The International Financial Reporting Standard

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The IFRS is the International Financial Reporting Standard that was designed as a common global language for business affairs so that companies can understand their accounts and compare them across the international boundaries. They are a result of climbing international shareholding and trade is very important to the companies that deal with other countries. Progressively, they have been replacing a lot of different national accounting standards. These standards are developed by the International Accounting Standards Board, known as IASB, which as independent accounting standard-setting body. It based in London consisting of 15 members. IASB started its operations in 2001 along with accomplishing the International Accounting Standards Committee as it is greatly funded by contributions from big accounting firms, private financial institutions and industrial banks, central and development banks, and other professional and international organizations in the world. These standards are aggressively becoming the global standard for public companies preparing financial statements. When comparing the IFRS and the U.S. GAAP, there are some key differences that those should be aware of. The big difference is that the IFRS seems to provide less overall detail about things. They also provide very little instructions regarding the industry. Although the differences between the IFRS and the U.S. GAAP have been decreasing, a few differences still exist. Some other differences are that the IFRS uses a single-step method for impairment write downs rather than the two-step method that the U.S. GAAP uses. This makes write-downs more likely in a company. They also do not permit debt for which a pact violation has occurred and is to be classified as non-current unless a waiver is obtained before the balance sheet date. One more difference is that, IFRS does not permit LIFO. Topic 1: Inventory Inventories are considered assets. These assets are held for sale in business. They are also held for sale in the process of production of sales or in the form of materials and even supplies to be consumed in production. Also is used in the interpretation of services. Under the IFRS, the use of LIFO cannot be used when under the US GAAP. Companies do have the choice between LIFO and FIFO. Also, if inventory is written down under IFRS, that write down can possibly be reversed later in the future if certain criteria has been met. When under US GAAP, reversals of write downs are restricted. This may not be a significant difference but it does have an impact on financial statements.

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