Option A  at the date of declaration is the correct answer

Explanation :-

When the company declares the dividend it becomes a liability for the company and the company records this liability by debiting the retained earnings account and crediting the dividend payable account. Hence option A is the correct answer.

Option B is incorrect as it is not necessary for the company to give dividends at end of each fiscal year.

Option C is incorrect as on the date of payment liability is extinguished not created.

Option D is incorrect as the date of record decides the shareholders to whom such dividend is to be given and hence no relation with liability for dividends.