Professional Documents
Culture Documents
For permission to use or adapt this presentation, please contact Dr. Smith, Lmsmith@tamu.edu
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) are shooting down the competition (other GAAPs)
FASB Chairman Robert Herz has expressed his expectation that US companies would eventually be required to follow a single accounting standard, which would be the IFRSs.
Region Europe North America Central and South America Africa Asia Australia Oceania Total
Stop & Reflect: Will better GAAP (i.e., IFRS) lead to economic development in developing countries?
InvestorS,C Parent
(c,l,p,x,r,g,i)
Financial AnalystS,C
Joint Venture (c,l,p,x,r,g,i)
Subsidiary 3 (c,l,p,x,r,g,i)
Complexity is associated with global operations resulting from subsidiary operations in cultural settings that differ substantially from the parent. This leads to complex operating, reporting, and information environments. Multinational companies do business in a more complex environment than strictly domestic firms and financial reporting differences contribute to this complexity. Use of one set of accounting standards, such as the IFRSs, will help reduce this complexity.
Cosmetic Differences: Financial Statement Presentation Per IAS 1 IAS 1 does not prescribe a particular format for presentation of financial statements (B/S, I/S, SCF, SCE); multiple formats have evolved in practice. In the U.S., a common format has evolved. Re: Balance Sheet An illustration of a cosmetic difference is the presentation of the balance sheet in many countries that are, or were, members of the British Commonwealth. The balance sheet of a UK company is often presented (1) in the form of A L = OE rather than A = L + OE and (2) in reverse order of liquidity.
Goodwill Intangible Assets Tangible Assets Investments Fixed Assets Equity investments Stocks Debtors Liquid investments Cash at bank Current assets Loans and overdrafts Other creditors Creditors: amounts due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Loans Other creditors
Note: Differences from U.S. GAAP include order of reverse liquidity and model of A - L (Net assets) = SE (Capital Employed) instead of A + L = SE.
Stop & Reflect: Do you see any problems with the IFRS approach to the SCF?
40,000
Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRSs: PP&E Re. revaluation, downward revaluations are possible
Determined on an asset-by-asset basis, not by the class as a whole If downward revaluation, it is offset against the revaluation equity, to the extent it exists. Any excess goes to expense If subsequent upward revaluation, goes to income to extent of any prior revaluation expense taken
Construction period interest may be expensed or capitalized (US GAAP requires capitalization only) Depreciation determined similarly under IFRS & US GAAP
Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRSs: Leases Under US GAAP, leases are classified as capital if one or more of the 4 criteria are met (title transfer, bargain purchase option, 75% of economic life, MLP >= 90% of asset FMV) Under IFRS, criteria are less rigid.
Internally-generated intangibles
Normally expensed as incurred In the case of internal R&D, IFRS splits the costs into a research phase and a development phase (similar definition to US GAAP) Research phase costs are expensed under US GAAP and IFRS
Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRSs: Intangible Assets Accounting may differ in development phase Under US GAAP, costs are expensed Under IFRS, costs can be capitalized if ALL the following are met:
Completion is technically feasible Intention is to complete asset and use or sell Company has ability to do so Can demonstrate how asset will generate future benefit Company has resources to complete the asset Company can reliably measure development expenditures
Stop & Reflect: Do you think it makes sense to allow capitalization of some R&D, as permitted under IFRS?
Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRSs: Accounting Changes IFRS 2, Stock-Based Payment, includes stock compensation US GAAP followed with SFAS 123 (R) (fair value)
Author, Army veteran, U.S Congress Representative from Tennessee, and hero of the Alamo, David Crockett used the following campaign slogan: Be sure youre right, then go ahead.
Take-Away Points
IFRSs are the accounting standards published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). IFRSs are now accepted or required in more than 100 countries. Leading accounting experts anticipate that IFRSs will be accepted for financial reporting, in place of US GAAP, for all companies listed in US stock market, as early as 2012 or 2013. Since IFRSs are regarded as more principles-based as opposed to the more rules-based US GAAP, ethical character and professional judgment will be even more critical (if that is possible) in an IFRSbased financial reporting environment. Be sure youre right, then go ahead.