The IPSASB® was hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia for our final meeting of the year from December 10 to 13 in Riyadh. Thank you to our hosts for providing such a welcoming experience and an impactful meeting to close out 2024.
IFRIC Alignment – Narrow Scope Amendments
The Board approved the Final Pronouncement, Amendments to IPSAS Standards: Specific IFRIC Interpretations which amends IPSAS Standards to clarify the application of existing principles to help public sector entities better understand and apply them consistently. These amendments are effective January 1, 2026.
Presentation of Financial Statements
In our discussions on the statement of financial performance, we noted the usefulness of presenting revenue and expense items in categories with practical considerations that we‘ll explore at future meetings. We also discussed whether sufficient transparency exists for revenue and expense items presented outside surplus and deficit and how presentation requirements can enhance clarity and transparency.
Maintenance Activities
As part of our 2024-2028 strategy, we're focusing on the maintenance of IPSAS Standards. We finalized operating procedures for post-implementation reviews and the IPSASB Application Group and discussed the timeline for implementing both activities. We are looking forward to rolling out both initiatives in 2025.
Sustainability: Research and Scoping
Our first discussions related to researching potential future sustainability projects focused on our remit within the broader sustainability reporting landscape and how future research and scoping will inform our 2025 Work Program Consultation, which will seek feedback on our priorities in 2026 and beyond.
Materiality
The Making Materiality Judgement project discussions focused on research and scoping activities. We agreed the project should take a phased approach: financial reporting will be the focus of the initial phase, followed by sustainability reporting after the completion of the Climate-related Disclosures pronouncement. A project brief is expected to be approved in March 2025.
Strengthening Linkages Between IPSAS and GFSM 2014
In first discussions on the Strengthening Linkages Between IPSAS Standards and GFSM 2014 project, the IPSASB decided the project should have two phases: a phase highlighting the current alignment between IPSAS Standards and GFSM 2014, and a phase identifying opportunities to increase alignment between both reporting frameworks. The IPSASB expects to approve a project brief in March 2025.
Meeting Videos
Recordings of the meetings are available on our YouTube channel.
Next Meeting
Our next Board meeting will be hosted by the World Bank at their head offices in Washington, D.C., USA from March 18 – 21, 2025.
Pathways to Accrual: Find resources helpful for planning and undertaking a transition from cash to accrual accounting including adopting and implementing IPSAS.
Implementing IPSAS: Download a package of training materials on IPSAS that can be tailored to the needs of training participants.
IPSASB Members: The global search for volunteer members to join our Board in 2026 is underway. If you have strong knowledge of issues related to financial and sustainability reporting, standard-setting experience, direct experience with public financial reforms, or familiarity with the needs of financial statement users, apply by January 31, 2025.
IPSASB Chair: The Search Committee is seeking a visionary leader capable of guiding the Board and the IPSASB staff through the evolving challenges of financial and sustainability reporting in the public sector. Apply by January 26, 2025.
Minerals can account for a significant proportion of the economic resources in many jurisdictions, and the activities to explore for and extract these minerals require significant investment by mining entities. Up to now, public sector mining entities, reporting under IPSAS Standards, had lacked guidance to produce sufficient information on their investments to pursue the economic benefits of these mineral resources.
“The IPSASB has responded to its stakeholders’ needs by addressing some of the gaps in its literature on mineral resources,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “Together, the new IPSAS 50 and the Amendments to IPSAS 12 will help public sector entities to provide useful financial information and improved accountability in this important area.”
IPSAS 50 provides guidance on accounting for the costs incurred in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources, based on the selection of an accounting policy specifying which expenditure should be recognized as exploration and evaluation assets. IPSAS 50 is aligned with the private sector requirements in IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, with limited changes for the public sector context.
Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine (Amendments to IPSAS 12) adds an authoritative appendix to IPSAS 12, Inventories. The guidance clarifies when to capitalize costs incurred to remove waste material in surface mining operations as inventory or a non-current asset or both. The pronouncement is aligned with the guidance in IFRIC 20, Stripping costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine, with limited changes for the public sector context.
The effective date for both IPSAS 50 and Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine (Amendments to IPSAS 12) is January 1, 2027, with earlier application permitted.
How to Access
To access the pronouncements, the summary At-a-Glance document, and the webcast, visit the links above. The IPSASB encourages IFAC members, associates, and Network Partners to promote the availability of these pronouncements to their members and employees.
About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS Standards), IPSASB Sustainability Reporting Standards (IPSASB SRS™ Standards) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS Standards and IPSASB SRS Standards and promotes the adoption and implementation of these to enhance the quality and consistency of practice throughout the world and strengthen the transparency and accountability of public sector finances and sustainable development. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, the government of Canada, and The World Bank. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC®). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.
About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.
IPSAS 50, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, and Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine (Amendments to IPSAS 12), have an effective date of January 1, 2027. Earlier application is permitted.
This Handbook contains the complete International Public Sector Accounting StandardsTM, published as of January 31, 2024. It also includes The Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities with Chapters 3, 5, and 7 updated in 2023.
The global search for volunteer members to serve on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) is underway. The IPSASB is an independent standard-setting body that works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®), IPSASB Sustainability Reporting Standards™ (IPSASB SRS™), and other high-quality reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities.
The global search for volunteer members to serve on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) is underway. The IPSASB is an independent standard-setting body that works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®), IPSASB Sustainability Reporting Standards™ (IPSASB SRS™), and other high-quality reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities.
The Nominating Committee is seeking nominations from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, including:
Public sector standard setters
Preparers of accrual-based financial statements and/or public sector sustainability reports who may come from Ministries of Finance, Accountants Generals’ Departments, or other institutions
Users of general-purpose financial reports, such as parliamentarians, budget offices, and credit-rating agencies
Public sector external auditors
Candidates from jurisdictions that are transitioning to or have already implemented IPSAS
Candidates should have relevant experience, potentially including a strong knowledge of issues related to financial and sustainability reporting, reporting standard-setting experience, direct experience with public financial reforms, and / or familiarity with the needs of financial statement users. Excellent English communication skills are required.
The initial term of service for these volunteers will be for three years, commencing on January 1, 2026, with the potential to renew for another three-year term.
All stakeholders, including from national, state, and local governments, national standard setters, IFAC member organizations, the Forum of Firms and their members from public accounting firms, other organizations, and members of the general public, are encouraged to nominate candidates or apply.
Nominations from all regions of the world are encouraged, with a particular emphasis on qualified candidates from Africa and Latin America (both Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries) regions. Nominations of female candidates are strongly encouraged.
“IPSASB members have the unique opportunity to shape the future of public sector reporting and connect with colleagues from around the globe," said Ian Carruthers, IPSASB Chair. "As the IPSASB enters a new phase with an increased focus on the maintenance and application of the IPSAS suite of standards, along with the development of sustainability reporting standards, I strongly encourage jurisdictions that are using IPSAS, or actively transitioning to IPSAS, to nominate candidates.”
The deadline for submitting applications is January 31, 2025. Please see the Call for Nominations for more details and information on how to submit an application.
About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®), IPSASB Sustainability Reporting Standards™ (IPSASB SRS™) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and IPSASB SRS and promotes the adoption and implementation of these to enhance the quality and consistency of practice throughout the world and strengthen the transparency and accountability of public sector finances and sustainable development. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, the government of Canada, and The World Bank. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.
Appendix A in IPSAS 12, Inventories, provides interpretive guidance on accounting for waste removal costs that are incurred in surface mining activities during the production phase of the mine.
