AI OCR 
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets [Before 30-3-2016]
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... to ensure that appropriate recognition criteria and measurement bases are applied to provisions and contingent liabilities and that sufficient information is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements to enable users to understand their nature, timing and amount. The objective of this Standard is also to lay down appropriate accounting for contingent assets. Scope 1. This Standard should be applied in accounting for provisions and contingent liabilities and in dealing with contingent assets, except: (a) those resulting from financial instruments^[1] that are carried at fair value; (b) those resulting from executory contracts except where the contract is onerous; Explanation (i) An 'onerous contract' is a contract in which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it. Thus, for a contract to qualify as an onerous contract, the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligation under the contract should exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it. The unavoidable cost under a contr....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....sed and provides practical guidance on the application of the recognition criteria. This Standard does not change the requirements of AS 9. 7. This Standard defines provisions as liabilities which can be measured only by using a substantial degree of estimation. The term 'provision' is also used in the context of items such as depreciation, impairment of assets and doubtful debts: these are adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and are not addressed in this Standard. 8. Other Accounting Standards specify whether expenditures are treated as assets or as expenses. These issues are not addressed in this Standard. Accordingly, this Standard neither prohibits nor requires capitalisation of the costs recognised when a provision is made. 9. This Standard applies to provisions for restructuring (including discontinuing operations). Where a restructuring meets the definition of a discontinuing operation, additional disclosures are required by AS 24, Discontinuing Operations. Definitions 10. The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified: 10.1 A provision is a liability which can be measured only by using a substantial degree....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ties such as trade payables and accruals because in the measurement of provisions substantial degree of estimation is involved with regard to the future expenditure required in settlement. By contrast: (a) trade payables are liabilities to pay for goods or services that have been received or supplied and have been invoiced or formally agreed with the supplier; and (b) accruals are liabilities to pay for goods or services that have been received or supplied but have not been paid, invoiced or formally agreed with the supplier, including amounts due to employees. Although it is sometimes necessary to estimate the amount of accruals, the degree of estimation is generally much less than that for provisions. 13. In this Standard, the term 'contingent' is used for liabilities and assets that are not recognised because their existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the enterprise. In addition, the term 'contingent liability' is used for liabilities that do not meet the recognition criteria. Recognition Provi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....sions. Examples of such obligations are penalties or clean-up costs for unlawful environmental damage, both of which would lead to an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits in settlement regardless of the future actions of the enterprise. Similarly, an enterprise recognises a provision for the decommissioning costs of an oil installation to the extent that the enterprise is obliged to rectify damage already caused. In contrast, because of commercial pressures or legal requirements, an enterprise may intend or need to carry out expenditure to operate in a particular way in the future (for example, by fitting smoke filters in a certain type of factory). Because the enterprise can avoid the future expenditure by its future actions, for example by changing its method of operation, it has no present obligation for that future expenditure and no provision is recognised. 19. An obligation always involves another party to whom the obligation is owed. It is not necessary, however, to know the identity of the party to whom the obligation is owed - indeed the obligation may be to the public at large. 20. An event that does not give rise to an obligation immediately may do so a....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....eliable to use in recognising a provision. 25. In the extremely rare case where no reliable estimate can be made, a liability exists that cannot be recognised. That liability is disclosed as a contingent liability (see paragraph 68). Contingent Liabilities 26. An enterprise should not recognise a contingent liability. 27. A contingent liability is disclosed, as required by paragraph 68, unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is remote. 28. Where an enterprise is jointly and severally liable for an obligation, the part of the obligation that is expected to be met by other parties is treated as a contingent liability. The enterprise recognises a provision for the part of the obligation for which an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is probable, except in the extremely rare circumstances where no reliable estimate can be made (see paragraph 14). 29. Contingent liabilities may develop in a way not initially expected. Therefore, they are assessed continually to determine whether an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits has become probable. If it becomes probable that an outflow of future economic benefits....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ces should be taken into account in reaching the best estimate of a provision. 39. Risk describes variability of outcome. A risk adjustment may increase the amount at which a liability is measured. Caution is needed in making judgments under conditions of uncertainty, so that income or assets are not overstated and expenses or liabilities are not understated. However, uncertainty does not justify the creation of excessive provisions or a deliberate overstatement of liabilities. For example, if the projected costs of a particularly adverse outcome are estimated on a prudent basis, that outcome is not then deliberately treated as more probable than is realistically the case. Care is needed to avoid duplicating adjustments for risk and uncertainty with consequent overstatement of a provision. 40. Disclosure of the uncertainties surrounding the amount of the expenditure is made under paragraph 67(b). Future Events 41. Future events that may affect the amount required to settle an obligation should be reflected in the amount of a provision where there is sufficient objective evidence that they will occur. 42. Expected future events may be particularly important in measuri....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....nt of profit and loss, the expense relating to a provision may be presented net of the amount recognised for a reimbursement. 48. Sometimes, an enterprise is able to look to another party to pay part or all of the expenditure required to settle a provision (for example, through insurance contracts, indemnity clauses or suppliers' warranties). The other party may either reimburse amounts paid by the enterprise or pay the amounts directly. 49. In most cases, the enterprise will remain liable for the whole of the amount in question so that the enterprise would have to settle the full amount if the third party failed to pay for any reason. In this situation, a provision is recognised for the full amount of the liability, and a separate asset for the expected reimbursement is recognised when it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received if the enterprise settles the liability. 50. In some cases, the enterprise will not be liable for the costs in question if the third party fails to pay. In such a case, the enterprise has no liability for those costs and they are not included in the provision. 51. As noted in paragraph 28, an obligation for which an enterpri....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....t. Until there is a binding sale agreement, the enterprise will be able to change its mind and indeed will have to take another course of action if a purchaser cannot be found on acceptable terms. When the sale of an operation is envisaged as part of a restructuring, the assets of the operation are reviewed for impairment under Accounting Standard (AS) 28, Impairment of Assets. 62. A restructuring provision should include only the direct expenditures arising from the restructuring which are those that are both: (a) necessarily entailed by the restructuring; and (b) not associated with the ongoing activities of the enterprise. 63. A restructuring provision does not include such costs as: (a) retraining or relocating continuing staff; (b) marketing; or (c) investment in new systems and distribution networks. These expenditures relate to the future conduct of the business and are not liabilities for restructuring at the balance sheet date. Such expenditures are recognised on the same basis as if they arose independently of a ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....e nature of the items is sufficiently similar for a single statement about them to fulfill the requirements of paragraphs 67(a) and (b) and 68(a) and (b). Thus, it may be appropriate to treat as a single class of provision amounts relating to warranties of different products, but it would not be appropriate to treat as a single class amounts relating to normal warranties and amounts that are subject to legal proceedings. 70. Where a provision and a contingent liability arise from the same set of circumstances, an enterprise makes the disclosures required by paragraphs 66-68 in a way that shows the link between the provision and the contingent liability. 71. Where any of the information required by paragraph 68 is not disclosed because it is not practicable to do so, that fact should be stated. 72. In extremely rare cases, disclosure of some or all of the information required by paragraphs 66-70 can be expected to prejudice seriously the position of the enterprise in a dispute with other parties on the subject matter of the provision or contingent liability. In such cases, an enterprise need not disclose the information, but should disclose the general nature of the dispute....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....nt does not exceed the liability (paragraphs 46 and 47). The reimbursement is disclosed together with the amount recognised for the reimbursement (paragraph 67(c)). The expected reimbursement is not recognised as an asset (paragraph 46). The expected reimbursement is disclosed (paragraph 67(c)). Illustration B Decision Tree The purpose of the decision tree is to summarise the main recognition requirements of the Accounting Standard for provisions and contingent liabilities. The decision tree does not form part of the Accounting Standard and should be read in the context of the full text of the Accounting Standard. Start Present obligation as a result of an obligating event? Possible obligation? Protable outflow? Remote? Reliable estimate Provide Disclose contingent liability Do nothing No No Yes Yes No No (rare) No Yes Yes Yes Note.-In rare cases, it is not clear whether there is a present obligation. In t....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ntamination of the land because of the virtual certainty of legislation requiring cleaning up. An outflow of resources embodying economic benefits in settlement - Probable. Conclusion - A provision is recognised for the best estimate of the costs of the clean-up (see paragraphs 14 and 21). Illustration 3: Offshore Oilfield An enterprise operates an offshore oilfield where its licensing agreement requires it to remove the oil rig at the end of production and restore the seabed. Ninety per cent of the eventual costs relate to the removal of the oil rig and restoration of damage caused by building it, and ten per cent arise through the extraction of oil. At the balance sheet date, the rig has been constructed but no oil has been extracted. Present obligation as a result of a past obligating event - The construction of the oil rig creates an obligation under the terms of the licence to remove the rig and restore the seabed and is thus an obligating event. At the balance sheet date, however, there is no obligation to rectify the damage that will be caused by extraction of the oil. An outflow of resources embodying economic benefits in settlement - Probable. Conclusi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....cy of the enforcement regime. Conclusion - No provision is recognised for the costs of fitting smoke filters. However, a provision is recognised for the best estimate of any fines and penalties that are more likely than not to be imposed (see paragraphs 14 and 16-18). Illustration 6: Staff Retraining as a Result of Changes in the Income Tax System The government introduces a number of changes to the income tax system. As a result of these changes, an enterprise in the financial services sector will need to retrain a large proportion of its administrative and sales workforce in order to ensure continued compliance with financial services regulation. At the balance sheet date, no retraining of staff has taken place. Present obligation as a result of a past obligating event - There is no obligation because no obligating event (retraining) has taken place. Conclusion - No provision is recognised (see paragraphs 14 and 16-18). Illustration 7: A Single Guarantee During 2004-05, Enterprise A gives a guarantee of certain borrowings of Enterprise B, whose financial condition at that time is sound. During 2005-06, the financial condition of Enterprise B deteriorates and ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... paragraph 15). The matter is disclosed as a contingent liability unless the probability of any outflow is regarded as remote (paragraph 68). (b) At 31 March, 2006 Present obligation as a result of a past obligating event - On the basis of the evidence available, there is a present obligation. An outflow of resources embodying economic benefits in settlement - Probable. Conclusion - A provision is recognised for the best estimate of the amount to settle the obligation (paragraphs 14-15). Illustration 9A: Refurbishment Costs - No Legislative Requirement A furnace has a lining that needs to be replaced every five years for technical reasons. At the balance sheet date, the lining has been in use for three years. Present obligation as a result of a past obligating event - There is no present obligation. Conclusion - No provision is recognised (see paragraphs 14 and 16-18). The cost of replacing the lining is not recognised because, at the balance sheet date, no obligation to replace the lining exists independently of the company's future actions - even the intention to incur the expenditure depends on the company deciding to continue operating the furnace....