INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD 34 INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORTING | |
OBJECTIVE | |
SCOPE | 1 |
DEFINITIONS | 4 |
CONTENT OF AN INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT | 5 |
Minimum components of an interim financial report | 8 |
Form and content of interim financial statements | 9 |
Significant events and transactions | 15 |
Other disclosures | 16A |
Disclosure of compliance with IFRSs | 19 |
Periods for which interim financial statements are required to be presented | 20 |
Materiality | 23 |
DISCLOSURE IN ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 26 |
RECOGNITION AND MEASUREMENT | 28 |
Same accounting policies as annual | 28 |
Revenues received seasonally, cyclically, or occasionally | 37 |
Costs incurred unevenly during the financial year | 39 |
Applying the recognition and measurement principles | 40 |
Use of estimates | 41 |
RESTATEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY REPORTED INTERIM PERIODS | 43 |
EFFECTIVE DATE | 46 |
FOR THE ACCOMPANYING GUIDANCE LISTED BELOW, SEE PART B OF THIS EDITION
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ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES | |
FOR THE BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS, SEE PART C OF THIS EDITION
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BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS |
International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34) is set out in paragraphs 1–60. All the paragraphs have equal authority but retain the IASC format of the Standard when it was adopted by the IASB. IAS 34 should be read in the context of its objective and the Basis for Conclusions, the Preface to IFRS Standards and the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and applying accounting policies in the absence of explicit guidance. [Refer:IAS 8 paragraphs 10–12]
The objective of this Standard is to prescribe the minimum content of an interim financial report [Refer:paragraphs 5–27 and 43–46] and to prescribe the principles for recognition and measurement [Refer:paragraphs 28–42] in complete [Refer:paragraph 5] or condensed financial statements [Refer:paragraph 8] for an interim period. Timely and reliable interim financial reporting improves the ability of investors, creditors, and others to understand an entity’s capacity to generate earnings and cash flows and its financial condition and liquidity.
1 | This Standard does not mandate which entities should be required to publish interim financial reports, how frequently, or how soon after the end of an interim period. However, governments, securities regulators, stock exchanges, and accountancy bodies often require entities whose debt or equity securities are publicly traded to publish interim financial reports. This Standard applies if an entity is required or elects to publish an interim financial report in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). The International Accounting Standards Committee1 encourages publicly traded entities to provide interim financial reports that conform to the recognition, measurement, [Refer:paragraphs 28–42] and disclosure [Refer:paragraphs 8–25] principles set out in this Standard. Specifically, publicly traded entities are encouraged:
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2 | Each financial report, annual or interim, is evaluated on its own for conformity to IFRSs. The fact that an entity may not have provided interim financial reports during a particular financial year or may have provided interim financial reports that do not comply with this Standard does not prevent the entity’s annual financial statements [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37] from conforming [Refer:IAS 1 paragraph 16] to IFRSs if they otherwise do so. |
3 | If an entity’s interim financial report is described as complying with IFRSs, it must comply with all of the requirements of this Standard. Paragraph 19 requires certain disclosures in that regard. |
4 | The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified: Interim period is a financial reporting period shorter than a full financial year. Interim financial report means a financial report containing either a complete set of financial statements (as described in IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (as revised in 2007)) or a set of condensed financial statements (as described in this Standard) for an interim period. |
5 | IAS 1 defines a complete set of financial statements as including the following components:
An entity may use titles for the statements other than those used in this Standard. For example, an entity may use the title ‘statement of comprehensive income’ instead of ‘statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income’. |
6 | In the interest of timeliness and cost considerations and to avoid repetition of information previously reported, an entity may be required to or may elect to provide less information at interim dates as compared with its annual financial statements [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37]. This Standard defines the minimum content of an interim financial report as including condensed financial statements [Refer:paragraphs 8 and 9–14] and selected explanatory notes [Refer:paragraphs 15 and 16A]. The interim financial report is intended to provide an update on the latest complete set of annual financial statements. Accordingly, it focuses on new activities, events, and circumstances and does not duplicate information previously reported. |
7 | Nothing in this Standard is intended to prohibit or discourage an entity from publishing a complete set of financial statements (as described in IAS 1) in its interim financial report, rather than condensed financial statements [Refer:paragraphs 8 and 9–14] and selected explanatory notes. [Refer:paragraphs 15 and 16A] Nor does this Standard prohibit or discourage an entity from including in condensed interim financial statements more than the minimum line items or selected explanatory notes as set out in this Standard. The recognition and measurement guidance in this Standard [Refer:paragraphs 28–42] applies also to complete financial statements for an interim period, and such statements would include all of the disclosures required by this Standard (particularly the selected note disclosures in paragraph 16A) as well as those required by other IFRSs. |
8 | An interim financial report shall include, at a minimum, the following components:
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8A | If an entity presents items of profit or loss in a separate statement as described in paragraph 10A of IAS 1 (as amended in 2011), it presents interim condensed information from that statement. |
9 | If an entity publishes a complete set of financial statements in its interim financial report, the form and content of those statements shall conform to the requirements of IAS 1 for a complete set of financial statements. |
10 | If an entity publishes a set of condensed financial statements in its interim financial report, those condensed statements shall include, at a minimum, each of the headings and subtotals that were included in its most recent annual financial statements [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37] and the selected explanatory notes as required by this Standard. Additional line items or notes shall be included if their omission would make the condensed interim financial statements misleadingE1. |
E1 | [IFRIC® Update, July 2014, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting—condensed statement of cash flows’ The Interpretations Committee received a request to clarify the application of the requirements regarding the presentation and content of the condensed statement of cash flows in the interim financial statements according to IAS 34. The submitter observed that there are divergent views on the presentation and content of the condensed statement of cash flows. One view is that an entity should present a detailed structure of the condensed statement of cash flows showing cash flows by nature. Another view is that an entity may present a three-line condensed statement of cash flows showing only a total for each of operating, investing and financing cash flow activities. The Interpretations Committee noted that a condensed statement of cash flows is one of the primary statements that is included as part of an interim financial report as prescribed by paragraph 8 of IAS 34. Paragraph 10 of IAS 34 specifies that each of the condensed statements shall include, at a minimum, each of the headings and subtotals that were included in the most recent annual financial statements. Paragraph 10 of IAS 34 also requires additional line items to be included if their omission would make the interim financial statements misleading. The Interpretations Committee also noted that in an interim financial report:
In this respect, the Interpretations Committee noted that to meet the requirements in paragraphs 10, 15 and 25 of IAS 34 a condensed statement of cash flows should include all information that is relevant in understanding the entity’s ability to generate cash flows and the entity’s needs to utilise those cash flows. It also noted that it did not expect that a three-line presentation alone would meet the requirements in IAS 34. On the basis of this analysis, the Interpretations Committee determined that an Interpretation or an amendment to a Standard was not necessary. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.] |
11 | In the statement that presents the components of profit or loss for an interim period, an entity shall present basic and diluted earnings per share for that period when the entity is within the scope of IAS 33 Earnings per Share.2 |
11A | If an entity presents items of profit or loss in a separate statement as described in paragraph 10A of IAS 1 (as amended in 2011), it presents basic and diluted earnings per share in that statement. |
12 | IAS 1 (as revised in 2007) provides guidance on the structure of financial statements. The Implementation Guidance for IAS 1 illustrates ways in which the statement of financial position, statement of comprehensive income and statement of changes in equity may be presented. |
13 | [Deleted] |
14 | An interim financial report is prepared on a consolidated basis if the entity’s most recent annual financial statements were consolidated statements. The parent’s separate financial statements are not consistent or comparable with the consolidated statements in the most recent annual financial report. If an entity’s annual financial report included the parent’s separate financial statements in addition to consolidated financial statements, this Standard neither requires nor prohibits the inclusion of the parent’s separate statements in the entity’s interim financial report. |
E2 | [IFRIC® Update, July 2009, Agenda Decision, ‘IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting—Interim disclosures about fair value’ The IFRIC received a request to provide guidance on whether updates to annual fair value disclosures are required in condensed interim financial reports. The IFRIC noted that in accordance with IAS 34, an interim financial report provides an update on the latest complete set of annual financial statements. When an event or transaction is significant to an understanding of the changes in an entity’s financial position or performance since the last annual financial period, in accordance with IAS 34 its interim financial report should provide an explanation of, and update to, the information included in the financial statements for the last annual financial period. The IFRIC concluded that IAS 34 provides sufficient guidance to enable entities to decide whether updates to fair value disclosures are required in interim financial reports and decided not to add the issue to its agenda as it did not expect diversity in practice.] |
15 | An entity shall include in its interim financial report an explanation of events and transactions that are significant to an understanding of the changes in financial position and performance of the entity since the end of the last annual reporting period. Information disclosed in relation to those events and transactions shall update the relevant information presented in the most recent annual financial report.
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15A | A user of an entity’s interim financial report will have access to the most recent annual financial report of that entity. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the notes to an interim financial report to provide relatively insignificant updates to the information that was reported in the notes in the most recent annual financial report. |
15B | The following is a list of events and transactions for which disclosures would be required if they are significant: the list is not exhaustive.
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15C | Individual IFRSs provide guidance regarding disclosure requirements for many of the items listed in paragraph 15B. When an event or transaction is significant to an understanding of the changes in an entity’s financial position or performance since the last annual reporting period, its interim financial report should provide an explanation of and an update to the relevant information included in the financial statements of the last annual reporting period. |
16 | [Deleted] |
16A | In addition to disclosing significant events and transactions in accordance with paragraphs 15–15C, an entity shall include the following information, in the notes to its interim financial statements or elsewhere in the interim financial report. The following disclosures shall be given either in the interim financial statements or incorporated by cross-reference from the interim financial statements to some other statement (such as management commentary or risk report) that is available to users of the financial statements on the same terms as the interim financial statements and at the same time. If users of the financial statements do not have access to the information incorporated by cross-reference on the same terms and at the same time, the interim financial report is incomplete. [Refer:Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC7–BC10] The information shall normally be reported on a financial year‑to‑date basis.
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17–18 | [Deleted] |
19 | If an entity’s interim financial report is in compliance with this Standard, that fact shall be disclosed. An interim financial report shall not be described as complying with IFRSs unless it complies with all the requirements of IFRSs.
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20 | Interim reports shall include interim financial statements (condensed [Refer:paragraphs 8 and 9–19] or complete) for periods as follows:
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21 | For an entity whose business is highly seasonal, financial information for the twelve months up to the end of the interim period and comparative information for the prior twelve‑month period may be useful. Accordingly, entities whose business is highly seasonal are encouraged to consider reporting such information in addition to the information called for in the preceding paragraph. |
22 | Part A of the illustrative examples accompanying this Standard illustrates the periods required to be presented by an entity that reports half‑yearly and an entity that reports quarterly. |
23 | In deciding how to recognise, measure, classify, or disclose an item for interim financial reporting purposes, materiality shall be assessed in relation to the interim period financial data. In making assessments of materiality, it shall be recognised that interim measurements may rely on estimates to a greater extent than measurements of annual financial data. |
24 | IAS 1 defines material information and requires separate disclosure of material items, including (for example) discontinued operations, and IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors requires disclosure of changes in accounting estimates, errors, and changes in accounting policies. The two Standards do not contain quantified guidance as to materiality. |
25 | While judgement is always required in assessing materiality, this Standard bases the recognition and disclosure decision on data for the interim period by itself for reasons of understandability of the interim figures. Thus, for example, unusual items, changes in accounting policies or estimates, and errors are recognised and disclosed on the basis of materiality in relation to interim period data to avoid misleading inferences that might result from non‑disclosure. The overriding goal is to ensure that an interim financial report includes all information that is relevant to understanding an entity’s financial position and performance during the interim period. |
26 | If an estimate of an amount reported in an interim period is changed significantly during the final interim period of the financial year but a separate financial report is not published for that final interim period, the nature and amount of that change in estimate shall be disclosed in a note to the annual financial statements [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37] for that financial year.
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27 | IAS 8 requires disclosure of the nature and (if practicable) the amount of a change in estimate that either has a material effect in the current period or is expected to have a material effect in subsequent periods [Refer:IAS 8 paragraphs 39 and 40]. Paragraph 16A(d) of this Standard requires similar disclosure in an interim financial report. Examples include changes in estimate in the final interim period relating to inventory write‑downs, restructurings, or impairment losses that were reported in an earlier interim period of the financial year. The disclosure required by the preceding paragraph is consistent with the IAS 8 requirement and is intended to be narrow in scope—relating only to the change in estimate. An entity is not required to include additional interim period financial information in its annual financial statements. [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37] |
28 | An entity shall apply the same accounting policies in its interim financial statements as are applied in its annual financial statements, [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37] except for accounting policy changes made after the date of the most recent annual financial statements that are to be reflected in the next annual financial statements. However, the frequency of an entity’s reporting (annual, half‑yearly, or quarterly) shall not affect the measurement of its annual results. To achieve that objective, measurements for interim reporting purposes shall be made on a year‑to‑date basis. |
29 | Requiring that an entity apply the same accounting policies in its interim financial statements as in its annual statements may seem to suggest that interim period measurements are made as if each interim period stands alone as an independent reporting period. However, by providing that the frequency of an entity’s reporting shall not affect the measurement of its annual results, paragraph 28 acknowledges that an interim period is a part of a larger financial year. Year‑to‑date measurements may involve changes in estimates of amounts reported in prior interim periods of the current financial year. But the principles for recognising assets, liabilities, income, and expenses for interim periods are the same as in annual financial statements [Refer:IAS 1 paragraphs 36 and 37]. |
30 | To illustrate:
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31 | Under the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (Conceptual Framework), recognition is the process of capturing, for inclusion in the statement of financial position or the statement(s) of financial performance, an item that meets the definition of one of the elements of the financial statements. The definitions of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses are fundamental to recognition, at the end of both annual and interim financial reporting periods. |
32 | For assets, the same tests of future economic benefits apply at interim dates and at the end of an entity’s financial year. Costs that, by their nature, would not qualify as assets at financial year‑end would not qualify at interim dates either. Similarly, a liability at the end of an interim reporting period must represent an existing obligation at that date, just as it must at the end of an annual reporting period. |
33 | An essential characteristic of income (revenue) and expenses is that the related inflows and outflows of assets and liabilities have already taken place. If those inflows or outflows have taken place, the related revenue and expense are recognised; otherwise they are not recognised. The Conceptual Framework does not allow the recognition of items in the statement of financial position which do not meet the definition of assets or liabilities. |
34 | In measuring the assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and cash flows reported in its financial statements, an entity that reports only annually is able to take into account information that becomes available throughout the financial year. Its measurements are, in effect, on a year‑to‑date basis. |
35 | An entity that reports half‑yearly uses information available by mid‑year or shortly thereafter in making the measurements in its financial statements for the first six‑month period and information available by year‑end or shortly thereafter for the twelve‑month period. The twelve‑month measurements will reflect possible changes in estimates of amounts reported for the first six‑month period. The amounts reported in the interim financial report for the first six‑month period are not retrospectively adjusted. Paragraphs 16A(d) and 26 require, however, that the nature and amount of any significant changes in estimates be disclosed. |
36 | An entity that reports more frequently than half‑yearly measures income and expenses on a year‑to‑date basis for each interim period using information available when each set of financial statements is being prepared. Amounts of income and expenses reported in the current interim period will reflect any changes in estimates of amounts reported in prior interim periods of the financial year. The amounts reported in prior interim periods are not retrospectively adjusted. Paragraphs 16A(d) and 26 require, however, that the nature and amount of any significant changes in estimates be disclosed. |
37 | Revenues that are received seasonally, cyclically, or occasionally within a financial year shall not be anticipated or deferred as of an interim date if anticipation or deferral would not be appropriate at the end of the entity’s financial year. |
38 | Examples include dividend revenue, royalties, and government grants. Additionally, some entities consistently earn more revenues in certain interim periods of a financial year than in other interim periods, for example, seasonal revenues of retailers. Such revenues are recognised when they occur. |
39 | Costs that are incurred unevenly during an entity’s financial year shall be anticipated or deferred for interim reporting purposes if, and only if, it is also appropriate to anticipate or defer that type of cost at the end of the financial year. |
40 | Part B of the illustrative examples accompanying this Standard provides examples of applying the general recognition and measurement principles set out in paragraphs 28–39. |
41 | The measurement procedures to be followed in an interim financial report shall be designed to ensure that the resulting information is reliableE3 and that all material [Refer:paragraphs 23–25] financial information that is relevant [Refer:Conceptual Framework paragraphs 2.6–2.11] to an understanding of the financial position or performance of the entity is appropriately disclosed. While measurements in both annual and interim financial reports are often based on reasonable estimates, the preparation of interim financial reports generally will require a greater use of estimation methods than annual financial reports. |
E3 | [The term ‘faithful representation’, which was used in the Conceptual Framework issued in 2010 and is also used in the revised version of the Conceptual Framework issued in 2018, encompasses the main characteristics that the Framework called ‘reliability’ (refer Conceptual Framework paragraphs 2.12–2.19 and Basis for Conclusions paragraphs BC2.21–BC2.31 and BC105J).] |
42 | Part C of the illustrative examples accompanying this Standard provides examples of the use of estimates in interim periods. |
43 | A change in accounting policy, other than one for which the transition is specified by a new IFRS, shall be reflected by:
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44 | One objective of the preceding principle is to ensure that a single accounting policy is applied to a particular class of transactions throughout an entire financial year. Under IAS 8, a change in accounting policy is reflected by retrospective application, with restatement of prior period financial data as far back as is practicable. However, if the cumulative amount of the adjustment relating to prior financial years is impracticable [Refer:IAS 8 paragraphs 50–53] to determine, then under IAS 8 the new policy is applied prospectively from the earliest date practicable. The effect of the principle in paragraph 43 is to require that within the current financial year any change in accounting policy is applied either retrospectively or, if that is not practicable, prospectively, from no later than the beginning of the financial year. |
45 | To allow accounting changes to be reflected as of an interim date within the financial year would allow two differing accounting policies to be applied to a particular class of transactions within a single financial year. The result would be interim allocation difficulties, obscured operating results, and complicated analysis and understandability of interim period information. |
46 | This Standard becomes operative for financial statements covering periods beginning on or after 1 January 1999. Earlier application is encouraged. |
47 | IAS 1 (as revised in 2007) amended the terminology used throughout IFRSs. In addition it amended paragraphs 4, 5, 8, 11, 12 and 20, deleted paragraph 13 and added paragraphs 8A and 11A. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. If an entity applies IAS 1 (revised 2007) for an earlier period, the amendments shall be applied for that earlier period. |
48 | IFRS 3 (as revised in 2008) amended paragraph 16(i). An entity shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009. If an entity applies IFRS 3 (revised 2008) for an earlier period, the amendment shall also be applied for that earlier period. |
49 | Paragraphs 15, 27, 35 and 36 were amended, paragraphs 15A–15C and 16A were added and paragraphs 16–18 were deleted by Improvements to IFRSs in May 2010. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies the amendments for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact. |
50 | IFRS 13, issued in May 2011, added paragraph 16A(j). An entity shall apply that amendment when it applies IFRS 13. |
51 | Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income (Amendments to IAS 1), issued in June 2011, amended paragraphs 8, 8A, 11A and 20. An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies IAS 1 as amended in June 2011. |
52 | Annual Improvements 2009–2011 Cycle, issued in May 2012, amended paragraph 5 as a consequential amendment derived from the amendment to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements. An entity shall apply that amendment retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies that amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact. |
53 | Annual Improvements 2009–2011 Cycle, issued in May 2012, amended paragraph 16A. An entity shall apply that amendment retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies that amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact. |
54 | Investment Entities (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27), issued in October 2012, amended paragraph 16A. An entity shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014. Earlier application of Investment Entities is permitted. If an entity applies that amendment earlier it shall also apply all amendments included in Investment Entities at the same time. |
55 | IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, issued in May 2014, amended paragraphs 15B and 16A. An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies IFRS 15. |
56 | Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012–2014 Cycle, issued in September 2014, amended paragraph 16A. An entity shall apply that amendment retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies the amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact. |
57 | Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 1), issued in December 2014, amended paragraph 5. An entity shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016. Earlier application of that amendment is permitted. |
58 | Amendments to References to the Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards, issued in 2018, amended paragraphs 31 and 33. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020. Earlier application is permitted if at the same time an entity also applies all other amendments made by Amendments to References to the Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards. An entity shall apply the amendments to IAS 34 retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. However, if an entity determines that retrospective application would be impracticable or would involve undue cost or effort, it shall apply the amendments to IAS 34 by reference to paragraphs 43–45 of this Standard and paragraphs 23–28, 50–53 and 54F of IAS 8. |
59 | Definition of Material (Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8), issued in October 2018, amended paragraph 24. An entity shall apply those amendments prospectively for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies those amendments for an earlier period, it shall disclose that fact. An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies the amendments to the definition of material in paragraph 7 of IAS 1 and paragraphs 5 and 6 of IAS 8. |
60 | Disclosure of Accounting Policies, which amends IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 Making Materiality Judgements, and was issued in February 2021, amended paragraph 5. An entity shall apply that amendment for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies the amendment for an earlier period, it shall disclose that fact. |