The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) has released Exposure Draft (ED) 70, Revenue with Performance Obligations, ED 71, Revenue without Performance Obligations, and ED 72, Transfer Expenses. The three exposure drafts are published together to highlight for respondents the linkages between the accounting for revenue and transfer expenses. The three EDs pioneer new approaches for some of the most significant transactions of public sector entities, including inter-governmental transfers and grants for the delivery of key government services to the community by introducing:
- A more straight-forward approach to classifying revenue transactions;
- A new model for the recognition and measurement of revenue; and
- Guidance on transfer expenses, which currently does not exist in IPSAS.
“Sound accounting for revenue is crucial for all governments and other public sector bodies. We are confident that the proposed use of the performance obligation approach in ED 70, together with the updates to IPSAS 23 in ED 71, will improve financial reporting for both users and preparers of public sector financial statements,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “ED 72 complements the other two EDs by proposing guidance for the first time on transfer expenses, which are a major area of government expenditure, often recognized as revenue by other public sector bodies.”
ED 70 is aligned with IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, while extending the income recognition approach in that standard to address common public sector transactions which include performance obligations, including those where the ultimate beneficiary is a third party. It is intended to supersede IPSAS 9, Revenue from Exchange Transactions, and IPSAS 11, Construction Contracts.
ED 71 is an update of IPSAS 23, Revenue from Non-Exchange Transactions (Taxes and Transfers) that addresses some of the issues encountered in its application. Unlike the current revenue standards, which classify revenue based on an exchange or non-exchange distinction, ED 70 and ED 71 differentiate revenue transactions based on whether or not the transaction has a performance obligation, which is defined as a promise to transfer goods or services to a purchaser or a third-party beneficiary. ED 71 also provides public sector-specific guidance on capital transfers for the first time.
ED 72 proposes guidance for transfer expenses, where a transfer provider provides resources to another entity without receiving anything directly in return. In providing guidance for the first time on the expense side of transactions that may be accounted under the revenue EDs by other public sector organizations, ED 72 includes proposals for transactions with and without performance obligations.
The IPSASB welcomes the views of respondents on the proposed standards and the other matters raised for comment in the three EDs.
How to Comment
To access the Exposure Drafts and their summary At-a-Glance documents, or to submit a comment, visit the IPSASB website, www.ipsasb.org. Comments on the Exposure Drafts are requested by November 1, 2020. The IPSASB encourages IFAC members, associates, and regional accountancy organizations to promote the availability of this Exposure Draft 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®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. 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.
