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Extent of IFRS applicationStatusAdditional Information
IFRS Accounting Standards are required for domestic public companies Required for listed companies and financial institutions.
IFRS Accounting Standards are permitted but not required for domestic public companies
IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for listings by foreign companies Required.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is required or permitted Required.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is under consideration

Profile last updated: 08 February 2017

RELEVANT JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY

Organisation
Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Costa Rica.
Role of the organisation
The Colegio is authorised to adopt accounting standards in Costa Rica under Article 14 of the Law No. 1038 on the Regulation of the Public Accounting Profession and Creation of the Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Costa Rica dated 19 August 1947. In this capacity, the Colegio has adopted IFRS Standards as issued by the IASB Board as the accounting standards in Costa Rica.
Website
www.ccpa.or.cr/
Email contact
dejecutiva@ccpa.or.cr and secretariajd@ccpa.or.cr

COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment in support of moving towards a single set of high quality global accounting standards?
Yes.
Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that single set of high quality global accounting standards?

Yes.

The Board of the Colegio has formally adopted both full IFRS Standards and the IFRS for SMEs Standard. Here are links to the Colegio’s resolutions:

IFRS Standards: Circular N° 06-2005—Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera

IFRS for SMEs Standard: Circular 21-2018—Adopción de las Normas Internacionales de Información para Pequeñas y medianas Entidades (NIIF-PYMES)

What is the jurisdiction’s status of adoption?
Costa Rica has adopted both IFRS Standards and the IFRS for SMEs Standard.
Additional comments provided on the adoption status?

The Colegio adopted IAS Standards as the required standards in Costa Rica effective in 2002, with a transition date from 2000. In 2005 the Colegio reaffirmed the adoption in the name of IFRS Standards. The Colegio’s action applied to all companies, including publicly traded companies.

Adoption of full IFRS Standards: https://www.ccpa.or.cr/normativa-vigente/circulares-derogadas/

This Colegio regulation – Circular 21-2918 adopts IAS and IFRS issued through November 2005 and, further, states that new and amended IFRS issued in the future are automatically approved.

Adoption of IFRS for SMEs Standard: https://www.ccpa.or.cr/normativa-vigente/circulares-derogadas/

In 2003, in line with the adoption of IFRS Standards by the Colegio, the Consejo Nacional de Supervisión del Sistema (CONASSIF), the national securities regulator, similarly adopted IFRS Standards starting in 2003. Companies regulated by the CONASSIF include companies whose shares trade in public markets, financial institutions, pension operators, insurance companies, and companies managing investment funds.

CONASSIF adopted IFRS Standards by Resolution No. 34⁠–⁠2002, which may be found here: https://www.sugef.fi.cr/normativa/normativa_vigente/documentos/SUGEF%2034-02%20(v8%20Ene%202015).pdf

Further, in line with the adoption of IFRS Standards by the Colegio, from 2001 the Directorate General of Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance in Costa Rica has required the measurement of taxable income in conformity with IFRS Standards. Recently taxpayers have been reminded that they must comply with this regulation.

The Directorate General Tax Administration adopted IFRS Standards by Resolution No. 52⁠–⁠01, on which there is information here: https://www.hacienda.go.cr/contenido/13284-categoria-informativa

If the jurisdiction has NOT made a public statement supporting the move towards a single set of accounting standards and/or towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that set of standards, explain the jurisdiction's general position towards the adoption of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction.
Not applicable.

EXTENT OF IFRS APPLICATION

For DOMESTIC companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market either required or permitted to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED?
Required.
Does that apply to ALL domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards also required or permitted for more than the consolidated financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
Yes.
For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted in separate company financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
Yes, required.
For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted for companies whose securities do not trade in a public market?
All companies regulated by the Consejo Nacional de Supervisión del Sistema (CONASSIF) must use full IFRS Standards, even if their securities do not trade in a public market. All other companies may use the IFRS for SMEs Standard or full IFRS Standards.
If the jurisdiction currently does NOT require or permit the use of IFRS Accounting Standards for domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, are there any plans to permit or require IFRS Accounting Standards for such companies in the future?

Not applicable.

For FOREIGN companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market either REQUIRED or PERMITTED to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED in such cases?
Required.
Does that apply to ALL foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.

IFRS ENDORSEMENT

Which IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for domestic companies?
IFRS Standards as issued by the IASB Board.
The auditor’s report and/or the basis of presentation footnote states that financial statements have been prepared in conformity with:
IFRS Standards.
Does the auditor's report and/or the basis of preparation footnote allow for ‘dual reporting’ (conformity with both IFRS Accounting Standards and the jurisdiction’s GAAP)?
No.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards incorporated into law or regulations?
Yes.
If yes, how does that process work?
See description of the process above.
If no, how do IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Not applicable.
Does the jurisdiction have a formal process for the 'endorsement' or 'adoption' of new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards (including Interpretations) in place?
No.
If yes, what is the process?
Not applicable.
If no, how do new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
The resolutions of the Colegio adopting IFRS Standards and the IFRS for SMEs Standard state that any new or amended IFRS Standards automatically are adopted in Costa Rica.
Has the jurisdiction eliminated any accounting policy options permitted by IFRS Accounting Standards and/or made any modifications to any IFRS Accounting Standards?
No.
If yes, what are the changes?
Not applicable.
Other comments regarding the use of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction?
None.

TRANSLATION OF IFRS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Are IFRS Accounting Standards translated into the local language?
The IFRS Foundation develops and publishes a Spanish translation of IFRS Standards.
If they are translated, what is the translation process? In particular, does this process ensure an ongoing translation of the latest updates to IFRS Accounting Standards?
The translation follows the official IFRS Foundation translation process.

APPLICATION OF THE IFRS FOR SMEs ACCOUNTING STANDARD

Has the jurisdiction adopted the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard for at least some SMEs?
Yes.
If no, is the adoption of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard under consideration?
Not applicable.
Did the jurisdiction make any modifications to the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
No.
If the jurisdiction has made any modifications, what are those modifications?
Not applicable.
Which SMEs use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard in the jurisdiction, and are they required or permitted to do so?
All companies regulated by the Consejo Nacional de Supervisión del Sistema (CONASSIF) must use full IFRS Standards. This includes companies whose shares trade in public markets, financial institutions, pension operators, insurance companies, and stock positions or companies managing investment funds. All other companies may use the IFRS for SMEs Standard or full IFRS Standards.
For those SMEs that are not required to use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard, what other accounting framework do they use?
Full IFRS Standards.
Other comments regarding use of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
None.