Why LIFO is not permissible under IFRS?
After the revision of IAS 2 Inventories in 2003, LIFO was explicitly prohibited to be used by the entities following International Accounting Standards to prepare and present financial statements. Before this revision LIFO was available as allowed alternative i.e. an option if company wishes to use the inventory valuation method other than the preferred method. […]
What is the difference between Faithful representation and Fair presentation?
IASB framework provides conceptual guidance regarding preparation and presentation of financial statements whereas IAS 1 sets out the principles and rules for preparation and presentation of financial statements. So the difference between these two documents must be clear as framework does not amount to standard and is separate from International Accounting Standards. The provisions stated […]
What is Grouping and Marshalling in financial statements?
While preparing financial statements, especially Statement of Financial Position (SoFP) also, known as balance sheet, two presentation concepts are applied which are termed as Grouping and Marshalling. Grouping means presenting similar items together as one figure i.e. by combining them at one place and presenting as a single item on the face of financial statement. […]
What is Negative goodwill and its accounting treatment?
Goodwill has been defined under IFRS 3 as following: An asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognised. On analysing the definition we can understand that goodwill is an asset but is not the asset which can individually be identified […]
What are the fundamental principles for the preparation and presentation of financial statements?
Although the accounting treatments and provisions regarding presentations of different important transactions in the financial statements is dealt separate accounting standards. However, in the absence of any specific guidance, provisions of IASB Framework and IAS 1 provides overall guidance for preparation and presentation of financial statements. Before we discuss both documents lets clear out few […]
What is the difference between Authorised capital, Issued capital, Subscribed capital, Called-up capital and Paid-up capital?
Authorized capital: The amount of capital with which a company is registered with the registrar of companies (body responsible for registration of companies). It is the maximum amount of capital which a company can raise through shares i.e. shared capital can be maximum up to the authorized capital and not beyond. Due to this reason […]
Is change in inventory valuation method is a change in accounting estimate or an accounting policy?
Before we establish whether it is a change in accounting policy or a change in accounting estimate, lets understand what constitutes a change in accounting policy and accounting estimate. According to IAS 8 a change in accounting estimate is: An adjustment in the following that results from the assessment on the basis of present and […]
What are the Elements of Financial Statements?
The main purpose of financial statements is to provide financial information to the users to assist them in their economic decisions. The financial statements basically present the financial information in such form that it is not only understandable but also useable. That is why financial statements present the financial effects of different business events that […]
What is the difference between Rule and Policy?
Rules and Policies are sometimes so packed together that it becomes impossible to segregate one from the other. And it varies from one perspective to the other that whether rules are based on policies or policies are based on rules. Therefore, it will be good if we first confine our discussion to an understandable perspective […]
What is FISH inventory method?
FISH is the acronym for First-in, Still-here and is basically an alternative name for Last-in, First-out (LIFO) method. Usually authors and article writers come up with novel terms sometimes to make things even more understandable or sometimes just to make fun. So FISH terminology for LIFO system might just be the similar kind of case. […]

