Changes in Accounting Policy

ACCA P2考試：Changes in Accounting Policy

A change in accounting policy only can be made if:

required by an IFRS or IFRIC (i.e. a mandatory change); or

it would result in the financial statements providing more relevant and reliable information (i.e. a voluntary change).

As users of financial statements will wish to see trends in an entity's financial statements, it would not be appropriate for an entity to change its accounting policy whenever it wishes.

If an entity decides to adopt the revaluation model of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment, this would be classified as a change in accounting policy.

If a new IFRS is issued, the transitional provisions of that standard will be applied to any change of accounting policy. When IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements was issued it did not allow the use of proportionate consolidation, so the transition statement explains how to change from a policy of proportionate consolidation to a policy of equity accounting.

If a new standard does not have transitional provisions, or it is a voluntary change, the entity must apply the change in policy retrospectively.

Retrospective application means adjusting the opening balance of each affected part of equity for the earliest period presented and the comparative amounts disclosed for each prior period as if the new policy had always been applied.

If it is not practicable to apply the effects of a change in policy to prior periods then the change of policy is made from the earliest period for which retrospective application is practicable.

IAS 1 requires an entity to include an additional statement of financial position (i.e. three statements must be presented) whenever it changes an accounting policy.