IASB Framework
[Submitted by CMA. Devarajan Swaminathan,
Cost and Management Accountant,
Thane-Mumbai, Maharashtra]
July 24, 2009
The International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation (IASC Foundation) Constitution mentions about the IASB Framework twice, once in paragraph 29 and another in paragraph 43.
Paragraph 29 of the IASC Foundation Constitution reads like this:
Each full time and part time member of the IASB shall agree contractually to act in public interest and to have regard to the IASB Framework (as amended from time to time) in deciding on and revising standards.
Paragraph 43(a) of the IASC Foundation Constitution reads like this:
The International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee (IFRIC) shall interpret the application of International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and provide timely guidance on financial reporting issues not specifically addressed in the IAS’s and the IFRS’s with the context of the IASB Framework and undertake other tasks at the request of the IASB.
The International Accounting Standards Board Framework or the IASB Framework or the Conceptual Framework is the framework for the preparation and presentation of Financial Statements.
The IASB Framework was approved by the IASC Board in April 1989 and adopted by the IASB in April 2001.
The purpose of the IASB Framework is to assist and guide the IASB to develop new or revised standards and to assist the preparers of financial statements in applying the standards and dealing with issues that are not specifically addressed by the Standards.
The Framework does not have the force of a Standard. Therefore, in case of a conflict between the Standard and the Framework, the Standard will prevail over the Framework.
The Framework deals with:
- The objective of financial statements
- The assumptions on the basis of which the financial statements are prepared.
- The qualitative characteristics that determine the usefulness of information in financial statements.
- The definition, recognition and measurement of the elements from which the financial statements are constructed and
- Concepts of capital and capital maintenance.
Objective of Financial Statements are:
The objective of financial statements is to provide information about
- Financial Position:
The balance sheet presents this information. The financial position of an enterprise is affected by the economic resources it controls, its financial structure, its liquidity and solvency, and its capacity to adapt to changes in the environment in which it operates.
- Performance:
Performance is the ability of an enterprise to earn a profit on the resources that have been invested in it. Information about the amounts and variability of profits helps in forecasting future cash flows from the enterprise's existing resources and in forecasting potential additional cash flows from additional resources that might be invested in the enterprise. The Framework states that information about performance is primarily provided in an income statement.
- Changes in the financial position of an entity.
Users of financial statements seek information about the investing, financing and operating activities that an enterprise has undertaken during the reporting period. This information helps in assessing how well the enterprise is able to generate cash and cash equivalents and how it uses those cash flows. The cash flow statement provides this kind of information
The Assumptions on which the financial statements are prepared include:
- Accrual basis of accounting: The effects of transactions and other events are recognized when they occur, rather than when cash or its equivalent is received or paid, and they are reported in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate
- Going Concern: The financial statements presume that an enterprise will continue in operation indefinitely or, if that presumption is not valid, disclosure and a different basis of reporting are required.
The qualitative characteristics that determine the usefulness of information in financial statements are:
- Understandability
Information should be presented in a way that is readily understandable by users who have a reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities and accounting and who are willing to study the information diligently.
- Relevance
Information in financial statements is relevant when it influences the economic decisions of users. It can do that both by
(a) Helping them evaluate past, present, or future events relating to an enterprise and by
(b) Confirming or correcting past evaluations they have made.
Materiality is a component of relevance. Information is material if its omission or misstatement could influence the economic decisions of users. Timeliness is another component of relevance. To be useful, information must be provided to users within the time period in which it is most likely to bear on their decisions.
- Reliability
Information in financial statements is reliable if it is free from material error and bias and can be depended upon by users to represent events and transactions faithfully. Information is not reliable when it is purposely designed to influence users' decisions in a particular direction. There is sometimes a tradeoff between relevance and reliability - and judgement is required to provide the appropriate balance. Reliability is affected by the use of estimates and by uncertainties associated with items recognized and measured in financial statements. These uncertainties are dealt with, in part, by disclosure and, in part, by exercising prudence in preparing financial statements. Prudence is the inclusion of a degree of caution in the exercise of the judgement needed in making the estimates required under conditions of uncertainty, such that assets or income are not overstated and liabilities or expenses are not understated. However, prudence can only be exercised within the context of the other qualitative characteristics in the Framework, particularly relevance and the faithful representation of transactions in financial statements. Prudence does not justify deliberate overstatement of liabilities or expenses or deliberate understatement of assets or income, because the financial statements would not be neutral and, therefore, not have the quality of reliability.
- Comparability
Users must be able to compare the financial statements of an enterprise over time so that they can identify trends in its financial position and performance. Users must also be able to compare the financial statements of different enterprises. Disclosure of accounting policies is essential for comparability.
Elements of Financial Statements
Financial statements portray the financial effects of transactions and other events by grouping them into broad classes according to their economic characteristics.
Recognition of the Elements of Financial Statements
An item is recognized when it is included in the financial statements. It is the process of incorporating in the balance sheet or income statement an item that meets the definition of an element and satisfies the following criteria for recognition:
- It is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item will flow to or from the enterprise; and
- The item's cost or value can be measured with reliability.
Matching principle is a useful concept where it considers whether an asset arises when liability is recognized and vice versa. It is the principle of matching expenses with income.
The following elements are directly related to financial position (balance sheet):
Assets
Definition: An asset is a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise.
Recognition: An Asset is recognized in the balance sheet when it is probable that the future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise and the asset has a cost or value that can be measured reliably.
Liability:
Definition: A liability is a present obligation of the enterprise arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the enterprise of resources embodying economic benefits.
Recognition: A liability is recognized in the balance sheet when it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will result from the settlement of a present obligation and the amount at which the settlement will take place can be measured reliably.
Equity:
Definition: Equity is the residual interest in the assets of the enterprise after deducting all its liabilities.
The following elements relates to performance:
Income.
Definition: Income is the increase in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants.
The definition of income encompasses both revenue and gains. Revenue arises in the course of the ordinary activities of an enterprise and is referred to by a variety of different names including sales, fees, interest, dividends, royalties and rent. Gains represent other items that meet the definition of income and may, or may not, arise in the course of the ordinary activities of an enterprise. Gains represent increases in economic benefits and as such are no different in nature from revenue. Hence, they are not regarded as constituting a separate element in the IASC Framework.
Recognition:
Income is recognized in the income statement when an increase in future economic benefits related to an increase in an asset or a decrease of a liability has arisen that can be measured reliably. This means, in effect, that recognition of income occurs simultaneously with the recognition of increases in assets or decreases in liabilities (for example, the net increase in assets arising on a sale of goods or services or the decrease in liabilities arising from the waiver of a debt payable).
Expense.
Definition: Expenses are decreases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of outflows or depletions of assets or incurrence of liabilities that result in decreases in equity, other than those relating to distributions to equity participants.
The definition of expenses encompasses losses as well as those expenses that arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the enterprise. Expenses that arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the enterprise include, for example, cost of sales, wages and depreciation. They usually take the form of an outflow or depletion of assets such as cash and cash equivalents, inventory, property, plant and equipment. Losses represent other items that meet the definition of expenses and may, or may not, arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the enterprise. Losses represent decreases in economic benefits and as such they are no different in nature from other expenses. Hence, they are not regarded as a separate element in this Framework.
Recognition:
Expenses are recognized when a decrease in future economic benefits related to a decrease in an asset or an increase of a liability has arisen that can be measured reliably. This means, in effect, that recognition of expenses occurs simultaneously with the recognition of an increase in liabilities or a decrease in assets (for example, the accrual of employee entitlements or the depreciation of equipment).
Measurement of the Elements of Financial Statements
It is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item will flow to or from the enterprise; and the item's cost or value can be measured with reliability. Based on these general criteria:
Measurement involves assigning monetary amounts at which the elements of the financial statements are to be recognized and reported.
The Framework acknowledges that a variety of measurement bases are used today to different degrees and in varying combinations in financial statements, including:
Historical cost
Current cost
Net realizable (settlement) value
Present value (discounted)
Historical cost is the measurement basis most commonly used today, but it is usually combined with other measurement bases. The Framework does not include concepts or principles for selecting which measurement basis should be used for particular elements of financial statements or in particular circumstances. However, the qualitative characteristics do provide some guidance.
Concept of Capital and Capital Maintenance:
The framework distinguishes between a financial capital and a physical concept of capital.
Under Financial Capital maintenance, profit is earned if the financial amount of the net assets at the end of the period exceeds the financial amount at the beginning of that period, after excluding distributions to and contributions from the owners during the period.
Under physical capital maintenance concept, a profit is earned if the physical productive capacity (or operating capabilities) of the entity (or the resources or funds needed to achieve that capacity) at the end of the period exceeds the productive capacity at the beginning of that period after excluding any distributions to and contributions from the owners during that period.
Conclusion: The above framework is subject to amendment. The IASB along with FASB is working on a Conceptual Framework which is expected to be ready by 2010.
References have been heavily drawn from:
- www.iasb.org
- http://www.iasplus.com/agenda/framework.htm
- IFRS Practical implementation, guide and workbook by Abbas Ali Mirza, Magus Orell, Graham.J.Holt, Second Edition, a John Wiley Publication.
