A Closer Look — Revenue recognition - evaluating whether an entity is acting as a principal or as an agent
In April 2016, the IASB issued Clarifications to IFRS 15 which amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in IFRS 15 to clarify how the principal-versus-agent indicators should be evaluated to support an entity’s conclusion that it controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to a customer. However, given the complexities of some arrangements, including those involving three or more parties, the evaluation of whether an entity is acting as a principal or as an agent continues to require significant judgement, and conclusions reached under IAS 18 may not be the same as those reached under IFRS 15.