March

Deloitte comment letter on revenue from contracts exposure draft

13 Mar 2012

Deloitte's IFRS Global Office has submitted a letter of comment to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on its Exposure Draft ED/2011/6 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

In the comment letter, we express our agreement with the decision by the IASB and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board to re-expose the revenue proposals. However, we continue to disagree with some of the proposals in the current ED.

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IASB issues amendment to IFRS 1 regarding government loans

13 Mar 2012

The IASB has issued Government Loans (Amendments to IFRS 1). This amendment addresses how a first-time adopter would account for a government loan with a below-market rate of interest when transitioning to IFRSs.

It also adds an exception to the retrospective application of IFRS, which provides the same relief to first-time adopters granted to existing preparers of IFRS financial statements when the requirement was incorporated into IAS 20 in 2008. Entities are required to apply these amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. Earlier application is permitted.

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GRI releases XBRL taxonomy for sustainability reporting

13 Mar 2012

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a new XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) taxonomy for tagging sustainability data in reports.

The new taxonomy will allow companies reporting under the GRI's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines to tag their sustainability reporting information, in much the same way that many companies the IFRS Taxonomy to tag their financial information. Versions of the taxonomy are available for both the 'G3' and 'G3.1' versions of the GRI guidelines. XBRL tagged information is designed to be easily found and accessed in electronic format.

The GRI Taxonomy was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Netherlands. Click for GRI press release (link to GRI website).

New issue of the IASB's 'Investor Perspectives'

13 Mar 2012

A new edition of the IASB's newsletter for investors entitled Investor Perspectives is now available.

In this edition, IASB Board member Paul Pacter discusses IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities:

All Investor Perspectives are archived on the IASB's website.

Welcome to the new IAS Plus — BETA edition

12 Mar 2012

Welcome to our new IAS Plus website, a completely refreshed and enhanced tool - bringing great new features and usability to the number one accounting resource on the web.

Our new site is easy to use, intuitive and packed full of new features, including:

  • An enhanced user experience with a cleaner look, updated menus, more intuitive navigation and more
  • Improved search features
  • Personalisation options based on topics that interest you
  • Easy switching between languages, initially with English and German available.

During this beta period, we are opening the site for a sneak preview.  We have created an overview of the new site and also have a survey for you to complete to give us feedback during the beta period (survey is now closed).

So, please explore the new site - we look forward to receiving your feedback.

Enjoy!

The Deloitte IAS Plus Team

IASB releases agenda for its March meeting

12 Mar 2012

The IASB will be holding its March 2012 meeting on 20 – 23 March 2012, part of it a joint meeting with the FASB.

You can access the agenda on our March 2012 IASB meeting page.  We will also post Deloitte observer notes on this page as they are available.

Meeting of IASB representatives with the Global Preparers Forum

09 Mar 2012

On 12 March 2012, IASB representatives will meet with the Global Preparers Forum.

The purpose of the Global Preparers Forum is to provide input into concepts and proposals that the IASB is developing and offer advice to the IASB on the practical implications of its intended proposals for preparers of financial statements.

The following topics will be discussed:

  • Work plan update
  • Agenda consultation feedback
  • Post implementation reviews
  • IFRS Interpretation Committee
  • Disclosure framework
  • Leases project update
  • Revenue project update
  • What is wrong with financial reporting today and emerging issues

More information is available on the IASB's website.

Agenda for March 2012 IFRS Interpretations Committee meeting

07 Mar 2012

The IFRS Interpretations Committee will meet at the IASB's offices in London on Tuesday and Wednesday 13 and 14 March 2012. The meeting is open to the public and will be webcast.

The tentative agenda is available on our meeting page for the meeting.

Chairman Hans Hoogervorst discusses IASB's future agenda and strategy

07 Mar 2012

On 7 March 2012, IASB Chairman Hans Hoogervorst addressed the Consejo Mexicano de Normas de Información Financiera (CINIF) in Mexico City, Mexico. In his speech, he focused on the IASB's agenda consultation and the IFRS Foundation Trustees' strategy review.

Mr Hoogervorst noted that most of the convergence work with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board is complete, so the IASB has a "relatively clean slate", which has led to the request for feedback on its agenda in recent months.

One of the most common items from the feedback received was a request for a period of stability. Mr Hoogervorst noted that the IASB's future work programme will focus on fixing only what needs to be fixed, including (1) completing revisions to the conceptual framework, (2) ensuring disclosure requirements are appropriate, (3) deciding what to do with other comprehensive income and (4) considering work on less ambitious projects, such as agriculture, business combinations under common control, hyperinflation and rate-regulated industries.

In addition, Mr Hoogervorst discussed the recently completed IFRS Foundation Trustees' review of the strategy and vision of the organisation. Reflecting upon the conclusions in the Trustees' reports, Mr Hoogervorst made the following remarks:

 

However, I believe the most important recommendation was the need for the IASB to strengthen and formalise its relationships with standard-setters, regulators and the accounting profession.

The development of IFRSs involves close cooperation with national and regional standard-setting bodies. Once issued, the standards are endorsed for use in jurisdictions around the world. Auditors then attest compliance with the standards while securities regulators enforce their use.

Up until now we have achieved great things through informal dialogue with other participants in this supply chain. However, it is now time to move from this loose affiliation to a more integrated supply chain based on strengthened and more formalised relationships.

An integrated supply chain means that you are better able to guarantee the quality of the product.

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PCAOB announces panelists for upcoming public meetings on auditor independence and audit firm rotation

07 Mar 2012

The PCAOB has announced the schedule of appearances and the panelists for its upcoming public meeting on 21-22 March 2012.

On 21-22 March 2012, the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will be hosting a public meeting on ways to enhance auditor independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism, including through consideration of audit firm term limits. The PCAOB has announced the panelists and schedule of appearances for this public meeting. Panelists include investors, senior executives and audit committee chairs of major corporations, chief executive officers of audit firms, members of academia and other interested parties.

In conjunction with this public meeting, the PCAOB is re-opening the comment period on its concept release on auditor independence and audit firm rotation (see our earlier story).

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Correction list for hyphenation

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