Comparative information

IAS 8 Best summary policies estimates and errors

IAS 8 Best summary policies estimates and errors comprises a high level summary of the three items in this standard:

  1. Accounting policies,
  2. Accounting Estimates
  3. Errors

1. Accounting policies

Definition:

Accounting policies are the specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an entity in preparing and presenting financial statements.

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Selection and application of accounting policies:

  • If a standard or interpretation deals with a transaction, use that standard or interpretation
  • If no standard or interpretation deals with a transaction, judgment should be applied. The following sources should be referred to, to make the judgement:
    • Requirements and guidance in other standards/interpretations dealing with similar issues
    • Definitions, recognition criteria in the framework
    • May use other GAAP that use a
… Read more

Introduction IFRS 17 Insurance contracts

Introduction IFRS 17 Insurance contracts – More than 20 years in development, IFRS 17 represents a complete overhaul of accounting for insurance contracts. The new standard applies a current value approach to measuring insurance contracts and recognises profit as insurers provide services and are released from risk. The profit or loss earned from underwriting activities are reported separately from financing activities. Detailed note disclosures explain how items like new business issued, experience in the year, cash receipts and payments, and changes in assumptions affected the performance and the carrying amount of insurance contracts.

IFRS 17 establishes principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of insurance contracts issued, reinsurance contracts held and investment contracts with discretionary participation features an entity … Read more

IFRS 3 Measurement period complete explanations

IFRS 3 Definition: Measurement period after the acquisition date during which the acquirer may adjust the provisional amounts recognized for an acquisition

IAS 34 Interim financial statements

IAS 34 Interim financial statements provide all there is to know for producing Interim financial statements, what, where, when and what is in them.

Objective

IAS 34 prescribes the guidelines for an entity regarding the preparation of interim financial statements by providing information about the minimum contents of interim financial reports along with the recognition and measurement principles for such financial reports. These interim financial reports will provide the most recent activities, circumstances and financial affairs of the reporting entity

Scope

IAS 34 does not define, which entity is required to publish the interim financial reports, the time period after the end of interim period within which these financial reports should be published and how frequently these should be published.… Read more

What are Alternative performance measures?

What are Alternative performance measures - What are Alternative performance measures – Alternative performance measures (APMs) may supplement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) reporting, and often represent an effective way of communicating important entity specific developments.

However, APMs need to be defined using appropriate descriptions and disclosures to avoid the risk of misleading the users of the financial reports.

Regulators in many jurisdictions have issued guidelines for the use of APMs that are helpful benchmarks when developing communication strategies and preparing financial reports. Entities can use these guidelines, both for compliance purposes and to facilitate effective communication.

Background

Financial statements are the cornerstone of financial reporting for entities. In addition to GAAP measures, management often uses a variety of other financial measures to communicate information about … Read more

Transition to IFRS 17 Insurance contracts

Transition to IFRS 17 Insurance contracts Transition to IFRS 17 Insurance contracts – IFRS 17 should be applied for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021. FRS 17 supersedes IFRS 4 [IFRS 17 C34]. Early adoption is permitted if the entity applies IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 not later than on the date of initial application of IFRS 17.

1 January 2021 is the date of initial application of IFRS 17 unless an entity early adopts IFRS 17 [IFRS 17 C1]. The transition date is the beginning of the reporting period immediately preceding the date of initial application. Therefore, if an entity adopts on 1 January 2021, the transition date is 1 January 2020 [IFRS 17 C2].

An entity … Read more

First IFRS financial statements

The first IFRS financial statements must include at least: First IFRS financial statements

  • for the reporting year and the comparative year: First IFRS financial statements
    • a statement of financial position;
    • a statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income;
    • separate statements of profit or loss, if presented;
    • a statement of cash flows;
    • a statement of changes in equity;
    • notes to the financial statements;
  • at the date of transition to IFRSs:
    • an opening IFRS statement of financial position;
    • notes to the financial statements.

Reference: [IFRS 1, paras 21 – 22]

A first-time adopter is an entity that, for the first time, makes an explicit and unreserved statement that its general purpose financial statements comply with IFRSs. [IFRS 1 3… Read more

Reporting period

A reporting period is the span of time covered by a set of financial statements, normally a year from 1 January Year to 31 December Year. The reporting period also called accounting period can also be for a interim period either for a month or quarter. Reporting entities consistently use the same reporting periods from year to year, so that their financial statements can be compared to the ones produced for prior years.

The reporting period is stated in the header of a financial report. For example, the income statement header might read, “for the year ended 31 December Year.” while the balance sheet header might read “as of 31 December Year.”

Some reporting entities use a reporting period other … Read more