IASB updates work plan
21 Jul 2016
Following its July 2016 meeting, the IASB has updated its work plan. The IASB has reorganised the way projects are presented, however, the main problem that progress on the individual projects cannot be traced properly anymore unless the Board makes definite progress or has to make larger corrections has not been rectified. In this news item, we explain the changed presentation and point out the few project changes that can be identified since the previous work plan.
The main change in the work plan presentation is that the Board’s active research projects and standard-setting projects are presented on one page, with research appearing before standard-setting. This was done to indicate that research projects typically lead on to standard-setting projects (if the research provides sufficient evidence that standard-setting is needed), to avoid implying that standard-setting projects are automatically more important or more urgent than research projects, and to avoid the confusion caused by some projects appearing on both the research and major projects pages.
The research projects now also include milestones for progress made and expected, however, they are of the same kind as the ones used for major projects so that slippage cannot be detected from one month to the next. Also, research projects are no longer classified as being in either the assessment or the development phase as the distinction was confusing to users. Projects that are in the “research pipeline” are no longer presented in the work plan at all.
The page dedicated to narrow scope amendments and IFRS maintenance now also includes IFRS Taxonomy activities and developments in the post-implementation reviews.
Changes to the projects itself include:
Research projects
- Disclosure initiative: Principles of Disclosure: Updated to indicate that the discussion paper is expected in October/November 2016 (had been announced as coming out “within six months” since July 2015)
Standard-setting and related projects (major projects)
- Disclosure initiative: Materiality Practice Statement: Updated to indicate that a decision on the direction of the project is now expected within 3 months; previously it was within 6 months
- Amendments to IFRS 4: Applying IFRS 9 with IFRS 4: Updated to indicate that the final amendments are now expected within 3 months (September); previously it was within 6 months
Implementation projects (narrow scope amendments)
- Changes in Accounting Policies and Estimates: Updated to indicate that an exposure draft is now expected within 6 months; previously it was after 6 months
- Definition of a Business and Accounting for Previously Held Interests: Updated to indicate that the project is currently in the public consultation phase with a decision on the direction of the project to occur after 6 months
- Annual improvements 2014–2016: Updated to indicate that the project is currently in the drafting phase and the amendments are expected within 6 months
- Annual improvements 2015–2017: Updated to indicate that the project is currently in the drafting phase and an exposure draft is expected within 6 months.
The revised IASB work plan is available on the IASB's website.
Related Topics
- Annual improvements — 2014-2016 cycle
- Annual improvements — 2015-2017 cycle
- Different effective dates of IFRS 9 and the new insurance contracts standard
- Changes in accounting policies and estimates
- Disclosure initiative — Principles of disclosure
- Disclosure initiative — Materiality
- IFRS 3 — Definition of a business
- IFRS 3/IFRS 11 — Remeasurement of previously held interests