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This publication contains extracts from TECH 02/17BL © ICAEW and ICAS 2017. Reproduced by kind permission of ICAEW and ICAS. First issued in April 2017. No reproduction or re-distribution allowed. The institutes do not accept responsibility for any loss caused to any person who acts or refrains from acting in reliance on the material within TECH 02/17BL.
ISBN 978-1-119-55826-2 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-119-55832-3 (ebk)
ISBN 978-1-119-55834-7 (ebk)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
UK GAAP 2019 is the third edition of the EY publication on UK GAAP following the replacement of all previous UK accounting standards with new financial reporting standards. The original publication, New UK GAAP 2015, was published in 2015 and a revised edition, UK GAAP 2017, was published in 2017. This publication has been fully revised and updated in order to:
This book comprises 34 chapters. Each chapter includes a detailed list of contents and list of illustrative examples. The book contains an index of references to standards and interpretations.
FRS 101 – Reduced Disclosure Framework – Disclosure exemptions from EU-adopted IFRS for qualifying entities – uses the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In certain circumstances, FRS 102 also refers entities to IFRS. Detailed guidance on applying IFRS can be found in EY's publication, EY International GAAP 2019®.
With effect from accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015 (or, for small entities that choose to apply the small entities regime and micro entities that choose to apply the micro entities regime, accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016), all previous UK GAAP was replaced with new Financial Reporting Standards (FRSs 100-105) along with the associated accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006).
Since the publication of UK GAAP 2017, further amendments have been made to FRSs 100-104. The most significant of these were as a result of the first triennial review of the new standards. When FRS 102 was issued originally in March 2013, the FRC indicated that it would be reviewed every three years. The first triennial review was completed in December 2017 and revised versions of FRSs 100-104 were issued in March 2018 reflecting those amendments as well as incorporating amendments issued subsequent to the previous versions of the standards. The Triennial review 2017 amendments are mandatory for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. These amendments can be adopted early provided that all are applied at the same time although there are two exceptions to this general rule.
The Triennial review 2017 amendments were developed in response to stakeholder feedback and therefore address a number of implementation issues reported to the FRC, many of which were highlighted in the previous edition of this publication. In our view, the principal changes to FRS 102 which are likely to have the most impact relate to:
Following consultation, the FRC did not introduce elements of IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments, IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers – and IFRS 16 – Leases – into FRS 102 in the Triennial review 2017. The FRC's current intention is to consider major changes to IFRS on a case-by-case basis and to monitor any implementation issues arising before any consultation process begins.
Going forward, the FRC now envisages that FRS 102 will be subject to periodic review every four to five years rather than the three year cycle originally envisaged. The reason for the change in time frame is to allow time for experience of the most recent edition of FRS 102 to emerge before seeking stakeholder feedback. However, the FRC will continue to assess emerging issues as they arise and therefore it is possible that there will be amendments issued outside the regular review cycle.
Since the publication of EY UK GAAP 2017, the FRC has issued amendments to FRS 101 with the main purpose of providing disclosure exemptions from IFRS 16 and to reflect the EU endorsement of IFRS 9. The amended definition of a financial institution discussed above also applies to FRS 101.
On 29 March 2017, the UK Government started the legal process of negotiating a withdrawal by the UK from the European Union (EU). Under the provisions of the relevant laws and treaties, the UK will leave the EU by 29 March 2019, unless either a deal is reached which results in a change to the date of departure, or the negotiation period is extended by unanimous consent of the European Council. On 14 November 2018 a Draft Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union was published. At the time of writing this publication, the draft agreement is subject to approval of the UK parliament. This approval is uncertain. Other scenarios remain a possibility.
After the EU referendum result, the FRC issued a press notice confirming that companies must continue to abide by the regulations under UK law, including those derived from EU law and continue with implementation plans for legislation that is still to come into effect. Many requirements that derive from EU legislation, treaties and directives have been directly incorporated into UK company law. As a result, even in the event of EU legislation ceasing to apply, UK financial and reporting regulations will not change until applicable company law and regulations are amended. In particular, the application of EU adopted IFRS is enshrined in the CA 2006 and nothing will change in that respect without a change to the CA 2006.
The Accounts and Reports (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 were laid in draft before Parliament on 31 October 2018. This draft Statutory Instrument amends certain provisions of the CA 2006 that refer to the EU, EEA or entities within these areas. The timing of the effective date of this proposed legislation depends on whether or not a transition period is agreed with the EU.
The UK will also need to establish its policy on the endorsement of future IFRSs. It appears likely, at the time of writing this publication, that a UK endorsement process will be established although any details are yet to be published.
Given the uncertain nature of the final terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, the final form of the draft legislation described above and the extent of further legislative and regulatory changes in the UK affecting the financial reporting framework, the matters referred to above are subject to change.
FRS 102 is much shorter in length than either IFRS or previous UK GAAP and, as a result, is less prescriptive on many issues. This publication includes our views on the judgemental areas we believe are likely to be most common in practice based on our experience of applying the new standards and similar issues encountered in applying IFRS. As experience of applying FRS 102 grows over time, we expect our views will continue to evolve. It is not possible for this publication to cover every aspect of company reporting. For some of the more complicated or less common areas which are not covered by FRS 102 and for which IFRSs provide relevant guidance, further explanations can be found in our publication International GAAP® 2019.
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We are deeply indebted to many of our colleagues within the UK organisation of EY for their selfless assistance and support in the publication of this book.
Our thanks go particularly to those who reviewed, edited and assisted in the preparation of drafts, most notably: Mike Bonham, Tony Clifford, Tim Denton, Bernd Kremp, Richard Moore and Kirsty Smith.
Our thanks also go to everyone who directly or indirectly contributed to the book's creation, including the following members of the Financial Reporting Group in the UK: David Bradbery, Denise Brand, and Mqondisi Ndlovu.
We also thank Jeremy Gugenheim for his assistance with the production technology throughout the period of writing.
London, | Rob Carrington | Maria Kingston | Anna Pickup |
November 2018 | Larissa Connor | Dean Lockhart | Michael Pratt |
Diego Fernandez | Sharon MacIntyre | Timothy Rogerson | |
Archibald Groenewald | Anna Malcolm | Claire Taylor | |
Prahalad Halgeri | Amanda Marrion | Michael Varila | |
Jane Hurworth | Tina Patel |
The following references and abbreviations are used in this book:
References in index of standards:
Foreword.19 | Paragraph 19 of the Foreword to Accounting Standards issued by the FRC (March 2018) |
FRS 100 Summary (i) | Paragraph i of the Summary of FRS 100 |
FRS 100.4 | Paragraph 4 of FRS 100 |
FRS 100 Appendix I | Appendix I:Glossary to FRS 100 |
FRS 100.AG7 | Paragraph 7 of the Application Guidance to FRS 100 |
FRS 101.10 | Paragraph 10 of FRS 101 |
FRS 101 Appendix I Table 1 | Table 1 of Appendix I to FRS 101 |
FRS 101 Appendix III.2 | Paragraph 2 of Appendix III to FRS 101 |
FRS 101.BC15 | Paragraph 15 of the Basis for Conclusions to FRS 101 |
FRS 102.1A.7 | Paragraph 7 of Section 1A of FRS 102 |
FRS 102.23.9 | Paragraph 9 of Section 23 of FRS 102 |
FRS 102.PBE34.89 | Paragraph PBE34.89 of Section 34 of FRS 102 |
FRS 102 Appendix I | Appendix I of FRS 102: Glossary |
FRS 102 Appendix II | Appendix II of FRS 102: Table of equivalence for company law terminology |
FRS 102 Appendix III.5 | Paragraph 5 of Appendix III of FRS 102: Note on legal requirements |
FRS 102 Appendix IV.1 | Paragraph 1 of Appendix IV to FRS 102: Republic of Ireland legal references |
FRS 102.BC.B2.7 | Paragraph B2.7 of the Basis for Conclusions to FRS 102 |
FRS 103.1 | Paragraph 1 of FRS 103 |
FRS 103.IG2.15 | Paragraph 15 of Section 2 of the Implementation Guidance to accompany FRS 103 |
FRS 103 Appendix II.5 | Paragraph 5 of Appendix II to FRS 103: Definition of an insurance contract |
FRS 103.BC18 | Paragraph 18 of the Basis for Conclusions to FRS 103 |
FRS 104.1 | Paragraph 1 of FRS 104 |
FRS 105.1 | Paragraph 1 of FRS 105 |
FRS 11.9 | Paragraph 9 of FRS 11 |
SSAP 19.11 | Paragraph 11 of SSAP 19 |
FRSSE 6.51 | Paragraph 6.51 of the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities |
IFRS 1 Appendix A | Appendix A of IFRS 1 |
IFRS 3.29 | Paragraph 29 of IFRS 3 |
IFRS 4.IG70 | Paragraph 70 of the Implementation Guidance to IFRS 4 |
IFRS 10 Appendix B.98 | Paragraph 98 of Appendix B to IFRS 10 |
IAS 1.12 | Paragraph 12 of IAS 1 |
IAS 27.15 (2012) | Paragraph 15 of the version of IAS 27 effective in 2012 |
IFRIC 18.BC22 | Paragraph 22 of the Basis for Conclusions to IFRIC 18 |
s395(2) | Section 395 subsection (2) of the Companies Act 2006 |
s408 (LLP) | Section 408 of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1911) |
Regulations 6(2) | Paragraph 6(2) of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1910) |
1 Sch 55 | Paragraph 55 of Schedule 1 to the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1910) |
Regulations (SC) 8 | Paragraph 8 of the Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/409) |
1 Sch 1C (SC) | Paragraph 1C of Schedule 1 to the Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/409) |
LLP Regulations 3 | Paragraph 3 of The Large and Medium-sized Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1913) |
1 Sch 1 (LLP) | Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to The Large and Medium-sized Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1913) |
LLP SC Regulations 6 | Paragraph 6 of The Small Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1912) |
1 Sch 10(2) (LLP SC) | Paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 1 to the Small Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1912) |
TECH 02/17BL | Technical Release 02/17BL: Guidance on Realised and Distributable Profits under the Companies Act 2006 issued by the ICAEW and ICAS (April 2017) |
DTR 7.2 | Paragraph 7.2 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules |
LR 11 | Paragraph 11 to the LSE Listing Rules |
LLP SORP Appendix 4 | Appendix 4 to the Statement on Recommended Practice – Accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships - issued by the CCAB ( January 2017) |
Professional and regulatory bodies:
BEIS | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
CCAB | Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies |
CRC | Corporate Reporting Council (formally Accounting Council (AC)) |
FRC | Financial Reporting Council |
IASB | International Accounting Standards Board |
ICAEW | Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales |
ICAS | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland |
IFRIC | International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee |
PRA | Prudential Regulation Authority |
TAG | UK GAAP Technical Advisory Group |
Accounting related terms:
AIM | Alternative Investment Market |
CA 2006 | Companies Act 2006 |
CGU | Cash-generating unit |
Code | The UK Corporate Governance Code (April 2016) issued by the FRC |
E&E | Exploration and evaluation |
EBIT | Earnings before interest and taxes |
EBITDA | Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation |
EBT | Employee benefit trust |
EIR | Effective interest rate |
EPS | Earnings per share |
FC | Foreign currency |
FIFO | First-in, first-out basis of valuation |
FRED | Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (issued by the FRC) |
FRS | Financial Reporting Standard (issued by the FRC) |
FRSSE | Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities |
FTA | First-time adoption |
FVLCD | Fair value less costs of disposal |
FVLCS | Fair value less costs to sell |
GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Practice |
IAS | International Accounting Standard (issued by the former board of the IASC) |
IBOR | Interbank offer rate |
IFRS | International Financial Reporting Standard (issued by the IASB) |
IIR | Implicit interest rate (in a lease) |
IRR | Internal rate of return |
JA | Joint arrangement |
JANE | Joint arrangement that is not an entity |
JCA | Jointly controlled asset |
JCE | Jointly controlled entity |
JV | Joint venture |
LIBOR | London Inter Bank Offered Rate |
LIFO | Last-in, first-out basis of valuation |
LLP | Limited liability partnership |
LLP Regulations | The Large and Medium-sized Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1913) |
NCI | Non-controlling interest |
NBV | Net book value |
NPV | Net present value |
NRV | Net realisable value |
OCI | Other comprehensive income |
PP&E | Property, plant and equipment |
R&D | Research and development |
Regulations | The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/410) |
SCA | Service concession arrangement |
SE | Structured entity |
SI 2015/980 | The Companies, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/980) |
SI 2016/575 | The Limited Liability Partnerships, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Audit) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/575) |
Small Companies Regulations | The Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/409) |
Small LLP Regulations | The Small Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1912) |
SME | Small or medium-sized entity |
SORP | Statement of Recommended Practice |
SPE | Special purpose entity |
SSAP | Statement of Standard Accounting Practice |
SV | Separate vehicle |
TSR | Total shareholder return |
Triennial review 2017 | Amendments to FRS 102 – The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland - Triennial review 2017 and Incremental improvements and clarifications – issued in December 2017 |
2016 FRC Guidance | Guidance on the Going Concern Basis of Accounting and Reporting on Solvency and Liquidity Risks – Guidance for directors of companies that do not apply the UK Corporate Governance Code (April 2016) - issued by the FRC |
UITF | Urgent Issues Task Force |
UK | United Kingdom |
VIU | Value in use |
WACC | Weighted average cost of capital |
The content of this book takes into account all UK accounting standards and exposure drafts extant as at November 2018.
References to the main text of each chapter to the pronouncements below for FRSs 100-105 are generally based on the version of the standard issued in March 2018 (which incorporate amendments made in December 2017 and earlier).
Accounting Standards |
Foreword to Accounting Standards (March 2018) |
FRS 100 – Application of Financial Reporting Requirements (March 2018) |
FRS 101 – Reduced Disclosure Framework – Disclosure exemptions from EU-adopted IFRS for qualifying entities (March 2018) |
Amendments to Basis for Conclusions FRS 101 – Reduced Disclosure Framework – 2017/2018 cycle (May 2018) |
FRS 102 – The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (March 2018) |
FRS 103 – Insurance Contracts – Consolidated accounting and reporting requirements for entities in the UK and Republic of Ireland issuing insurance contracts (March 2018) |
FRS 104 – Interim Financial Reporting (March 2018) |
FRS 105 – The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime (March 2018) |