The Elements of Financial Statements (Framework_07-04_COMPmar20_07-21)

Financial statements portray the financial effects of transactions and other events by grouping them into broad classes according to their economic characteristics.  These broad classes are termed the elements of financial statements.  The elements directly related to the measurement of financial position in the balance sheet are assets, liabilities and equity.  The elements directly related to the measurement of performance in the income statement are income and expenses.  The cash flow statement usually reflects income statement elements and changes in balance sheet elements; accordingly, this Framework identifies no elements that are unique to this statement.

The presentation of these elements in the balance sheet and the income statement involves a process of sub-classification.  For example, assets and liabilities may be classified by their nature or function in the business of the entity in order to display information in the manner most useful to users for purposes of making economic decisions.

The elements directly related to the measurement of financial position are assets, liabilities and equity. These are defined as follows:

(a) An asset is a resource controlled by the entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.

(b) A liability is a present obligation of the entity arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the entity of resources embodying economic benefits.

(c) Equity is the residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all its liabilities.

In respect of not-for-profit entities in the public or private sector, in pursuing their objectives, goods and services are provided that have the capacity to satisfy human wants and needs.  Assets provide a means for entities to achieve their objectives.  Future economic benefits or service potential is the essence of assets.  Future economic benefits is synonymous with the notion of service potential, and is used in this Framework as a reference also to service potential.  Future economic benefits can be described as the scarce capacity to provide benefits to the entities that use them, and is common to all assets irrespective of their physical or other form.

The definitions of an asset and a liability identify their essential features but do not attempt to specify the criteria that need to be met before they are recognised in the balance sheet.  Thus, the definitions embrace items that are not recognised as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet because they do not satisfy the criteria for recognition discussed in paragraphs 82 to 98.  In particular, the expectation that future economic benefits will flow to or from an entity must be sufficiently certain to meet the probability criterion in paragraph 83 before an asset or liability is recognised.

In assessing whether an item meets the definition of an asset, liability or equity, attention needs to be given to its underlying substance and economic reality and not merely its legal form.  Thus, for example, in the case of finance leases, the substance and economic reality are that the lessee acquires the economic benefits of the use of the leased asset for the major part of its useful life in return for entering into an obligation to pay for that right an amount approximating to the fair value of the asset and the related finance charge.  Hence, the finance lease gives rise to items that satisfy the definition of an asset and a liability and are recognised as such in the lessee’s balance sheet.

Balance sheets drawn up in accordance with current Australian Accounting Standards may include items that do not satisfy the definitions of an asset or liability and are not shown as part of equity.  The definitions set out in paragraph 49 will, however, underlie future reviews of existing Australian Accounting Standards and the formulation of further Standards.

The future economic benefit embodied in an asset is the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to the flow of cash and cash equivalents to the entity.  The potential may be a productive one that is part of the operating activities of the entity.  It may also take the form of convertibility into cash or cash equivalents or a capability to reduce cash outflows, such as when an alternative manufacturing process lowers the costs of production.

An entity usually employs its assets to produce goods or services capable of satisfying the wants or needs of customers; because these goods or services can satisfy these wants or needs, customers are prepared to pay for them and hence contribute to the cash flow of the entity.  Cash itself renders a service to the entity because of its command over other resources.

In respect of not-for-profit entities, whether in the public or private sector, the future economic benefits are also used to provide goods and services in accordance with the entities’ objectives.  However, since the entities do not have the generation of profit as a principal objective, the provision of goods and services may not result in net cash inflows to the entities as the recipients of the goods and services may not transfer cash or other benefits to the entities in exchange.

In respect of not-for-profit entities, the fact that they do not charge, or do not charge fully, their beneficiaries or customers for the goods and services they provide does not deprive those outputs of utility or value; nor does it preclude the entities from benefiting from the assets used to provide the goods and services.  For example, assets such as monuments, museums, cathedrals and historical treasures provide needed or desired services to beneficiaries, typically at little or no direct cost to the beneficiaries.  These assets benefit the entities by enabling them to meet their objectives of providing needed services to beneficiaries.

The future economic benefits embodied in an asset may flow to the entity in a number of ways. For example, an asset may be:

(a) used singly or in combination with other assets in the production of goods or services to be sold by the entity;

(b) exchanged for other assets;

(c) used to settle a liability; or

(d) distributed to the owners of the entity.

Many assets, for example, property, plant and equipment, have a physical form.  However, physical form is not essential to the existence of an asset; hence patents and copyrights, for example, are assets if future economic benefits are expected to flow from them to the entity and if they are controlled by the entity.

Many assets, for example, receivables and property, are associated with legal rights, including the right of ownership.  In determining the existence of an asset, the right of ownership is not essential; thus, for example, property held on a lease is an asset if the entity controls the benefits which are expected to flow from the property.  Although the capacity of an entity to control benefits is usually the result of legal rights, an item may nonetheless satisfy the definition of an asset even when there is no legal control.  For example, know-how obtained from a development activity may meet the definition of an asset when, by keeping that know-how secret, an entity controls the benefits that are expected to flow from it.

The assets of an entity result from past transactions or other past events.  Entities normally obtain assets by purchasing or producing them, but other transactions or events may generate assets.  Examples include property received by an entity from government as part of a program to encourage economic growth in an area, and the discovery of mineral deposits.  Transactions or events expected to occur in the future do not, in themselves, give rise to assets.  Hence, for example, an intention to purchase inventory does not, of itself, meet the definition of an asset.

There is a close association between incurring expenditure and generating assets but the two do not necessarily coincide.  Hence, when an entity incurs expenditure, this may provide evidence that future economic benefits were sought but is not conclusive proof that an item satisfying the definition of an asset has been obtained.  Similarly the absence of a related expenditure does not preclude an item from satisfying the definition of an asset and thus becoming a candidate for recognition in the balance sheet.  For example, items that have been donated to the entity may satisfy the definition of an asset.

An essential characteristic of a liability is that the entity has a present obligation.  An obligation is a duty or responsibility to act or perform in a certain way.  Obligations may be legally enforceable as a consequence of a binding contract or statutory requirement.  This is normally the case, for example, with amounts payable for goods and services received.  Obligations also arise, however, from normal business practice, custom and a desire to maintain good business relations or act in an equitable manner.  If, for example, an entity decides as a matter of policy to rectify faults in its products even when these become apparent after the warranty period has expired, the amounts that are expected to be expended in respect of goods already sold are liabilities.

A distinction needs to be drawn between a present obligation and a future commitment.  A decision by the management of an entity to acquire assets in the future does not, of itself, give rise to a present obligation.  An obligation normally arises only when the asset is delivered or the entity enters into an irrevocable agreement to acquire the asset.  In the latter case, the irrevocable nature of the agreement means that the economic consequences of failing to honour the obligation, for example, because of the existence of a substantial penalty, leave the entity with little, if any, discretion to avoid the outflow of resources to another party. 

The settlement of a present obligation usually involves the entity giving up resources embodying economic benefits in order to satisfy the claim of the other party. Settlement of a present obligation may occur in a number of ways, for example, by:

(a) payment of cash;

(b) transfer of other assets;

(c) provision of services;

(d) replacement of that obligation with another obligation; or

(e) conversion of the obligation to equity.

An obligation may also be extinguished by other means, such as a creditor waiving or forfeiting its rights.

Liabilities result from past transactions or other past events.  Thus, for example, the acquisition of goods and the use of services give rise to trade payables (unless paid for in advance or on delivery), and the receipt of a bank loan results in an obligation to repay the loan.  An entity may also recognise future rebates based on annual purchases by customers as liabilities; in this case, the sale of the goods in the past is the transaction that gives rise to the liability. 

Some liabilities can be measured only by using a substantial degree of estimation.  Some entities describe these liabilities as provisions.  In some countries, such provisions are not regarded as liabilities because the concept of a liability is defined narrowly so as to include only amounts that can be established without the need to make estimates.  The definition of a liability in paragraph 49 follows a broader approach.  Thus, when a provision involves a present obligation and satisfies the rest of the definition, it is a liability even if the amount has to be estimated.  Examples include provisions for payments to be made under existing warranties and provisions to cover pension obligations.

Although equity is defined in paragraph 49 as a residual, it may be sub-classified in the balance sheet.  For example, in a corporate entity, funds contributed by shareholders, retained earnings, reserves representing appropriations of retained earnings and reserves representing capital maintenance adjustments may be shown separately.  Such classifications can be relevant to the decision-making needs of the users of financial statements when they indicate legal or other restrictions on the ability of the entity to distribute or otherwise apply its equity.  They may also reflect the fact that parties with ownership interests in an entity have differing rights in relation to the receipt of dividends or the repayment of contributed equity.

The creation of reserves is sometimes required by statute or other law in order to give the entity and its creditors an added measure of protection from the effects of losses.  Other reserves may be established if national tax law grants exemptions from, or reductions in, taxation liabilities when transfers to such reserves are made.  The existence and size of these legal, statutory and tax reserves is information that can be relevant to the decision-making needs of users.  Transfers to such reserves are appropriations of retained earnings rather than expenses.

The amount at which equity is shown in the balance sheet is dependent on the measurement of assets and liabilities.  Normally, the aggregate amount of equity only by coincidence corresponds with the aggregate market value of the shares of the entity or the sum that could be raised by disposing of either the net assets on a piecemeal basis or the entity as a whole on a going concern basis.

Commercial, industrial and business activities are often undertaken by means of entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, trusts and various types of government business undertakings.  The legal and regulatory framework for such entities is often different from that applying to corporate entities.  For example, there may be few, if any, restrictions on the distribution to owners or other beneficiaries of amounts included in equity.  Nevertheless, the definition of equity and the other aspects of this Framework that deal with equity are appropriate for such entities.

Profit is frequently used as a measure of performance or as the basis for other measures, such as return on investment or earnings per share.  The elements directly related to the measurement of profit are income and expenses.  The recognition and measurement of income and expenses, and hence profit, depends in part on the concepts of capital and capital maintenance used by the entity in preparing its financial statements.  These concepts are discussed in paragraphs 102 to 110.

The elements of income and expenses are defined as follows.

(a) Income is increases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants.

(b) Expenses are decreases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of outflows or depletions of assets or incurrences of liabilities that result in decreases in equity, other than those relating to distributions to equity participants.

The definitions of income and expenses identify their essential features but do not attempt to specify the criteria that would need to be met before they are recognised in the income statement.  Criteria for the recognition of income and expenses are discussed in paragraphs 82 to 98.

Income and expenses may be presented in the income statement in different ways so as to provide information that is relevant for economic decision-making.  For example, it is common practice to distinguish between those items of income and expenses that arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity and those that do not.  This distinction is made on the basis that the source of an item is relevant in evaluating the ability of the entity to generate cash and cash equivalents in the future^[1].  For example, incidental activities such as the disposal of a long-term investment are unlikely to recur on a regular basis.  When distinguishing between items in this way, consideration needs to be given to the nature of the entity and its operations.  Items that arise from the ordinary activities of one entity may be unusual in respect of another.

Distinguishing between items of income and expense and combining them in different ways also permits several measures of entity performance to be displayed.  These have differing degrees of inclusiveness.  For example, the income statement could display gross margin, profit or loss before taxation, and profit or loss.

The definition of income encompasses both revenue and gains.  Revenue arises in the course of the ordinary activities of an entity and is referred to by a variety of different names including sales, fees, interest, dividends, royalties and rent

Gains represent other items that meet the definition of income and may, or may not, arise in the course of the ordinary activities of an entity.  Gains represent increases in economic benefits and as such are no different in nature from revenue.  Hence, they are not regarded as constituting a separate element in this Framework.

Gains include, for example, those arising on the disposal of non-current assets.  The definition of income also includes unrealised gains; for example, those arising on the revaluation of marketable securities and those resulting from increases in the carrying amount of long-term assets.  When gains are recognised in the income statement, they are usually displayed separately because knowledge of them is useful for the purpose of making economic decisions.  Gains are often reported net of related expenses.

Various kinds of assets may be received or enhanced by income.  Examples include cash, receivables and goods and services received in exchange for goods and services supplied.  Income may also result from the settlement of liabilities.  For example, an entity may provide goods and services to a lender in settlement of an obligation to repay an outstanding loan.

The definition of expenses encompasses losses as well as those expenses that arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity.  Expenses that arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity include, for example, cost of sales, wages and depreciation.  They usually take the form of an outflow or depletion of assets such as cash and cash equivalents, inventory, property, plant and equipment. 

Losses represent other items that meet the definition of expenses and may, or may not, arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity.  Losses represent decreases in economic benefits and as such they are no different in nature from other expenses.  Hence, they are not regarded as a separate element in this Framework.

Losses include, for example, those resulting from disasters such as fire and flood, as well as those arising on the disposal of non-current assets.  The definition of expenses also includes unrealised losses, for example, those arising from the effects of increases in the rate of exchange for a foreign currency in respect of the borrowings of an entity in that currency.  When losses are recognised in the income statement, they are usually displayed separately because knowledge of them is useful for the purpose of making economic decisions.  Losses are often reported net of related income.

The revaluation or restatement of assets and liabilities gives rise to increases or decreases in equity.  While these increases or decreases meet the definition of income and expenses, they are not included in the income statement under certain concepts of capital maintenance.  Instead these items are included in equity as capital maintenance adjustments or revaluation reserves.  These concepts of capital maintenance are discussed in paragraphs 102 to 110 of this Framework.