IAS 8: Accounting Policies,

Changes in Accounting
Estimates and Errors

Roshankumar S Pimpalkar

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This standard is applied when selecting an accounting policy, accounting for
changes in an accounting policy and making changes to estimates and errors.

Objectives:

To prescribe the

Selection criteria used in determining the accounting policies, as well as

accounting treatment and disclosure of changes to accounting policies.
Requirements for changes to accounting estimates and accounting treatment
and disclosure of such changes.
Definition of errors and the accounting treatment and disclosure of errors.

Accounting Policies are the specific set of principles, rules, bases and conventions
adopted by an entity in preparation and presentation of financial statement. E.g.
whether an entity decides to use FIFO or weighted average method of inventory
valuation

Errors are omission from, and other misstatements of, the financial statements of an
entity for one or more periods that are discovered in the current period and relate to
reliable information that:

That was available when those prior period financial statement were
prepared, and
Could reasonably be expected to have been obtained and taken into account
while preparing and presenting those financial statements.

It includes mathematical mistakes, mistakes in applying accounting policies,

oversights and misrepresentation of facts and fraud.

Selection of an Accounting Policy

There are two situations:

1. When IFRS applies to the specific item in the financial statements

2. When no specific IFRS or interpretation of IFRS applies to an item in the
financial statement exists.

Situation 1: Management should consider following sources in descending order

when deciding which accounting policy to use

The requirement in IFRS and Appendices dealing with related and similar
issues.
The definition, recognition criteria and measurement concepts assets,
liabilities, income and expenses set out in the Framework for Preparation and
Presentation of Financial Statements.
Pronouncements of other standard setting bodies, that use similar conceptual
framework, but only to the extent they are in line with the above two points.

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 While selecting an accounting policy reasonableness of an accounting policy
in terms of regulatory guidelines need not be considered.

Situation 2: in such case the accounting policy should result in the information that is

Relevant to the decision making need of the users, and

Reliable.

Consistency of Accounting Policy

Accounting policies for a period should be selected and applied consistently for
similar transactions, events and circumstances unless IFRS requires or permits a
categorisation of items for which different policies may be appropriate. In such
situation, an appropriate accounting policy should be selected and applied
consistently.

Changes in Accounting Policy

A change in Accounting policy shall be made only if it:

Is required by an IFRS; or
Results in more reliable and relevant presentation in the financial statement of
effect of transactions and events on entitys financial position, performance
and cash flows.

The following are not changes in Accounting Policy

The adoption of accounting policy for transactions and events that differ in
substance from those occurring previously; and
The adoption of new accounting policy for transactions and events that did
not occur previously or were immaterial.

Change in Accounting Policy could occur in two ways

Adoption of an IFRS
Voluntary change

1. Adoption of IFRS
a. Transitional Provision exist
i. A change in accounting policy should be accounted for in terms
of transitional provision of an IFRS
ii. Comparative information need not be restated if it is
impracticable. In such case
1. The entity should apply new accounting policy to the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as at earliest

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 period for which the retrospective application is possible,
and
2. Adjust the opening balance of affected component of
equity for that period.
b. No Transitional Provision exist
i. In such case change should be applied retrospectively.
ii. This means that the opening balance of the retained earnings of
the earliest prior period presented and other comparative
amounts disclosed for each prior period presented shall be
adjusted as if the new accounting policy had always been in
use.
2. Voluntary Change
a. In this case accounting policy should be applied retrospectively. The
following should be adjusted as if the new accounting policy had
always been in use
i. The opening balance of the retained earnings for the earliest
period presented, and
ii. The comparative amounts disclosed for each prior period.
b. Disclosure
i. Reasons for the change.
ii. Amount of adjustment for current period and each prior period
presented.
iii. Amount of adjustments relating to periods prior to those
presented, and
iv. That comparative information has been restated, or that
restatement for a particular prior period has not been made
because it would be impracticable.

Note: in any case retrospective application of new accounting policy is not needed if
it is impracticable to do so.

Accounting Estimates

Why do we need to make estimates?

Due to the uncertainties inherent in the business activities, financial statement items
cannot be measured with precision but can only be estimated.

When would an estimate be required?

Estimate is required when management judgement is required, for example, for

Bad debts
Inventory obsolescence
The fair value of financial assets

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Do initial estimate ever require revision?

An estimate may need revision if changes occur regarding circumstances on which

the estimate was based. This may result from new information or subsequent
development.

What is the difference between change in accounting policy and change in

accounting estimate?

If there is change is measurement basis or method applied this is change in

accounting policy and not change in accounting estimate. When it is difficult to
distinguish between a change in accounting policy and change in accounting
estimate, then the change is treated as change in accounting estimate, with proper
disclosure.

Accounting for changes in Accounting Estimates

The effect of change in accounting estimate should be recognised prospectively by

including it in profit and loss in

The period of change if the change affects that period only. E.g. change in
estimation of bad debts.
The period of change and future periods, if the change affects both. E.g.
change in estimated useful life of depreciable asset would affect the
depreciation expense for the remainder of the current period, as well as the
future period during the assets remaining useful life.

Disclosure:

The nature and amount of change in an accounting estimate that has an effect in the
current period, or is expected to have an effect in subsequent periods, should be
disclosed.

The amount of effect on subsequent periods need not be disclosed if estimating it

would be impracticable to so. However in such case that fact should be disclosed.

Accounting for Errors

The amount of correction of an error should be accounted for retrospectively by

either:

Restating the comparative amounts for the prior period(s) in which the error
occurred, or
If the error occurred before earliest period presented, restating the opening
balance of retained earnings for the earliest prior period presented.

This ensures that the financial statements are presented as if the error had never
occurred before.

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However restatement of comparative information is not required if it is impracticable
to do so. In such case the opening balance of the retained earnings for the next
period should be restated for the cumulative effect of the error before the beginning
of that period.

The correction of an error is excluded from the profit and loss in the period in which
error is discovered. The financial statements are presented as if the error had never
occurred before by making the adjustment as stated above.

Disclosure:

The nature of the error

The amount of the correction for each prior period presented
The amount of correction relating to periods prior to those presented in
comparative information
That comparative information has been restated or not due to being
impracticable.

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