...A Comparison and Contrast Analysis of United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) This paper examined the relationship between United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and found merging both accounting standards into a worldwide standard is ideal for investors. Corporate financial statement requirements depend on location. The two accepted accounting standard systems are GAAP and IFRS. The differences between GAAP and IFRS are GAAP is rules-based and IFRS is principle-based. How can a worldwide accounting standard benefit the world economy? The answer depends on political will, culture, countries history, and business structure. Research indicated there are only slight differences between GAAP and IFRS. These slight differences must be explored further to predict the impact on companies, economic, and financial markets. GAAP and IFRS have to be reconciled as a worldwide accounting standard to efficiently allow investors to compare foreign companies. GAAP set the accounting standard for the United States since its inception in 1929. GAAP evolved over the last 60 years (Măciucă, Ursache, Moroşan, & Apetri, 2014). IFRS was established in 1973 (Smith, 2012). IFRS used GAAP as a source document for its standards, either to imitate, modify, or omit (Chevis, 2014). The European Union established IFRS as the standard in 2005 (Smith...
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...Comparison 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...
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...PwC Similarities and Differences A Comparison of IFRS, US GAAP and Indian GAAP* *connectedthinking November 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers’ publications and tools PricewaterhouseCoopers has a range of tools and publications to help companies apply IFRS (see also the inside back cover). Illustrat ive Consolidated Fin ancial Statements • Corporate, 2007 • Banking, 2006 • Insurance, 2006 • Investment funds, 2006 • Investment property, 2006 Realistic sets of financial statements – for existing IFRS preparers in the above sectors – illustrating the required disclosure and presentation. Measurement checklist 200 6 Outlines the measurement bases required by all IFRSs published up to September 2006 Adopting IFRS – A step-by-step illu stratio n of t he transitio n t o IFRS Illustrates the steps involved in preparing the first IFRS financial statements. It takes into account the effect on IFRS 1 of the standards issued up to and including March 2004. IFRS for SMEs (proposals) – Pocket Guide 200 7 Provides a summary of the recognition and measurement requirements in the proposed ‘IFRS for Small and MediumSized Entities’ published by the International Accounting Standards Board in February 2007 IAS 39 – Achi eving hedge accounting in practice Covers in detail the practical issues in achieving hedge accounting under IAS 39. It provides answers to frequently asked questions and step-by-step illustrations of how to apply common hedging...
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... | |US GAAP vs IFRS | | | | | For decades the US financial market has stuck to accounting rules known as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, commonly abbreviated as U.S. GAAP, or simply GAAP. Just less than a year ago, there was the groundbreaking elimination of GAAP requirement for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) reporting foreign issuers, due to a strong global support for IFRS. Then on August 27th 2008, the Securities Exchange Commission voted to publish for public comment a proposed Roadmap that could lead to the use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by U.S. issuers beginning in 2014. Currently, U.S. issuers use U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). The Commission would make a decision in 2011 on whether adoption of IFRS is in the public interest and would benefit investors. The proposed multi-year plan sets out several milestones that, if achieved, could lead to the use of IFRS by U.S. issuers in their filings with the Commission (Navigating). The transition from U.S. GAAP to IFRS reporting will have a huge impact for investors and businesses in...
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...Disclosures in IFRS Evidence from Infosys financial statements Abstract: INTRODUCTION: To reassure the position of a globalised economy, India is all set to implement IFRS .This paper attempts to show cause the disclosures as per the new accounting standard IFRS. Infosys, the software giant is one of the early movers in India to prepare the financial statements as per IFRS. This company has carved a niche in itself in good practices in financial reporting. Though India has missed the earlier deadline of converging to IFRS from April 2011, has shown its commitments to implement IFRs compliant accounting standards once few ambiguities are addressed to The main thrust of IFRS prepared by IASB (internal Accounting standard Board) is the “fair value accounting and detailed disclosures to make the financial statements more useful for the stakeholders. With the paradigm shift in the accounting standard there might be volatilities of the numbers reported. Right from the classification of assets, liabilities, equities until principle differences of asset valuations, revenue recognitions IFRS differ from existing GAAP. There were inquisitive analysts, accounting experts who would want to capture the transition difference of the two accounting standards. Hence, it will be of academic interest to study the difference between local GAAP and IFRS. This paper analyses the IFRS statement of Infosys from Financial year 2009 and makes comparisons with the Indian GAAP numbers. This study...
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...AUDIT | DECEMBER 2012 THE POWER OF BEING UNDERSTOOD U.S. GAAP VS. IFRS: IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AT-A-GLANCE Increasing globalization coupled with related regulations continues to put pressure on moving towards a common global accounting framework – International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Currently, more than 100 countries use IFRS, so if your business goals include global expansion, it is critical to educate yourself about the impact of IFRS on your financial reporting processes and business now. To gain a better understanding of what IFRS means for your organization, we have prepared a series of comparisons dedicated to highlighting significant differences between IFRS and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This particular comparison focuses on the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS when accounting for the impairment of long-lived assets. For other comparisons available in this series, refer to our U.S. GAAP vs. IFRS comparisons at-a-glance series. A discussion about U.S. GAAP and IFRS would not be complete without mentioning the status of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) activities focused on determining whether the application of IFRS by U.S. registrants should be required or allowed. While the SEC has not made any final decisions with respect to use of IFRS by U.S. registrants, its activities are ongoing. For more information, refer to our IFRS Resource Center. The guidance related to accounting for the...
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...ACCOUNTING CANADIAN GAAP – IFRS COMPARISON SERIES Issue 15: IAS 1 Presentation Of Financial Statements Both IFRS and Canadian GAAP are principle based frameworks, and from a conceptual standpoint, many of the general principles are the same. However, the application of those general principles in IFRS can be significantly different from Canadian GAAP. Therefore, to understand the magnitude of the differences between IFRS and Canadian GAAP, it is essential to look beyond the general principles and look at the detailed guidance provided in the standards. This is our fifteenth issue in a series of publications, which will provide detailed information on the key differences between IFRS and Canadian GAAP. This issue will focus on the significant differences between current Canadian GAAP requirements for financial statement presentation and the IFRS requirements. These differences relate mainly to: • • • • • Presentation of financial position and equity; Presentation of comprehensive income; Presentation of cash flows; Other Presentation Issues; and First Time Adoption Issues related to Presentation of Financial Statements. Be advised that this publication is a guide to the differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS and is not meant to be a comprehensive manual. Please contact a BDO representative for specific details and information. Introduction The requirements of financial statement structure and content are more prescribed under IFRS than Canadian GAAP; however, fundamentally...
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...Comparison between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards May 2013 © 2013 Grant Thornton LLP All rights reserved U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd Comparison between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards 2 Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 6 International standards and the IASB ............................................................................................................ 6 Financial accounting and reporting in the United States ................................................................................ 6 IFRS and U.S. GAAP comparison ................................................................................................................. 6 Overall financial statement presentation ................................................................................................... 8 General .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Statement of financial position / balance sheet .............................................................................................. 9 Statement of comprehensive income / income statement ........................................................................... 12 Statement of changes in equity...
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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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...organization is reporting under the IFRS standard while their branch in the United States is using US-GAAP. While the differences do not outweigh the similarities, GAAP and IFRS standards have caused some concerns in financial reporting. These concerns have led to the evaluation of these two reporting standards and the discussion on whether to move IFRS worldwide. This paper will outline a few of the differences between GAAP and IFRS as well as review the discussion of standardized reporting using IFRS. Introduction Historically, accounting and reporting standards in the United States have been set by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accounts) as laid out by the regulations set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was developed by the AICPA as a council for establishing standards for reporting for all United States companies. Under FASB, GAAP was reorganized into approximately 90 accounting standards offering concise methods to follow for financial reporting. This not only allowed for ease of access when reading US financials statements, but also allowed for comparison of documentation for investments, credits, and other financial decisions. On the other hand, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) were developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) based in London. Currently, about 120 nations require the use of IFRS for financial reporting by public companies...
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...Is the Difference in Accounting Treatment of Post-Retirement Benefits under IFRS Beneficial or Detrimental to the Financial Position of a Company Currently Reporting Under US GAAP? Megan N. Cook, CPA, CFE Accountancy 521 Professor Lawrence March 9, 2009 The first pension plan offered by an American employer was that of American Express in the year 1875. Amex’s plan did not resemble the plans that we see in today’s time; the first “modern” defined benefit plan was created in 1940 by the automotive behemoth General Motors. These plans of the past still do not resemble plans that we are familiar with today. In the past, employers could exercise a “pension put” option and, in essence, close the plan down at the current level of funding and turn the assets over to the retirees. This is not an optimal situation, as many plans at the time were severely under funded and retirees would be left with pennies on the dollar of what they were counting on for retirement. (Fortune, 2005) Post-retirement benefits are volatile on a couple of different fronts; up until the reforms in 1974 which created ERISA and the PBGC, employees had to put blind faith in their employers to secure their futures after their working years were over. (Fortune, 2005) On another front, these benefits pose a significant accounting problem – how should a company account for the costs and liabilities associated with these benefits they had to give their employees at a later and relatively indeterminable...
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...IFRS and GAAP Valeria Torres Acc/290 05/02/16 Comfort Chevannes What are the main diffrences between IFRS and GAAP International Accounting Financial Reporting Standards AKA IFRS and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles AKA GAAP are two financial reported systems that govern and principles to the accounting world. Both systems require specific financial documents and have specific standards to follow in terms of accounting for inventory and how they define assets. What will be further discussed will be key diffrences in the two financial accounting reporting systems. 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? IFRS and GAAP’s difference in the format of financial position on the balance sheet is the order in which liquidity is reported. In the balance sheet under GAAP the degree of liquidity is taken highly into consideration, meaning that cash under currents assets is the first to be recorded followed by longterm asstes, liabilities and then share and stock holders equity. IFRS on the other hand doesn’t require any type of recording order. So it can start with Liabilities, and work its way down the line to current assets, cash. IFRS 2-2: Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? Explain IFRS and GAAP’s conceptual framework do not differ in terms of the objective in financial...
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...Revenue Recognition: Converge between U.S. GAAP and IFRS While the basic revenue recognition model under US GAAP and IFRS share some similarities, if we make a comparison under two systems, we may find quite a few differences. In general, IFRS has much less industry-specific guidance than does US GAAP. First, one of the main differences lies in timing of revenue recognition with respect to contracts criteria such as long-term construction or contingency. According to US GAAP, revenue must be realized or realizable with certainty. The revenue recognition criteria may lead to deferrals in recognition. On the contrary, IFRS just defines the revenue recognition as “when it is possible that future economic benefits will flow into the enterprise and can be measured reliably”. Second, as for the long-term contracts revenue recognition, if reliable estimate cannot be made, GAAP allows completed contract method. It differs from that of the IFRS, which allows the cost recovery method. Third, US GAAP provides a much more detailed guidance about separation and allocation of multiple-deliverable arrangements in comparison to the guidance of IFRS. The US GAAP does not allow revenue recognition if a company fails to deliver remaining elements. Under IFRS, an entity can recognize its revenue if delivery is probable. The new ASU entitled “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” definitely leads to some important changes from current GAAP. There are core revenue recognition principle and five...
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...GAAP vs. IFRS Giovanni Flores Johanna Guedea Orlando Muñoz ACC/290 March 10, 2015 Stephen Russell GAAP vs. IFRS For a long time, there have been proposals that have been working on with regard to the replacement of GAAP also known as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles with IFRS known as International Financial Reporting Standards which are used in the accounting and financial reporting aspects. But what is it that makes them both so different and so similar? It all falls into the comparison of GAAP and the IFRS in explaining the two standards that have such enormous implications for the functions of accountants, attorneys, corporate directors and financial officers now in days. The differences and similarities between IFRS and GAAP can be quite overwhelming. Starting with the format of a statement or financial or position under IFRS how it often differs from a balance sheet presented under GAAP. Ifrs does not require a particular order or classification of accounts on the statement of financial position when GAAP does have a specific requirement that all reports are ranked on their measure liquidity. The primary goal in IFRS is to give users of financial statements a clear understanding of the companies asset structure. After the asset structure and the shareholder are reported, liabilities follow ending the financial statement, unlike IFRS, GAAP orders liquid assets first and the shareholder equity is reported very last on the balance...
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...IFRS vs U.S. GAAP Victoria Harris American Public University Acct 610 There are two sets of accounting standards that are used worldwide. One is the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). There is a huge desire for there to one set of accounting standards worldwide with the increase of companies performing business in many different countries and global expansion. The International Financial Reporting Standards are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. These set of accounting standards are international in more than 110 countries and the state how certain transactions and other events should be reported in the preparation of financial statements. This set of standards’ purpose is to make international comparisons easier. This is not an easy task, though, because there is already set rules in every country. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles are another set of accounting standards that is adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are the rules followed by companies in the United States when compiling financial statements. These set of standards was originally developed by auditors and regulated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) historically. The SEC is now considering changing the standards for the United States and going with the International Financial Reporting Standards in order to create a more constant...
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