Task
Introduction
Accounting is a very important subject both to the followers of the profession and also to all institutions that carry on business. For any financial statements to make sense they must be prepared in a standardized manner, allowing for quick comparison between the financials of a company in different periods, the company and other players in the industry, a company in different countries etc. This requires the adoption of standards that will allow for this to be possible.
The International Accounting Standards Board prepares and issues the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that have been widely adopted by accountants the entire world over. The US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is also used in some parts of the world and especially the United States. Over the years, there have been concerted efforts to bring a convergence of these two sets of standards for the uniformity of financial statements so as to meet user needs (Jeffers, et al 2010)..
While these efforts have borne a lot of fruits as has been witnessed over the years, there are still several fundamentals differences that exist between the two sets of standards that have affected materially, the way financial statements are prepared under these two standards. This paper seeks to outline these differences in both income statements and the balance sheets prepared under these two financial reporting frameworks. The advantages and disadvantages of using IFRS to the end users will also be explored.
Income Statement
The major differences between these two sets of standards in the income statement are:
Financial periods required-under GAAP, comparative financial periods are a requirement however, a single year may be presented in certain circumstances. Public companies income statement must cover three years period up to the balance sheet period. Under IFRS, comparative information is required to be presented in respect of the previous period on all amounts disclosed in the income statement (Nandakumar, et al, 2010).
Layout-no general requirement for the layout under GAAP however, public companies have to follow the detailed regulations in S-X. Under IFRS, while IAS 1 doest give a specific layout, it includes a list of minimum items that must be included in the income statement. These requirements are less prescriptive than in S-X under the GAAP.
Classification of expenses-Companies presenting their information under GAAP are required to classify their expenses based on function e.g. cost of sales, administrative costs, selling and distribution costs etc, while in IFRS, entities may present financial statements based on either function or nature e.g. salaries, finance costs, depreciation charges, water and electricity expenses etc. however, if a function is selected, the components of the function must be explained clearly in the notes to the financial statements.
Under GAAP, extraordinary items are permissible but under limited circumstances while in IFRS, extraordinary classification is not permissible though unusual items if any may be segregated
Under GAAP, other comprehensive income items can be presented in a separate statement that is combined with the income statement or the statement of changes in equity while under IFRS framework; other comprehensive incomes are presented in a separate statement of comprehensive income and are never relegated to the statement of changes in equity as is the case in GAAP.
Balance sheet
In IFRS, an entity is supposed to show current and fixed assets, current and noncurrent liabilities as distinct line items on the front area of the balance sheet except in cases where presenting liquidity provides more absolute and justifiable information. In such a case, all short-term and long-term assets and obligations are shown in their order beginning with the most liquid. In any case, there is no set format of a balance sheet and management in most cases uses judgment .In the minimum however, IFRS must require the items below on the surface of any balance sheet (Stephen G & Norbert 2010).
Asset- property, Plant and equipment, investment property, biological assets, financial assets, other investments in equity method, current assets such as trade receivables, stocks, cash and its equivalents etc.
Liabilities and equity-components of liabilities which include issued capital from the sale of shares and other inputs of the shareholders equity, minority interests, current and differed tax liabilities, financial liabilities and other payables etc.
Under the US GAAP, it is generally shown as the total assets that balance with the total liabilities plus the shareholders equity. Items on the surface of the balance sheet are the same as those in IFRS, but usually presented in a declining liquidity order.
In IFRS balance sheet- the current/noncurrent distinction is needed except in cases where liquidity is more important. Incase this distinction is made; assets will fall under current if they are owned for sale or for consumption in the normal activities of business. Assets and liabilities are both categorized as current if they are anticipated to be realized in a time period of 12 months.
Under the US GAAP, the management may decide either to classify assets and liabilities as either current and non current since there is no standards requirements under this framework.
Offsetting assets and obligations-under IFRS; assets and obligations cannot be counterbalanced and are presented as separate line items for instance; a debt cannot be offset against a creditor in the period. They have to be clearly shown as debtors and creditors and cannot be netted off. Under GAAP, only the net effect is presented in the financial statements as they are allowed to net off the assets and liabilities with the exception of derivatives (Stephen& Norbert, 2010).
Under IFRS, minority interests are shown as an item of equity while under the US GAAP; minority interests can never be shown as a component of equity.
Advantages of using IFRS to the end user
Financial statements are prepared with the end user in mind so as to enable them to be able to make informed decisions on the basis of these financial statements. Some of the users of financial statements are shareholders, the governments, employees, regulatory bodies, managers etc. All these users have unique information needs that have to be met through properly prepared financial statements (www.iasplus.com).
IFRS provides a framework for the preparation of financial statements that are useful to all stakeholders. Some of the advantages of using IFRS for the preparation of financial statements using IFRS are outlined below.
A user of financial statements prepared using IFRS is able to compare the business performance with other foreign institutions whose statements are also prepared using IFRS. Companies with subsidiaries in countries where they are required to prepare their financial statements using IFRS may be required to adopt IFRS for consolidation purposes. A company that must raise capital abroad may be required to prepare the statements according to IFRS. This enables the end user to be able to make sound financial decisions based on these financial statements (Barry &Epstein., 2010).
IFRS are internationally understood unlike US GAAP that are used mostly in the in the United States , IFRS are usually more globally understood so an end user will find it easier to understand financial statements prepared using IFRS than any other financial reporting frameworks.
The end user is also able to understand the performance of the company in regard to other international players and also understand how the company is able to compete with other players in the world by the use of the IFRS prepared financial statements.
Disadvantages of using IFRS
The end user may find the use or the new IFRS confusing and difficult to understand due to the use of the GAAP for a long time. Non accountants for instance may have difficulties understanding financial statements prepared using the new IFRS.
End users may find the huge costs involved in the adoption and preparation of financial statements using IFRS unjustifiable expenditure to the organization and may not find it relevant to the company.
End users usually experience a lot of uncertainty in the evaluation of financial standards. This is because, IFRS allow managers to exercise a lot of judgments in their decision on what to report in the financial statements and this is likely to lead to errors and misstatements in the financial statements.
There isn’t much enforcement in IFRS as there is in GAAP which has several organizations watching over accounting rules. There is no global organization such as SEC that watches these standards. This may lead to fraudulent financial statements that may be misleading to end users (Stephen & Norbert, 2010).
References
Barry J. E. (2010). IFRS vs GAAP.Adopted from www.ifrsaccountant.com
Delloite publications. Adopted from www.iasplus.com
Hail. (2010). Global Accounting Convergence and the Potential Adoption of IFRS by the U.S:
Political Factors and Future Scenarios for U.S. Accounting Standards .Accounting
Horizons.
Jeffers, et al. (2010). The Switch from US GAAP to IFRS. Proceedings of the Northeast Business
& Economics Association.
Nandakumar, A. et al. (2010). Understanding IFRS Fundamental. New Jersey: John Wiley and
Sons Publishers.
Stephen, G., & Norbert, T. (2010) Major difference between GAAP and IFRS, the latest
developments. Santiago State University.
Balance sheet for General Motors
According to IFRS
Adopted from: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=GM+Balance+Sheet&annual
Period Ending
Dec 31, 2010
Dec 31, 2009
Assets
Current Assets
Cash And Cash Equivalents
22,301,000
36,596,000
Short Term Investments
5,555,000
134,000
Net Receivables
10,504,000
9,295,000
Inventory
12,125,000
10,107,000
Other Current Assets
2,568,000
3,115,000
Total Current Assets
53,053,000
59,247,000
Long Term Investments
8,197,000
-
Property Plant and Equipment
19,235,000
19,217,000
Goodwill
31,778,000
30,672,000
Intangible Assets
11,882,000
14,547,000
Accumulated Amortization
-
-
Other Assets
14,445,000
12,048,000
Deferred Long Term Asset Charges
308,000
564,000
Total Assets
138,898,000
136,295,000
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable
45,541,000
41,859,000
Short/Current Long Term Debt
1,616,000
10,221,000
Other Current Liabilities
-
355,000
Total Current Liabilities
47,157,000
52,435,000
Long Term Debt
9,142,000
5,562,000
Other Liabilities
31,587,000
36,064,000
Deferred Long Term Liability Charges
13,021,000
13,279,000
Minority Interest
979,000
708,000
Negative Goodwill
-
-
Total Liabilities
102,718,000
108,048,000
Stockholders' Equity
Misc Stocks Options Warrants
-
6,998,000
Redeemable Preferred Stock
-
-
Preferred Stock
10,391,000
-
Common Stock
15,000
15,000
Retained Earnings
266,000
(4,394,000)
Treasury Stock
-
-
Capital Surplus
24,257,000
24,040,000
Other Stockholder Equity
1,251,000
1,588,000
Total Stockholder Equity
36,180,000
21,249,000
Net Tangible Assets
(7,480,000)
(23,970,000)
Currency in USD.
Income statements for General Motors
IFRS
Adopted from: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=GM+Income+Statement&annual
Period Ending
Dec 31, 2010
Dec 31, 2009
Total Revenue
135,592,000
104,589,000
Cost of Revenue
118,944,000
112,195,000
Gross Profit
16,648,000
(7,606,000)
Operating Expenses
Research Development
-
-
Selling General and Administrative
11,564,000
13,417,000
Non Recurring
-
-
Others
-
-
Total Operating Expenses
-
-
Operating Income or Loss
5,084,000
(21,023,000)
Income from Continuing Operations
Total Other Income/Expenses Net
1,751,000
129,638,000
Earnings Before Interest And Taxes
6,639,000
109,804,000
Interest Expense
1,098,000
6,122,000
Income Before Tax
5,541,000
103,682,000
Income Tax Expense
672,000
(2,166,000)
Minority Interest
(331,000)
(396,000)
Net Income From Continuing Ops
6,172,000
104,821,000
Non-recurring Events
Discontinued Operations
-
-
Extraordinary Items
-
-
Effect Of Accounting Changes
-
-
Other Items
-
-
Net Income
6,172,000
104,821,000
Preferred Stock And Other Adjustments
(1,504,000)
(131,000)
Net Income Applicable To Common Shares
4,668,000
104,690,000
Currency in USD.
