The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today published for public comment an Exposure Draft of proposed amendments to the IFRS for SMEs, which it developed based on its initial comprehensive review of the IFRS for SMEs.
When it issued the IFRS for SMEs in July 2009, the IASB stated its plans to undertake an initial comprehensive review of the IFRS for SMEs to enable it to assess the first two years’ experience that entities would have had in implementing it and to consider whether there is a need for any amendments. In many jurisdictions, companies started using the IFRS for SMEs in 2010. Consequently, the IASB commenced its initial comprehensive review in 2012.
In order to assist in the process of identifying which items to consider for amendment the IASB issued a Request for Information in June 2012 to seek public views and consulted with the SME Implementation Group, an advisory body to the IASB. After considering the feedback it received, and taking into account the fact that the IFRS for SMEs is still a new Standard, the IASB only proposes to make limited amendments to the IFRS for SMEs.
Most of the proposed amendments clarify existing requirements or add supporting guidance, rather than propose changes to the underlying requirements in the IFRS for SMEs. Consequently, for most SMEs, the proposals are expected to improve understanding of the existing requirements, without having a significant effect on the entity’s financial reporting practices and financial statements.
The proposals are open for comment until 3 March 2014.
Commenting on the publication of the Exposure Draft, Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman of the IASB said:
“The IFRS for SMEs has already been a remarkable success, having been adopted by more than 80 countries and used by millions of companies worldwide.
The initial comprehensive review is an important step in our due process as it provides a mechanism to make sure the IFRS for SMEs is working as intended. Responses to the Request for Information identified few significant new issues. However they highlighted some areas where targeted improvements to the Standard could be made.”
Mark Byatt, Director of Communications and External Affairs, IFRS Foundation
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7246 6472
Chris Welsh, Communications Manager, IFRS Foundation
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7246 6495