ACCOUNTING CONVENTIONS - Convention of Consistency

In order to enable the management to draw important conclusions regarding the working
of a company over a number of years, it is but essential that accounting practices and methods
remain unchanged from one accounting period to another. The comparison for one accounting
period with that in the past is possible only when the convention of consistency is adhered to.
But the idea of consistency does not imply non-flexibility as not to permit the introduction of
improved techniques of accounting. According to A.S. – 1 consistency is a fundamental
assumption and it is assumed that accounting policies are consistent from one period to another.
Where this assumption is not followed, the fact should be disclosed together with reasons.
The principle of consistency plays its role particularly when alternative accounting method
is equally acceptable. For example, in applying the principle that fixed asset is depreicaied
over its useful life a company may adopt any of the several methods of depreciaiton, viz.,
written-down-value method, straight-line method, sinking fund method, annuity method, sumof-
years-digit method, unit-of-production method or any other method. But in keeping with
the convention of consistency it is expected that the company would consistently follow the
same method of depreciation which is chosen. Any change from one method to another would
result in inconsistency.
In the following cases, however, there is no inconsistency although apparently they make
look inconsistent :
(a) The application of principle for stock valuation ‘at cost or market price whichever is
lower’ will result in the valuation of stock sometimes at cost price and sometimes at
market price. But there is no inconsistency here because the shift from the cost to
market is only the application of the principle.
(b) Similarly, if investments are valued at cost or market price whichever is lower, it is
only an application of the principle
Kohler has talked about three types of consistencies :
(a) Vertical consistency. This consistency is maintained within the interrelated financial
statement of the same date. Vertical inconsistency will occur when an asset has been
depreciated on one basis for income statement and on another basis for balance
sheet.
(b) Horizontal consistency. This enables the comparison of performance of an organisation
in one year with its performance in the next year.
(c) Third dimensional consistency. This enables the comparison of the performance of one
organisation with the performance of other organisation in the same industry.