COVID-19 news

Many companies continue to face uncertainty about their prospects as a result of the on-going impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to present a number of reporting challenges.  Although the FRC has highlighted that reporting in the face of the pandemic has not declined, it is still vital that companies continue to provide timely and high-quality reporting which reflects the ongoing uncertainties they face and their response to those uncertainties.

For many companies, their focus will have moved from the urgency of short-term survival to the development of longer-term resilience in the wake of COVID-19.  ESMA in its Common Enforcement Priorities, calls for companies to carefully assess the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on their financial performance, position and cash flows.  It reiterates key messages from its previous Common Enforcement Priorities and highlights that it will continue to focus on how companies have considered the effects of COVID-19 in their reporting in particular on going concern assumptions, significant judgements, estimation uncertainty, presentation of financial statements and impairment of assets.  ESMA also reminds companies of its expectations with regards to disclosure in areas such as supplier finance arrangements and government assistance, the recognition of deferred tax assets, non-financial reporting and presentation of Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) in a COVID-19 environment. 

Like ESMA, in its upcoming monitoring of annual reports in 2021/22 the FRC will continue to focus on how companies are disclosing the financial reporting impacts of COVID-19.  In particular it will focus on the disclosure of judgements and estimation uncertainties arising from the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding matters such as going concern and liquidity.

In its Annual Review of Corporate Reporting it reminds companies of a number of key messages from its COVID-19 thematic review that 2021 reporters should continue to have regard to this reporting season.  Previous messages contained within other guidance such as the FRC’s Company Guidance COVID-19 and FRC Lab reports will also be relevant in highlighting FRC and investor expectations for reporting in the current uncertain environment.

This page includes all of our news on the financial reporting impacts of COVID-19.

Related news

FRC publishes findings on the quality of corporate reporting in 2022/2023

07 Oct, 2023

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its Annual Review of Corporate Reporting 2022/2023. The report sets out the FRC’s expectations for areas of corporate reporting that require improvement and highlights the ten most frequently raised topics where improvements to reporting quality are needed. The findings follow a review of 263 annual reports and accounts with weighting in favour of the FTSE 350. 

FRC publishes findings on the quality of corporate reporting in 2021/2022

28 Oct, 2022

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its Annual Review of Corporate Reporting 2021/2022. The report sets out the FRC’s expectations of areas of corporate reporting that require improvement and highlights the ten most frequently raised topics where improvements to reporting quality are needed.

FCA and AIM end COVID-19 deadline relaxations

28 Mar, 2022

Temporary measures introduced in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowing for delayed annual and interim financial reporting are to be removed.

COVID-19 disclosure quality in European banks' financial statements

29 Nov, 2021

A study published as part of the working paper series of the European Banking Institute (EBI) looks at COVID-19 disclosures in half-year and year-end financial statements 2020 of European banks.

ESMA announces enforcement priorities for 2021 financial statements

29 Oct, 2021

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced the priority issues that the assessment of listed companies' 2021 financial statements will focus on. A special focus is on COVID-19 and climate-related disclosures.

FRC publishes findings on the quality of corporate reporting in 2020/2021

27 Oct, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its Annual Review of Corporate Reporting 2020/2021. The report sets out the FRC’s expectations of areas of corporate reporting that require improvement and highlights the ten most frequently raised topics where improvements to reporting quality are needed.

European Union formally adopts extended practical relief regarding COVID-19-related rent concessions

31 Aug, 2021

The European Union has published a Commission Regulation endorsing 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)' issued by the IASB in March 2021.

IASB meeting in person again

11 Aug, 2021

The IFRS Foundation announces that the IASB will begin to meet in person again after the summer break (observers would still only attend virtually).

FRC publishes its third Annual Enforcement Review

03 Aug, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its third Annual Enforcement Review.

FRC extends application period for accounting requirements covering COVID-19 related rent concessions

09 Jun, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued 'Amendments to FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and FRS 105 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime - COVID-19-related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021.

FRC publishes the results of its interim reporting thematic review

24 May, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published the results of its thematic review of interim reporting. The purpose of the review was to highlight areas of good practice in companies’ interim reporting and to make suggestions for improved reporting to meet the needs of stakeholders. The FRC encourages preparers to consider carefully the findings of the thematic when preparing their forthcoming interim reports.

UK adopts IFRS amendments for Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021

13 May, 2021

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has adopted 'COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)'.

Deloitte comment letter on FRED 78 'Draft amendments to FRS 102 and FRS 105 - Covid-19 related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021'

05 May, 2021

We have published our comment letter on the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC's) Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 78 'Draft amendments to FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and FRS 105 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime - COVID-19-related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021'.

FRC proposes extending application period for accounting requirements covering COVID-19-related rent concessions

22 Apr, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 78 'Draft amendments to FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and FRS 105 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime - COVID-19-related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021'.

UK Endorsement Board secretariat publishes draft UK Endorsement Criteria Assessment on the IASB's amendment to IFRS 16 and COVID 19

19 Apr, 2021

The UK Endorsement Board secretariat has published a draft UK Endorsement Criteria Assessment on the International Accounting Standard Board’s (IASB's) amendment 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)'.

FRC publishes its Strategy, Plan and Budget for 2021/22

12 Apr, 2021

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its Strategy, Plan and Budget for 2021/22.

EFRAG issues its final endorsement advice on the IASB's proposed amendment to IFRS 16 and COVID 19

05 Apr, 2021

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has issued its final endorsement advice letter relating to the use in the European Union (EU) of 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)' ("the Amendment).

IASB extends practical relief regarding COVID-19-related rent concessions

31 Mar, 2021

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has published 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)' that extends, by one year, the May 2020 amendment that provides lessees with an exemption from assessing whether a COVID-19-related rent concession is a lease modification.

IOSCO statement on going concern and COVID-19

25 Mar, 2021

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has released a statement on the need for high-quality information regarding going concern assessments and disclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial Reporting Lab publishes its first newsletter for 2021

16 Mar, 2021

The Financial Reporting Lab ("the Lab") has published its first newsletter for 2021 providing highlights of its activities in the first quarter of the year.

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