IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts, to spur a fundamental accounting change

 Economy
Jun 042017
 

In 1997, the International Accounting Standards Board’s predecessor first set up a steering committee to carry out initial work on what was then called the “Insurance project,” and nobody expected that it would take 20 years to publish the final result. With the issuance of the new insurance accounting standard called International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 17, Insurance Contracts, the Board closes a long and eventful journey to define the basic objectives, accounting principles and reporting guidelines for insurance contracts. IFRS 17 was on May 18, and will become effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2021. Early application is permitted provided that IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, and IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, are also applied.

The next great upheaval in financial reporting for insurance firms

 Economy
May 052013
 

IN JULY 2010, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued an Exposure Draft (ED) on Phase 2 of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 4, Insurance Contracts, which detailed several significant changes to the way insurers measure insurance contracts. The ED required them to apply current market assessment when they measure their liabilities. The comment period for the ED ended on Nov. 20, 2010 and the IASB has since conducted re-deliberations and has reached tentative conclusions on key topics.