IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Are You Ready for the “Big Change?”
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Deloitte | A Middle East Point of View - Summer 2017 | IFRS 15 IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers: Are you ready for the “Big Change?” 40 Deloitte | A Middle East Point of View - Summer 2017 | IFRS 15 41 Deloitte | A Middle East Point of View - Summer 2017 | IFRS 15 he recognition criteria of revenue What triggered the change? obligations and sets out the criteria for in accounting standards is about to IFRS 15 was a result of the convergence each of those rights and obligations. The T change—and your entity might be work between the International contract needs to have commercial significantly affected, maybe even more Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the substance and it is probable that the than you expect! body that promulgates IFRS, and the entity will collect the consideration to Federal Accounting Standards Board which it will be entitled. Revenue is one of, if not the most, critical (FASB), the standard setting body for US component of an entity’s financial GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Step 2 – Identify the performance statements. It is among the key Principles.) It was created to fill the gap obligations in the contract: a performance indicators of a business, between IFRS and US GAAP, provide a performance obligation in a contract is a monitored closely by different robust revenue fra mework, and improve promise (including implicit) to transfer a stakeholders including market analysts, comparability among reporting entities good or service to the customer. Each and often used in benchmarki ng different through consistent and extensive performance obligation should be players within the same industry. It also disclosure requirements. It also provides capable of being distinct and is has a direct impact on the calculation of guidance on a few of the gray areas on separately identifiable in the contract. income taxes. Accordingly, it is critical revenue recognition such as contracts that the accounting policy appropriately involving multiple elements, treatment of Step 3 – Determine the transaction captures the nature of the business, the costs to obtain and fulfill a contract, and price: transaction price is the amount of terms of agreements with customers, accounting for contract modifications. consideration that the entity can be and is in accordance with the applicable entitled to, in exchange for transferring accounting standards. the promised goods and services to a customer, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties. It is critical that the accounting policy Step 4 – Allocate the transaction price appropriately captures the nature of to the performance obligations in the contract: for a contract that has more the business, the terms of agreements than one performance obligation, the entity will allocate the transaction price to with customers, and is in accordance each performance obligation separately, in exchange for satisfying each with the applicable accounting performance obligation. The acceptable methods of allocating the transaction standards. price include: • Adjusted market assessment approach, • Expected cost plus a margin approach, What is the “Big Change?” What are the key changes? and, In May 2014, IFRS 15 (International The core principle is to recognize revenue • The residual approach in limited Financial Reporting Standards) Revenue as depicting “the transfer of goods or circumstances. Discounts given should from Contracts with Customers was services” to customers for an “amount be allocated proportionately to all issued. It established a single that reflects the consideration” to which performance obligations unless certain comprehensive model for entities to use the “entity expects to be entitled in criteria are met and reallocation of in accounting for revenue arising from exchange for those goods or services.” changes in standalone selling prices contracts with customers. IFRS 15 after inception is not permitted. supersedes the current revenue The Standard introduces a 5-step recognition standards including IAS 18 approach to revenue recognition: Step 5 – Recognize revenue as and Revenue, IAS 11 Construction Contracts when the entity satisfies a and their related interpretations. It will Step 1 – Identify the contract with a performance obligation: the entity become effective on 1 January 2018, with customer: a contract is defined as an should recognize revenue at a point in retrospective application, and early agreement (including oral and implied), time, exc ept if it meets any of the three adoption is permitted. between two or more parties, that criteria, which will require recognition of crea tes enforceable rights and revenue over time: 42 Deloitte | A Middle East Point of View - Summer 2017 | IFRS 15 • The entity’s performance creates or enhances an asset controlled by the It is interesting to understand why customer, • The customer simultaneously receives some of the big real estate players in and consumes the benefit of the entity’s performance as the entity performs, the region chose an early adoption • The entity does not create an asset that has an alternative use to the entity and of IFRS 15, and the majority of key the entity has the right to be paid for performance to date. telecommunication companies are Which industries will be most making significant investments to affected? Actual impact will vary on each specific assess its impact and have initiated customer contract and will depend on the accounting treatment prior to implementation plans even prior to implementation of IFRS 15. Also, depending on the industry and nature of the date of adoption of the Standard. the business, each of the five steps will have varying impact. price to each performance obligation How to p repare for the change based on an acceptable method. As such, An IFRS 15 impact assessment should be It is interesting to understand why some the amount of revenue to be recognized performed, which would include among of the big real estate players in the region under IFRS 15 will be significantly others, the review of existing contracts chose an early adoption of IFRS 15, and different than that recognized with the with customers and its related the majority of key telecommunication current accounting standards. accounting treatment, contract companies are making significant renegotiation and modification, to investments to assess its impact and Real estate and contract appropriately reflect the economic terms have initiated implementation plans even manufacturer industries of the transaction, the engagement of prior to the date of adoption of the These industries will be mostly affected legal and accounting advisors to better standard. by step (5) th at provides guidance as to interpret the terms of the agreement when an entity can recognize revenue as and the applicability of IFRS 15, Telecommunication, software it satisfies a performance obligation. For reconfiguration of front and back-end IT development, and automotive example, real estate companies currently systems to adhere to the standard’s industries recognize revenue upon the transfer of requirements, and other necessary These industries will be greatly affected risks and rewards to customers in changes to ensure readiness for IFRS 15 by steps (2) and (4) with respect to the accordance with the IFRS Interpretations adoption. unbundling of contracts and allocation of Committee (IFRIC) 15, which is practically total revenue to the unbundled parts. For upon completion of the project The complexities and extent of changes example, telecommunication companies development and handover of real estate will depend on the nature of the business do provide mobile plans that include a units to customers. With IFRS 15, real and the accounting policies and mobile handset, call minutes and data estate companies may now recognize procedures currently implemented. It is package. Currently, telecom companies revenue over time as they satisfy highly advisable to act now and do the account for revenue differently. Some performance obligations during the necessary assessment and collaborate companies treated the value of mobile construction period of the development with the experts on implementation handsets as a cost of acquiring the project. If the period of construction is plans to ensure that the entity will be customer, and recognize revenue based five years, the entity need not wait until ready when the “Big Change” comes. on the sale of monthly plans. Under IFRS the fifth year to recognize revenue, and 15, telecom companies are required to instead revenue may be recognized by Angelito Catacutan, Principal, Audit, identify the performance obligations based on the level of work completed for Deloitte, UAE included in the bundled contract (i.e. each year, provided that IFRS 15 criteria handset, call minutes and data packages) are met. and, accordingly, allocate the transaction 43.