...growing concern, the International Accounting Standards Board was established and has created a code of standards to facilitate such financial reporting. IFRS is an acronym for International Financial Reporting Standards. IFRS are a set of accounting standards that will establish a uniform financial statement accounting standard across the world (AICPA, “What is IFRS”). These standards will create a consistency among financial statements, and will allow external uses better comparability from one entity to another, regardless of the entity’s country of origin. IFRS was developed by the International Accounting Standards Board, IASB, a London based organization established in 2001. The AICPA was a founder member of this board, and, while not in direct affiliation thereof, has established a website to educate individuals and businesses on IFRS (AICPA, “What is the IASB”). The cost of the United States converting to IFRS is under scrutiny, many believe the benefits would be less than the actual costs. In the short-run, the initial costs may indeed outweigh the benefits; however, in the long-run the benefits will surpass the initial expenditure. Benefits of convergence include cost reduction, ease of access, increased consistency and comparability, as well as the creation of new business opportunities. Converging with IFRS may lead to a...
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...GAAP vs. IFRS Principles Based vs. Rules Based A major difference between GAAP and IFRS is that GAAP is rule-based, whereas IFRS is principle-based. With a principle based framework there is the potential for different interpretations of similar transactions, which could lead to extensive disclosures in the financial statements. Although, the standards setting board in a principle-based system can clarify areas that are unclear. This could lead to fewer exceptions than a rules-based system. Another difference between IFRS and GAAP is the methodology used to assess an accounting treatment. Under GAAP, the research is more focused on the literature whereas under IFRS, the review of the facts pattern is more thorough. Some Examples of Differences Between IFRS and U.S. GAAP * Consolidation — IFRS favors a control model whereas GAAP prefers a risks-and-rewards model. Some entities consolidated in accordance with FIN 46(R) may have to be shown separately under IFRS. * Statement of Income — Under IFRS, extraordinary items are not segregated in the income statement. With GAAP, they are shown below the net income. * Inventory — Under IFRS, LIFO cannot be used, but GAAP, companies have the choice between LIFO and FIFO. * Earning-per-Share — Under IFRS, the earning-per-share calculation does not average the individual interim period calculations, whereas under GAAP the computation averages the individual interim period incremental shares. * Development costs —...
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...US GAAP versus IFRS The basics December 2011 !@# Table of contents Introduction .....................................................................2 Financial statement presentation......................................4 Interim financial reporting ................................................6 Consolidation, joint venture accounting and equity method investees .............................................................7 Business combinations ...................................................11 Inventory .......................................................................13 Long-lived assets ...........................................................14 Intangible assets ............................................................16 Impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets ............................................................18 Financial instruments .....................................................20 Foreign currency matters ...............................................28 Leases ...........................................................................30 Income taxes..................................................................33 Provisions and contingencies ..........................................35 Revenue recognition.......................................................37 Share-based payments ...................................................39 Employee benefits other than share-based payments ......41 Earnings...
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...IFRS versus. GAAP Your name ACC/290 February 22, 2016 Jon Mohr IFRS versus GAAP Write a 700- to 1,050-word summary of your team's discussion regarding IFRS versus. GAAP. The summary should be structured in a subject-by-subject format. Include an introduction and a conclusion. Your discussion should include the answers to the following: Introduction Please enter your Introduction here IFRS 2-1: In what ways does the format of a statement of financial or position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? Please enter your answer here * IFRS 2-2: Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? Explain. Please enter your answer here * IFRS 2-3: What terms commonly used under IFRS are synonymous with common stock and balance sheet? Please enter your answer here * IFRS 3-1: Describe some of the issues the SEC must consider in deciding whether the United States should adopt IFRS. Please enter your answer here * IFRS 4-1: Compare and contrast the rules regarding revenue recognition under IFRS versus GAAP. Please enter your answer here * IFRS 4-2: Under IFRS, do the definitions of revenues and expenses include gains and losses? Explain. Please enter your answer here * IFRS 7-1: Some people argue that the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley...
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...US GAAP versus IFRS The basics November 2013 Table of contents Introduction..................................................................... 2 Financial statement presentation ..................................... 3 Interim financial reporting................................................ 6 Consolidation, joint venture accounting and equity method investees/associates ........................................... 7 Business combinations................................................... 13 Inventory ....................................................................... 15 Long-lived assets ........................................................... 16 Intangible assets............................................................ 18 Impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets ............................................................ 20 Financial instruments..................................................... 23 Foreign currency matters .............................................. 30 Leases ........................................................................... 32 Income taxes ................................................................. 35 Provisions and contingencies ......................................... 37 Revenue recognition ...................................................... 39 Share-based payments................................................... 41 Employee benefits other than share-based payments .....
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...between IFRS and GAAP Agustin Blanco ACC 290 06/06/2016 Dan Jensen Comparison between IFRS and GAAP This paper provides a comparison between the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and how they are differentiate from each other in the format of financial statement, conceptual framework, and IFRS terms. There is also a description of some issues the SEC must consider in order to adopt IFRS in the United States as well as a comparison of the rules regarding revenue recognition under IFRS versus GAAP. There is an explanation of the definitions Under IFRS for revenues and expenses, as well as an explanation of the competitive implications (both pros and cons) of Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Questions IFRS 2-1: In what ways does the format of a statement of financial position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? The main difference between the formatting of IFRS and GAAP statement of financial of position and a GAAP balance sheet is the ordering of liquidity. IFRS does not require a particular order or any classification of accounts. It is common for companies to report assets in reverse liquidity under IFRS. Instead, GAAP specifies and requires all a company’s account be classified and ordered based on liquidity. IFRS 2-2: Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? IFRS and GAAP...
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...Convergence of IFRS and GAAP on Auditors Acc 576 Auditing and Business Concepts Abstract The convergence of IFRS and GAAP continues to present professional challenges for U.S. auditors, it also presents career opportunities for auditors who encompasses the idea of globalized change. The convergence of accounting standards is changing the attitudes of CPAs and CFOs as far as internal accounting is concerned and how the quality of the International Accounting Standards will affect it and the efforts made toward converging IFRS and the GAAP standards. Create an argument for or against the IFRS and GAAP convergence process versus a pure adoption of IFRS in the context of impact to the public accounting profession. With Business and finance globalization, almost a hundred countries have adopted IFRS. Approximately 120 nations and reporting jurisdictions permit or require IFRS for domestic listed companies, although approximately 90 countries have fully conformed with IFRS as announced by the IASB and include a statement acknowledging such conformity in audit reports. Motivations for convergence include the belief that it will result in increased comparability between financial statements, which will benefit a variety of stakeholders. One would need to weigh the benefits of a one time cost for transitioning fee, the ability to compare reports, and the benefit of using a single reporting standard for businesses. Assess the cost impact for or against IFRS and GAAP convergence...
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...IFRS vs GAAP – differences in revenue recognition IFRS and GAAP in Canada are both principle-based frameworks with significant conceptual similarities, but where they differ drastically is in the application of those general principles. By looking at the detailed guidance of GAAP vs IFRS for processing various accounting transactions, one can start to embrace the magnitude of the disparity between the two sets of reporting standards. Revenue recognition principle illustrates the IFRS vs GAAP divergence. Under IFRS, the revenue from the sale of goods is recognized when the seller has transferred the significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer and no longer has control or managerial involvement over the goods. Canadian GAAP follows the same logic, but has more specific criteria underlying these principles such as: the existence of persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the occurrence of delivery or rendering of services, and whether the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable. By the same token, Canadian GAAP provides a detailed approach for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements which is not specific to a scenario or industry; IFRS does not provide such detailed guidance, however, it does consider some specific scenarios. The Canadian GAAP vs IFRS distinction can be further seen in examining multi-deliverable arrangements. Canadian GAAP provides a detailed approach for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements which...
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...“Weak Signal: Evidence of IFRS and US GAAP Convergence from Nokia’s 20-F Reconciliations” Nokia was created in 1967 through a merger and has become one of the world’s leaders in mobile communications and electronics. The Finland based company gained a lot of power through acquisitions within the telecommunication and electronic market, made around the 1980’s. The company is now specializing in four segments, mobile phones, multimedia, enterprise solutions, and networks. Nokia has ADRs (American Depository Receipts), which allow investors in the US to trade securities without having to trade in foreign capital, that are currently traded in the New York Stock Exchange as “NOK”. Company shares are also being traded on the Frankfurt, Helsinki, and Stockholm stock markets. Nokia’s first issuance of an ADR was in 1994. Since the communications market is changing and growing very rapidly, the best way to differentiate is to acquire smaller companies and share resources and knowledge. A lot of money is spent on research and development of more advanced technologies to gain a competitive advantage. Currently, Nokia has teamed with Microsoft to offer an alternative to the android and Apple’s iOS. Nokia also has a strong presence in markets such as the wireless handset and wireless infrastructure markets. According to Standard& Poors Communication Equipment 2006 Industry Survey, only Ericsson was ahead of Nokia in being the top supplier of wireless infrastructure. In the same report,...
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...Accountants, for their practices. These guidelines have come to be known as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP. Since their creation, these principles have protected companies and investors from fraud, as accounting practices can sometimes be questionable. The GAAP holds companies accountable for their financial reporting activities and includes rules accountants must follow regarding recording transactions and preparing financial statements. Recently, there have been questions regarding the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States as opposed to the International Financial Recording Standards, or IFRS ; and whether or not the United States should adopt these new accounting standards. There are a number of pros and cons to the International Financial Recording Standards as well as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; however, I do not think that the United States should fully adopt the IFRS considering the history of the GAAP and the reason for the creation of its principles. As previously mentioned, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has been responsible for setting accounting standards. In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board joined with the AICPA in advising, providing input, and determining United States accounting standards- GAAP. The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles include, but are not limited to, standards regarding the following components:...
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...Comparing IFRS to GAAP Paper Ashley Connors ACC/290 Sharon Powers Comparing IFRS to GAAP Paper The comparison between the IFRS and GAAP and how they differ from one another. The accounting industry has many guidelines that need to be followed by accountants, analysts, and organizations. The internal Accounting Standards Board issued standards (IFRS) that have been adopted by the United States and several countries out of the U.S. In what ways does the format of a statement of financial or position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? The format of a statement of finical or position under IFRS differ a balance sheet presented under GAAP in the following ways. IFRS does not require a certain order or classification of accounts on the statement of finical position. Companies are recommended to report assists in reverse order of liquidity. Making sure the users of finical statements have a clear understanding of the company’s structure is important. An example of the order of accounts on the statement of finical position is: * Long Term Assets * Current Assets * Shareholder Equality * Long Term Liability * Current Liabilities GAAP requires that all accounts are ranked on their measureable liquidly. Cash assets will be ordered first and shareholder equity will be ordered last. * Current Assets * Long Term Assets * Current Liabilities * Long Term Liabilities * Shareholder Equity What...
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...2014). What are the differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS? U.S. GAAP allows numerous ways, such as retail method, to determine the cost of inventory. The three simple and most popular methods used include: 1) first-in, first-out (FIFO), 2) last-in, first-out (LIFO), and weighted average (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). Once the cost is evaluated, the LCM rule is applied to the result to decide the monetary value to be stated in the financial reports. The LCM reflects a “conservative approach” by stating the expected current losses and deferring gains until these are recognized (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). The U.S. GAAP in general tends to lean toward a safe approach, basically counting more on the certain facts and not relying on opinions or the uncertain. IFRS inventory rules are less conventional or cautious compared to US GAAP inventory rules, which I agree with the author on. There are four major differences between the US GAAP and the IFRS. First, IFRS permits the use of the FIFO and weighted average methods, but LIFO is not allowed (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). Second, IFRS applies the lower of cost/net realizable value (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). Third, the old inventory “cost” is used in applying the lower of cost/net realizable value over the entire period that the inventory is held (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). Fourth, write-downs are reversed as selling rates escalate (Gray & Ehoff Jr., 2014). Over the course of an entity’s life, US GAAP and IFRS lead in the same amount of expense and profit...
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...provide oversight for Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Both the FASB and the IASB have been working together to bring more of a uniform set of regulations between the two standards. GAAP has tradionally always provided the guidelines that companies in the United States follow when putting their financial statements together and the IFRS has been the standard that international companies have followed. IFRS 2-1: In what ways does the format of a statement of financial or position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? The IFRS doesn't say that there has to be a certain order of accounts on the financial statement. Most of the time companies will report their assets in an order of liquidity. GAAP mandates that every account be listed in their degree of liquidity. Cash is reported first and then assets that aren't current will be reported last. IFRS 2-2: Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? Explain. The IFRS and GAAP have similar ways of viewing the financial data. Both of them state that the data should be accurate, relevant and truthful. Information that is considered considered relevant is anything that an investor would want to see. IFRS 2-3: What terms commonly used under IFRS are synonymous with common stock and balance sheet? The Financial...
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..."Comparing IFRS to GAAP Paper" In what ways does the format of a statement of financial or position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? The United States uses two main accounting systems. We have the GAAP(Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and we also have IFRS(International Financial Reporting Standards). These two accounting systems have differences that make them a bit different from each other. For example GAAP Balance sheets have Income statement, a statement of comprehensive income, changes in equality, a cash flow statement and footnotes. IFRS Balance sheet has an Income statement, Statement of comprehensive income, changes in equality, cash flow statement and Footnotes. The difference in these reports is that IFRS has a comprehensive income. Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? Explain. GAAP and IFRS seem to have similar ways when it comes to financial reporting. Both have the same concept that financial reporting should be relevant and frequently represented. Any Information that is reported through these reports is viewed as anything that could be useful. Information that is frequently reported or represented should comply with rules and standards of the to industry and any estimates should be conservative in nature. What terms commonly used under IFRS are synonymous with common stock and balance sheet? Balance Sheet is synonymous with the “Statement of Financial...
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...Jennifer Linnell Comparing IFRS to GAAP ACC 290 Katherine Conrad 07/07/2014 The United States are transitioning from GAAP to IFRS. While trying to understand and compare IFRS and GAAP, we see how the United States will be affected by this change, as well as see if the United States will benefit and prosper from using IFRS instead of GAAP. In what ways does the format of a statement of financial position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? IFRS will refer to a statement of financial position as the statement of assets and equity. IFRS will present statements of financial position information in a certain order; Non-current assets, current assets, equity, non-current liabilities, and current liabilities. While IFRS is presented in a certain order, GAAP assets are listed in the order that they are expected to be converted into cash. GAAP specifically requires all accounts to be ordered based on their degree of liquidity. Cash is reported first and non-current assets are reported last. An example of a GAAP balance sheet order would be; Current assets, long term assets, current liabilities, long term liabilities, and shareholder equity. (Kieso, D.E, Kimmel, P.D., & Weygandt, J.J., 2014) Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? When it comes to the terms of objective, IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks do not differ. Both IFRS and GAAP focus on setting a set of accounting principles...
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