Disadvantages Of IFRS Adoption

Globalization has been changing the world. It has interconnected people, nations, and even businesses. Today´s business can share information to investors around the world thanks to the intelligent software of the actual society. Being more specific, the way in which investors and users evaluate businesses performance is through the information contemplated in their financial statements. These financial statements illustrate the current assets, liabilities, and stockholder equity a company has in order to help users take economic decisions. However, not all the companies are regulated to provide the same structuralized information around the world. Each country possesses its own accounting standard that regulates the preparation of financial statements of a company. In that way, companies’ information might differ between countries making the comparability between financial statements difficult to be implemented by users in order to assess the performance of foreign businesses. In view of the need of a globally accepted accounting standard that promotes uniform standards for worldwide financial reporting, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), which then becomes replaced by the International Accounting Standard Board in 2001, was created (Cathey and Schroeder 130). The IASB issues International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that stands as the set of accounting standards that prepare and present the financial

In May 2011, the IASB issued IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements, which replaced IAS 27 and SIC 12. IFRS 10 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Early application is permitted under specific circumstances. Under IFRS 10, control is

Despite those enormous advantages, it has been argued that IFRSS adoption lead to significant costs. The main argument is that IFRSs do not consider local needs and priorities as every country has their own ‘business environment, legal systems, cultures, language and political environment’ (Henderson and Peirson, 2000 cited from Malthus, S., 2004). However, to overcome this problem, IASB can accommodate flexible reporting standards that enable companies to choose alternatives that are more suitable for their external condition. It is opinion of some opponents of IFRS adoption that IAS is ‘insufficiently detailed’ (Uddin,M.S., 2005, p.4) that require accountants’ and auditor’ professional judgment. However, overly detail might be contra productive and not flexible in anticipating every changes and differences.

Epstein, Barry Jay. "The Economic Effects of IFRS Adoption." CPA Journal. (2009): 26-31. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.

EFRAG already required all European countries adopt IFRS. Moreover, EFRAG want more non- EU countries can adopt IFRS. They disappointed with no strong support for IFRS in US from SEC. (Bouvier, 2012) IFRS and EFRAG have working together for many years. (Hamilton, 2013) They want to set up an international accounting standard for the world and make no different in the financial report.

Read “New IASB Leader Embraces Challenges” which can be accessed through the DeVry online library. Choose a country that has already adopted IFRS. In 2-3 pages (12-pt type, double-spaced) answer the following questions:

The U.S is moving toward IFRS (Forgeas, 2008). In the near future, all US company may need to report financial statements under IFRS. This makes the adaptation of IFRS unavoidable. Recently, some large multinational

Codification was needed to clarify entry to ASC, refine accuracy of analysis, reduce risk of non-compliance, organize the research procedure, maintain problem-solving updates and collaborate with IFRS merging

The primary concern of most accountants, CPAs, CEOs, CFOs, corporations, financial analysts and managers is the treatments of different accounts. If IFRS takes effect how will it affect the revenue recognition principles, accounting treatment for leases, accounts receivable, changes in estimates and extraordinary items, inventory accounts, schools, businesses, retraining of CPA and the list goes on.

With the growth of international business there is a need to standardize financial statements globally. Presently there are “approximately 120 foreign private issuers currently that report to the Commission using IFRS financial statements.” By standardizing accounting practices investors will be able to make informed decisions based on comparability and accuracy of financial statements. The SEC released this statement in 2008, “We believe that IFRS has the potential to best provide the common platform on which companies can report and investors can compare financial information.” The SEC has created a “Roadmap” or plan to convert US GAAP over to IFRS. According to The Committee of

Over 120 countries around the world already permit or even require public companies to use the new International Financial Accounting Standards IFRS. Among them are the EU, China, Russia, and Brazil. Canada and Korea are expected to adopt IFRS by 2012; Mexico will require all listed companies to adopt IFRS in 2012 (http://www.ifrs.com/ifrs_faqs.html#q1).

IFRS 3-1: Describe some of the issues the SEC must consider in deciding whether the United States should adopt IFRS.

On February 24, the SEC unanimously agreed to publish a statement of continued support for a single set of high-quality global accounting standards. The SEC acknowledged that IFRS is best positioned to be the global standard. Even without a set conversion timeline from the SEC, IFRS has been affecting

IFRS addresses practical application issues that any entity is supposed and expected to encounter within the standards. These practical issues provide a comprehensive analysis. For instance, IFRS 1 provides extensive guidelines “…and addresses practical application issues that a first-time adopter of IFRSs could expect to encounter when transitioning to IFRSs”. (KPMG, 2009). The IFRS, being principle-based, generally do not contradict with Generally Accepted

ESAA’s standards committee started a project to update EASs to comply with changes and additions to IFRSs. It is expected