Interim Financial Reporting
Interim Financial Reporting
Interim Financial Reporting
BLUE NOTES
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Interim Financial Reporting
PAS 34 prescribes the minimum content of an interim financial report and the principles for recognition and
measurement in complete or condensed financial statements for an interim period.
Interim financial reporting means the preparation and presentation of financial information for a period of less than
one year.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
PAS 34, paragraph 28, provides than an entity shall apply the same accounting policies in its interim
financial statements as are applied in its annual financial statements.
Revenues from products sold or services rendered are generally recognized for interim reports on the
same basis as for the annual period.
Cost and expenses are recognized as incurred in an interim period.
Expenses associated directly with revenue are matched against revenue in those interim periods in which the
related revenue is recognized.
Expenses not associated directly with revenue are recognized in interim periods as incurred or allocated over
the interim periods benefited.
Under PAS 34, paragraph 21, if the business is seasonal, the entity is encouraged to disclose financial
information for the latest 12 months and comparative information for the prior 12-month period, in
addition to the interim period financial statements.
The preparation of interim financial reports usually will require a greater use of estimation than annual
financial reports.
Measurement
Inventories - Inventories shall be measured at lower of cost or net realizable value even for interim
purposes. In net realizable value is lower than cost, a loss on inventory writedown shall be recognized
regardless of whether the writedown is temporary or permanent.
Seasonal, cyclical or occasional revenue - Seasonal, cyclical or occasional revenue shall not be
anticipated or deferred as of an interim date if anticipation or deferral would not be appropriate at the
end of the entity’s reporting period.
Uneven costs - Costs that are incurred unevenly during an entity’s financial year shall be anticipated or
deferred for interim purposes only if it is also appropriate to anticipate or defer that type of cost at the
end of the financial year.
Year-end bonuses - A bonus is anticipated for interim purposes if and only if:
The bonus is a legal obligation or past practice would make the bonus a constructive obligation to which the
entity has no realistic alternative but to make the payment.
A reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.
Irregular costs - Such costs are generally discretionary and even though they are planned shall not be
anticipated as of an interim date simply because the costs have not yet been incurred.
Depreciation and amortization - Depreciation and amortization for an interim period shall be based
only on assets owned during that interim period.
Paid vacation and holiday leave - Paid vacation and holiday leave shall be accrued for interim purposes
because these are enforceable as legal commitments.
Income Tax - Interim period income tax expense shall reflect the same general principles of income tax
accounting applicable to annual reporting.
Gains and losses - Gains or losses from disposal or property, gains or losses from discontinued
operation and other gains or losses shall not be allocated over the interim period. They shall be reported
in the interim period in which they are realized and the losses are reported in the interim period in
which they are incurred.
Illustrative Problem
Case 1:
The Income Statement of Mama Ajit Company for the year ended December 31, 2010 is given below.
Sales 6, 000, 000
Cost of goods sold (2, 800, 000)
Gross income 3, 200, 000
Gain on sale of equipment 100, 000
Total income 3, 000, 000
Operating expenses (500, 000)
Casualty loss (300, 000)
Income before tax 2, 500, 000
Income tax (875, 000)
Net income 1, 625, 000
year, the entity followed the same procedure in the three quarters of the year. However, in the fourth quarter,
the entity, in consultation with its auditor, determined that the bad debts expense for the entire year should be
450, 000. Sales in each quarter of the year were as follows:
First quarter 2, 000, 000
Second quarter 1, 500, 000
Third quarter 2, 500, 000
Fourth quarter 4, 000, 000
How much bad debt expense should be recognized for the fourth quarter?