Financial Reporting Flashcards
Accounts receivable (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3856.05(h), .16, .17
Considered a financial instrument (financial asset), as it represents a contractual right to receive cash or another financial asset from another party
As such, accounts receivable must be tested for impairment at the end of the reporting period if significant adverse changes during the period cast doubt on collectability
If impaired, then should be written down to the amount expected to be collected through the use of an allowance account
The amount of the reduction shall be recognized as a bad debt expense in net income.
Inventory valuation (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3031.11, .12, .17
Inventories shall be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value (NRV).
The cost of inventories shall comprise all costs of purchase, costs of conversion, and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition.
NRV is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less estimated selling costs
Estimates of NRV are based on the most reliable evidence available, at the time the estimates are made, of the amount the inventories are expected to realize upon sale.
Inventory costs (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3031.11, .12, .17
The cost of inventories shall comprise all purchase, conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition
Trade discounts, rebates and other similar items are deducted in determining the costs of purchase
Storage, administrative overhead, and selling costs are specifically excluded from the cost of inventories
Internally generated intangible assets – R&D (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3064.37, .40, .41
• Research costs are always expensed when incurred
• Accounting policy choice to either capitalize or expense development costs
• Development costs can be capitalized if all of the following exist:
o Technically feasible
o Intention to complete it
o Ability to use or sell it
o Availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development
o Ability to reliably measure the expenditures attributed
o Probable future economic benefits will be generated
Goodwill and intangible assets – Amortization (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3064.56, .57, .61
• Intangibles are to be amortized over their estimated useful lives unless they are considered to have an indefinite life
• Assets with indefinite lives are not to be amortized until the life is no longer considered indefinite (however it must still be tested for impairment)
• Amortization method and useful life should be reviewed annually
• The expected useful life must consider:
o expected use of the asset,
o expected useful life of related assets,
o contractual, legal and regulatory provisions and other economic factors
Investments (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3051 and 3856.11 - .15
• Investments subject to significant influence can be accounted for using the equity or cost method
• Investments without significant influence:
o Not quoted on an active market – accounted for using cost method
o Quoted on active market – accounted for at fair value
Financial instruments – Impairment (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3856.16 - .19
• Financial instruments tested for impairment at the end of each reporting period. Where impairment exists, reduce the carrying value to the highest of:
o Present value (PV) of cash flows expected from holding the asset
o Net realizable value (if asset sold)
o Amount entity expects to realize from exercising its right to collateral
• Impairment can be reversed if asset subsequently recovers in value
Revenue recognition – Consignment sales (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3400.13 - .15
- Consignment sales include goods shipped but not yet billed
- They could be returned if not sold or only billed for to the extent sold
- Performance is not considered complete upon delivery for such goods, as the risks and rewards are deemed not to have been transferred from the seller to the buyer because of the seller’s continuing involvement
- As such, revenue cannot be recognized up until either the goods can no longer be returned or a payment is made in regards to them
Asset criteria (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 1000.25
Definition of an asset:
• Future benefit
• Entity can control the benefit
• Event that caused benefit already occurred
PPE – Betterments (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3061.14
- A “betterment” enhances service potential (increase in physical output or service capacity, associated operating costs are lowered, useful life is extended, or quality of output is improved)
- If the expenditure can be classified as a betterment capitalize asset
- If the expenditure cannot be classified as a betterment expense as repair and maintenance
Non-monetary transactions (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3831.06, .07, .11
• Asset exchanged in a non-monetary transaction should be measured at the more reliably measurable of the fair value of the asset given up and the fair value of the asset received, unless the transaction lacks commercial substance or neither the fair value of the asset received nor the fair value of the asset given up is reliably measurable, in which case, it should be measured at the carrying value of the asset given up
• A non-monetary transaction has commercial substance when the entity’s future cash flows are expected to change significantly as a result of the transaction, i.e.
o the risk, timing and amount of the future cash flows of the asset received differ significantly from the risk, timing and amount of the cash flows of the asset given up; or
o the entity-specific value of the asset received differs from the entity-specific value of the asset given up, and the difference is significant relative to the fair value of the assets exchanged
Non-monetary transactions (IFRS)
Reference: IAS 16.24-.26
• Asset exchanged in a non-monetary transaction should be measured at the more reliably measurable of the fair value of the asset given up and the fair value of the asset received, unless the transaction lacks commercial substance or neither the fair value of the asset received nor the fair value of the asset given up is reliably measurable, in which case, it should be measured at the carrying value of the asset given up
• A non-monetary transaction has commercial substance when the entity’s future cash flows are expected to change significantly as a result of the transaction, i.e.
o the risk, timing and amount of the future cash flows of the asset received differ significantly from the risk, timing and amount of the cash flows of the asset given up; or
o the entity-specific value of the asset received differs from the entity-specific value of the asset given up, and the difference is significant relative to the fair value of the assets exchanged
Impairment of long-lived assets (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3063.04-.09, .12, .18
• Steps:
1. Determine if factors indicating impairment exist
2. Group asset with other assets/liabilities to form group at the lowest level that generates cash flow (i.e. cash generating unit)
3. Determine if there is impairment by comparing net book value to recoverable amount (i.e. undiscounted future cash flows)
4. Calculate impairment by comparing carrying mount to fair value)
• Cannot reverse write-downs
Impairment of assets (IFRS)
Reference: IAS 36
• An entity is required to assess whether there are any indicators of impairment at the end of each reporting period. If an indication of impairment exists, the asset will need to be tested for impairment.
• To test for impairment, compare the asset’s recoverable amount to the carrying value. The extent to which the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount (if any) is the impairment loss.
• Recoverable amount: Higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use
o Fair value less costs to sell: price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability between market participants, less incremental costs directly attributable to the disposal of the asset (excluding finance cost and income tax expense)
o Value in use: Present value of the future cash flows from the continuing use of the asset and its ultimate disposal
• Impairment can be reversed if the asset subsequently recovers in value, but not to more than the “would be” value had the impairment not been recognized.
Investments – Equity method (IFRS)
Reference: IAS 28
• IAS 28: an entity with significant influence over an investee shall treat the investee as an associate and account for its investment in the associate using the equity method
• Significant influence can be demonstrated by owning (directly or indirectly) 20% or more of the voting power of the investee
• The entity may be able to demonstrate influence, even with less than 20% ownership. Evidence of influence can include:
o Representation on the board of directors
o Participation in policy-making processes
o Material transactions between the entity and its investee
o Provision of essential technical information
• Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognized at cost, and is adjusted for the post-acquisition change in the investor’s share of the investee’s net assets
Accounting for subsidiaries (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 1591, ASPE 3051
An enterprise can make an accounting policy choice to account for its subsidiaries using one of the following methods:
• Cost method
• Equity method
• Consolidation method
** Once a method has been selected, it must be applied consistently (i.e. all subsidiaries must be accounted for using the same method)
PPE – Costs (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3061.03, .06, .08
- PPE costs represent the amount of consideration given up to acquire, construct, develop, or better a PPE and comprise of all costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction, development or betterment, including installing it at the location and in the condition necessary for its intended use
- PPE costs include direct construction or development costs (such as materials and labour) and overhead / carrying costs directly attributable to the construction or development activity
- The cost of each item of PPE acquired as part of a basket purchase (i.e. when a group of assets is acquired for a single amount) is determined by allocating the price paid for the basket to each item on the basis of its relative fair value at the time of acquisition
Capital lease criteria – Lessee (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3065.06
• Must meet one of the criteria:
• Transfer of ownership or bargain purchase option at the end of the lease term
• Lease term at least 75% of economic life of asset
• PV of minimum lease payments at least 90% of FV of leased asset
o Discount rate = lower of lessee’s incremental borrowing rate and implicit rate
Capital lease criteria – Lessor (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3065.07
• Capital lease if all of the following exist:
• Credit risk is normal
• Unreimbursable costs are estimable
• Any one of the following criteria are met:
o Transfer of ownership or bargain purchase option at the end of the lease term
o Lease term at least 75% of economic life of asset
o PV of minimum lease payments at least 90% of FV of leased asset
Discount rate = implicit rate
Types of capital leases – Lessor (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3065.29, .30, .37
• Sales-type lease
o Arise when a dealer uses leasing as a way to sell their products
o Record as sale
• Direct financing lease
o At inception, FV of the leased property is equal to its carrying value
o Usually arises when a lessor acts as intermediary between manufacturer and lessee
o Record as lease receivable (payments to be received and guaranteed residual value, if any)
o Difference between lease receivable and carrying value should be recorded as unearned finance income
o Finance income will be recognized each year
Compound Financial Instruments (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3856.20 - .22
• Financial instruments, or their component parts, should be classified as a liability or equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement on initial recognition and the definitions of a liability and an equity instrument
• Financial instruments that contain both a liability and an equity element, including warrants or options issued with and detachable from a financial liability, should be separated into component parts, as follows:
o The equity component is measured as zero, i.e. the entire proceeds of the issue are allocated to the liability component; or
o The less easily measurable component is allocated the residual amount after deducting from the entire proceeds of the issue the amount determined for the component that is more easily measurable
• The sum of the carrying amounts assigned to the liability and equity components on initial recognition is always equal to the carrying amount that would be ascribed to the instrument as a whole, i.e. no gain or loss can arise from recognizing and presenting the components of the instrument separately
Revenue recognition criteria – Completed contract method (ASPE)
Reference: ASPE 3400.18
Revenue recognition criteria – Completed contract method (ASPE)
• The completed contract method would only be appropriate when performance consists of the execution of a single act or when the enterprise cannot reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.
• NOTE: There is no equivalent recognition criteria under IFRS.