IFRS and IND AS: In the world of finance and accounting, understanding the accounting standards that govern financial reporting is crucial. For countries like India, which are aiming to align their financial reporting systems with global norms, this alignment often leads to the use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). However, India's transition to IFRS has taken a distinctive path, with the creation of its own set of standards, known as Indian Accounting Standards (IND AS). In This blog we will learn the key differences between IFRS and IND AS, offering insights into their definitions, scope, and a detailed comparison.
Key Difference Between IFRS and IND AS | ||
Aspect | IFRS | IND AS |
Development Body | Developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). | Developed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) with modifications by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). |
Application | Used globally in over 120 countries, including the European Union and Australia. | Primarily applicable to listed companies, large public interest entities, and other specified entities in India. |
Regulatory Authority | Regulated by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRSF). | Regulated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in collaboration with ICAI. |
Revaluation Model | Allowed for all assets, including property, plant, and equipment. | Revaluation allowed only for certain assets like land and building. |
First-time Adoption | IFRS 1 provides guidelines for first-time adoption. | IND AS 101 outlines guidelines for first-time adoption. While both offer similar provisions, IND AS has additional requirements. |
Leases | IFRS 16 requires almost all leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. | IND AS 116 also mandates recognition of leases on the balance sheet but may have slightly different implementation. |
Fair Value Measurement | IFRS encourages the use of fair value in various areas, including investments. | IND AS also focuses on fair value but allows for more flexibility in certain situations, particularly for long-term investments. |
Impairment of Assets | IFRS uses a "one-step" approach for impairment testing. | IND AS uses a "two-step" approach for testing impairment, which might lead to differences in recognizing impairment losses. |
Revenue Recognition | IFRS 15 sets out principles for revenue recognition based on contracts with customers. | IND AS 115 is largely aligned with IFRS 15 but may have differences in the interpretation of contracts and performance obligations. |
Borrowing Costs | IFRS allows capitalization of borrowing costs if they are directly attributable to the acquisition of a qualifying asset. | IND AS has similar provisions but may include additional details related to tax benefits and capitalization criteria. |
Income Taxes | IFRS 12 has specific guidelines for deferred tax assets and liabilities. | IND AS 12 follows a similar approach but may include Indian-specific adjustments related to taxation. |
Financial Statements Presentation | IFRS allows flexibility in the presentation of financial statements. | IND AS requires specific formats for balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements, in line with Indian law. |
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