accounting conceptual frame work

7/29/2019 accounting conceptual frame work

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Preface

The Board of IASC believes that financial statements prepared for thispurpose meet the common needs of most users. This is becausenearly all users are making economic decisions, for example, to:

(a) decide when to buy, hold or sell an equity investment;

(b) assess the stewardship or accountability of management;(c) assess the ability of the entity to pay and provide other benefits to

its employees;

(d) assess the security for amounts lent to the entity;

(e) determine taxation policies;

(f) determine distributable profits and dividends;

(g) prepare and use national income statistics; or

(h) regulate the activities of entities.


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Purpose and status

assist preparers of financial statements in

applying International Accounting

Standards and in dealing with topics that

have yet to form the subject of an

International Accounting Standard;


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Scope

The Frameworkdeals with:

(a) the objective of financial statements;

(b) the qualitative characteristics that determine

the usefulness of information in financialstatements;

(c) the definition, recognition and measurement of

the elements from which financial statementsare constructed; and

(d) concepts of capital and capital maintenance.


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Users and their information

needs(a) Investors. The providers of risk capital and their

advisers are concerned with the risk inherent in, andreturn provided by, their investments. They needinformation to help them determine whether they shouldbuy, hold or sell. Shareholders are also interested in

information which enables them to assess the ability ofthe entity to pay dividends.

(b) Employees. Employees and their representative groupsare interested in information about the stability andprofitability of their employers. They are also interested

in information which enables them to assess the ability ofthe entity to provide remuneration, retirement benefitsand employment opportunities.


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needs(c) Lenders. Lenders are interested in information

that enables them to determine whether theirloans, and the interest attaching to them, will bepaid when due.

(d) Suppliers and other trade creditors. Suppliersand other creditors are interested in informationthat enables them to determine whetheramounts owing to them will be paid when due.Trade creditors are likely to be interested in anentity over a shorter period than lenders unlessthey are dependent upon the continuation of theentity as a major customer.


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needs(e) Customers. Customers have an interest in

information about the continuance of an entity,especially when they have a long-terminvolvement with, or are dependent on, the

entity.(f) Governments and their agencies. Governments

and their agencies are interested in theallocation of resources and, therefore, theactivities of entities. They also requireinformation in order to regulate the activities ofentities, determine taxation policies and as thebasis for national income and similar statistics.


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needs

g) Public. Entities affect members of the public in avariety of ways. For example, entities may make

a substantial contribution to the local economy in

many ways including the number of people theyemploy and their patronage of local suppliers.

Financial statements may assist the public by

providing information about the trends and

recent developments in the prosperity of theentity and the range of its activities.


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The objective of financial

statements1. The objective of financial statements is to provide information about the

financial position, performance and changes in financial position of an entity

that is useful to a wide range of users in making economic decisions.

2. Financial statements prepared for this purpose meet the common needs ofmost users. However, financial statements do not provide all the informationthat users may need to make economic decisions since they largely portraythe financial effects of past events and do not necessarily provide non-financial information.

3. Financial statements also show the results of the stewardship ofmanagement, or the accountability of management for the resourcesentrusted to it. Those users who wish to assess the stewardship oraccountability of management do so in order that they may make economicdecisions; these decisions may include, for example, whether to hold or selltheir investment in the entity or whether to reappoint or replace themanagement.


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Underlying assumptions

Accrual basis:In order to meet their objectives, financial

statements are prepared on the accrual basis ofaccounting. Under this basis, the effects of

transactions and other events are recognisedwhen they occur (and not as cash or itsequivalent is received or paid) and they arerecorded in the accounting records and reportedin the financial statements of the periods towhich they relate. Financial statements preparedon the accrual basis inform users not only ofpast transactions involving


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Accrual basis:

the payment and receipt of cash but also ofobligations to pay cash in the future and of

resources that represent cash to bereceived in the future. Hence, they providethe type of information about pasttransactions and other events that is mostuseful to users in making economicdecisions.


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Going concern:

The financial statements are normally prepared onthe assumption that an entity is a going concern

and will continue in operation for the foreseeablefuture. Hence, it is assumed that the entity hasneither the intention nor the need to liquidate orcurtail materially the scale of its operations; ifsuch an intention or need exists, the financialstatements may have to be prepared on adifferent basis and, if so, the basis used isdisclosed


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Qualitative characteristics of

financial statementsUnderstandability:

An essential quality of the information provided in financialstatements is that it is readily understandable by users.For this purpose, users are assumed to have a

reasonable knowledge of business and economicactivities and accounting and a willingness to study theinformation with reasonable diligence. However,information about complex matters that should beincluded in the financial statements because of its

relevance to the economic decision-making needs ofusers should not be excluded merely on the grounds thatit may be too difficult for certain users to understand.


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financial statementsRelevance:To be useful, information must be relevant to the decision-making

needs of users. Information has the quality of relevance when itinfluences the economic decisions of users by helping themevaluate past, present or future events or confirming, or correcting,their past evaluations.

The predictive and confirmatory roles of information are interrelated.

For example, information about the current level and structure ofasset holdings has value to users when they endeavour to predictthe ability of the entity to take advantage of opportunities and itsability to react to adverse situations. The same information plays aconfirmatory role in respect of past predictions about, for example,the way in which the entity would be structured or the outcome of

planned operations.


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financial statementsRelevance:MaterialityThe relevance of information is affected by its nature and

materiality. In some cases, the nature of information

alone is sufficient to determine its relevance. Forexample, the reporting of a new segment may affect theassessment of the risks and opportunities facing theentity irrespective of the materiality of the resultsachieved by the new segment in the reporting period. Inother cases, both the nature and materiality are

important, for example, the amounts of inventories heldin each of the main categories that are appropriate to the

business.


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financial statementsReliability:To be useful, information must also be reliable. Information has the

quality of reliability when it is free from material error and bias andcan be depended upon by users to represent faithfully that which iteither purports to represent or could reasonably be expected torepresent.

Information may be relevant but so unreliable in nature or

representation that its recognition may be potentially misleading. Forexample, if the validity and amount of a claim for damages under alegal action are disputed, it may be inappropriate for the entity torecognise the full amount of the claim in the balance sheet, althoughit may be appropriate to disclose the amount and circumstances ofthe claim.


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financial statementsFaithful representation

Substance over form

Neutrality

Prudence

Completeness


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financial statementsComparability:

Users must be able to compare the financial statements ofan entity through time in order to identify trends in itsfinancial position and performance. Users must also be

able to compare the financial statements of differententities in order to evaluate their relative financialposition, performance and changes in financial position.Hence, the measurement and display of the financialeffect of like transactions and other events must be

carried out in a consistent way throughout an entity andover time for that entity and in a consistent way fordifferent entities.


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Constraints on relevant and

reliable informationTimeliness

Balance between benefit and cost

Balance between qualitative characteristics

In practice a balancing, or trade-off, between qualitativecharacteristics is often necessary. Generally the aim is toachieve an appropriate balance among the

characteristics in order to meet the objective of financialstatements . The relative importance of thecharacteristics in different cases is a matter ofprofessional judgment.


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The elements of financial

statementsAssets:is a resource controlled by the entity as a result of

past events and from which future economic benefits areexpected to flow to the entity.

Many assets, for example, property, plant and equipment,have a physical form. However, physical form is notessential to the existence of an asset; hence patents

and copyrights, for example, are assets if futureeconomic benefits are expected to flow from them to theentity and if they are controlled by the entity.


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statementsAssets:Many assets, for example, receivables and property, are associated

with legal rights, including the right of ownership. In determining theexistence of an asset, the right of ownership is not essential; thus,for example, property held on a lease is an asset if the entitycontrols the benefits which are expected to flow from the property.

Although the capacity of an entity to control benefits is usually theresult of legal rights, an item may nonetheless satisfy the definitionof an asset even when there is no legal control. For example, know-how obtained from a development activity may meet the definition ofan asset when, by keeping that know-how secret, an entity controlsthe benefits that are expected to flow from it.


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statementsAssets:

The assets of an entity result from past transactions orother past events. Entities normally obtain assets bypurchasing or producing them, but other transactions or

events may generate assets; examples include propertyreceived by an entity from government as part of aprogramme to encourage economic growth in an areaand the discovery of mineral deposits. Transactions orevents expected to occur in the future do not in

themselves give rise to assets; hence, for example, anintention to purchase inventory does not, of itself, meetthe definition of an asset.


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statements

Liabilities:is a present obligation of theentity arising from past events, the

settlement of which is expected to result in

an outflow from the entity of resourcesembodying economic benefits.


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statementsLiabilities:

An essential characteristic of a liability is that the entity has a presentobligation. An obligation is a duty or responsibility to act or performin a certain way. Obligations may be legally enforceable as aconsequence of a binding contract or statutory requirement. This isnormally the case, for example, with amounts payable for goods and

services received. Obligations also arise, however, from normalbusiness practice, custom and a desire to maintain good business

relations or act in an equitable manner. If, for example, an entitydecides as a matter of policy to rectify faults in its products evenwhen these become apparent after the warranty period has expired,the amounts that are expected to be expended in respect of goods

already sold are liabilities.


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statementsLiabilities:Some liabilities can be measured only by using a substantial degree of

estimation. Some entities describe these liabilities as provisions. Insome countries, such provisions are not regarded as liabilitiesbecause the concept of a liability is defined narrowly so as to includeonly amounts that can be established without the need to make

estimates. The definition of a liability in paragraph 49 followsa broader approach. Thus, when a provision involves a presentobligation and satisfies the rest of the definition, it is a liability even ifthe amount has to be estimated. Examples include provisions forpayments to be made under existing warranties and provisions tocover pension obligations.


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statements

Equity:

is the residual interest in the assets of the

entity after deducting all its liabilities.


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Performance

Incomeis increases in economic benefits during theaccounting period in the form of inflows orenhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities

that result in increases in equity, other than those

relating to contributions from equity participants.

Expenses are decreases in economic benefits during theaccounting period in the form of outflows or depletions ofassets or incurrences of liabilities that result indecreases in equity, other than those relating todistributions to equity participants.


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Recognition of the elements of

financial statements

An item that meets the definition of an

element should be recognised if:

(a) it is probable that any future economic

benefit associated with the item will flow to

or from the entity; and

(b) the item has a cost or value that can be

measured with reliability.


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Reliability of measurement

The second criterion for the recognition of an item is that itpossesses a cost or value that can be measured withreliability as discussed in paragraphs 31 to 38 of thisFramework. In many cases, cost or value must beestimated; the use of reasonable estimates is anessential part of the preparation of financial statements

and does not undermine their reliability. When, however,a reasonable estimate cannot be made the item is notrecognised in the balance sheet or income statement.For example, the expected proceeds from a lawsuit maymeet the definitions of both an asset and income as well

as the probability criterion for recognition; however, if it isnot possible for the claim to be measured reliably, itshould not be recognised as an asset or as income; theexistence of the claim, however, would be disclosed inthe notes, explanatory material or supplementaryschedules.


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Measurement of the elements offinancial statements

Historical cost. Assets are recorded at the amountof cash or cash equivalents paid or the fair value

of the consideration given to acquire them at the

time of their acquisition. Liabilities are recordedat the amount of proceeds received in exchange

for the obligation, or in some circumstances

(for example, income taxes), at the amounts of

cash or cash equivalents expected to be paid tosatisfy the liability in the normal course of

business.


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Measurement of the elements of


Current cost. Assets are carried at theamount of cash or cash equivalents that

would have to be paid if the same or an

equivalent asset was acquired currently.Liabilities are carried at the undiscounted

amount of cash or cash equivalents that

would be required to settle the obligationcurrently.


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Realisable(settlement) value. Assets arecarried at the amount of cash or cashequivalents that could currently be

obtained by selling the asset in an orderlydisposal. Liabilities are carried at theirsettlement values; that is, theundiscounted amounts of cash or cash

equivalents expected to be paid to satisfythe liabilities in the normal course ofbusiness.


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Present value. Assets are carried at thepresent discounted value of the future

net cash inflows that the item is expected

to generate in the normal course ofbusiness. Liabilities are carried at thepresent discounted value of the

future net cash outflows that are expected tobe required to settle the

liabilities in the normal course of business.


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Measurement of the elements of financialstatements

The measurement basis most commonly adopted byentities in preparing their financial statements ishistorical cost. This is usually combined with othermeasurement bases. For example, inventories are

usually carried at the lower of cost and net realisablevalue, marketable securities may be carried at market

value and pension liabilities are carried at their presentvalue. Furthermore, some entities use the current costbasis as a response to the inability of the historical cost

accounting model to deal with the effects of changingprices of non-monetary assets.

Note: this material has prepared based on IASCFoundation Publications Department

accounting conceptual frame work

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