March

HM Treasury publishes guidance to assist with sustainability reporting in the public sector

31 Mar, 2016

HM Treasury has published guidance to assist those in the public sector in meeting sustainability reporting requirements.

The guidance sets out minimum requirements that must be met, provides some best practice guidance and also indicates the underlying principles that should be adopted in preparing the information.

The guidance is applicable to all central government bodies that fall within the scope of the Greening Government Commitments (i.e. departments, non-ministerial departments, agencies and Non departmental public bodies) that produce annual reports and accounts in accordance with HM Treasury’s Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) who must report on sustainability (unless exempt from doing so).

The guidance is not applicable to the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and local government entities.

The guidance is available on the HM Treasury website.

IFRS Foundation appoints new Trustee

31 Mar, 2016

The IFRS Foundation has announced the appointment of Guillermo Babatz as Trustee of the IFRS Foundation. The appointment will begin on 1 April 2016.

Mr Babatz is Managing Partner at Atik Capital, S.C., and was the former executive chairman of Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV), the Mexican banking and securities commission. Mr Babatz appointment fill one of the two vacancies to represent North America.

For more in­for­ma­tion, see the press release on the IASB's website.

EFRAG publishes March 2016 issue of 'EFRAG Update'

31 Mar, 2016

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has published an 'EFRAG Update' summarising public technical discussions held and decisions made during March 2016.

EFRAG comment letter and feedback statement on transfers of investment property

31 Mar, 2016

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has issued its final comment letter on the International Accounting Standard Boards (IASB’s) exposure draft ED/2015/9 ‘Transfers of Investment Property: Proposed amendment to IAS 40 ’. EFRAG has also issued the related feedback statement summarising the main comments received from constituents invited to respond to its draft comment letter.

EFRAG supports the proposed amendments and believes they will reduce divergence in practice and improve the quality of financial reporting under IFRS in regard to investment properties.

The press release, comment letter and feedback statement are available on the EFRAG website.

PRA issues supervisory statement on good board governance for PRA-regulated firms

31 Mar, 2016

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has published a supervisory statement which identifies some key aspects of good board governance for boards to consider to which the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) attaches particular importance and pays close attention to in the course of its supervision.

The PRA consulted on a draft supervisory statement in May 2015 and, concurrently with publishing the supervisory statement, has also issued a policy statement which sets out responses to feedback received on the May consultation.

Consistent with the May consultation paper CP 18/15 Corporate Governance: Board responsibilities, the supervisory statement is relevant for all PRA-regulated firms and provides guidance on the PRA’s expectations relating to:

  • Setting strategy;
  • Culture;
  • Risk appetite, risk management and internal controls;
  • Board composition;
  • The respective roles of executive and non-executive directors;
  • Knowledge and experience of non-executive directors;
  • Board time and resources;
  • Management information and transparency;
  • Succession planning;
  • Remuneration;
  • Subsidiary boards; and
  • Board committees

The PRA indicates that the supervisory statement “is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide for boards of what constitutes good or effective governance”.  It indicates that such guidance is contained within other sources such as the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code and the Corporate Governance Principles for Banks, published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. 

The policy statement PS13/16 Corporate Governance: Board responsibilities and supervisory statement SS5/16 Corporate Governance: Board responsibilities are available on the PRA website.

2016 IFRS XBRL taxonomy issued

31 Mar, 2016

The IFRS Foundation has issued its 2016 IFRS Taxonomy. The IFRS Taxonomy is a translation of IFRSs (International Financial Reporting Standards) into XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language).

The IFRS Taxonomy 2016 is consistent with IFRSs as issued by the IASB at 13 January 2016 and incorporates the finalised taxonomy update 1 and the finalised taxonomy update 2, both published by the IFRS Foundation in December 2015. Final changes resulting from the proposed taxonomy update 3 published in January 2016 have been incorporated directly into the IFRS Taxonomy 2016.

On 13 April 2016, the IFRS Taxonomy team is holding a webinar session to answer questions about the IFRS Taxonomy 2016.

For more information, see the press release and the IFRS Taxonomy 2016 page on the IASB's website.

We comment on FRED 63 — Draft amendments to FRS 101 'Reduced Disclosure Framework' - 2015/16 cycle

31 Mar, 2016

We have published our comment letter on the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC's) Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED) 63 Draft amendments to FRS 101 'Reduced Disclosure' Framework - 2015/16 cycle.

As stated in the comment letter, we support the amendments proposed in the FRED however we highlight the need for the FRC to clarify the current requirement to notify shareholders about their right to object to the use of FRS 101.

Please click to access the full comment letter.

CRD releases materiality statement

30 Mar, 2016

The Corporate Reporting Dialogue (CRD), which brings together organisations that have significant international influence on the corporate reporting landscape, has issued a statement that compares the definitions and approaches to materiality by CRD participants.

The statement includes a comparison of materiality from the following organisations:

  • CDP
  • Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)
  • Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
  • Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  • International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
  • International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
  • Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)

In October 2015, the IASB published an exposure draft on the concept of materiality, which explains and illustrates the concept of materiality and helps preparers of financial statements when applying the concept.

For more information, see the statement on the CRD’s website.

FRC publishes scope of Audit Quality Reviews for 2016/17

30 Mar, 2016

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published the scope of independent inspections of individual entities to be undertaken by its Audit Quality Review (AQR) team in 2016/17.

The Audit Quality Review (AQR) team monitors the quality of the audit work of those UK audit firms that audit public interest and large AIM entities.  The overall objective of their work is “to monitor and promote continuous improvements in audit quality in the UK”.

All UK audit firms that undertake public interest and large AIM entity audits are subject to AQR inspections in respect of this audit work. The professional bodies have the responsibility for monitoring all other audit work. The frequency of AQR inspections varies with larger firms inspected annually while other firms are generally inspected once every three years.

Reviews are performed on a risk-based approach and take into account “priority sectors” which, the FRC wishes to focus on.  It has indicated that these priority sectors will be the extractive industries, companies servicing extractive companies, companies servicing the public sector and media businesses for the 2016/17 financial year.

Further information on the work of the AQR team and the scope of the AQR reviews for 2016/17 can be obtained from the FRC website.

New and revised pronouncements as at 31 March 2016

29 Mar, 2016

Our popular summary of new and revised financial reporting requirements, updated for financial reporting periods ending on 31 March 2016. This listing can be used to perform a quick check that new financial reporting requirements such as new and revised accounting standards and interpretations, and amendments to standards and interpretations, have been fully considered in the reporting close process. We have highlighted the IASB mandatory adoption dates as well as those dates for which application is mandatory within the EU. Where an EU entity chooses to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB, as well as in compliance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, that entity should comply with the earlier IASB effective date for those items. The information below can also be used to assist with the disclosure requirements under paragraph 30 of IAS 8 'Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors', which requires entities to disclose any new IFRSs that are in issue but not yet effective and which are likely to impact the entity. For accounts approved after June 2016, please also refer to subsequent versions of this document for any new and revised IFRSs that have additionally been issued that might require disclosure in the accounts under IAS 8:30.

The information below reflects developments to 20 June 2016 and will be updated through to June 2016 to reflect new and revised financial reporting requirements that need to be considered for financial reporting periods ending on 31 March 2016.  For accounts approved after June 2016, please also refer to subsequent versions of this document for any new and revised IFRSs that have additionally been issued that might require disclosure in the accounts under IAS 8:30.

The information below is organised as follows:

Summary

The table below provides a summary of the pronouncements which will be mandatorily applied by entities for the first time at 31 March 2016, for various quarterly reporting periods.  Where an EU entity chooses to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB, as well as in compliance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, that entity should comply with the earlier IASB effective date for those items. The table below provides a summary of these pronouncements, and which reporting periods they apply to:

Pronouncement IASB Effective date* EU effective date* EU Mandatory at 31 March 2016?
1st qtrs.** 2nd qtrs.*** 3rd qtrs.**** Full yrs*****
IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts
1 January 2016 IASB effective date is 1 January 2016. # # # # #
 Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions (Amendments to IAS 19)
1 July 2014 Effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 February 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Yes Yes Yes Yes
 Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle
1 July 2014^ All amendments are effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 February 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Yes Yes Yes Yes
 Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle
1 July 2014 The amendments are effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Already adopted in prior year (Jan 2015) Yes Yes Yes
Annual Improvements 2012-2014 Cycle
1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes No No No
 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations (Amendments to IFRS 11)
1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes% No No No
Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation (Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38)
1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes No No No
 Agriculture: Bearer Plants (Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41)
1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes No No No
 Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements (Amendments to IAS 27) 1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes No No No
Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 1)  1 January 2016 1 January 2016 Yes No No No
Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 28)  1 January 2016 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU. No - Not yet endorsed for use in the EU No No No
INTERPRETATIONS
 IFRIC 21 Levies
1 January 2014 IFRIC 21 was endorsed for use in the EU in June 2014 and is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 17 June 2014. However earlier application is permitted so companies applying IFRSs as adopted in the EU will be able to adopt it in accordance with the IASB effective date of 1 January 2014. Already adopted in prior year (Jan 2015)    Already adopted in prior year (Oct 2014)   Already adopted in prior year (July 2014)   Yes

* Generally annual reporting periods beginning on or after the date indicated, may only apply to first-time adopters in some limited cases (see below for full details).

** 1st quarter ending on 31 March 2016 (accounting period began on 1 January 2016).

*** 2nd quarter ending 31 March 2016 (accounting period began 1 October 2015).

**** 3rd quarter ending 31 March 2016 (accounting period began 1 July 2015).

***** 4th quarter ending 31 March 2016 (accounting period began 1 April 2015).

The European Commission has decided not to propose IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts for endorsement in the EU because very few European companies would fall within its scope.

Annual improvements to IFRSs 2010-2012 Cycle issued in December 2013 amended a number of standards. The amendments to IFRS 2 apply prospectively to share-based payment transactions with a grant date on or after 1 July 2014. The amendments to IFRS 3 apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after 1 July 2014. All the other amendments have a mandatory effective date of periods beginning on or after 1 July 2014. Earlier application is permitted in all instances (subject to EU endorsement). Where applicable, entities should disclose if certain amendments within the improvements are effective whilst others are not.

The amendments apply prospectively to acquisitions of interests in joint operations in which the activities of the joint operations constitute businesses, as defined in IFRS 3, for those acquisitions occurring from the beginning of the first period in which the amendments apply. Amounts recognised for acquisitions of interests in joint operations occurring in prior periods are not adjusted.

More information about these pronouncements, and all new and revised pronouncements, is set out below.

Financial statement considerations in adopting new and revised pronouncements

Where new and revised pronouncements are applied for the first time, there can be consequential impacts on annual financial statements, including:

  • Updates to accounting policies. The terminology and substance of disclosed accounting policies may need to be updated to reflect new recognition, measurement and other requirements, e.g IAS 19 Employee Benefits may impact the measurement of certain employee benefits.
  • Impact of transitional provisionsIAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Estimates and Errors contains a general requirement that changes in accounting policies are retrospectively applied, but this does not apply to the extent an individual pronouncement has specific transitional provisions.
  • Disclosures about changes in accounting policies. Where an entity changes its accounting policy as a result of the initial application of an IFRS and it has an effect on the current period or any prior period, IAS 8 requires the disclosure of a number of matters, e.g. the title of the IFRS, the nature of the change in accounting policy, a description of the transitional provisions, and the amount of the adjustment for each financial statement line item affected
  • Third statement of financial positionIAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements requires the presentation of a third statement of financial position as at the beginning of the preceding period in addition to the minimum comparative financial statements in a number of situations, including if an entity applies an accounting policy retrospectively and the retrospective application has a material effect on the information in the statement of financial position at the beginning of the preceding period
  • Earnings per share (EPS). Where applicable to the entity, IAS 33 Earnings Per Share requires basic and diluted EPS to be adjusted for the impacts of adjustments result from changes in accounting policies accounted for retrospectively and IAS 8 requires the disclosure of the amount of any such adjustments.

Whilst disclosures associated with changes in accounting policies resulting from the initial application of new and revised pronouncements are less in interim financial reports under IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting, some disclosures are required, e.g. description of the nature and effect of any change in accounting policies and methods of computation.

 

New or revised standards

The information below can be used to assist with the disclosure requirements under paragraph 30 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, which requires entities to disclose any new IFRSs that are in issue but not yet effective and which are likely to impact the entity

New or revised pronouncement When EU effective Application at 31 March 2016 to
1st qtrs 2nd qtrs 3rd qtrs Full yrs

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2009)

IFRS 9 introduces new requirements for classifying and measuring financial assets, as follows:

  • Debt instruments meeting both a 'business model' test and a 'cash flow characteristics' test are measured at amortised cost (the use of fair value is optional in some limited circumstances)
  • Investments in equity instruments can be designated as 'fair value through other comprehensive income' with only dividends being recognised in profit or loss
  • All other instruments (including all derivatives) are measured at fair value with changes recognised in the profit or loss
  • The concept of 'embedded derivatives' does not apply to financial assets within the scope of the Standard and the entire instrument must be classified and measured in accordance with the above guidelines. 

IFRS 9 (2014) was issued on 24 July 2014 and supersedes IFRS 9 (2009), but this version of the standard remains available for application if the relevant date of initial application is before 1 February 2015.

Issued: 12 November 2009 (articlenewsletter)

No stated effective date (see notes in prior column).  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU. 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2010)

A revised version of IFRS 9 incorporating revised requirements for the classification and measurement of financial liabilities, and carrying over the existing derecognition requirements from IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

The revised financial liability provisions maintain the existing amortised cost measurement basis for most liabilities. New requirements apply where an entity chooses to measure a liability at fair value through profit or loss – in these cases, the portion of the change in fair value related to changes in the entity's own credit risk is presented in other comprehensive income rather than within profit or loss.

IFRS 9 (2014) was issued on 24 July 2014 and supersedes IFRS 9 (2009), but this version of the standard remains available for application if the relevant date of initial application is before 1 February 2015.

Issued: 28 October 2010 (articlenewsletter)

No stated effective date (see notes in prior column).  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU. 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (Hedge Accounting and amendments to IFRS 9, IFRS 7 and IAS 39) (2013)

A revised version of IFRS 9 which:

  • Introduces a new chapter to IFRS 9 on hedge accounting, putting in place a new hedge accounting model that is designed to be more closely aligned with how entities undertake risk management activities when hedging financial and non-financial risk exposures
  • Permits an entity to apply only the requirements introduced in IFRS 9 (2010) for the presentation of gains and losses on financial liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss without applying the other requirements of IFRS 9, meaning the portion of the change in fair value related to changes in the entity's own credit risk can be presented in other comprehensive income rather than within profit or loss
  • Removes the mandatory effective date of IFRS 9 (2013), IFRS 9 (2010) and IFRS 9 (2009), leaving the effective date open pending the finalisation of the impairment and classification and measurement requirements. Notwithstanding the removal of an effective date, each standard remains available for application.

IFRS 9 (2014) was issued on 24 July 2014 and supersedes IFRS 9 (2009), but this version of the standard remains available for application if the relevant date of initial application is before 1 February 2015.

Issued: 19 November 2013 (articlenewsletter)

No stated effective date (see notes in prior column).  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU. 

 IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2014)

A finalised version of IFRS 9 which contains accounting requirements for financial instruments, replacing IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. The standard contains requirements in the following areas:

  • Classification and measurement. Financial assets are classified by reference to the business model within which they are held and their contractual cash flow characteristics. The 2014 version of IFRS 9 introduces a 'fair value through other comprehensive income' category for certain debt instruments. Financial liabilities are classified in a similar manner to under IAS 39, however there are differences in the requirements applying to the measurement of an entity's own credit risk.
  • Impairment. The 2014 version of IFRS 9 introduces an 'expected credit loss' model for the measurement of the impairment of financial assets, so it is no longer necessary for a credit event to have occurred before a credit loss is recognised
  • Hedge accounting. Introduces a new hedge accounting model that is designed to be more closely aligned with how entities undertake risk management activities when hedging financial and non-financial risk exposures
  • Derecognition. The requirements for the derecognition of financial assets and liabilities are carried forward from IAS 39.

Note: Depending on the chosen approach to applying IFRS 9, the transition can involve one or more than one date of initial application for different requirements.

Note: IFRS 9 (2014) supersedes IFRS 9 (2009), IFRS 9 (2010) and IFRS 9 (2013), but these standards remain available for application if the relevant date of initial application is before 1 February 2015.

Issued: 25 July 2014 (Summary of IFRS 9,articlenewsletter)

Effective for annual period beginning on or after 1 January 2018.  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.

IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts

IFRS 14 permits an entity which is a first-time adopter of International Financial Reporting Standards to continue to account, with some limited changes, for 'regulatory deferral account balances' in accordance with its previous GAAP, both on initial adoption of IFRS and in subsequent financial statements.

Note: Entities which are eligible to apply IFRS 14 are not required to do so, and so can chose to apply only the requirements of IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards when first applying IFRSs. However, an entity that elects to apply IFRS 14 in its first IFRS financial statements must continue to apply it in subsequent financial statements. IFRS 14 cannot be applied by entities that have already adopted IFRSs.

Issued: 30 January 2014 (Summary of IFRS 14article)

 

Applicable to an entity's first annual IFRS financial statements for a period beginning on or after 1 January 2016 IASB effective date is 1 January 2016.  The European Commission has decided not to propose IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts for endorsement in the EU because very few European companies would fall within its scope.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 15 provides a single, principles based five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers.

The five steps in the model are as follows:

  • Identify the contract with the customer
  • Identify the performance obligations in the contract
  • Determine the transaction price
  • Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contracts
  • Recognise revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Guidance is provided on topics such as the point in which revenue is recognised, accounting for variable consideration, costs of fulfilling and obtaining a contract and various related matters.  New disclosures about revenue are also introduced.

Issued: 28 May 2014 (Summary of IFRS 15articlenewsletterrevenue resources) 

Applicable to an entity's first annual IFRS financial statements for a period beginning on or after 1 January 2018.  See related news article. Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.  Endorsement expected H2 2016. 

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 16 specifies how an IFRS reporter will recognise, measure, present and disclose leases. The standard provides a single lessee accounting model, requiring lessees to recognise assets and liabilities for all leases unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has a low value. Lessors continue to classify leases as operating or finance, with IFRS 16’s approach to lessor accounting substantially unchanged from its predecessor, IAS 17.
Issued: 13 January 2016 (Summary of IFRS 16articleIFRS 16 resources)
Applicable to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 

Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.

 

Amendments

New or revised pronouncement When effective Application at 31 March 2016 to
1st qtrs 2nd qtrs 3rd qtrs Full yrs

Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions (Amendments to IAS 19)

Amends IAS 19 Employee Benefits to clarify the requirements that relate to how contributions from employees or third parties that are linked to service should be attributed to periods of service. In addition, it permits a practical expedient if the amount of the contributions is independent of the number of years of service, in that contributions, can, but are not required, to be recognised as a reduction in the service cost in the period in which the related service is rendered.

Issued: 21 November 2013 (articlenewsletter)

Effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 February 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory

Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle

Makes amendments to the following standards:

  • IFRS 2 — Amends the definitions of 'vesting condition' and 'market condition' and adds definitions for 'performance condition' and 'service condition'
  • IFRS 3 — Require contingent consideration that is classified as an asset or a liability to be measured at fair value at each reporting date
  • IFRS 8 — Requires disclosure of the judgements made by management in applying the aggregation criteria to operating segments, clarify reconciliations of segment assets only required if segment assets are reported regularly
  • IFRS 13 — Clarify that issuing IFRS 13 and amending IFRS 9 and IAS 39 did not remove the ability to measure certain short-term receivables and payables on an undiscounted basis (amends basis for conclusions only)
  • IAS 16 and IAS 38 — Clarify that the gross amount of property, plant and equipment is adjusted in a manner consistent with a revaluation of the carrying amount
  • IAS 24 — Clarify how payments to entities providing management services are to be disclosed

Issued: 12 December 2013 (articlenewsletter)

All amendments are effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 February 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory

Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle

Makes amendments to the following standards:

  • IFRS 1 — Clarify which versions of IFRSs can be used on initial adoption (amends basis for conclusions only)
  •  
  • IFRS 3 — Clarify that IFRS 3 excludes from its scope the accounting for the formation of a joint arrangement in the financial statements of the joint arrangement itself
  •  
  • IFRS 13 — Clarify the scope of the portfolio exception in paragraph 52
  •  
  • IAS 40 — Clarifying the interrelationship of IFRS 3 and IAS 40 when classifying property as investment property or owner-occupied property

Issued: 12 December 2013 (articlenewsletter)

The amendments are effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 July 2014). Already adopted in prior year (Jan 2015) Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory

 Annual Improvements 2012-2014 Cycle

Makes amendments to the following standards:

  • IFRS 5 — Adds specific guidance in IFRS 5 for cases in which an entity reclassifies an asset from held for sale to held for distribution or vice versa and cases in which held-for-distribution accounting is discontinued
  • IFRS 7 — Additional guidance to clarify whether a servicing contract is continuing involvement in a transferred asset, and clarification on offsetting disclosures in condensed interim financial statements
  • IAS 9 — Clarify that the high quality corporate bonds used in estimating the discount rate for post-employment benefits should be denominated in the same currency as the benefits to be paid
  • IAS 34 — Clarify the meaning of 'elsewhere in the interim report' and require a cross-reference

Issued: 25 September 2014 (article)

Applicable to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.   Mandatory Optional Optional Optional

 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations (Amendments to IFRS 11)

Amends IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements to require an acquirer of an interest in a joint operation in which the activity constitutes a business (as defined in IFRS 3 Business Combinations) to: 

  • apply all of the business combinations accounting principles in IFRS 3 and other IFRSs, except for those principles that conflict with the guidance in IFRS 11
  • disclose the information required by IFRS 3 and other IFRSs for business combinations. 

The amendments apply both to the initial acquisition of an interest in joint operation, and the acquisition of an additional interest in a joint operation (in the latter case, previously held interests are not remeasured).

Note: The amendments apply prospectively to acquisitions of interests in joint operations in which the activities of the joint operations constitute businesses, as defined in IFRS 3, for those acquisitions occurring from the beginning of the first period in which the amendments apply. Amounts recognised for acquisitions of interests in joint operations occurring in prior periods are not adjusted.

Issued: 6 May 2014 (article).

Applicable to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016 (see note in previous column).  Mandatory Optional Optional Optional

Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation (Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38)

Amends IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible Assets to:

  • clarify that a depreciation method that is based on revenue that is generated by an activity that includes the use of an asset is not appropriate for property, plant and equipment
  • introduce a rebuttable presumption that an amortisation method that is based on the revenue generated by an activity that includes the use of an intangible asset is inappropriate, which can only be overcome in limited circumstances where the intangible asset is expressed as a measure of revenue, or when it can be demonstrated that revenue and the consumption of the economic benefits of the intangible asset are highly correlated
  • add guidance that expected future reductions in the selling price of an item that was produced using an asset could indicate the expectation of technological or commercial obsolescence of the asset, which, in turn, might reflect a reduction of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset.

Issued: 12 May 2014 (article)

Applicable to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016  Mandatory Optional Optional Optional

Editorial Corrections (various)

The IASB periodically issues Editorial Corrections and changes to IFRSs and other pronouncements. Since the beginning of calendar 2012, such corrections have been made in February 2012, July 2012, March 2013, September 2013, November 2013 and March 2014, September 2014, December 2014, March 2015, April 2015, September 2015, December 2015, March 2016 and May 2016.

Note: For details of these editorial corrections, see our IASB editorial corrections page.

As minor editorial corrections, these changes are effectively immediately applicable under IFRS See comment in previous column

 Agriculture: Bearer Plants (Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41)

The amendments bring bearer plants, which no longer undergo significant biological transformation, into the scope of IAS 16 so that they are accounted for in the same way as property, plant and equipment.

For the purpose of bringing bearer plants from the scope of IAS 41 into the scope of IAS 16 and therefore enabling entities to measure them at cost subsequent to initial recognition or at revaluation, a definition of a 'bearer plant' is introduced into both standards. A bearer plant is defined as "a living plant that:

  1. is used in the production or supply of agricultural produce;
  2. is expected to bear produce for more than one period; and
  3. has a remote likelihood of being sold as agricultural produce, except for incidental scrap sales."

The scope sections of both standards are then amended to clarify that biological assets except for bearer plants are accounted for under IAS 41 while bearer plants are accounted for under IAS 16.

The amendments also clarify that produce growing on bearer plants continues to be accounted for under IAS 41 and that government grants related to bearer plants no longer fall into the scope of IAS 41 but need to be accounted for under IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance.

Issued: 30 June 2014 (article)

The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.  Earlier application is permitted Mandatory Optional Optional Optional

 Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements (Amendments to IAS 27)

Amends IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements to permit investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates to be optionally accounted for using the equity method in separate financial statements.

Issued: 18 August 2014 (article)

Applicable to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.   Mandatory Optional Optional Optional

 Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture (Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28)

Amends IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements and IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (2011) to clarify the treatment of the sale or contribution of assets from an investor to its associate or joint venture, as follows:

  • require full recognition in the investor's financial statements of gains and losses arising on the sale or contribution of assets that constitute a business (as defined in IFRS 3 Business Combinations)
  • require the partial recognition of gains and losses where the assets do not constitute a business, i.e. a gain or loss is recognised only to the extent of the unrelated investors’ interests in that associate or joint venture.

These requirements apply regardless of the legal form of the transaction, e.g. whether the sale or contribution of assets occurs by an investor transferring shares in an subsidiary that holds the assets (resulting in loss of control of the subsidiary), or by the direct sale of the assets themselves.

Issued: 11 September 2014 (articlenewsletter)

Applicable on a prospective basis to a sale or contribution of assets occurring in annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016 (IASB effective date).  Effective date deferred indefinitely (see article)  EU endorsement halted.
Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 1) 

Amends IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements to address perceived impediments to preparers exercising their judgement in presenting their financial reports by making the following changes:

  • clarification that information should not be obscured by aggregating or by providing immaterial information, materiality considerations apply to the all parts of the financial statements, and even when a standard requires a specific disclosure, materiality considerations do apply;
  • clarification that the list of line items to be presented in these statements can be disaggregated and aggregated as relevant and additional guidance on subtotals in these statements and clarification that an entity's share of OCI of equity-accounted associates and joint ventures should be presented in aggregate as single line items based on whether or not it will subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss;
  • additional examples of possible ways of ordering the notes to clarify that understandability and comparability should be considered when determining the order of the notes and to demonstrate that the notes need not be presented in the order so far listed in paragraph 114 of IAS 1.

Issued: 18 December 2014 (articlenewsletter).

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.   Mandatory Optional Optional Optional
 Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 28) 

Amends IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial StatementsIFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities and IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (2011) to address issues that have arisen in the context of applying the consolidation exception for investment entities by clarifying the following points:

  • The exemption from preparing consolidated financial statements for an intermediate parent entity is available to a parent entity that is a subsidiary of an investment entity, even if the investment entity measures all of its subsidiaries at fair value.
  • A subsidiary that provides services related to the parent's investment activities should not be consolidated if the subsidiary itself is an investment entity.
  • When applying the equity method to an associate or a joint venture, a non-investment entity investor in an investment entity may retain the fair value measurement applied by the associate or joint venture to its interests in subsidiaries.
  • An investment entity measuring all of its subsidiaries at fair value provides the disclosures relating to investment entities required by IFRS 12.
Issued: 18 December 2014 (articlenewsletter).
 
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016.  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.
Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses (Amendments to IAS 12)

Amends IAS 12 Income Taxes to clarify the following aspects:

  • Unrealised losses on debt instruments measured at fair value and measured at cost for tax purposes give rise to a deductible temporary difference regardless of whether the debt instrument's holder expects to recover the carrying amount of the debt instrument by sale or by use.
  •  
  • The carrying amount of an asset does not limit the estimation of probable future taxable profits.
  •  
  • Estimates for future taxable profits exclude tax deductions resulting from the reversal of deductible temporary differences.
  •  
  • An entity assesses a deferred tax asset in combination with other deferred tax assets. Where tax law restricts the utilisation of tax losses, an entity would assess a deferred tax asset in combination with other deferred tax assets of the same type.
Issued:  19 January 2016 (article)
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017
Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.
Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 7)
 
Amends IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows to clarify that entities shall provide disclosures that enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities.
Issued: 29 January 2016 (articlepublication)
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017
Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.
Clarifications to IFRS 15 'Revenue from Contracts with Customers' 
 
Amends IFRS 15 in three areas:
  • Identification of performance obligations – changes clarify the application of the concept of 'distinct‘ in this context.
  • Whether an entity is acting as principal or agent – changes clarify the application of the principal of ‘control’ in making this determination.
  • Licensing – changes assist in determining whether an entity’s activities ‘significantly affect’ intellectual property during the period for which it has been licensed to a customer. 
The amendments also provide some transition relief for modified contracts and completed contracts.
 
Issued: 12 April 2016 (article, newsletter)
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018
Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.
Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions (Amendments to IFRS 2)
Amends IFRS 2 to clarify the classification and measurement of share-based payment transactions with respect to:
  • the accounting for cash-settled share based payment transactions that include a performance condition;
  • the classification of share-based payment transactions with net settlement features; and
  • the accounting for modifications of share-based payment transactions from cash-settled to equity-settled.

Issued: 20 June 2016 (article)

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018.  Earlier application is permitted.  Not yet endorsed for use in the EU.

 

New and revised Interpretations

New or revised pronouncement When effective Application at 30 September 2015 to
1st qtrs 2nd qtrs 3rd qtrs Full yrs

IFRIC 21 Levies

Provides guidance on when to recognise a liability for a levy imposed by a government, both for levies that are accounted for in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets and those where the timing and amount of the levy is certain.

The Interpretation identifies the obligating event for the recognition of a liability as the activity that triggers the payment of the levy in accordance with the relevant legislation. It provides the following guidance on recognition of a liability to pay levies:

  • The liability is recognised progressively if the obligating event occurs over a period of time
  • If an obligation is triggered on reaching a minimum threshold, the liability is recognised when that minimum threshold is reached.

Issued: 20 May 2013 (articlenewsletter)

IFRIC 21 is effective in the EU for annual periods beginning on or after 17 June 2014, however, earlier application is permitted so EU companies can adopt in accordance with the IASB effective date (1 January 2014). Already adopted in prior year (Jan 2015)   Already adopted in prior year (Oct 2014)   Already adopted in prior year (July 2014)  Mandatory

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