Support for SME ED in Australia, Ireland, UK

  • Australia Image
  • United Kingdom Image

20 Feb 2007

Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom respond positively to the IASB's draft guidance on IFRSs for small and medium-sized entities.

Australia
Australia

At its February 2007 meeting, the Australian Accounting Standards Board considered staff papers on differential reporting and small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) and tentatively decided that Australia should adopt a two tiered approach in relation to Australian corporate entities, as follows:

  • Australian equivalents to IFRSs (A-IFRSs) will be required for corporates that are publicly accountable
  • an Australian version of the IFRS for SMEs will be adopted by corporates that are not publicly accountable but which prepare general purpose financial reports.

The AASB decided that under a revised financial reporting regime, all financial reports that are prepared and lodged with Australia Securities and Investments Commission under the Corporations Act 2001 would be regarded as general purpose financial reports, because they are available on a public register for access by users. Once the new reporting regime (based on IFRSs and the IFRS for SMEs) is put in place, this decision will effectively remove the 'reporting entity' concept for corporate entities that report under the Corporations Act 2001.

Ireland
Ireland

A press release issued by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Ireland said: 'The Institute of Certified Public Accountants positively welcomes the publication by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) of draft guidance on International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities.... This initiative is designed to facilitate a move towards one common set of international financial reporting standards without disadvantaging SMEs.' Click for CPA Ireland Press Release (PDF 132k).

United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom Accounting Standards Board (ASB) has issued a press release welcoming the publication of the Exposure Draft of an IFRS for SMEs (see 15 February 2007 news item). The ASB is currently defining its strategy and approach to this Exposure Draft. The Board is minded to issue the ED of IFRS for SMEs for consultation with an accompanying ASB invitation to comment (ITC) giving an insight into the Board's initial views on the Exposure Draft and potential implications for UK and Irish entities. The ITC would also set out with any additional questions the ASB considers appropriate. The ITC would also aim to provide an analysis of the significant differences between the existing FRSSE [UK Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities] and the proposed IFRS for SMEs. The ASB encourages UK and Irish constituents to comment both to our forthcoming consultation and directly to the IASB. The IASB has asked for comments on the Exposure Draft by 1 October 2007. The ASB plans to publish its formal comments by the same date after considering UK constituents feedback to their proposed consultation paper on the IFRS for SMEs Exposure Draft. Click for ASB Press Release (PDF 16k).

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