April

IFRS workbook and guide

04 Apr 2006

Abbas Ali Mirza and Magnus Orrell of Deloitte, along with Prof.

Graham Holt, have coauthored International Financial Reporting Standards Workbook and Guide, published by John Wiley & Sons. The book is intended as a quick reference guide to IFRSs, including standards outlines, case studies with solutions, illustrations, and multiple-choice questions with solutions. The book may be ordered from the John Wiley & Sons Website.

New Deloitte guide to interim financial reporting

03 Apr 2006

IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting prescribes the minimum content for an interim financial report and the principles for recognition and measurement in financial statements for a financial reporting period shorter than a full financial year.

Our new publication Interim Financial Reporting: A Guide to IAS 34 provides an overview of the Standard, application guidance and examples, a model interim financial report, and an IAS 34 compliance checklist. Click to (PDF 484k, March 2006, 60 pages). You can always find this and other Deloitte IFRS publications on our Publications Page.

The road to accrual accounting by US governmental units

03 Apr 2006

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) has released an information paper on the experiences of governmental units in the United States in their transition to accrual accounting.

The paper, entitled The Road to Accrual Accounting in the United States of America, outlines the development of administrative arrangements for formal standards setting over 70 years at the local, state, and federal Government levels in the US and highlights key factors shaping the standards setting structure. It also provides a detailed overview of the conversion to accrual accounting by state and local governments (there are nearly 88,000 governmental units in the US), examines the standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) to lead and support that conversion, and identifies key milestones in the conversion process. Chapters address:
  • The Environment (includes a history of governmental accounting standards in the United States)
  • The Road to Accrual-Basis Standards for State and Local Government
  • Implementation Issues Associated with the Adoption of Accrual Accounting in State and Local Government
  • US Accrual Standards in an International Context
  • The Aftermath of the New Reporting Model
The paper was prepared by David Bean, Director of Research and Technical Activities at the GASB and staff at the GASB. It can be downloaded without charge from the IFAC Website. Click for Press Release (PDF 57k).

IVSC meets with FASB

03 Apr 2006

Members of the International Valuation Standards Committee (IVSC) and representatives of The Appraisal Foundation and the Toronto Valuation Accord met with members and staff of the US Financial Accounting Standards Board on Friday 10 March 2006. Discussion concentrated on the role of the IVSC and the increased use of fair value measurement in financial reporting worldwide.

The discussion is reported in IVSC e-News April 2006 (PDF 130k). Here is an excerpt:

Both IVSC and FASB agree that as fair value measurement becomes more prevalent in financial statements, valuations that follow generally accepted valuation practices prepared by qualified valuation professionals will be needed. Accounting and valuation are two separate but complementary knowledge sets. Accounting and valuation professionals need a clear understanding of each others roles and responsibilities to foster increased synergy between the two professions.

At the meeting on 10 March, FASB discussed its preliminary plans to formally solicit input from all interested parties on the need for a single set of valuation standards with particular emphasis on who should develop valuation standards and provide related implementation guidance. In the interim, FASB encouraged the IVSC to provide continuing input on ways to adequately address valuation issues in the future, considering the potentially differing national approaches that exist currently.

Commenting after the meeting Joseph Vella, IVSC chairman, said, "The IVSC recognises the need to review its structure to ensure that the most appropriate mechanisms for delivering global valuation standards is in place. In the meantime the IVSC is to launch a project to develop the current international valuation standards to more adequately cover the valuation of intangible assets for financial reporting purposes."

Deloitte views on IFRIC D18

02 Apr 2006

We have posted the Deloitte Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment (PDF 99k).

The draft Interpretation addresses a conflict between IAS 34 and the impairment reversal provisions of IAS 36 and IAS 39. While Deloitte supports the draft Interpretation as an interim solution, we believe it is "not ideal as a long-term and sustainable solution" because some aspects of IAS 34 conflict more broadly with the comparability provisions of the IASB Framework. We believe that IASB needs to address the broader issues. All past Deloitte letters of comment to the IASC and the IASB are Here.

Agenda project pages updated

02 Apr 2006

We have updated the following IASB agenda project pages to reflect the discussions and decisions at the Board's March 2006 meeting: Accounting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Entities Business Combinations Phase II Conceptual Framework - Definition of Reporting Entity Consolidations including Special Purpose Entities Financial Instruments Puttable at Fair Value and Obligations Arising on Liquidation Amendments to IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets IFRS 1 Amendment Relating to Cost of Subsidiaries in Separate Financial Statements of a Parent Insurance Contracts Phase II Joint Ventures Leases Performance Reporting Revenue Recognition Short-term Convergence: Borrowing Costs .

FASB issues pensions exposure draft

02 Apr 2006

The United States Financial Accounting Standards Board has proposed that employers recognise the overfunded or underfunded positions of defined benefit postretirement plans, including pension plans, in their balance sheets.

The so-called 'corridor approach' that allows deferral of most actuarial gains and losses would be eliminated. IAS 19 currently also allows the 'corridor approach'. The proposal would also require that employers measure plan assets and obligations as of the date of their financial statements. FASB's exposure draft is the first phase of a comprehensive project to reconsider its Statement 87 Employers' Accounting for Pensions and Statement 106 Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions. A second, broader phase will comprehensively address remaining issues. The FASB said it expects to collaborate with the International Accounting Standards Board on that phase, though the IASB does not yet have the project on its agenda. Comment period ends 31 May 2006. Click for (PDF 30k).

IAS Plus newsletter on IAS 1 proposals

01 Apr 2006

We have posted a new special edition of our IAS Plus newsletter on (PDF 74k).

On 16 March 2006, the IASB issued an Exposure Draft (ED) of proposed amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements. This newsletter provides details about the ED. The ED results from the first stage (known as 'Segment A') of the IASB's project on performance reporting and, if adopted, would bring IAS 1 largely into line with the equivalent US standard as regards the matters addressed. Under the ED's proposals, an entity would be required to present all income and expenses separately from changes in its equity that arise from transactions with its owners. Entities would have a choice of presenting income and expenses in a single statement or in two statements. An entity would also be required to include in its financial statements a statement showing its financial position (balance sheet) at the beginning of the comparative period. The IASB has requested comments on the ED on or before 17 July 2006. You can find our Past IAS Plus Newsletters Here.

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