
  3. Deductions and withholdings: Outline mandatory deductions (taxes, social security, Medicare) and optional deductions (health insurance, retirement contributions).
  4. Time and attendance tracking: Establish policies for recording hours worked, overtime, breaks, and leave.
  5. Payroll errors and corrections: Outline procedures for correcting payroll mistakes and handling disputes.
  6. Compliance: Ensure adherence to central, state, and local laws and tax regulations.
  7. Employee communication: Establish guidelines for communicating payroll information to employees (pay stubs, notices, policies).
  8. Payroll software and systems: Specify the payroll system used, data security measures, and access controls.
  9. Review and updates: Outline a process for regularly reviewing and updating the payroll policy to reflect changes in legislation or company practices.

Step 2: Consolidating payroll inputs

To process payroll, you need employee information like bank account details, time and attendance data, identity information like PAN and taxation details, etc. Consolidate all these inputs into an easily accessible and secure database in order to be able to process salaries without hassle.

Step 3: Validating inputs

Make sure you validate the employee information collected before using them in your calculations. Data validation can help avoid errors and ensure compliance.

  • Verify that data entered matches the expected format (e.g., numbers for SSN, dates for birthdate)
  • Match employee identification documents (e.g., driver’s license, passport) with provided information
  • Conduct background checks on new employees
  • Identify and remove duplicate records

Payroll Activities

Step 4: Calculating payroll

Calculating payroll manually is a tedious and highly complex task thanks to the complex taxes and deductions applicable for salaried employees in India. Automated payroll calculations take a few seconds and are error-free.

For manual calculations, you can calculate gross salary by adding the basic salary, dearness allowance, house rent allowance (HRA), other allowances, and overtime pay (if applicable).

Step 5: Deduct taxes and other statutory compliances

The next step in calculating final salary is to deduct taxes. Calculate deductions like Professional Tax (PT), Provident Fund (PF), Employee State Insurance (ESI), Income Tax (TDS), and other applicable deductions and deduct from the gross salary to arrive at the net take-home salary.

Step 6: Making the actual payment

The final step in the payroll activity is to disburse salaries to the employees. This is also a tricky step, since any errors can have huge negative consequences to both employer and employee. Make sure to double-check all calculations and payments before you make them.

Post-Payroll Activities 

Step 7: Payroll Accounting

Payroll makes up a significant chunk of any business’s expenses. It’s important to account and reconcile payroll expenses so that the company can maintain accurate financial records, ensure compliance with tax regulations, identify potential errors or discrepancies, and make informed decisions about labor costs and budgeting.

Step 8: Make statutory payments

Making statutory payments is a critical component of the payroll process. These payments are mandatory contributions made by employers and employees to various government-mandated schemes.

Common Statutory Payments Include:

  • Provident Fund (PF): A mandatory savings scheme for employees, with contributions from both employer and employee.
  • Employee State Insurance (ESI): A social security scheme providing medical benefits to employees and their dependents.
  • Professional Tax (PT): A state-level tax levied on salaried individuals.
  • Income Tax (TDS): Tax deducted at source from employee salaries.
  • Other Statutory Payments: Depending on the nature of the business and location, other statutory payments might include gratuity, bonus, maternity benefits, etc.

Step 9: Payslips and tax computation sheets

A payslip is a detailed document provided to employees outlining their earnings, deductions, and net pay for a specific pay period. It serves as a record of the employee’s income and tax withholdings.

A tax computation sheet is a detailed breakdown of an employee’s income tax liability for a financial year. It outlines the calculations involved in determining the taxable income, tax deductions, and final tax payable.

Methods of Processing Payroll

There are three ways to process payroll: the manual spreadsheet route, the automated route, or outsourcing the entire process.

methods of processing payroll

Depending on the budget, size of the organisation and each business’s special set of circumstances, payroll can be processed in any way.

Manual Route

Many businesses at their initial stage of operations find spreadsheet-based payroll management convenient because they only have a handful of employees to manage. 

This method involves calculations using standard templates that have set mathematical formulas for the salary and compliance payment computations. 

While this is a cost-effective method, it’s not suitable for businesses when their employee count increases. Also, the opportunity cost of using a traditional system over automated methods is very high. 

Automation 

Automated software will do away with all the challenges of using spreadsheets or outsourcing them. There are many automation tools and software available in the market that can reduce manual efforts and increase efficiency. 

Apart from carrying out payroll computations, the software needs to be updated with the latest compliance laws. 

Read more: How to switch to automated software

Outsourcing 

This means entrusting your payroll execution to an agency. A lot of businesses that don’t have dedicated personnel opt for outsourcing. 

Based on their payroll cycle, they provide the agency with salary information and other data such as attendance, leaves, reimbursement details, etc. every month. The agency then calculates dues and is also responsible for complying with statutory compliances.

Current Payroll Landscape in India

To understand the current payroll landscape in India, RazorpayX Payroll commissioned a survey by the International Research Bureau, which spoke with HR executives from 163 organizations across 12 key industries.

Take the Free Payroll Maturity Assessment to unlock actionable insights for your HR functions’ growth.

The findings?

  • Payroll automation is the norm. All the businesses IBR spoke to automated their payroll functions with payroll software. Only 37% of Indian businesses perform their payroll functions manually. 
  • Current payroll tools being used lack functional prowess. This was clearly indicated in the fact that 31% of organizations say that their payroll accuracy is below 90%. This is an unacceptable number since payroll is a very important function in every organization.
  • There is limited insight into ideal payroll solutions. Most organizations today use sub-optimal payroll software that does not provide fundamental features like automated compliance, speedy and accurate processing, data security and more.

Best Payroll Software for Your Business

Out of all the ways to carry out your business’s payroll process, automated payroll is the most popular and economical. What does a good payroll software look like?

best payroll software

Try XPayroll for Free!

Intuitive & Easy: A good payroll software is intuitive and easy to operate. It should be easy to implement with minimal training for both HR teams and the employees. 

Scalable: As a business grows, so does the size and complexity of its payroll function. A good payroll software should be able to handle payroll for businesses at all stages: small, mid-market and enterprise level.

Read more: Payroll for Enterprise

Robust ESS Mechanism: Payroll software is equally used by the employee to access payslips, submit declarations and other important payroll information. A good employee self-service portal thus becomes very important since it enables employees to be self-reliant.

Integrations

HRMS Integrations: Payroll is only one of the several functions that come under the purview of the HR department and is closely tied with other HRMS functions like time, attendance, and leave management.

A good payroll software should be able to integrate seamlessly with other HRMS software. For example, the RazorpayX Payroll integrates with 45+ HRMS like ZohoPeople, Springverify and more to provide an all-in-one, seamless experience for both HR and employees.

Accounting Integrations: Payroll is an important function of the finance team as well – employee salaries take up a sizeable chunk of most teams’ budgets, and ensuring that this expense is properly and accurately recorded is very important.

For this reason, most payroll software should provide you with integrations with accounting software which will automatically record payments to employees in your books of accounts.

Compliant: The tax regulations and requirements in India are ever-changing, and good payroll software should be able to keep up and stay updated in real time. Compliance includes elements like tax deductions, PF deductions and minimum salary payment requirements.

Not adhering to regulatory requirements can be very costly for a business – it can lead to hefty fines, lawsuits or even criminal punishment.

100% Accurate and Timely: Imagine if you paid the wrong salary to your employees – the consequences of this is immense; right from correcting the error to identifying the source of the error becomes a tedious, time-consuming task.

This is why it is important for payroll software to be 100% accurate right from the start, with no room for error.

Learn more: Timely & Accurate Payroll Software 

Customizable: Every business’s needs are different; good payroll software should accommodate these unique needs with customizations. For example, businesses that pay employees on a shift-wise basis are different from those that pay on an hourly or a monthly basis.

Challenges in Handling Payroll Process

Keeping Up with Compliance 

Businesses in India have to follow a legal framework while disbursing salaries to their employees. This framework is made up of four components. 

payroll compliance

Compliance is complicated because each tax is computed differently. Businesses must also periodically file returns on four different portals or risk expensive penalties.

Most businesses use spreadsheets and other manual methods to work on compliance, which is not the most efficient way to be compliant. The computations are lengthy, time-consuming and inaccurate. 

In India, employee laws also change frequently, making it even tougher to stay updated.

Read more: Income Tax Slabs 2023 

Spreadsheet Complications

According to a survey, over 57% of businesses in India still rely on paper or spreadsheet-based payroll management and payroll processing.

Manual payroll is easy and cheap, but also time-consuming and prone to mistakes. Information can also be mishandled and tampered with.

Spreadsheets also cannot be compliant with tax laws as they change.

Data Security 

For processing payroll, employees are required to provide a substantial amount of sensitive data in the form of official documents to the concerned team. These include employee’s bank account details, rental agreements, PAN and Aadhaar details. 

This data can be compromised; failure to protect it can seriously damage the reputation of the business and the personal security of employees. 

Paper-based documents can be misplaced easily. Even if the documents are saved on spreadsheets, they are just a password away from being misused. 

How to Manually Calculate Payroll

To calculate payroll taxes in India, follow these steps:

  • Calculate your gross salary. This includes your basic salary, allowances, and any other taxable components.
  • Subtract any exempt components from your gross salary. This includes the following:
  • Calculate your taxable income. This is the amount of your salary that is subject to income tax.
  • Calculate your income tax. This is done by applying the income tax slabs to your taxable income. The income tax slabs for the financial year 2023-24 are as follows:
Income slab Tax rate
Up to ₹2.5 lakh 0%
₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh 5%
₹5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh 20%
Above ₹7.5 lakh 30%
  1. Add any other payroll taxes, such as professional tax and provident fund contribution, to your income tax.
  2. The total amount of payroll taxes payable is the sum of your income tax and other payroll taxes.

Calculating these taxes manually for each and every employee is a tedious task. Learn more about automating your payroll with RazorpayX Payroll.

Automate your Payroll

Payroll Glossary – Important Terms

1. Gross Pay: Gross salary is the total of all the components of the salary package offered to an employee. It is the salary before any mandatory and voluntary deductions such as income tax, provident fund, medical insurance, etc.

2. Net Pay: After calculating gross pay, you must make govt. mandated deductions such as income tax, provident fund, etc. from gross pay. The amount that an employee takes home after all such deductions is termed net pay or net salary.

3. Overtime: Overtime refers to the extra hours worked by an employee in a company than the usual defined as per govt. Law. The extra salary or remuneration that the employee will get depends on the company policies.

4. Pay Period: It is a time frame defined to calculate earned wages and determine when employees receive their payslips. Pay periods are fixed and recurring on a bi-weekly, or monthly basis.

5. Compensation: It involves managing, analysing, and determining the salary, benefits, and incentives paid to the employees for their work.

6. Contractual employees: These are not permanent employees and are usually employed on a temporary basis. Their terms of employment are mentioned in the contract.

Try RazorpayX Payroll for Free!

Responsibilities of HR and Payroll

HR focuses on employee well-being, development, and legal compliance, while Payroll handles the financial aspects of employee compensation, ensuring accurate and timely payments.

HR is responsible for attracting, interviewing, and hiring qualified candidates. They also manage the onboarding process, ensuring new hires are equipped and comfortable in their roles. They are responsible for managing benefits, performance and compliances.

Payroll, on the other hand, is a complementary function that manages the calculation and disbursal of employee wages.  It also factors in deductions for taxes, benefits contributions, and garnishments.

In most businesses, payroll and HR coordinate on employee pay, benefits and taxation matters.

FAQs

What is payroll in HR?

Payroll in HR means managing and administering employee compensation. It involves ensuring accurate and timely payment to employees while adhering to legal requirements and company policies.

What is the formula to calculate payroll?

The payroll formula is used to calculate the net pay of an employee, which is the total amount of money they receive after deductions. The basic payroll formula is: Net pay = Gross pay - Deductions.

Gross pay is the total amount of money an employee earns before deductions, including base salary, bonuses, overtime pay, and commissions. Deductions can include taxes, social security, Medicare, health insurance, and retirement contributions.

What is the process of payroll?

The process of payroll begins with collecting employee information, which is then followed by deducting taxes, ensuring compliances and finally disbursing salaries to employees. The process of payroll also includes accounting for payroll related expenses and keeping up with the changing regulations.

What is the difference between payroll & salary?

Salary is the fixed amount of money paid to an employee for their work, and payroll is the process of calculating and distributing employee wages.

What is a payroll cycle?

A payroll cycle is the time between two salary payments. Most businesses follow monthly payroll cycles, where salaries are paid on the first or last day of every month. Some businesses may follow daily, weekly or fortnightly payroll cycles.

What is a payroll software?

Payroll software is any automation or tool that helps businesses manage payments made to employees. Good payroll software also helps businesses follow compliance and tax laws in the country it operates in. For example, in India payroll software like RazorpayX Payroll automates TDS payments and more.

What is payroll management?

Payroll management is the process of compensating employees for work done over a period of time. It involves tasks like tracking employee hours, wages, keeping track of employee information, calculating deductions for taxes, benefits and paying employees on time.

What is payroll processing?

Payroll processing is the series of steps taken to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time for their work. Payroll processing starts with gathering employee data and ends with timely and accurate payment of salaries.

Is payroll part of HR?

Payroll can be part of HR, especially in smaller companies. But ideally, they function as separate departments. HR focuses on employee relations, benefits, and development, while payroll ensures accurate and timely payments by handling calculations, deductions, and tax withholdings. Both departments work together to keep employee information up-to-date and ensure a compliant compensation process.

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Core Banking Solution (CBS) https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/core-banking-solution/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/core-banking-solution/#respond Mon, 27 May 2024 12:26:09 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=11906 What is Core Banking Solution?

A core banking solution (CBS) is a software used by banks to manage primary operations. It is a centralized system that allows customers or businesses to carry out transactions from any branch rather than only from the branch where the account was opened.

It streamlines and centralises banking operations for any bank or NBFC. With a robust CBS, banks can manage various account activities like deposits or withdrawals, loans, payments, information like account balance and more.

Today, with solutions like RazorpayX Business Banking+, businesses can harness the power of automation and technology to make cash management efficient and accurate. Businesses can now manage payroll, vendor payments, invoices and contracts, bulk payouts, and so much more from one centralized dashboard.

Explore RazorpayX

What is Core Banking?

Core banking is a centralised system that allows customers or business bodies to carry on business operations regardless of the bank’s branch. 

The main objective of core banking solutions is to offer tailor-made offerings to customers at their convenience. These solutions differ in nature and are dependent a lot on the customer base. CBS refers to the networking of different bank branches that enables customers to opt for varied banking facilities from different corners of the world. The entire banking application is based on a centralised server and can be used via the internet. 

Different functions of core banking encompass transactions, payments, loans and more. Internet banking, ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), Phone banking, Fund transfer remotely and instantly (IMPS, NEFT, RTGS and more), interest computation on loans and deposits etc., are some of the core banking solutions types.

While customers or business bodies reap the benefits of carrying out transactions freely, financial institutions via core banking solutions benefit from lesser time and can save upon resources that are used for repetitive business activities. 

Some of the lucrative features of core banking solutions are:

  • Transaction management
  • Customer relationship management activities
  • Accounts, loans and disbursal management
  • Customer onboarding
  • Deposits and withdrawal management etc.

Advantages of Core Banking

Both businesses and customers benefit from different core banking solutions. 

Advantages for Customers

  • Internet banking, mobile banking etc. are among the multiple channels that prove effective for faster payment processing.
  • CBS (Core Banking Solution) benefits those who are living in rural areas. For instance, farmers can easily get e-payments towards subsidies directly in their accounts.
  • Customers can get expedited service for routine transactions which includes withdrawals, passbooks, demand drafts, cash deposits etc.
  • The provision of a 24X7 banking service is another notable advantage of core banking solutions. Moreover, the provisions can be opted at any time and anywhere. 
  • Every bank branch uses applications from the data centre or central servers, hence deposits done in one branch get displayed instantly. Customers or any business owners can withdraw funds from any branch across the world.
  • Core banking solutions curb the need for filling out multiple entries, thereby reducing errors and ensuring accuracy.
  • It facilitates a hassle-free merging of self-service operations and back-office data.

Advantages for Businesses

  • Core banking solutions facilitate standardisation and transparency within business bodies and branches of banks. Since all the branches are connected to a central server, transactions can be viewed anytime. Instant projection of the transactions helps businesses to deal with inaccurate transactions or fraud.
  • Core banking solution emerged to be a saviour helping businesses cater to the increasing needs of customers. It ensures better customer retention via prompt customer service.
  • This banking mode has led to the minimization of errors, thereby facilitating accurate transactions.
  • It helps to bring down and manage operational costs involving lesser manpower for process execution.
  • With the emergence of different core banking solution types, submission of reports to regulatory boards and the government has become convenient.
  • Core banking solutions help in efficient documents and record management. CBS incorporates a centralized database that helps in the faster collection of data.
  • It has become convenient for businesses to process cash, compute interest, open accounts, incorporate policy changes etc.
  • In addition, businesses can offer services and products to customers at nominal rates. For instance, automating different parts of financial transactions has curbed the need for multiple staff, helping to save on wages and related costs.
  • Custom-crafted banking software enables full integration of the banking system.
  • Another advantage of core banking is that it adds security levels to the banking system. 
  • Core banking solutions facilitate informed decision-making ability. For instance, as the overall banking procedure has become streamlined, business bodies can now decide whether to use the funds for business expansion or for lending out to customers.

How RazorpayX Has Emerged to Supercharge Business Banking?

RazorpayX, the business banking arm of Razorpay extends a suite of financial services and facilities aligned with core banking which caters to the changing market patterns. From opening a current account, scheduling payments, and applying for loans to paying taxes and viewing financial reports, everything can be easily done from one platform.

RazorpayX has curated its offerings owing to the fast-changing banking ecosystem. For instance, with RazorpayX-powered current accounts, business bodies can shift to fully automated business processes from performing manual financial operations. This account proves functional for carrying out day-to-day transactions like withdrawals, payments etc.

Even with the Forex funding facility, small businesses or start-ups can gather foreign capital. This facility aids expert-led and transparent means to ensure foreign capital inflow. The dedicated team of professionals will offer insights into forex rates and ensure that business bodies are 100% compliant.

 

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How to add beneficiary with no cooling off period? https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/no-cooling-period-for-beneficiary-activation-make-247-instant-payments/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/no-cooling-period-for-beneficiary-activation-make-247-instant-payments/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 06:14:47 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=5326 What is a Beneficiary?

A beneficiary is a person or organization that benefits from a will, trust, retirement plan, insurance policy, annuity, financial transaction or another arrangement. Generally, a beneficiary is entitled to receive payments or other benefits from the assets held in the arrangement.

To maintain healthy vendor & customer relationships, business owners need to make real-time payouts. However, traditional banks impose a cooling period before allowing businesses to make payments to newly added beneficiaries, making it difficult to make instant payouts. 

Modern banking solutions like RazorpayX Business Banking+ use technology and innovation to bypass the cooling off period and allow account holders to make payouts to beneficiaries instantly, in real-time.

Explore Business Banking+

How to Add a Beneficiary?

Let’s have a closer look at the steps to add beneficiaries:

  1. Login to your net banking portal

Log in using your user ID and password. Select the option for third-party transfers or fund transfers. 

  1. Create a beneficiary

To transfer funds via NEFT, RTGS & IMPS, you’ve to select a payee or a beneficiary. 

There are two options to do this, depending on if the beneficiary account is in the same bank or other bank branches. Add the beneficiary’s bank account details. 

  • Name of the account holder
  • Account number
  • Account type
  1. Add details of funds to be transferred

Once you have successfully added the beneficiary, choose the transfer option (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS) & add the fund to be transferred. 

  1. Wait for the beneficiary to get activated

Banks generally take 30 mins to 4 hrs to authenticate beneficiary details. During this cooling period in the bank, the funds will not be transferred resulting in payment delays. 

Once the beneficiary is activated, the funds are transferred to the specified account. 

Depending on the mode of payment (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS) & the cooling period in the bank for receiver detail activation, the entire process of payouts can take up to 2 – 24 hrs. 

Don’t want to wait? Make instant payouts with RazorpayX Business Banking+.

 What is Cooling-off Period? 

In banking, after adding a beneficiary usually a period of 30 min to 4 hours is needed by the bank before any transaction can be made to this beneficiary. This is known as the cooling-off period.

In cases where the vendor requires the fund to be transferred immediately, the cooling period in the bank can be a cause of concern. And if a receiver is added after banking hours, it gets approved & activated only the next day. 

Note: The cooling period varies from bank to bank. For example, the cooling period for SBI bank accounts is 4 days from the time of approval. During the SBI cooling period, you can transfer an amount of up to Rs. 5 lakhs to the receiver. After the completion of the cooling period in the bank, you will be able to transfer up to the maximum limit.

How to Add Beneficiary Without Cooling-Off Period?

Timely payments to vendors or customers are crucial for business success & any delay can cause an interruption in service. Businesses need to ensure dispute-free, quick payments to vendors & customers. 

New-tech solutions like RazorpayX Business Banking+ allow businesses to make 24×7 instant payments to customers, vendors and employees with no cooling period. 

Add beneficiaries as a contact and make single or bulk payouts without any cooling period in the bank. You can also add multiple banks accounts or UPI IDs against one contact.

Instant payouts

Instant Payouts without Beneficiary Account Details

Adding a beneficiary requires the business to already have the receiver’s bank account details – a UPI ID, bank account number and IFSC. In certain cases like cash on delivery refunds or security deposit refunds, the business might not have these details.

Furlenco solved this problem with RazorpayX’s Payout Links solution. Simply send a payout link to the beneficiary, and the entire process is automated from there.

Read more: Furlenco Reduces Customer Complaints by 70% on Automating Refunds via RazorpayX

Learn more about RazorpayX Business Banking+

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a beneficiary?

A beneficiary is a person or organization that receives benefits from a will, trust, retirement plan, insurance policy, annuity, or another arrangement. Generally, a beneficiary is entitled to receive payments or other benefits from the assets held in the arrangement.

How to Add a Beneficiary?

Step 1. Head over to your net banking portal 
Step 2. Add a beneficiary 
Step 3. Add details of funds to be transferred
Step 4. Wait for the beneficiary to get activated 

How to make instant payouts without adding beneficiary details?

With RazorpayX Payout links, businesses can remove the effort required to collect the beneficiary account details & automate payouts.

How to add a beneficiary without cooling period?

With RazorpayX, you can add beneficiaries as a contact immediately & make single or bulk payouts without any cooling period in bank. 

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Merchant Banking – Definition & Functions https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/merchant-banking/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/merchant-banking/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 05:08:04 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=11309 What is a Merchant Bank?

Merchant banking is a special branch of banking that provides financial services to medium to small-sized businesses. They may help with underwriting, fundraising, credit or financial advice. Merchant banks may also provide services to high net worth individuals.

Some merchant banks may be affiliated with other retail or investment banks, but this specialized branch of banking does not provide services to the general public.

Today, merchant banking solutions like RazorpayX Business Banking+ allow businesses to harness the power of automation and technology to make banking efficient and accurate.

Manage payroll, vendor payments, invoices and contracts, bulk payouts, and so much more from one centralized dashboard.

Explore Business Banking+

How Does Merchant Banking Work?

Merchant banks work with large companies to cater to their complex financial needs. The services they provide include:

  • Fundraising and capital acquisition for various purposes like mergers, acquisitions, expansion.
  • They also provide underwriting, securities trading and advisory services
  • Asset management, wealth management, investment management for companies and high net worth individuals and families

Read more: SEBI-registered merchant banks in India

Functions of Merchant Banks

A merchant bank’s primary function is to provide financial and advisory services to medium-sized businesses.

➡ Portfolio Management

Merchant banking companies provide portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals and corporate investors. These services include a selection of securities, portfolio monitoring and review, advice on the rationalization of portfolios, and tax planning.

➡ Fundraising

 Merchant banking helps businesses raise funds from the public by issuing shares and debentures, rights issues of shares, preferential allotment of shares, private placement of shares and debentures, and other instruments.

➡ Loan Syndication 

Merchant bankers help arrange funds for large corporate borrowers by syndicating loans from multiple lenders. They act as an intermediary between the borrowing company and the lending institutions. 

➡ Leasing Services

Merchant banks provide leasing services to companies in the form of capital goods, vehicles and office equipment. This helps to reduce the overall financial burden of the companies.

➡ Underwriting Services 

Merchant banks also provide underwriting services for initial public offerings (IPOs), private placements, follow-on public offerings (FPOs) and rights issues. This service helps companies to raise the required funds from the public.

Example of Merchant Banking

In 2021, merchant bank Avendus Capital helped the Indian company Piramal Enterprises acquire the debt-ridden assets of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) for ₹34,250 crore ($4.4 billion). This was one of the largest debt restructuring deals in India and helped Piramal Enterprises to become a major player in the Indian financial services sector.

Top 10 Merchant Banks in India

  1. Kotak Mahindra Capital: India’s largest merchant bank, providing a wide range of services to businesses, including raising capital, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and project finance.
  2. Morgan Stanley India: Global investment bank with a strong presence in India, offering services such as underwriting, M&A advisory, and equity research.
  3. JM Financial: Full-service merchant bank with a focus on emerging markets, providing services such as debt and equity capital markets, M&A advisory, and restructuring.
  4. Avendus Capital: Leading merchant bank with a focus on M&A and private equity, providing services such as deal origination, execution, and post-merger integration.
  5. Edelweiss Financial Services: India’s leading financial services company, providing a wide range of services to businesses, including investment banking, asset management, and wealth management.
  6. Goldman Sachs India: Global investment bank with a strong presence in India, offering services such as underwriting, M&A advisory, and equity research.
  7. Axis Capital: Leading merchant bank with a focus on debt capital markets, providing services such as debt issuance, restructuring, and advisory.
  8. Citigroup Global Markets India: Global investment bank with a strong presence in India, offering services such as underwriting, M&A advisory, and equity research.
  9. Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities India: Global investment bank with a strong presence in India, offering services such as underwriting, M&A advisory, and equity research.
  10. Bank of America Securities India: Global investment bank with a strong presence in India, offering services such as underwriting, M&A advisory, and equity research.

Merchant Banking vs Investment Banking

Both merchant and investment banks provide financial services to businesses, but serve very different functions.

Feature Merchant Bank Investment Bank
Focus International finance, business loans for companies, and underwriting Underwriting and issuance of securities on behalf of large corporations
Clients Small and medium-sized businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices Large corporations and government entities
Services Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), project finance, trade finance, leasing, and advisory services Underwriting, private placement, initial public offering (IPO) management, debt and equity securities issuance, and financial restructuring
Risk appetite Higher risk appetite since they deal with smaller businesses Lower risk appetite, generally not open to doing business with riskier, high-growth businesses
Profit model Fee-based Commission-based

 

Merchant banking is a valuable financial service that can provide growing businesses with the capital and financial help they need. It can also provide advice and assistance in areas such as financial management, corporate strategy and risk management. 

By utilizing the services of a merchant bank, businesses can access capital, reduce costs and gain access to a variety of specialized services. In short, merchant banking is an essential component of any business’s financial strategy.

  • One-stop banking solutions platforms like RazorpayX allow business owners to open current accounts, pay taxes, schedule payments, pay vendors seamlessly and check invoices from a single dashboard. This saves valuable time and effort. 
  • It is an accounting and banking platform that fills the gap between advanced banking solutions and finance professionals. It allows easy accounting software integration.
  • With RazorpayX Payroll, businesses can automate salary payments and provide insurance policies to their employees

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is merchant banking?

Merchant banking is a financial service provider that offers a wide range of services such as underwriting, issuing of securities, asset management, portfolio management, and advisory services. Merchant banks provide specialized services to large corporations, high net worth individuals, and institutional investors.

What services do merchant banks offer?

Merchant banks offer a wide range of services such as underwriting, issuing of securities, asset management, portfolio management, and advisory services. They also provide specialized services such as capital raising, merger and acquisition advice, foreign exchange transactions, and project finance.

What is the role of merchant banks in the capital markets?

Merchant banks play an important role in the capital markets. They help companies to raise capital in the form of debt or equity. They can also provide advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and project financing. In addition, they can provide valuable services such as portfolio management, asset management, and advisory services.

What are the advantages of using merchant banks?

The main advantages of using merchant banks are access to capital markets, expertise in dealing with financial products and services, and the ability to provide valuable advice. Merchant banks can provide advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and project financing. They can also offer a wide range of services such as underwriting, issuing of securities, asset management, and portfolio management.

What are the risks of using merchant banks?

The main risks associated with using merchant banks include the potential for conflicts of interest, the cost of using their services, and the complexity of their services. Additionally, there is the risk of mismanagement of funds and potential for fraudulent activities.

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What are Corporate Accounts? Meaning, Benefits & Types https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/what-are-corporate-accounts/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/what-are-corporate-accounts/#respond Wed, 15 May 2024 11:00:31 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=9947 What is Corporate Account?

A corporate account is a bank account one can open in the name of a business. It is used to facilitate transactions, receive income, and store funds. 

Every business should have a corporate bank account; corporate accounts offer significant benefits to businesses, with features like tax filings, credit and loans, automated payments and more. 

Today, digital-first corporate accounts like RazorpayX Business Banking+ offer more than just banking; centralized dashboards for everything from vendor management to payroll, enhanced with automation at all points.

Difference between Corporate Account & Business Account

Often, people think a corporate account is the same as a business bank account. Though they both serve business needs, they differ in certain key aspects that are listed below: 

Category Corporate Account Business Account
Company size Ideal for medium-sized and big companies Suitable for smaller businesses
Company structure Must have a board of directors Individuals business can apply
Benefits & Services Lower transaction fees, better interest rates on profits Varies from bank to bank

Benefits of Corporate Account

Now, let us explore the benefits of having a corporate account

1. Improves Credibility

Having separate bank accounts for personal and business purposes is immensely helpful because it makes the business appear more professional. When customers see that a business has a corporate account, they feel reassured about its legitimacy. Moreover, having this account also helps business owners receive better deals from vendors and suppliers. 

2. Higher Investment Opportunities

A corporate account enables businesses to park and grow excess funds through reinvesting. Companies can also use this bank account to manage an investment portfolio and sell and purchase bonds, stocks, new companies, and other assets.

3. Offers Liability Protection 

There are multiple ways to store a business’s funds. However, while users might receive more or less the same features, they will not receive the liability protection offered by a corporate account. Another essential benefit of a corporate account is that it separates a company’s assets and funds from the business owners. As a result, instead of a single person, the company as a whole is responsible for the funds. 

4. Creates better Financial Management

Other crucial benefits associated with a corporate account include management of budgeting and spending. In addition, it provides more clarity with regard to the financial position of a business as proprietors get to view detailed reports and bank statements about their company. 

5. Easier Financial Transactions 

Business owners can carry out essential business transactions smoothly and efficiently from anywhere as corporate accounts come with internet and mobile banking facilities. Multi-location transfer of funds along with deposit and withdrawal of money at any location are additional benefits of a corporate account.

How to Open a Corporate Account? 

It must be noted that the eligibility criteria and documents required to open a corporate account vary from one business structure to another. Listed below are some of the key points related to opening a corporate account in India:

  • The business for which the owner wishes to open a corporate account must have a board of directors. 
  • Individuals are not eligible to open corporate accounts in India. 
  • Companies must receive approval from their board of directors to open a corporate account. The standard procedure involves a meeting where a vote is taken to seal the decision. The directors also engage in a detailed discussion about the account’s primary purpose, access options, and features.
  • For smaller businesses without a board of directors, the owner does not need anyone’s approval or vote to open a new corporate account.
  • Generally, companies appoint a dedicated person, usually the board’s treasurer, to open and operate their corporate bank accounts.

Open a fully-digital RazorpayX Business Banking+ account with our team of experts and experience the future of business finance.

Documents required to open a Corporate Account

Listed below are the documents required for a corporate account: 

  • Filled application form
  • Article of Association
  • Memorandum of Association
  • Board Resolution
  • Certificate of Incorporation 
  • Proof of Address 

Disadvantages of a Corporate Account

Although the benefits outnumber the limitations of a corporate account, it would be helpful if people were aware of them: 

  • Considering that corporate bank accounts engage in significant business transactions, the expenses associated with maintaining them can be higher than regular accounts. 
  • Moreover, the process of documentation is confusing and time-confusing. 

Corporate Account that supercharges your banking experience

The RazorpayX-powered current account is backed by leading financial institutions.  Let us look at some of its benefits: 

  • A dashboard that provides a crisp overview of the state of the business’s finances 
  • Powerful APIs to automate pay-outs
  • Important tax payments from one single dashboard
  • The process of adding beneficiaries is easy and instant 
  • The provision of setting up approval workflows does not require OTPs 

Listed below are the registered business types that can open a current account with RazorpayX: 

7 crucial tips to manage Corporate Account 

Listed below are essential tips that will help in managing any corporate account

1. Decide on an investment strategy 

Business owners should formulate a suitable investment strategy for their corporate accounts based on their financial goals. While there might be many investment options that financial institutions might offer, the following two are common: 

i. Portfolio Rebalancing

The bank designates a financial adviser who manages a company’s investment portfolio. This person will make decisions based on market movements, company income, and goals.

ii. Dividend Reinvesting 

This is an important way by which companies earn extra income. Business owners can choose their preferred investment types, for instance, what they are interested in—stocks or real estate purchases- but this process can also be automated. 

2. Share access with the right person

When creating a corporate account, one must carefully determine which person should have direct access to it and when. This is especially important if the account is used for business transactions and savings. For example, the owner needs to grant the concerned manager or leader access to use the account for purchasing new equipment or paying employees’ salaries. 

RazorpayX Business Banking+ comes with customizable approval workflows, allowing you granular control on access to the right people.

Speak with an expert for free

3. Explore given interest options 

Some financial institutions offer higher interest rates on deposits in some accounts, which help businesses earn more while saving funds simultaneously. According to experts, directors should explore the interest options of different banks, discuss among themselves and choose one.  

4. Consider different features offered

It is advisable to explore the features of a current account of different banks to make a more informed decision. For example, while some banks offer a corporate account with mobile banking features, others may have specified transaction or balance limits. Therefore, business owners must check whether their goals align with the account’s features. 

5. Check local regulations 

Tax regulations of a current account may vary depending on the business type and location. Generally, companies consult legal experts who are adept at taxation rules to ensure that the business is in full compliance. 

To sum up, companies with a board of directors must open a corporate account for ease of financial management. It has numerous benefits, such as more investment opportunities and security. In addition, registered businesses can consider opting for RazorpayX-powered current accounts to manage their finances smoothly and efficiently. 

Also read: Corporate Banking 101

Fully Automated Corporate Accounts

 

FAQs

1. Is it mandatory for a director to act as an authorised person for a corporate account?

A business entity doesn't need to assign a director as an authorised person. Anyone associated with a business can be the authorised person. But, if it is a director, he must submit his PAN and DIN details.

2. What are the documents required for opening a corporate account?

Listed below are the documents required for a corporate account:
1. Filled application form
2. Article of Association
3. Memorandum of Association
4. Board Resolution
5. Certificate of Incorporation
6. Proof of Address

3. Does a corporate account affect an individual's credit score?

A corporate account does not affect an individual's credit score as it operates on behalf of a business. The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is used to open this bank account.

4. What are the five most popular services that corporate account holders enjoy?

Listed below are the critical auxiliary services that come with corporate accounts:
1. Online banking, remittances, and phone banking
2. Insurance and mutual funds
3. Debit cards and credit cards
4. International transactions and ATM withdrawals
5. Deposits and safe lockers

5. Where can I view all transactions from my RazorpayX powered current account?

Every transaction made through a RazorpayX current account will be displayed on the dashboard under the 'Account Statement' tab.

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Latest TDS Rate Chart for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/tds-rate-chart/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/tds-rate-chart/#respond Tue, 07 May 2024 04:45:39 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=6126 TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is a type of tax introduced by the Income Tax Department of India to minimise tax evasion. It is applicable on various payments ranging from contractor payments, salary, commission and more. 

The TDS rates are predecided by the Government under the Income Tax Act.

In this blog, we share the Latest TDS rate chart for the Financial Year 2024-25 and Assessment Year 2025-26 to help you calculate and pay TDS error-free.

TDS Rate Chart for FY 2024-25

Section Nature of Payment  Threshold Limit (Rs.)  Individual / HUF TDS Rates (%) Others
TDS Rate (%)
192 Salaries Rs. 2,50,000 Slab Rates Slab Rates
192A Premature EPF withdrawal* Rs. 50,000 10% 10%
193 – TDS on interest on securities*** Rs. 10,000 10% 10%
194 Payment of dividend Rs. 5,000 10% 10%
194A Interest issued by banks or post offices on deposits Rs. 40,000
Rs. 50,000 (For senior citizens)
10% 10%
194A Interest by others apart from on securities Rs. 5,000 10% 10%
194B Amounts that someone has won through lotteries, puzzles, or games Aggregate of Rs. 10,000** 30% 30%
194BB Amounts that someone has won from horse races Rs. 10,000 30% 30%
194C Payments to contractor or sub-contractor – Single Payments Rs. 30,000 1% 2%
194C Payments to contractor/sub-contractor – Aggregate Payments Rs. 1,00,000 1% 2%
194D Payment of insurance commission to domestic companies Rs. 15,000 NA 10%
194D Payment of insurance commission to companies other than domestic ones Rs. 15,000 5% NA
194DA Maturity of Life Insurance Policy Rs. 1,00,000 5% 5%
194EE Payment of an amount standing to the credit of an individual under NSS (National Savings Scheme) Rs. 2500 10% 10%
194F Payment of repurchase of unit by UTI (Unit Trust of India) or any mutual fund No Limit 20% 20%
194G Payments or commission on sale of lottery tickets Rs. 15,000 5% 5%
194H Commission or brokerage Rs. 15,000 5% 5%
194I Rent of land, building, or furniture Rs. 2,40,000 10% 10%
194I Rent of plant and machinery Rs. 2,40,000 2% 2%
194IA Payment for transfer of immovable property other than agricultural land Rs. 50,00,000 1% 1%
194IB Rent payment that is made by an individual or HUF not covered under payment 194I Rs. 50,000 (per month) 5% NA
194IC Payment that are made under Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to Individual/HUF No Limit 10% 10%
194J Fees paid for professional services Rs. 30,000 10% 10%
194J Amount paid for technical services Rs. 30,000 2% 2%
194J Amounts paid as royalty for sale/distribution/exhibition of cinematographic films Rs. 30,000 2% 2%
194K Payment of income for units of a mutual fund, for example- dividends Rs. 5,000 10% 10%
194LA Payment made for compensation for acquiring certain immovable property Rs. 2,50,000 10% 10%
194LB Payment of interest on infrastructure  bonds to Non-Resident Indians NA 5% 5%
194LBA(1) Certain income distributed by a business trust among its unit holder NA 10% 10%
194LD Payment of interest on rupee-denominated bonds, municipal debt security, and government securities NA 5% 5%
194M Amounts paid for contract, brokerage, commission or professional fee (other than 194C, 194H, 194J) Rs. 50,00,000 5% 5%
194N In case cash withdrawal over a certain amount takes place from the bank, and ITR is filed Rs. 1,00,00,000 2% 2%
194N In case cash withdrawal takes place from a bank and one does not file ITR Rs. 20,00,000 2% 2%
194O Amount paid for the sale of products/services by e-commerce service providers via their digital platform Rs. 5,00,000 1% 1%
194Q Payments made for the purchase of goods Rs. 50,00,000 0.10% 0.10%
194S TDS on the payment of any crypto or other virtual asset NA 1% 1%
206AA TDS for non-availability of PAN NA At a rate higher of

  1. Specified rate as per the act
  2. 20%
  3. Rate in force
20%
206AB TDS on non-filers of Income tax return NA Rate higher of:

  1. 5%
  2. Twice the mentioned rate in provision
  3. Rate in force

*Applicable TDS rate for EPF withdrawals without a PAN number is now 20%, from the previous 30%

** Essentially means there is no limit

*** From FY 2023-24, interest on debentures issued by listed companies is also included

TDS Rates Applicable for Resident of India
(Not a Company) for FY 2024-25

Particulars TDS
Section 192: Salary payment

Section 192A: Premature withdrawal from EPF

Normal Slab Rate  

10%  

 

Section 193: Interest on securities.  

a)  any Central or State security

b) any debentures or securities for money issued by any local authority or a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act;  

c) any debentures (listed on a recognised stock exchange) issued by a company where such debentures are ;  

d) interest on any other security

10%  

10%  

10%  

10%

Section 194: Payment of any dividend 10%
Section 194A: Income in the form of interest (other than interest on securities). 10%
Section 194B: Income by way of lottery winnings, card games, crossword puzzles, and other games of any type 30%
Section 194BB:  Income by way of horse race winnings 30%
Section 194C: Payment to contractor/sub-contractor.  

a)   Individuals/HUF  

b)   Others

1%  2%
Section 194D: Insurance commission 5%
Section 194DA: Payment of any sum in respect of a life insurance policy.w.e.f. 1st September 2019, the insurer shall deduct tax (TDS) on the income portion comprised in the insurance pay-out. 5%  

 

Section 194EE: Payment of amount standing to the credit of a person under National Savings Scheme (NSS) 10%
Section 194F: Payment due to repurchase of a unit by Unit Trust of India (UTI) or a Mutual Fund 20%
Section 194G: Payments such as commission, etc., on the sale of lottery tickets 5%  

 

Section 194H: Commission or brokerage 5%
Section 194-I: Rent on a) Plant and Machinery  

b) Land/building/furniture/fitting w.e.f 1st April 2019, tax deduction limit on rent is increased to Rs 2.4 lakhs p.a. from Rs 1.8 lakhs p.a.  

 

2%  10%
Section 194-IA: Payment in consideration of transfer of certain immovable property other than agricultural land.  

Section 194-IB: Rent payment by an individual or HUF not covered u/s. 194I  

Section 194-IC: Payment under Joint Development Agreements (JDA) to Individual/HUF

1%  

5%  

10%

Section 194J: Any sum paid by way of:   

(a) Fee for professional services;   

(b) Remuneration/fee/commission to a director;  

(c) For not carrying out any activity in relation to any business;  

(d) For not sharing any know-how, patent, copyright etc.  

(e) Fee for technical services, and  

(f)  Royalty towards the sale or distribution, or exhibition of cinematographic films.  

(g) Fees for technical services but payee is engaged in the business of operation of call centre

10%  

10%  

10%  

10%  

2%  

2%  

2%

Section 194K: Payment of any income for units of a mutual fund as per section 10(23D) or from the administrator or specified company  10%
Section 194LA: Payment in respect of compensation on acquisition of certain immovable property. 10%
Section 194LBA(1): Certain income distributed by a business trust to its unitholder 10%
Section 194LBB: Certain income paid in respect of units of an investment fund to a unitholder. 10%
Section 194LBC: Income from investment in securitisation fund  

(a) Individual and HUF  

(b) Others

25%  

30%

Section 194M: Certain payments by Individual/HUF (Limit- Rs 50 Lakhs) 5%
Section 194N: Cash withdrawal exceeding a certain amount (limit- Rs 1 crore).  

In case Rs 20 lakh or more is withdrawn by the person not-filing ITR for the last three years, for which the due date of filing ITR has expired, the TDS rates shall be applicable as per below slabs-  

For the amount more than Rs.20 lakh but up to Rs. 1 crore, and And for the amount exceeding Rs. 1 crore 

2%  

2%  

5%

Section 194O: For the sale of goods or provision of services by the e-commerce operator through its digital or electronic facility or platform. 1%
Section 194P: Tax deduction by specified banks while making payments (pension or interest) to specified senior citizens or age 75 years or more. Tax on total income as per rates in force
Section 194Q: Payments to residents for the purchase of goods if the aggregate value of goods exceeds Rs 50 lakhs.(TDS is deductible on value exceeding Rs 50 lakhs) 0.1%
Any Other Income 10%

 

TDS Rate Chart for Domestic Company for FY 2024-25

Type of Income TDS Rate Section
Salary Slab Rates (refer to income tax slabs) 192
Premature withdrawal from EPF 10% 192A
Interest on securities (Government, Local Authority, Listed Debentures) 10% 193(a), (b), (c)
Interest on other securities 10% 193(d)
Dividend 10% 194
Interest (other than interest on securities) 10% 194A
Lottery winnings, card games, etc. 30% 194B
Horse race winnings 30% 194BB
Payment to contractor/sub-contractor (Individuals/HUF) 1% 194C(a)
Payment to contractor/sub-contractor (Others) 2% 194C(b)
Insurance commission 10% 194D
Maturity payment of life insurance policy 5% 194DA
Payment under National Savings Scheme (NSS) 10% 194EE
Repurchase of unit by UTI or Mutual Fund 20% 194F
Commission on sale of lottery tickets 5% 194G
Commission or brokerage 5% 194H
Rent on plant and machinery 2% 194-I(a)
Rent on land/building/furniture/fitting 10% 194-I(b)
Sale of immovable property (other than agricultural land) 1% 194-IA
Payment under Joint Development Agreements (JDA) to Individual/HUF 10% 194-IC
Professional fees, director fees, royalties, etc. 10% 194J(a), (b), (d), (e), (f)
Fees for technical services (except call center) 10% 194J(e)
Fees for technical services (call center) 2% 194J(g)
Income from mutual fund units 10% 194K
Compensation on acquisition of certain immovable property 10% 194LA
Income distributed by a business trust to unitholder 10% 194LBA(1)
Income paid by investment fund to unitholder 10% 194LBB
Income from investment in securitisation fund 10% 194LBC
Certain payments by Individual/HUF (up to Rs. 50 Lakhs) 5% 194M
Cash withdrawal exceeding Rs. 1 crore (if ITR not filed for 3 years) Variable (2% for amount exceeding Rs. 20 Lakhs but less than Rs. 1 crore, 5% for amount exceeding Rs. 1 crore) 194N
Sale of goods/services through e-commerce platform 1% 194O
Purchase of goods exceeding Rs. 50 Lakhs (on amount exceeding Rs. 50 Lakhs) 0.1% 194Q
Any other income 10%

TDS Rate Chart for Non Domestic Companies for FY 2024-25

 

Type of Income TDS Rate Section
Long-Term Capital Gains under Section 112(1)(c)(iii) 20% 195
Long-Term Capital Gains under Section 112A 10% 195
Short-Term Capital Gains under Section 111A 15% 195
Any other Long-Term Capital Gains 20% 195
Interest on Foreign Currency Loans to Government or Indian Companies 20% 195
Royalty for Copyright or Software (Agreements after March 1, 1976) As per DTAA or 10% (whichever is lower) 195
Royalty for Industrial Policy (Agreements after March 31, 1961 but before April 1, 1976) 31% 195
Technical Fees for Industrial Policy (Agreements after Feb 29, 1964 but before April 1, 1976) 31% 195
Any Other Income As per DTAA or 40% (whichever is lower) 195
Income by way of lottery winnings, card games, crossword puzzles, and other games of any type 30% 194B
Income by way of horse race winnings 30% 194BB
Payment to non-resident sportsman, entertainer (not a citizen of India), or sports association 20% 194E
Payments such as commission on the sale of lottery tickets 5% 194G
Payment in respect of compensation on acquisition of certain immovable property 5% 194LB
Interest income or dividend income distributed by a business trust to its unitholders 5% 194LBA(2)
Rental income paid by a business trust to unitholders 40% 194LBA(3)
Payment of certain income by an investment fund to a unitholder 40% 194LBB
Income from investment in securitisation fund 40% 194LBC
Interest for loan borrowed in foreign currency by an Indian company or business trust (except for long-term bonds listed in IFSC) 4% 194LC
Interest on rupee-denominated bond to Foreign Institutional Investors or Qualified Foreign Investor 5% 194LD
Income (including LTCG) from units of an offshore fund 10% 196B
Income (including LTCG) from foreign currency bonds or GDR of an Indian company 10% 196C
Income (excluding dividend and capital gain) from Foreign Institutional Investors 20% 196D

Notes:

  • Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA): This is a treaty between India and another country that may specify lower TDS rates for certain types of income.
  • The TDS rates mentioned in the table are the general rates. The actual rate applicable may vary depending on the specific DTAA provisions between India and the company’s country of residence.
  • These tables are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as tax advice. It’s always recommended to consult a tax professional for specific situations.

TDS Rate Chart for Non Resident Indians for FY 2024-25

Type of Income TDS Rate (without DTAA) Section
Long-Term Capital Gains under Section 112(1)(c)(iii) 20% 195
Long-Term Capital Gains under Section 112A 10% 195
Short-Term Capital Gains under Section 111A 15% 195
Any other Long-Term Capital Gains 20% 195
Interest on Foreign Currency Loans to Government or Indian Companies 20% 195
Royalty for Copyright or Software (Agreements after March 1, 1976) Lower of DTAA rate or 10% 195
Royalty for Industrial Policy (Agreements after March 31, 1961 but before April 1, 1976) 31% 195
Technical Fees for Industrial Policy (Agreements after Feb 29, 1964 but before April 1, 1976) 31% 195
Any Other Income Lower of DTAA rate or 40% 195
Income by way of lottery winnings, card games, crossword puzzles, and other games of any type 30% 194B
Income by way of horse race winnings 30% 194BB
Payment to non-resident sportsman, entertainer (not a citizen of India), or sports association 20% 194E
Payments such as commission on the sale of lottery tickets 5% 194G
Payment in respect of compensation on acquisition of certain immovable property 5% 194LB
Interest income or dividend income distributed by a business trust to its unitholders 5% 194LBA(2)
Rental income paid by a business trust to unitholders 40% 194LBA(3)
Payment of certain income by an investment fund to a unitholder 40% 194LBB
Income from investment in securitisation fund 40% 194LBC
Interest for loan borrowed in foreign currency by an Indian company or business trust (except for long-term bonds listed in IFSC) 4% 194LC
Interest on rupee-denominated bond to Foreign Institutional Investors or Qualified Foreign Investor 5% 194LD
Income (including LTCG) from units of an offshore fund 10% 196B
Income (including LTCG) from foreign currency bonds or GDR of an Indian company 10% 196C
Income (excluding dividend and capital gain) from Foreign Institutional Investors 20% 196D

Notes:

  • Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA): This is a treaty between India and another country that may specify lower TDS rates for certain types of income. The applicable TDS rate will be the lower of the rate mentioned in the table or the rate specified in the DTAA.
  • This table is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as tax advice. It’s always recommended to consult a tax professional for specific situations, especially regarding DTAAs and their implications.

Union Budget 2024 New TDS Provisions

TDS on Online Gaming – Section 194BA

From April 1, 2023, 30% TDS is to be deducted when income earned from online games is withdrawn. In this case, “online games” includes games of skill like online poker, rummy or fantasy sports; it also includes games of chance like online lotteries or roulette.

Previously, TDS was only applicable if winnings from online games exceeded Rs 10,000 in a financial year.

TDS on NRI Income from Mutual Funds – Section 196A

From April 1, 2023, NRIs can choose to pay a lower tax rate on income earned from investments in mutual funds by providing a tax residency certificate. Previously, NRIs had to pay TDS of 20% on income earned from Mutual Funds.

TDS on PF Withdrawal Without PAN – Section 192A

From April 1, 2023, employees withdrawing from their provident fund without a PAN will receive their balance after a 20% tax deduction. Previously, tax was deducted at the MMR (maximum marginal rate) which could go up to 42.74%.

TDS on Interest Earned from Securities – Section 193

From April 1, 2023, tax is to be deducted from interest earned on listed securities in materialized form like debentures. Previously, since TDS was not deducted on income from interest on securities, tax reporting was not erratic and had discrepancies.

TDS on Co-operative Society Cash Withdrawal – 194N

From April 1, 2023, cash withdrawn above Rs 3 crore by a cooperative society will be taxed at 2%. Previously, the limit was Rs 1 crore.

Automate TDS Payments for your business

It’s crucial for businesses to pay monthly TDS to the government under various categories for salaries, vendor payments, and more. On average, businesses spend hundreds of hours every year manually calculating and depositing TDS on the government portal.

With RazorpayX, Indian businesses can pay TDS in less than a minute and focus more on their business growth.

  • Save manual effort using prefilled tax forms
  • Automatically store challans on a single dashboard
  • Collaborate with CAs to approve payments seamlessly

Bank smart with RazorpayX Current Account. 

 

Read more:

Vendor Payments

What is Procure to Pay

Accounts Payable

What is Procurement

FAQs

Is TDS mandatory for companies?

Yes, the deduction of tax at source (TDS) on salary is compulsory under section 192 of the Income Tax act. An employer who pays wages to his/her employee must deduct TDS from the salary if the total income exceeds a certain threshold.

What is the TDS rates for contractors?

TDS Rate for Contractors is 1% in case the payment is made to an individual or HUF and 2% for others.

What is the TDS rate on salary?

TDS rate on salary means that tax has been deducted by the employer at the time of depositing the salary into the employee's account. There are different TDS deducted based on the income slab that the employee falls into.

What to do if there is any mistake in TDS deductions?

You can inform the deductor - the employer or bank and provide them with relevant documents to support your claim. You can also correct the TDS when filing income tax returns.

What are the new TDS rules in 2024?

The 2024 budget was an interim budget. Interim budgets typically do not introduce major tax reforms or rules.

What is the 194C TDS rate in FY 2023-24?

The 194C TDS rate for FY 2023-24 depends on the type of payee: 1% for Individuals/Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
2% for Others (companies, trusts, etc.)

What is the rate of TDS on commission?

The TDS rate on commission for FY 2023-24 is 5% under Section 194H of the Income Tax Act.

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Checking Account – Meaning & How Does it Work? https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/checking-account/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/checking-account/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:40:17 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=10567 What is a Checking Account?

A checking account is a type of bank account that allows you to deposit and withdraw money, write checks or use a debit card to make purchases or pay bills.

This type of account is sometimes called a transactional account, as an individual can draw money from it for day-to-day needs, making it easy to access. 

Generally, account holders use these accounts on a short-term basis for paying daily expenses like food bills. However, some fees are associated with checking accounts, such as monthly service fees and overdraft fees. 

How Does Checking Account Work? 

Checking accounts are highly liquid bank accounts where money is stored to make or receive payments. They are similar to savings accounts or current accounts.

While savings accounts have limits on how many transactions and deposits the account holder can make in a day, checking accounts do not have this limit – making them very useful to businesses, due to the volume of transactions that businesses engage in daily.

They are also useful to individuals who make frequent and high volume transactions.

Due to the highly liquid nature of checking accounts, banks and financial institutions typically do not offer interest on them. Banks also offer other features for checking accounts, like overdraft facilities, direct deposits, and more.

Checking Account vs Current Account

Checking account and current account can be used interchangeably. There is no significant difference between the two terms in terms of the basic functions of the account.

“Current Account” is more commonly used in the United Kingdom, while “Checking Account” is more commonly used in the United States. In India, current account is more popular.

Both types of accounts typically offer similar features, such as the ability to deposit and withdraw money, write checks or use a debit card for purchases, and possibly earn interest or incur fees based on certain conditions.

Types of Checking Account

Standard Checking Account

A standard checking account offers basic functionality and features like debit and credit cards, online banking, chequebook, etc. They come with a minimum balance requirement and do not earn interest. These accounts are best suited for small businesses or individuals without complex financial needs.

Premium Checking Account

A basic checking account cannot keep up with fast-growing businesses, or large corporations.

A premium checking account or current account comes with features that solve medium or large-size businesses’ complex financial needs. For example, RazorpayX’s premium offering, Business Banking+ offers features like payroll, vendor management, bulk payout services, etc – in addition to the traditional features offered in a basic checking account.

Check out RazorpayX

How to Choose a Checking Account?

The first step to managing your financing better is picking the right checking account or current account with the right provider.

Start by choosing between a traditional bank like ICICI or HDFC or a more new-age digital offering like RazorpayX, which partners with traditional banks like Yes Bank and RBL Bank. Digital solutions offer more flexibility, agility while maintaining the robust nature of traditional banking.

The next few things to keep in mind are:

  • Monthly fees like maintenance fees, overdraft fees or other charges.
  • Minimum balance is a requirement by most current account providers. Make sure you know the minimum requirement across banks.Read more: Why are MAB accounts better than zero balance accounts?
  • Account access through various portals like a mobile app, website or in-person branches, based on your requirements.
  • Extra features like accounts managers, bulk payout features, POS, etc

How to Open a Checking Account?

A founder can open a checking account offline and online. Various financial institutions offer the quick opening of this type of account with limited documentation and processing time. The process is as follows:

Step 1: Documentation
The process of opening a checking account will first require personal and professional information of the business or individual who will be the account holder. 

Step 2: Initial Deposit
Upon completion of providing the necessary information and documents, the owner will need to make the initial deposit. 

Step 3: Account Opening
Once done, the representative of the concerned financial institution will assist the entrepreneur in opening the account seamlessly. 

For those looking to open a Checking Account, RazorpayX offers business banking services that are even better than traditional checking accounts! 

RazorpayX-powered current accounts come with a plethora of features like automated payroll, effortless payment of TDS, etc. 

Benefits of Checking Account for Businesses

Checking accounts are especially useful for businesses for a number of reasons. 

  1. Payment processing: A checking account makes it easy to process payments from customers, vendors, and employees, whether by check, online transfer, or debit card.
  2. Record keeping: A checking account allows businesses to keep track of their financial transactions, which is essential for accounting and tax purposes.
  3. Access to credit: Having a checking account with a good standing can help businesses qualify for loans and other forms of credit from financial institutions.
  4. Convenience: A checking account makes it easy to manage cash flow, pay bills, and track expenses, which can save time and reduce administrative costs.
  5. Security: Keeping business funds in a separate checking account can help protect against fraud and other financial risks, and can also provide a clear separation between personal and business finances.

Service Charges for Checking Accounts

Banks and financial institutions offer different types of checking accounts based on the requirements of the account holder.

The differences lie in the Minimum Average Balance and charges per transaction above the given number of free transactions.

Generally, a higher MAB gives the account holder more benefits, like a dedicated account manager, lower service charges and a higher overdraft limit. There might also be more features offered by the bank or financial institution, like payroll processing, tax payments and corporate credit cards.

Checking Account Effect on Credit

Checking Accounts can help founders get credit or funding for their businesses since banks and other financial institutions pull information from checking accounts or current accounts to determine creditworthiness.

Ensuring that there is no pending overdraft and that the account maintains the minimum account balance is a good way to maintain a healthy credit score.

RazorpayX-powered current accounts offer a great replacement for the manual financial operations of a conventional current account. Here are the following beneficial features that an individual can unlock by opting for RazorpayX: 

  • Hassle-free addition of new beneficiaries with zero transfer limits
  • Speedy money transfer without the requirement of multiple details 
  • Facilities to schedule payments and receive reminders of payments

Check out RazorpayX

FAQs

What is the difference between a checking account and a savings account?

In the case of a savings account, the deposit amount is mainly for savings purposes, and the depositor intends to earn interest. Whereas, in the case of a checking account, the deposit is mainly to meet the day-to-day expense.

What will be the effect of opening a checking account on the credit report?

Opening a checking account will not have any significant impact on the credit report. However, keeping a checking deposit will attract a soft inquiry from the bank or financial institution for further assessment. .

Is there any difference between a checking account and a current account?

There is no significant difference between a checking account and a current account regarding monetary operations. Both of them offer services of keeping deposits and withdrawing cash for a plethora of reasons.

What are the features of a checking account?

Some salient features of a checking account are paying bills for day-to-day purposes, purchasing items using debit cards, and receiving cash from the ATM. In short, a checking account functions similarly to a current account and offers similar features.

Highlight two advantages of opening a checking account

The two key advantages of opening a checking account are that it helps improve money management skills and makes the management of finances in a company effortless.

What is a checking account used for?

A checking account offers secure storage for cash with convenient access through debit cards, electronic transfers, or checks, commonly used for bill payments, purchases, cashing checks, and receiving direct deposits.

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What is Accounts Payable (AP) https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/what-is-accounts-payable/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/what-is-accounts-payable/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 06:08:36 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=6803 Accounts Payable Meaning

Accounts payables refer to the money that a business owes to its vendors in the short term. Accounts payables are listed on a business’s balance sheet as a short-term or current liability.

Accounts payables could include payments to contractors or vendors who provided goods or services to the business on credit.

Managing accounts payables is very important to the financial health of the business. Most businesses choose to use software and automation to streamline the entire procurement process.

Automate Procurement Now

Importance of Accounts Payable

When businesses don’t have enough cash on hand to immediately pay their vendors, they can pay vendors at a later date, when cash is more readily available. This amount is recorded in the books of accounts as Accounts Payable.

Managing accounts payables is an important function of the finance and procurement teams. Here’s why:

  • Timely payments ensure a healthy and improved relationship with suppliers, potentially leading to better terms, discounts, and extended credit lines.
  • Good accounts payable management improves the business’s bottom line by improving savings and reducing costs through less errors, flexible payment terms and discounts. 
  • Businesses with good procurement and AP processes enjoy better compliance, streamlined processes and better overall financial health. 

Here’s how Shark Tank’s CellBell streamlined their entire procurement process with RazorpayX Source to Pay.

Recording Accounts Payable

How Accounts Payable is Recorded

The first record of AP is in the ledger: Accounts Payable is credited and the account of the good or service purchased is debited. 

According to the rules of double-entry accounting, any transaction has to have equal debit and credit offsets.

When a purchase is made, a debit entry is made under “Purchases” (or a similar account name like “Inventory” or “Cost of Goods Sold”) to reflect the increase in goods or services received.

However, since the vendor has not yet been paid, this creates a liability. To maintain the double-entry balance, a credit entry is made under the “Accounts Payable” account. This shows the amount owed to the supplier for the goods or services acquired. These two entries, one debit and one credit, ensure financial records remain balanced and accurately reflect the impact of the transaction on the company’s assets and liabilities.

Once the payment is processed, the “Accounts Payable” account is debited and the “Cash” or “Bank” account is credited, signifying the settlement of the debt and the reduction in your liabilities.

Let’s say a bakery purchases flour from a vendor on credit. 

This is how the flour account would look in the bakery’s ledger. 

Flour A/C

      Dr                                                                                                                                          Cr

date transaction amt (Rs) date transaction amt (Rs)
25-Oct-22 To Accounts Payable 20,000

 

The corresponding credit entry in the AP account would look something like this:

Accounts Payable A/C

      Dr                                                                                                                                         Cr

date transaction amt (Rs) date transaction amt (Rs)
25-Oct-22 By Flour A/C 20,000

 

At the end of the accounting period, the bakery will transfer the total sum of money it owes to its vendors to the balance sheet as we saw earlier. 

Example of Accounts Payable Record in General Ledger

Imagine a company purchases goods worth ₹50,000 from “ABC Suppliers” on October 31, 2023. The supplier issues an invoice number INV-12345. Here’s an example of how this transaction would be recorded in the general ledger:

Date Account Debit Credit Description
October 31, 2023 Purchases ₹50,000 As per invoice number INV-12345 from ABC Suppliers
October 31, 2023 Accounts Payable (ABC Suppliers, Invoice INV-12345) ₹50,000 Amount owed to ABC Suppliers

Accounts Payable in the Balance Sheet

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

Particulars June ‘22 Mar ‘22
Assets
Current Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Accounts Receivable

Non-current Assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Liabilities
Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable

Non-current Liabilities

Term debt

Decoding Accounts Payable

In the balance sheet, businesses record the values of assets and liabilities for this accounting period and the last. 

The payables metric is also recorded in the Cash Flow Account to understand the movement of the business’s cash. A business that is able to pay its vendors in cash and on time is a business that has good cash flow. 

A high accounts payable balance means that the business has been unable to pay vendors in cash. This could be because of a number of reasons. 

  1. Insufficient cash flow
  2. Initial stages of business

There are many possible reasons for this: a lack of management of funds, high expenses, poor budgeting, slow and tedious procurement processes resulting in delayed payments and penalties.

There’s one solution: automating procurement processes. 

Automate Your Payables

Accounts Payable Workflow Process

Accounts payable is a part of the larger procurement process. Read more about the procure to pay process here. 

The accounts payables process includes:

  1. Invoice capture: Once an invoice is received from the vendor, its details need to be entered into the system. If done manually, this is a tedious, error-prone task. Automated solutions use OCR technology to auto-capture this information, ensuring 100% accuracy.
  2. Invoice approval: The next step is to get the invoice approved from department heads and the finance teams. This step too, is best when automated. Approval workflows allow all stakeholders to view and approve the invoice without delays.
  3. Payment approval: Once the invoice is approved, the payment must be approved. All details in various documents like the GRN, PO and the invoice must be verified in a comprehensive 3-way matching process.
  4. Payment disbursal: Finally, the payment is made to the vendor and recorded in the books of accounts. With solutions like RazorpayX Source to Pay, businesses can make thousands of payments at once without delays or errors.

Accounts Payable

As shown in the diagram above, the process is long, tedious, and error-prone.

Example of Accounts Payable Expenses

Accounts payable expenses encompass a wide range of costs depending on the nature of business. Here are some common examples:

1. Inventory-related purchases:

  • Raw materials used in production
  • Finished goods purchased for resale
  • Packaging materials
  • Supplies used in daily operations

2. Services:

  • Transportation and logistics costs (freight, shipping, delivery)
  • Utilities (electricity, water, gas)
  • Rent and property maintenance
  • Professional services (legal, accounting, consulting)
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Insurance premiums
  • Subscription fees (software, cloud services)

3. Other expenses:

  • Office supplies
  • Travel and entertainment expenses (reimbursed to employees)
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Taxes (property, sales)
  • Interest on loans

Why Should You Automate Accounts Payable?

Automating accounts payable processes saves time and reduces manual effort by streamlining tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and approval workflows. Automation also improves accuracy by minimizing the risk of human error inherent in manual data entry and processing.

Furthermore, automated systems provide real-time visibility into the status of invoices and payments, offering better control over cash flow and liabilities. Enhanced visibility and control not only optimize internal processes but also strengthen relationships with vendors through faster processing times and fewer errors, ultimately improving overall satisfaction.

Lastly, automated accounts payable systems offer scalability, adaptability to remote work environments, and strategic insights. They can accommodate increased transaction volumes without requiring additional resources, making them ideal for growing businesses.

These systems often include analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into spending patterns, vendor performance, and opportunities for optimization, thereby enabling informed decision-making and driving strategic growth.

Accounts Payable Managed

RazorpayX allows for end-to-end automation for adding, tracking, and clearing invoice and TDS payments.

All you have to do is upload an invoice on the RazorpayX Dashboard or forward the invoice sent from your vendor, and we take care of everything.

  • Auto-Capture Invoice Details
    Our intelligent OCR extracts and populates all the invoice details saving you the hassle of manual data entry and reducing the possibility of errors.
  • Pay your Vendors
    You can make payments instantly via IMPS, UPI, NEFT, and RTGS or schedule them for a later date.
  • Auto-Pay TDS
    RazorpayX automatically deducts and pays the applicable TDS before the due date. Not only that, you can view all the challans on the dashboard post-payment.

Automate Your Accounts Payable Now!

FAQs

What is the difference between trade payables and accounts payable?

Though the terms trade payables and accounts payable are often used interchangeably, there are slight differences in their meanings.
Accounts payable are the accrued obligations or payments which a business owes, like leasing, electricity, labour, etc. On the other hand, trade payables are the money owed to vendors for inventory like supplies, business materials, etc.

What is the difference between accounts receivable and accounts payable?

Accounts payables is the money a business owes its creditors, while accounts receivables is the money owed to the business by its creditors, making them exact opposites. In a credit-based purchase, the purchasing business records the transaction as an accounts payable, while the vendor company records it as an accounts receivable.

Is accounts payable a debit or credit?

Accounts payable is both a debit and a credit. For double-entry bookkeeping, the accounts payable department receives an invoice which gets recorded as a credit in the general ledger and then to the expense account as an offsetting debit.

This matching principle follows the method of accrual accounting, where expenses and revenues get recorded in the same period that takes place prior to the invoice payment.

How is accounts payable a current liability?

For accounts payable, one receives an invoice for services or goods which are not yet paid. Hence accounts payable is a current or outstanding liability - a payment amount that a business owes to a vendor.

What is an accounts payable turnover ratio?

Accounts payable turnover ratio refers to a ratio which is a measure of an organisation’s short-term liquidity, namely, the average rate at which the company pays off vendors.

Essentially, this ratio is a metric that organisations use to measure the efficiency of paying a short-term debt.

A high value of the accounts payable turnover ratio implies that the time duration between receiving an invoice and making the payment is less. On the other hand, a low value of accounts payable turnover ratio indicates that the time duration between receiving an invoice and making the payment is more.

What is the role of accounts payable?

The role of accounts payable (AP) is to manage and oversee the payment of invoices and other obligations owed by a company to its suppliers or vendors. The AP department also controls budgeting and spend management.

How Do You Record Accounts Payable Transactions?

According to the rules of double entry accounting, accounts payable is recorded in two accounts. When a purchase is made, the expense account for the good or service is debited, and the accounts payable account is credited. When the payment is finally made, the entry is reversed by debiting the accounts payable account and debiting the cash account.

What is the AP Workflow Process?

The AP workflow process starts with capturing details of the invoice provided by the vendor, followed by getting the invoice approved. Once the invoice is approved, the payment must be approved before disbursing the payment.

What is an Accounts Payable System?

An accounts payable system (APS) is a software application designed to automate and streamline the management of a company's obligations to its suppliers. An APS is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes to manage their accounts payable effectively and efficiently.

How Do You Process an Invoice for Accounts Payable?

Invoices are received from the vendor either on email or physically. Once received, the procurement team enters invoice details into the system and verifies accuracy of the invoice against the GRN and PO. After this, the invoice is approved by all department heads and processed for payment.

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CellBell’s Success Story: Streamlined Vendor Payments with RazorpayX https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/cellbells-success-story/ https://razorpay.com/blog/business-banking/cellbells-success-story/#respond Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:10:52 +0000 https://razorpay.com/blog/?p=14063 The year is 2020, and the pandemic is making everyone work from their homes. Suddenly, people need super-fast WiFi, comfortable tables and ergonomic chairs – to IT employee Pawan and his brother Chirag Demla, this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

He saw the gaps in the ergonomic office chair market – a slow, delayed supply chain and a lack of quality products. 

Thus CellBell was born.

With CellBell, Pawan and his co-founders created the perfect set of office chairs for their fellow IT employees – a workforce of a whopping 5.4 million in India as of March 2023. 

They even featured on Shark Tank, and their popularity only exploded – their product was working, their business model was sound – everything seemed to be going great.

But for business success, you need more than just a perfect product.

The Problems

No business can avoid dealing with vendors, and CellBell was no exception. They quickly realized they had to ensure a good relationship with their vendors if they wanted timely deliveries and happy customers. 

A big part of ensuring your vendors like you is making sure they are paid on time. 

The process of making these payments was extremely cumbersome. They had to fill out 30+ RTGS forms per week and make sure these forms reached the bank before closing time. 

At the bank, they’d deal with long queues, paperwork and a complete lack of transparency – once the forms went to the bank clerk, there was no way to tell if the payment went through! 

  • Manual form entry leading to errors 
  • Having to follow inconvenient bank timings
  • Having to physically submit forms at bank branches
  • Lack of transparency – each payout had to be manually checked
  • Server issues and downtime on online banking portals of traditional banks

With these problems came unhappy vendors, delayed deliveries and a drop in customer satisfaction. 

The RazorpayX Solutions

It was at this point that CellBell met RazorpayX. 

Centralised Fund Management

The first thing RazorpayX did for CellBell was offer one dashboard for everything money-related. 

Before RazorpayX, CellBell managed multiple Current Accounts with different banks – for segmented information on revenue generated from different marketplaces. 

Incoming and outgoing funds from every marketplace, be it Amazon or Flipkart, now went into one Current Account. The founders of CellBell now had the utmost clarity in their money management with this new centralized money management system.

Vendor Payments Optimization

With RazorpayX Vendor Payments and Payouts, CellBell made payments to their vendors on time, accurately and with full transparency. 

As vendor trust improved, so did CellBell’s credit limits and periods with vendors. This led to better money management and more money in the bank – which meant stable, healthy business expansion.

Happy vendors deliver on time, and on-time deliveries make everyone happy. 

 

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