UK GAAP

Since 2005 listed groups in the UK have been required to prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). Almost all other groups and companies have a choice. They can choose to follow IFRSs or UK GAAP. 

For periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, FRSs 100101 and 102 came into force, bringing with them a number of new options for all UK entities and groups. These Standards replaced old UK GAAP.

In addition to the above three Standards, two additional Standards were in force from 1 January 2015 - FRS 103 Insurance Contracts which contains specific accounting requirements for entities that have insurance contracts (including reinsurance contracts) and are applying FRS 102 and FRS 104 Interim Financial Reporting, which is intended for use in the preparation of interim financial reports by those entities that apply FRS 102FRS 105 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro Entities Regime is a financial reporting standard applicable to entities able to apply the micro entities regime. 

Companies who operate within specialised industries or sectors will also apply the requirements of their specific Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) in conjunction with the Financial Reporting Standards.  Most of the various SORP-issuing bodies have revised their SORPs in the light of FRS 102.

As the UK GAAP regime has now been in place for a number of years, preparation of either parent company or subsidiary accounts under either FRS 101 or FRS 102 should now have become a routine exercise. 

Amendments have been made to FRS 102 in relation to phase 2 of the interest rate benchmark reform and also in relation to accounting for temporary rent concessions for operating leases occurring as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic extending beyond 30 June 2021 (for which an amendment was also made to FRS 105). Amendments to FRS 101, FRS 102, FRS 104 and FRS 105 have also been made to reflect changes in company law following the UK's exit from the European Union and to FRS 101 as a result of the 2020/21 annual review of the standard.

The news articles and publications below - organised chronologically - provide a comprehensive collection of resources on the UK GAAP framework.

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Related Resources

Robert Bruce interviews — The financial instrument accounting impact of FRS 102 and FRED 51

15 Nov, 2013

Robert Bruce interviews Kush Patel, director and financial instruments specialist at Deloitte, on the financial instrument accounting impact of FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and FRED 51 'Amendments to FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland: Hedge Accounting'.

FRC proposes hedge accounting amendments to FRS 102

15 Nov, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has today issued Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 51: ‘Draft amendments to FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland: Hedge Accounting’. The amendments widen the eligibility criteria for hedge accounting and introduce less onerous qualification criteria. Comments are invited by the FRC until 14 February 2014.

Need to know — FRC proposes hedge accounting amendments to FRS 102

15 Nov, 2013

This publication from Deloitte discusses the hedge accounting amendments to FRS 102 proposed by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) with the issuance of FRED 51 'Amendments to FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland: Hedge Accounting'. The amendments widen the eligibility criteria for hedge accounting and introduce less onerous qualification criteria.

FRC publishes document of all editorial amendments and clarification statements to FRS 102

13 Nov, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued a document detailing all editorial amendments and clarification statements in relation to FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’.

We comment on new draft SORP for charity accounting and reporting.

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator Exposure Draft on a new Statement of Recommended Practice for charity accounting and reporting (“the Charity SORP”). We support the proposed revisions contained within the Charity SORP but also highlight a number of ways in which it can be improved.

Deloitte comment letter on Charities SORP

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator Exposure Draft on a new Statement of Recommended Practice for charity accounting and reporting (“the Charity SORP”). We support the proposed revisions contained within the Charity SORP but also highlight a number of ways in which it can be improved.

Deloitte comment letter on new draft SORP for UK Authorised Funds

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the revised Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for UK Authorised Funds ("the IMA SORP”) issued by the Investment Management Association (IMA). We support the proposed revisions to the IMA SORP, commenting that these are “broadly consistent with changes in the regulatory and accounting framework” but also highlight cases where there are deviations from the requirements of Financial Reporting Standards 100 – 103 for consideration by the IMA.

We comment on new draft SORP for UK Authorised Funds

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the revised Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for UK Authorised Funds ("the IMA SORP”) issued by the Investment Management Association (IMA). We support the proposed revisions to the IMA SORP, commenting that these are “broadly consistent with changes in the regulatory and accounting framework” but also highlight cases where there are deviations from the requirements of Financial Reporting Standards 100 – 103 for consideration by the IMA.

We comment on FRED 49: Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the Financial Reporting Council’s Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 49: ‘Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts’. We support the introduction of FRS 103 as a single standard for accounting for insurance contracts under UK GAAP.

Deloitte comment letter on FRED 49: Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts

04 Nov, 2013

We have published our comment letter on the Financial Reporting Council’s Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 49: ‘Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts’. We support the introduction of FRS 103 as a single standard for accounting for insurance contracts under UK GAAP.

FRC publishes new quarterly newsletter on financial reporting

18 Oct, 2013

The Accounting and Reporting Policy team of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has today published the first of a new quarterly newsletter on financial reporting. The first newsletter covers the period June to September 2013. The newsletter details the activities of the FRC over the last three months.

Comments invited on new draft SORP for Limited Liability Partnerships

11 Oct, 2013

The Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) has published an Exposure Draft on a new Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) which sets out a new framework for accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) (“LLP SORP”). Comments are invited until 10 January 2014.

FRC issues Staff draft of FRED 51

10 Oct, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has today issued a Staff draft of Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 51: ‘Draft amendments to FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland: Hedge Accounting’. The purpose of the Staff draft is to inform constituents of the proposed amendments to the hedge accounting requirements of FRS 102. The FRC do not expect the final text of FRED 51 to be substantially different from the Staff draft.

The Bruce Column — Moore is better

03 Oct, 2013

A legal opinion from Michael Moore QC has cleared up many of the arguments surrounding IFRS. Robert Bruce, our regular resident columnist, reports on a welcome outbreak of clarity, thought, and reason.

FRC and BIS confirm that accounts prepared under UK GAAP and IFRS are compliant with UK and EU law.

03 Oct, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) have today confirmed that all accounts prepared in accordance with UK or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) are compliant with UK and EU law.

FRC to update XBRL tagging to reflect new UK accounting standards

26 Sep, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has announced a project to update the XBRL tagging conventions (taxonomies) to reflect the new financial reporting standards for the UK and Ireland – FRS 100, FRS 101 and FRS 102 introduced in March 2013.

Point of view — New UK GAAP: Impact on pension plans

23 Sep, 2013

FRS 102, one of the options available as a replacement for current UKGAAP, has been published and is mandatory from 2015. This Point of View from Deloitte summarises the impact it could have on pension plans.

FRC record of the Annual Open Meeting on 12 September 2013

18 Sep, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published the transcript and proceedings of the Annual Open Meeting held on Thursday 12 September 2013. The meeting began with an opening address by Chairman Baroness Hogg, included a report by the Chief Executive Stephen Haddrill on the key activities of the FRC and also included an opportunity to ask questions.

Simpler reporting requirements proposed for ‘micro companies’

10 Sep, 2013

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published their proposals for the implementation of EU Directive 2012/6/EU (the “Micros Directive”) in the UK. The BIS proposals largely follow those contained within the “Micros Directive” and will result in a reduced level of disclosure for UK businesses meeting certain criteria. The disclosure exemptions which can be taken at the option of owners and directors of micro-companies will come into force for accounting periods ending on or after 30 September 2013.

Need to know - FRC issues Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts

09 Sep, 2013

This publication from Deloitte (UK) discusses the FRC's Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts. The deadline for comments to the FRC is 31 October 2013.

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