The disclosures required in respect of changes in accounting policies are set out in Ind AS 8. Other disclosure requirements for accounting policies are laid down in Ind AS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements.

List of other IndAS

Accounting Policies

Accounting policies are the specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an entity in preparing and presenting financial statements. This Standard provides guidance in selection and application of  the accounting policies. A two-step approach is advocated. Step 1 requires that  when an Ind AS specifically applies to a transaction,  other event or condition, the accounting policy or policies applied to that item shall be determined by applying the Ind AS. Step 2 provides that in the absence of an Ind AS that specifically applies to a transaction, other event or condition, management shall use its judgment in developing and applying an accounting policy. This judgment should result in information that is:

relevant to the economic decision-making needs of users; andreliable, so that the financial statements:represent faithfully the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the entity;reflect the economic substance of transactions, other  events  and conditions, and not merely the legal form;are neutral, e., free from bias;are prudent; andare complete in all material

An entity shall select and apply the accounting  policies  consistently  for  similar transactions, other events and conditions, unless an Ind  AS  specifically requires or permits categorisation of items for which different policies may be appropriate. If an Ind AS requires or permits such categorisation, an appropriate accounting policy shall be  selected  and  applied consistently to each category.

Changes in Accounting Policies

An entity is permitted to change an accounting policy only if the change:

is required by an Ind AS; orresults in the financial statements providing reliable and more relevant information about the effects of transactions, other events  or  conditions on the entity’s financial position, financial performance or cash

The Standard also specifies how changes in accounting policies is to be applied:

A change in accounting policy may result due to the first time  application of an Ind The change shall be applied as per the transitional provisions in that Ind AS.If that Ind AS does not contain any transitional provisions, it shall apply the changeA voluntary change in accounting policy is to  be  applied An early application of an Ind AS is not a voluntary change in accounting policy.

When it is impracticable for an entity to apply a new accounting policy retrospectively, because it cannot determine the cumulative effect of applying the policy to all prior periods, the entity will  apply  the  new  policy prospectively from the start of the earliest period practicable. It therefore disregards the portion of the cumulative adjustment to assets, liabilities and equity arising before that date. Changing an accounting policy is permitted even if it is impracticable to apply the policy prospectively  for  any  prior  period.

Change in Accounting Estimates

The use of reasonable estimates is an essential part of the preparation of financial statements and does not undermine their reliability. A change in accounting estimate is an adjustment of the carrying amount of an asset or a liability, or the amount of the periodic consumption of an asset, that  results from the assessment of the present status of, and expected future benefits  and obligations associated with, assets and liabilities. Changes in accounting estimates result from new information or new developments and, accordingly, are not corrections of The effect of change in an accounting estimate shall be recognised prospectively by including it in profit or loss in:

the period of the change, if the change affects that period only; orthe period of the change and future periods, if the change affects

Prior Period Errors

Prior period errors are omissions from, and misstatements in, the entity’s financial statements for one or more prior periods arising from  a  failure to  use, or misuse of, reliable information that:

was available when financial statements for those periods were approved for issue; andcould reasonably be expected to have been obtained and taken into account in the preparation and presentation of those financial statements.

Such errors include the effects of mathematical mistakes, mistakes in applying accounting policies, oversights or misinterpretations of facts, and fraud. Except to the extent that it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the error, the Standard requires to correct material prior period errors retrospectively in the first set of financial statements approved for issue after their discovery by:

restating the comparative amounts for the prior period(s) presented in which the error occurred; orif the error occurred before the earliest prior period  presented, restating the opening balances of assets, liabilities, and equity for the earliest prior period

Omissions or misstatements of items are material if they could, individually or collectively, influence the economic decisions that  users make on the basis of the financial statements. Materiality depends on the size and nature of the omission or misstatement judged in the surrounding circumstances. The size  or nature of the item, or a combination of both, could be the determining  factor.

Difference Between Ind AS 8 and AS 5

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failure to use reliable information or misuse of information

which was available when the financial statements of the prior periods were approved and could reasonably be expected to have been obtained and taken into account in the preparation and presentation of those financial statements.

Ind AS 40 Investment PropertyIndian Accounting Standard (IndAS 2)IND AS 36 Impairment of AssetsIndAS 1 Presentation of Financial StatementIndAS 7 Statement of Cash FlowsIndAS 8 Accounting PoliciesCA Final RTPCA Final Mock Test PapersPan Card Status