IASB issues ‘major update’ to standard for SMEs

The updates include a revised model for revenue recognition and new requirements for business combinations, consolidations, and financial instruments.

The IASB issued “a major update” to IFRS for SMEs, an accounting standard required or permitted in 85 jurisdictions, a news release said.

Following a comprehensive review of the standard, the IASB introduced:

  • A revised model for revenue recognition;
  • Bringing together the requirements for fair value measurement in a single location; and
  • Updating the requirements for business combinations, consolidations, and financial instruments.

The update will “improve the information provided” to users of small- and medium-size entities’ (SMEs’) financial statements, according to a statement from Andreas Barckow, chair of the IASB, while maintaining the standard’s simplicity.

IFRS for SMEs was issued in 2009 to address the global demand for a simplified accounting standard for SMEs. This updated version is the standard’s third edition.

This update is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, with early application permitted. The new edition is accessible online for those with an IFRS digital subscription.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Steph Brown at Stephanie.Brown@aicpa-cima.com.

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