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

Comments invited on new draft SORP for UK Authorised Funds

08 Aug, 2013

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has published an Exposure Draft (ED) on a revised Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) setting out proposals for the preparation of financial statements by UK authorised funds. Comments are invited by the IMA until 31 October 2013.

Stay Tuned Online – IFRS and UK GAAP update

05 Aug, 2013

Deloitte is running a series of hour-long Internet-based financial reporting updates, aimed at helping finance teams keep up to speed with IFRSs and other financial reporting issues. The July 2013 webcast is now available.

Stay Tuned Online — IFRS and UK GAAP update July 2013

05 Aug, 2013

The topics covered in the July 2013 webcast include: 1 - a round up of UK corporate reporting news, including the following items which apply for September 2013 year ends - the new narrative reporting regulations, which require companies to prepare a strategic report and the new regulations that overhaul the reporting of directors’ remuneration, 3 - the IASB’s exposure draft on accounting for leases and 4 - other IASB developments.

FRC Exposure Draft clarifies accounting for residential management companies

05 Aug, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued a financial reporting Exposure Draft FRED 50 containing Draft FRC Abstract 1: Residential Management Companies’ Financial Statements which sets out the treatment of residential management transactions in the financial statements of residential management companies (RMCs). The FRC has also issued consequential amendments to the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE).

FRC issues revised SORP ‘Policy and Code of Practice’

02 Aug, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued a revised version of its ‘Policy and Code of Practice’ on Statements of Recommended Practice (SORPS). The revised version is effective from 1 August 2013 and supersedes the earlier version issued by the Accounting Standards Board in July 2000.

FRC publishes revised FRSSE to reflect new UK accounting standards

31 Jul, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published an updated ‘Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities’ (FRSSE) effective from January 2015. This updates the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008) for the changes as a result of the introduction of FRS 100 ‘Application of Financial Reporting Requirements’ FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ and FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'.

FRC issues draft new standard for Insurance Contracts

29 Jul, 2013

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has today issued Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 49: ‘Draft FRS 103 Insurance Contracts’ proposing a new Financial Reporting Standard for Insurance Contracts which will be applicable for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015. The FRC are inviting comments on the Exposure Draft (ED) and the accompanying Implementation Guidance by 31 October 2013.

Comments invited on new draft SORP for charity accounting and reporting

09 Jul, 2013

The Charity Commission for England and Wales (‘Charity Commission’) and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) have today published an Exposure Draft on a new Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) which sets out a new framework for charity accounting and reporting. Comments are invited until 4 November 2013 and will be used to help develop the final Exposure Draft to be submitted to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) for review in spring 2014.

Point of view — New UK GAAP – impact on real estate entities

03 Jul, 2013

The United Kingdom Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' as one of the options available as a replacement for current UK GAAP. This publication from Deloitte (UK) summarises the main changes from these developments that might affect the real estate sector.

Governance in brief: Going concern - Sharman implementation delayed

25 Jun, 2013

This publication from Deloitte (UK) discusses the next steps that the United Kingdom Financial Reporting Council (FRC) are taking to develop revised proposals on going concern following their consultation in January 2013 on how best to implement the recommendations of the Sharman Panel. The publication also provides guidance for UK companies on going concern in light of the announcement that any revised proposals are likely to be delayed until 2014.

FRC will draw 'lessons' from its consultation on implementing going concern guidance

06 Jun, 2013

The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published a press release saying it will "adopt lessons" from its consultation on the implementation of the findings in the Sharman Panel final report. The Sharman Panel of Inquiry was established in March 2011 at the invitation of the FRC to consider going concern and liquidity risks.

2013 update on half-yearly financial reporting

01 May, 2013

Following on from Deloitte’s 2012 survey of half-yearly financial reporting, Split and Polish, a 2013 update has been published. The publication includes an updated illustrative half-yearly financial report and disclosure checklist, both suitable for use for June 2013 half-years.

FRC conducts research bulletin into share option schemes used by private companies

25 Apr, 2013

Following the issue of FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' which provides simplified requirements for accounting for share-based payment schemes, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have conducted research into whether an even more simplified accounting approach could be developed for private companies. The FRC has issued a Bulletin which discusses preliminary findings from this review and ask for comments through the Invitation to Comment process.

Stay Tuned Online – IFRS and UK GAAP update

28 Mar, 2013

The Deloitte London IFRS Centre of Excellence is running a series of hour-long Internet-based financial reporting updates, aimed at helping finance teams keep up to speed with IFRSs and other financial reporting issues. The March 2013 webcast is now available.

Stay Tuned Online — IFRS and UK GAAP update March 2013

28 Mar, 2013

The following topics are covered in the March 2013 webcast 1 - the finalised replacement for current UK GAAP, 2 - recent developments in financial instruments accounting, including the proposed approach to impairment under IFRS 9 and the classification and measurement of financial instruments, 3 - a run through various IASB publications proposing other amendments to current IFRSs and 4 - a round up of UK corporate reporting news, including proposals around going concern reporting.

Need to know — UK FRC proposals on going concern - Implementing the recommendations of the Sharman Panel

22 Mar, 2013

The publication from Deloitte (UK) discusses new guidance on going concern from the United Kingdom Financial Reporting Council (FRC).

Need to know — The long-awaited standard that will replace current UK GAAP

15 Mar, 2013

This publication from Deloitte (United Kingdom) discusses FRS 102, the long-awaited standard that will replace current UK GAAP.

UK replaces local GAAP with new standard based on IFRS for SMEs

14 Mar, 2013

The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', which will replace current UK GAAP with effect for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

Governance in brief: Going Concern: FRC process major changes

26 Feb, 2013

This publication from Deloitte (UK) discusses new guidance on going concern from the United Kingdom Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The proposed effective date for the new guidance is periods commencing on or after 1 October 2012 with early adoption encouraged, and will apply to half year reporting when finalised.

EFRAG and European National Standard Setters publish their strategy regarding the IFRS Conceptual Framework

06 Feb, 2013

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has posted to its website a strategy document entitled 'Getting a Better Framework – Our Strategy' that was developed in cooperation with the French Autorité des Normes Comptables (ANC), the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (ASCG), the Organismo Italiano di Contabilità (OIC) and the UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The aim of the document is to ensure ultimately that the IASB's Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting reflects an underlying accounting model that European stakeholders believe is conducive to robust and effective financial reporting standards.

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