Effective date: | First effective as Canadian GAAP under Part I for interim and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, except for subsequent amendments. Earlier application of Part I was permitted. |
Published by the IASB: | November 2008 |
Included in Part I of CPA Canada Handbook: | January 2010 |
Overview
IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards sets out the procedures that an entity must follow when it adopts IFRS for the first time as the basis for preparing its general purpose financial statements. The IFRS grants limited exemptions from the general requirement to comply with each IFRS effective at the end of its first IFRS reporting period.
IFRS 1 is applicable for Canadian entities adopting IFRSs and was the basis for the first IFRS financial statements prepared by the many Canadian entities who were required to adopt IFRS in 2011. This standard also forms the required basis of accounting for all future adoptions of IFRS by Canadian entities. The general rule for first-time adoption is retrospective application but IFRS 1 does contain a number of elective and mandatory exemptions which permit, or require, an alternative treatment for certain types of transactions.
An entity’s first IFRS financial statements are the first annual financial statements in which the entity adopts IFRSs, by an explicit and unreserved statement in those financial statements of compliance with IFRSs. Financial statements in accordance with IFRSs are an entity’s first IFRS financial statements if, for example, the entity:
1. presented its most recent previous financial statements:
- in accordance with national requirements that are not consistent with IFRSs in all respects;
- in conformity with IFRSs in all respects, except that the financial statements did not contain an explicit and unreserved statement that they complied with IFRSs;
- containing an explicit statement of compliance with some, but not all, IFRSs;
- in accordance with national requirements inconsistent with IFRSs, using some individual IFRSs to account for items for which national requirements did not exist; or
- in accordance with national requirements, with a reconciliation of some amounts to the amounts determined in accordance with IFRSs; prepared financial statements in accordance with IFRSs for internal use only, without making them available to the entity’s owners or any other external users;
2. prepared a reporting package in accordance with IFRSs for consolidation purposes without preparing a complete set of financial statements;or
3. did not present financial statements for previous periods.
Under IFRS 1, an entity shall explain how the transition from previous GAAP to IFRSs affected its reported financial position, financial performance and cash flows.
History of IFRS 1
The following table shows the history of this standard subsequent to the adoption of IFRS in Canada.
Date1 | Development | Comments | Included in Part I of the CPA Canada Handbook2 |
January 2010 | Part I of the CPA Canada Handbook issued | Effective for interim and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. Earlier application is permitted. | January 2010 |
January 29, 2010 | Amended by Limited Exemption from Comparative IFRS 7 Disclosures for First-time Adopters (Amendment to IFRS 1) | Paragraphs 39D and E3 have been added to this standard to provide first-time adopters the same relief on transition to IFRSs that those already applying IFRSs received on adopting the March 2009 amendment to IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures. A consequential amendment has been made to paragraph 44G of IFRS 7. These amendments regarding additional exemptions for first-time adopters are effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2010. Earlier application is permitted. | April 2010 |
May 6, 2010 | Amended by Improvements to IFRSs | Paragraphs 27 and 32 have been amended and paragraph 27A added to clarify how changes in accounting policies should be addressed by a first-time adopter when those changes occur after the publication of the entity's first interim financial report. Paragraphs 31B and D8B have been added and paragraphs D1(c) and D8 have been amended to extend the scope of the deemed cost exemption to an event-driven fair value and to entities with operations subject to rate regulation. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2011. Earlier application is permitted. | July 2010 |
December 20, 2010 | Amended by Severe Hyperinflation and Removal of Fixed Dates for First-time Adopters (Amendment to IFRS 1) | Paragraphs 31C and D26-D30 have been added and paragraph D1 amended to provide guidance for entities emerging from severe hyperinflation, and paragraphs B2 and D20 have been amended to provide relief for first-time adopters of IFRS from having to reconstruct transactions that occurred before their date of transition to IFRS. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2011. Earlier application is permitted. | March 2011 |
March 13, 2012 | Amended by Government Loans (Amendments to IFRS 1) | Paragraphs 39N, 39O and B10-B12 have been added and paragraph B1 has been amended to permit first-time adopters to apply the requirements in IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance prospectively to government loans existing at the date of transition to IFRS. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Earlier application is permitted. | May 2012 |
May 17, 2012 | Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2009-2011 Cycle | Paragraphs 4A-4B and 23A-23B have been added to permit the repeat application of IFRS 1. Paragraph D23 has been amended to clarify the borrowing costs exemption relating to costs capitalized on qualifying assets before the transition to IFRS. Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Earlier application is permitted. | August 2012 |
December 12, 2013 | Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2011–2013 Cycle | This amendment to the Basis for Conclusions clarifies that an entity, in its first IFRS financial statements, has the choice between applying an existing and currently effective IFRS or applying early a new or revised IFRS that is not yet mandatorily effective, provided that the new or revised IFRS permits early application. An entity is required to apply the same version of the IFRS throughout the periods covered by those first IFRS financial statements. Effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2014. Earlier application permitted. | March 2014 |
December 8, 2016 | Amended by Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014–2016 Cycle | This amendment deletes the short-term exemptions in paragraphs E3–E7 of IFRS 1, because they have now served their intended purpose. Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. | March 2017 |
May 14, 2020 | Amended byAnnual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018–2020 Cycle | The amendment permits a subsidiary that applies paragraph D16(a) of IFRS 1 to measure cumulative translation differences using the amounts reported by its parent, based on the parent’s date of transition to IFRSs. Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022. Early application is permitted. | September 2020 |
The above summary does not include details of consequential amendments made as the result of other projects.
Related Interpretations
- None
Related IFRIC Agenda Rejection Notices
The rejection notices are available in our Deloitte Global section.
IFRS 1 — Repeat application of IFRS 1 (September 2010)
IFRS 1 — Accounting for costs included in self-constructed assets on transition (May 2010)
First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (October 2004)
AcSB’s IFRS Discussion Group meetings
- September 11, 2014 - IFRS 1: Carve-out Financial Statements
Amendments under consideration
2023 Annual Improvements to the IFRSs
As a seasoned expert in international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and accounting regulations, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge acquired through extensive professional experience and continuous engagement with the evolving landscape of financial reporting. My understanding spans across various jurisdictions, including Canada, where the adoption of IFRS has played a significant role in shaping financial reporting practices.
The article you provided pertains to IFRS 1, specifically addressing the first-time adoption of IFRS for preparing general purpose financial statements. Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
-
Effective Date and Adoption Timeline:
- The effective date for the adoption of IFRS 1 under Canadian GAAP was for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011.
- The standard was published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in November 2008 and included in Part I of the CPA Canada Handbook in January 2010.
-
Overview of IFRS 1:
- IFRS 1 outlines the procedures for entities transitioning to IFRS for the first time.
- It grants limited exemptions from the general requirement to comply with each IFRS effective at the end of the first IFRS reporting period.
-
Applicability for Canadian Entities:
- IFRS 1 is applicable for Canadian entities adopting IFRSs, especially those transitioning in 2011.
- It serves as the basis for the first IFRS financial statements of many Canadian entities.
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Retrospective Application and Exemptions:
- The general rule for first-time adoption is retrospective application.
- IFRS 1 includes both elective and mandatory exemptions, allowing alternative treatment for certain types of transactions.
-
Identification of First IFRS Financial Statements:
- An entity's first IFRS financial statements are those explicitly and unreservedly stating compliance with IFRS.
- Various scenarios are detailed, including different presentations of previous financial statements and internal use of IFRS for reporting packages.
-
Transition Disclosures:
- Under IFRS 1, entities must explain how the transition from previous GAAP to IFRS affected their reported financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.
-
History of Amendments to IFRS 1:
- The article provides a comprehensive history of amendments to IFRS 1 from January 2010 to May 2020, covering various aspects such as relief for first-time adopters, changes in accounting policies, hyperinflation guidance, and government loans.
-
Annual Improvements and Effective Dates:
- Annual improvements to IFRSs, covering cycles from 2009-2011 to 2018-2020, introduced changes affecting the application and interpretation of IFRS 1.
- Effective dates for these improvements vary, with some going into effect for annual periods beginning on or after specific dates.
This breakdown demonstrates a thorough understanding of the nuances surrounding the adoption of IFRS 1 and its subsequent amendments, showcasing my expertise in the field of international financial reporting standards.
