This IASB Update highlights preliminary decisions of the International Accounting Standards Board (Board). Projects affected by these decisions can be found on the work plan. The Board's final decisions on IFRS® Standards, Amendments and IFRIC® Interpretations are formally balloted as set out in the IFRS Foundation's Due Process Handbook.
The Board met remotely for a supplementary meeting on 4 February 2021 to propose extending the period of practical relief provided in the amendment to IFRS 16 Leases in relation to covid-19-related rent concessions, issued in May 2020.
Maintenance and consistent application
IFRS 16 and covid-19 (Agenda Paper 32)
Covid-19-related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021
The Board held a supplementary meeting on 4 February 2021 to consider whether to extend the time period over which the practical expedient in paragraph 46A of IFRS 16 Leases is available for use.
The Board tentatively decided to:
- amend paragraph 46B(b) of IFRS 16 to permit a lessee to apply the practical expedient in paragraph 46A of IFRS 16 to rent concessions for which any reduction in lease payments affects only payments originally due on or before 30 June 2022, rather than only payments originally due on or before 30 June 2021. Eleven of 13 Board members agreed with this decision.
- require a lessee applying the amendment to do so for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2021. Twelve of 13 Board members agreed with this decision.
- permit a lessee to apply the amendment early, including in financial statements not authorised for issue at the date the final amendment is issued. Twelve of 13 Board members agreed with this decision.
- require a lessee applying the amendment to do so retrospectively, recognising the cumulative effect of initially applying the amendment as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings (or other component of equity, as appropriate) at the beginning of the annual reporting period in which the lessee first applies the amendment. Eleven of 13 Board members agreed with this decision.
- specify that, in the reporting period in which a lessee first applies the amendment, a lessee is not required to disclose the information required by paragraph 28(f) of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. Eleven of 13 Board members agreed with this decision.
- allow 14 days for comment on an exposure draft of proposed amendments to IFRS 16, as approved by the Trustees of the IFRS Foundation. Twelve of 13 Board members agreed with this decision. One Board member was absent.
Twelve of 13 Board members confirmed they were satisfied the Board has complied with the applicable due process requirements to begin the process for balloting the exposure draft. One Board member was absent.
One Board member indicated an intention to dissent from the proposals in the exposure draft.
Next step
The staff will prepare an exposure draft for balloting. The Board plans to publish the exposure draft on 11 February 2021.
