IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements is a standard that provides guidance on the preparation and presentation of financial statements. The standard applies to all entities that prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
The objective of IAS 1 is to ensure that financial statements provide information that is useful to users in making economic decisions. The standard sets out the general principles for the presentation of financial statements, including the overall structure, the minimum requirements for their content, and the principles for their recognition and measurement.
The standard requires that financial statements be prepared on the basis of accrual accounting, which recognizes transactions and events as they occur, rather than on a cash basis. Financial statements must also be prepared using a consistent accounting policy, and any changes in policy must be disclosed.
IAS 1 requires that financial statements include a statement of financial position (balance sheet), a statement of comprehensive income (income statement), a statement of changes in equity, and a statement of cash flows. These statements must be presented in a specific order, and must include certain minimum information.
In addition to the financial statements, IAS 1 requires that entities include in their annual reports a description of the basis of preparation of the financial statements, the entity’s accounting policies, and any significant estimates and judgments made in the preparation of the financial statements.
Overall, IAS 1 aims to ensure that financial statements provide relevant and reliable information that can be used by investors, creditors, and other users in making decisions about the entity.
Example 1: XYZ Corporation is a publicly traded company that prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. In its statement of financial position, XYZ reports its assets, liabilities, and equity as follows:
| Assets | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash | $10,000 |
| Accounts Receivable | $20,000 |
| Inventory | $30,000 |
| Property, Plant, and Equipment | $100,000 |
| Total Assets | $160,000 |
| Liabilities | Amount |
|---|---|
| Accounts Payable | $25,000 |
| Bank Loan | $50,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $75,000 |
| Equity | Amount |
|---|---|
| Share Capital | $50,000 |
| Retained Earnings | $35,000 |
| Total Equity | $85,000 |
Example 2: ABC Company is a private company that prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. In its statement of comprehensive income, ABC reports its revenue, expenses, and profit as follows:
| Revenue | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sales | $100,000 |
| Interest Income | $5,000 |
| Total Revenue | $105,000 |
| Expenses | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cost of Goods Sold | $50,000 |
| Salaries and Wages | $20,000 |
| Rent | $5,000 |
| Depreciation | $10,000 |
| Interest Expense | $2,000 |
| Total Expenses | $87,000 |
| Profit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net Profit | $18,000 |
Case Study: XYZ Corporation is a large multinational company that prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. In its annual report, XYZ provides a description of its accounting policies, including the recognition and measurement of its assets, liabilities, and equity. It also discloses any significant estimates and judgments made in the preparation of the financial statements.
In its statement of financial position, XYZ reports its assets, liabilities, and equity using IAS 1. The company includes a detailed breakdown of its non-current assets, including property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets. It also reports its liabilities by their maturity dates, and includes information on its share capital, reserves, and retained earnings.
In its statement of comprehensive income, XYZ reports its revenue, expenses, and profit using IAS 1. The company includes a breakdown of its revenue by geographic region, and reports its expenses by function. It also includes a note explaining the nature and amount of any unusual items, such as gains or losses on the sale of assets or restructuring costs.
Overall, XYZ’s financial statements comply with the requirements of IAS 1, providing users with relevant and reliable information about the company’s financial position, performance, and cash flows.