IFRS Flashcards
What are the first three measures to ensure public accountability for the IFRS Foundation?
Trustees monitor governance arrangements
Trustees are assessed annually by Due Process Oversight Committee
Trustees are connected to Monitoring Board, composed of various public capital market authorities
What are the second three measures to ensure public accountability for the IFRS Foundation?
The Constitution requires trustees to make a formal, public, five-year review of it
Due process for IASB, IFRS Interpretations Committee, and others (e.g. requiring public consultation, such as comment letters)
All meetings are publicly held and webcast
What did the IFRS Foundation used to be called?
The IASC Foundation
IASC = International Accounting Standards Committee
What is the 12-person group of the IASB that helps interpret standards?
International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)
What is the 40-person group of the IASB that provides accounting advice on standards?
Standards Advisory Committee (SAC)
What is the 22-person group that oversees operations of the IASB?
Trustees Appointments Advisory Group
What are the six stages of forming IFRS?
- Setting the agenda
- Planning the project
- Developing and publishing the discussion paper
- Developing and publishing the exposure draft
- Developing and publishing the standard
- After the standard is issued
What is the main criterion for the IASB adding an item to its agenda?
The needs for users of financial statements
Secondary is the usefulness to financial statement preparers
What is IFRS 1, and when was it published?
First-Time Adoption of IFRS – published in 2003
Not a static standard, but changes to ease the burdens of adopting IFRS
What is the general principle of IFRS 1?
That IFRS effective at the date of a company’s first IFRS financial statements should be applied retrospectively
Goal is to make it as if the company had followed IFRS from its inception
What are the two restrictions on retrospective application for IFRS 1?
Mandatory exceptions and optional exemptions
What are the mandatory exceptions for IFRS 1?
Accounting estimates
De-recognition of financial assets/liabilities
Hedge accounting
Noncontrolling interests
What does IFRS 1 define as a company’s first IFRS financial statements?
The first annual financial statements in which the company adopts IFRS by an “explicit and unreserved” statement of compliance
What are some borderline cases that are considered first financial statements by IFRS 1?
Statements…
- with the explicit statement that also abide by national requirements inconsistent with IFRS
- conforming to IFRS in all respects but lacking an explicit statement
- containing an explicit statement for some, but not all, IFRS
What are some cases that are not considered first financial statements by IFRS 1?
Basically, any statements that already complied with IFRS in previous statements, whether with an explicit statement or not
This is the case even if auditors had a qualified opinion on those statements
What is the date of transition for the first IFRS balance sheet?
The beginning of the earliest period for which a company presents full comparative info under IFRS
E.g., if the current-year B/S is under IFRS and has last year’s info for comparative purposes, the beginning of last year is the date of transition (even though the B/S date might be for the year ENDING on Dec. 31, XX)
What might IFRS require a company to do with their assets and liabilities?
Derecognize them, recognize new ones, reclassify them, and/or remeasure them
In applying IFRS 1, what may be done with assets carried at cost?
Assets may be revalued to FV – that is, FV becomes the “deemed cost” under IFRS
How should a company report adjustments made from applying IFRS?
Recognize them in RE
Exception: don’t do this for reclassifications between goodwill and intangible assets
What are the required statements that must be included in a company’s first IFRS statements?
3 balance sheets (including one at date of transition) 2 statements of profit or loss and OCI 2 separate statements of profit or loss 2 statements of cash flows 2 statements of changes in equity
Under IFRS 1, if a company presents certain info from previous years, does it have to comply with IFRS?
No, although the company must clearly state that it is not IFRS and how the figure would be adjusted to comply with IFRS
What general disclosures are required by IFRS 1?
Companies must provide reconciliations clearly explaining how the change from GAAP to IFRS affected their balance sheet, income statement, and cash flows
Reconciliations must identify any errors in the previous statements
How many years of comparative information are first-time issuers required to present?
At least one
What is IFRS 1’s guidance on accounting estimates?
Estimates made under previous GAAP cannot be adjusted simply because the company now has better knowledge at a later date
They can be adjusted for other reasons (e.g. correcting an error), however
What is IFRS 1’s guidance on hedge accounting?
Something counts as a hedge only if it has been designated and proven to be effective on or before the date of transition (e.g. can’t be done retrospectively)
For the IFRS, what is the hierarchy of sources to use in seeking guidance for an accounting situation?
Besides, IFRS directly covering the situation…
- guidance in other IFRS covering similar situations
- info contained in the IFRS conceptual framework
- pronouncement of other bodies similar to IFRS, as well as other practices
How is IFRS different on the presentation of expenses in financial statements?
Expenses can be presented according to function or nature (GAAP requires function)
If function is chosen, nature must still be disclosed
What does IFRS forbid from appearing on the income statement?
Extraordinary items
How are GAAP and IFRS different in their income statement requirements?
GAAP requires three years, IFRS requires two
Income attributable to a NCI is required under IFRS, but not under GAAP
What are six differences between GAAP and IFRS regarding the balance sheet?
(1) IFRS requires a third B/S when the company restates its financials or retroactively applies a new policy
(2) IFRS lists current assets in reverse order of liquidity
(3) IFRS permits liabilities before assets, and noncurrent items before current
(4) IFRS requires net current liabilities to be offset against net current assets (working capital)
(5) IFRS requires bond discounts/premiums to be netted against the liability, not stated separately
(6) IFRS requires debt issuance costs to reduce debt’s carrying amount (rather than be a separate item and amortized)
How do GAAP and IFRS differently treat noncash activities on the statement of cash flows?
IFRS does not include noncash investing and financing activities (they’re included in notes), while GAAP requires them at the bottom of the statement
On the statement of cash flows, how do GAAP and IFRS differently treat bank drafts?
GAAP doesn’t count them as cash, but IFRS does if the company uses them in cash management
How do GAAP and IFRS differ on the direct or indirect methods on the statement of cash flows?
GAAP permits indirect method, but IFRS requires direct method
How do GAAP and IFRS differ in classifying activities on the statement of cash flows?
GAAP = interest exp/rev and dividend rev are operating, dividend exp is financing
IFRS = interest and dividend exp can be either operating or financing
-interest and dividend rev can be either operating or investing
How are IFRS and GAAP different on day-one gains/losses regarding FV?
GAAP allows day-one gains/losses for any difference between cost and FV, but IFRS restricts these gains/losses when FV is measured with unobservable inputs
For FV measurement, how do IFRS and GAAP differ regarding alternative investments?
GAAP provides extra practical help on measuring alternative investments, which IFRS lacks
Which FV disclosure requirements are different for IFRS and GAAP?
GAAP does not require quantitative measurement uncertainty analysis, but IFRS requires it for financial instruments measured with a level 3 FV measurement
GAAP exempts nonpublic companies from various disclosures, but IFRS does not
How do IFRS and GAAP differ in their conceptual assumptions?
GAAP has four, but IFRS has only two: going concern and accrual basis
Going concern is one of four GAAP assumptions
How do IFRS and GAAP differ in their qualitative characteristics?
GAAP has two fundamental and four enhancing, but IFRS has four total: understandability, relevance, reliability, and comparability
How do IFRS and GAAP differ on explaining the qualitative characteristic of relevance?
They don’t – both see it as comprised of:
- predictive value
- confirmatory role
- materiality
How do IFRS and GAAP differ on explaining reliability?
GAAP doesn’t have reliability as a distinct characteristic
IFRS has four parts to it:
- faithful representation
- substance over form
- neutrality
- prudence
How do IFRS and GAAP differ on their requirements for comparative financial statements?
IFRS requires them, GAAP does not
How do IFRS and GAAP differ on their constraints?
GAAP has cost/benefit and materiality (primary) and consistency and comparability (secondary)
IFRS has timeliness, cost/benefit, and fair presentation
How does IFRS define an “element”?
An asset, liability, equity, income, or expense item
What is required for an element to be recognizable under IFRS?
Must have future economic consequences and be reliably measurable
If unable to be measured reliably, then cost-recovery method must be used
How do IFRS and GAAP differ on inventory?
IFRS prohibits LIFO (and specifically requires a method that fits the inventory)
GAAP uses lower of cost or market, but IFRS uses lower of cost or NRV
IFRS allows inventory impairments to be written back up