Luxembourg
- Luxembourg is included in the IFAD GAAP Convergence Studies
- National Professional Organisation Websites:
- Response to IFAC Member Body Survey on Standard Setting and Regulation
Financial reporting framework in Luxembourg
Adoption of IFRSs in Europe effective in 2005
In June 2002, the European Union adopted an IAS Regulation requiring European companies listed in an EU securities market, including banks and insurance companies, to prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRSs starting with financial statements for financial year 2005 onwards. EU countries have the option to:
- Require or permit IFRSs for unlisted companies.
- Require or permit IFRSs in parent company (unconsolidated) financial statements.
- Permit companies whose only listed securities are debt securities to delay IFRS adoption until 2007.
- Permit companies that are listed on exchanges outside of the EU and that currently prepare their primary financial statements using a non-EU GAAP (in most cases this would be US GAAP) to delay IFRS adoption until 2007.
The European IAS regulation applies not only to the 27 EU Member States but also to the three members of the European Economic Area (EEA) - Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway -, as well as, for the time being, the United Kingdom.
Luxembourg is an EU Member State. Consequently, Luxembourg companies listed in an EU/EEA securities market follow IFRSs since 2005. The European Commission (EC) periodically issues a document which summarises the use of options of the IAS Regulation by European Union Member States. For information on each country's plans, click to access:
The European Commission has adopted the following wording for use in the notes to the accounts and in the audit reports of companies subject to EU Regulation 1606/2002/EC (the 'IAS regulation'):
- "in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU" or
- "in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU".
Companies may also state, in a footnote, compliance with IFRSs as adopted by the IASB, if that is the case.
Summary of financial reporting requirements in Luxembourg
Consistent with the IAS regulation noted above, Luxembourg has adopted the following requirements in respect of each class of entity:
| Class of entity | Reporting requirements |
|---|---|
| Listed companies |
|
| Unlisted companies |
|
Plans for convergence
It is anticipated that IFRSs will be introduced into the local Luxembourg commercial law as an alternative to the current Luxembourg accounting principles. The Luxembourg authorities issued a draft law early in 2009, which proposed introducing IFRS for commercial companies. This draft law, if ultimately enacted as law, would provide an option to any limited liability company registered in Luxembourg to prepare its statutory financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU. As Luxembourg's tax regime is dependent upon accounting requirements, the adoption of IFRSs by an entity could significantly impact the tax position of the entity.
