The classified balance sheet, although generally required internationally, contains certain variations in format when reporting under IFRS.

Key Points

Following are the key similarities and differences between GAAP and IFRS related to the closing process and the financial statements.

Similarities

• •The procedures of the closing process are applicable to all companies, whether they are using IFRS or GAAP.
• •IFRS generally requires a classified statement of financial position similar to the classified balance sheet under GAAP.
• •IFRS follows the same guidelines as this textbook for distinguishing between current and noncurrent assets and liabilities.

Differences

• •IFRS recommends but does not require the use of the title “statement of financial position” rather than balance sheet.
• •The format of statement of financial position information is often presented differently under IFRS. Although no specific format is required, many companies that follow IFRS present statement of financial position information in this order:
  • •Non-current assets
  • •Current assets
  • •Equity
  • •Non-current liabilities
  • •Current liabilities
• •Under IFRS, current assets are usually listed in the reverse order of liquidity. For example, under GAAP cash is listed first, but under IFRS it is listed last.
• •IFRS has many differences in terminology from what are shown in your textbook. For example, in the following sample statement of financial position, notice in the investment category that stock is called shares.

  Franklin AG Statement of Financial Position October 31, 2020
  Assets
  Intangible assets
  Patents			€ 3,100
  Property, plant, and equipment
  Land		€10,000
  Equipment	€24,000
  Less: Accumulated depreciation	5,000	19,000	29,000
  Long-term investments
  Share investments		5,200
  Investment in real estate		2,000	7,200
  Current assets
  Prepaid insurance		400
  Supplies		2,100
  Inventory		3,000
  Notes receivable		1,000
  Accounts receivable		7,000
  Debt investments		2,000
  Cash		6,600	22,100
  Total assets			€61,400
  Equity and Liabilities
  Equity
  Share capital		€20,000
  Retained earnings		14,050	€34,050
  Non-current liabilities
  Mortgage payable		10,000
  Notes payable		1,300	11,300
  Current liabilities
  Notes payable		11,000
  Accounts payable		2,100
  Salaries and wages payable		1,600
  Unearned service revenue		900
  Interest payable		450	16,050
  Total equity and liabilities			€61,400

• •Both GAAP and IFRS are increasing the use of fair value to report assets. However, at this point IFRS has adopted it more broadly. As examples, under IFRS companies can apply fair value to property, plant, and equipment, and in some cases intangible assets.

Looking to the Future

The IASB and the FASB are working on a project to converge their standards related to financial statement presentation. A key feature of the proposed framework is that each of the statements will be organized in the same format, to separate an entity's financing activities from its operating and investing activities and, further, to separate financing activities into transactions with owners and creditors. Thus, the same classifications used in the statement of financial position would also be used in the income statement and the statement of cash flows. The project has three phases. You can follow the joint financial presentation project at the FASB website.

IFRS Exercises

IFRS4.1  

In what ways does the format of a statement of financial of position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP?

IFRS4.2  

What term is commonly used under IFRS in reference to the balance sheet?

IFRS4.3  

The statement of financial position for Sundell Company includes the following accounts (in British pounds): Accounts Receivable £12,500, Prepaid Insurance £3,600, Cash £15,400, Supplies £5,200, and Debt Investments (short-term) £6,700. Prepare the current assets section of the statement of financial position, listing the accounts in proper sequence.

IFRS4.4  The following information is available for Lessila Bowling Alley at December 31, 2020.

Buildings	$128,800	Share Capital	$100,000
Accounts Receivable	14,520	Retained Earnings (beginning)	15,000
Prepaid Insurance	4,680	Accumulated Depreciation—Buildings	42,600
Cash	18,040	Accounts Payable	12,300
Equipment	62,400	Notes Payable	97,780
Land	64,000	Accumulated Depreciation—Equipment	18,720
Insurance Expense	780	Interest Payable	2,600
Depreciation Expense	7,360	Bowling Revenues	14,180
Interest Expense	2,600

Prepare a classified statement of financial position. Assume that $13,900 of the notes payable will be paid in 2021.