Comparison Between US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards and Disclosures

Pologeorgis (2012) stated that the diversity of accounting principle has an essential impact on the stock markets, corporate management, and financial reporting. He pointed that when people seeking for international capitals, varies of dissimilar accounting principles create discrepancies in their financial reporting. If people cannot understand the differences between IFRS and GAAP, they may have the chance to make the wrong decisions and loss money in the capital markets. Pologeorgis (2012) also mentioned that international investors have to relearn the new principal in order to be more familiar with the international standards. Based on above, there is a keen motivation for people to understand the differences and similarities of GAAP and IFRS. This research will show business people the main similarities and differences of GAAP and IFRS.

The five research articles I have chosen to further my research on the convergence between U.S. GAAP and IFRS are The Implication of US GAAP and IFRS Convergence on American Business by Austin Willmore (2015), IFRS adoption by country by PWC (2015), International Financial Reporting Standards and American Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: the Convergence Lessons by Kuzina (2015), The economic impact of IFRS - a financial analysis perspective by Seay (2014), and Accounting for Leases The New Standard by CPA Journal (2016). These articles are related to my topic, where these researchers researched and analyzed the financial statement reporting on convergence of the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and certain accounts when adopting IFRS present a different result in the financial reporting for U.S. reporting companies when U.S. GAAP standards combined with IFRS. Also, these research articles discuss the existence of two systems of standards, U.S. GAAP and IFRS; and the issue and difficulty of the process to fully converge.

This research project will inform the reader of the difference between the United States accounting standards and International accounting standards. The United States uses the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to issue financial reporting procedures. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). There are proposals for the United States to adopt the International standards. Financial reporting procedures are debated about the United States using the Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP) or following the global procedures. This

There is no universal GAAP standard and the specific vary from one geographic location or industry to another. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandates that financial reports adhere to GAAP requirements. The financial accounting standards Board (FASB) stipulates GAAP overall and the Governmental accounting standards Board (GAAP) stipulates GAAP for state and local government. Publicly traded companies must comply with both SEC and GAAP requirements. In recent years it also has had the chance to look at the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and modify the rules to enhance clarity and consistency, intentionally setting itself apart from U.S. GAAP. The convergence of these two accounting frameworks is a must for both foreign and domestic businesses. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the accounting framework used by the European Union, Japan, Canada, and other world economic leaders. Companies need an accurate and reliable financial accounting systems not matter if globally or in the United

Although the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) have a lot of similar guidelines and expectations, they also differ in many ways. The IFRS employs more of a “principles based” accounting standards whereas GAAP utilizes more of a “rules based” approach. Even though there are differences between terminology, revenue recognition, gains and/or losses, and statement presentation, both standards do follow the same conceptual guidelines. With the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, the standards expected of foreign countries are significantly less than those that reside as publically

Over a decade ago, it was believed that the whole world would likely adopt the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). At the point in time, the International Financial reporting Standards (IFRS) was only about ten years old. In the last decade, the IFRS has been adopted in many growing countries. Currently, it is anticipated that the U.S. will converge its GAAP with the international IFRS, leaving behind only a modified IFRS. This may occur as early as 2014.

One of the major differences is that one is based on rules and the other on principles. GAAP is more of a a rule-based method. These rules are essential to provide comparison of present and past performances. Whereas IFRS is a principle based method in which you can have different interpretations of the same tax-related

There are several differences between the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The IFRS is considered more of a "principles based" accounting standard in contrast to U.S. GAAP which is considered more "rules based." By being more "principles based", IFRS, arguably, represents and captures the economics of a transaction better than U.S. GAAP. As a team me collaborated to answer the following seven questions.

Differences Between GAAP and IFRS and Implications of Potential Convergence - Boundless Open Textbook. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from https://www.boundless.com/accounting/textbooks/boundless-accounting-textbook/introduction-to-accounting-1/conventions-and-standards-21/differences-between-gaap-and-ifrs-and-implications-of-potential-convergence-131-7049/

Chevis (2014) addresses two of the bigger, but lesser-known, differences between GAAP and IFRS. The two differences addressed, contingencies and depreciation, are the interpretations an accountant has to make on terms not specifically defined by IFRS or GAAP. IFRS is considered to be more “aggressive” for investors while GAAP is considered “conservative” (p. 19). Smith (2012) states IFRS is more principle based, while GAAP is more ruled based. GAAP documents would total over approximately 25,000 pages if printed. IFRS documents would total approximately 2,000 (p. 21).

There are many differences GAAP and IFRS. However, one of the major differences of the two lies within the conceptual method whereas GAAP is a rule-based system, however IFRS is viewed more as a principle-based framework. The most basic characteristic of a principle-based structure is the possibility of a completely changed explanation of similar matters. This type of situation allows for second-guessing which can often create ambiguity, and can also require extensive releases of financial statements.

The purpose of this publication is to assist you in understanding the significant differences between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). This publication does not discuss every possible difference; rather, it is a summary of those differences that we have encountered most frequently in practice, resulting from either a difference in emphasis or specific

In 2002 the International Accounting Oversight Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) began working to set a global standards for accounting. In order to accomplish this they would need to remove differences between the two sets of standards. According to IFRS, IASB and FASB signed the Norwalk Agreement which included a Memorandum of Understanding. In 2006 they drafted a roadmap for convergence with specific goals to be reached by 2008, which was updated in 2008 to reflect other priorities and milestones. According to IFRS, the “US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) removed in 2007 the requirement for non-US companies registered in the United States to reconcile their financial reports with US GAAP if their accounts complied with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The most recent update was published in April 2012, which was a joint progress reports.

The Norwalk Agreement, first announced on September of 2002, was a paramount step towards a unified global accounting standard. In this document, both U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Boards (IASB) (the Boards) “each acknowledge their commitments to the development of high quality, compatible accounting standards that could be used for both domestic and cross-border financial reporting.” (MoU Progress Report, 2008) In 2006, and subsequently updated in 2008, the boards agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which detailed the short and long-term

There are two major similarities or points of convergence between US GAAP and IFRS. The first similarity is with regards to objectives of financial. In this case, both IFRS and US GAAP take the same general position with regards to objectives of financial reporting. The two main objectives shared by the two accounting bodies are relevancy of