2 Steps to Distinguish Other Comprehensive Income from Profit or Loss and Changes in Equity
Some time ago, standard IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements significantly changed and introduced the statement of other comprehensive income.
And then it began: lots of confusion, frustration and doubts! Many of us simply did not get the point and started to flounder in the fog. What items belong to OCI? What items belong to P/L?
This situation persists until now. Even in these days when I work with the client I see that she is not sure whether she is dealing with other comprehensive income or profit or loss. And, how do the changes in equity fit in?
What is the difference between other comprehensive income and profit or loss? What is the difference between other comprehensive income and changes in equity?
Let’s bring it some light.
The key is net assets
Surprised? It is as simple as that: the whole thing becomes clear when you focus on the net assets.
First, we need to understand what the net assets are.
Net assets are simply total assets less total liabilities of a company.
It is the same as equity which is the residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities.
As you can see above, if total assets are greater than total liabilities, then there is a positive equity or net assets.
In the opaque situation when total assets are lower than total liabilities, there is a negative equity or net assets.
What items belong to net assets?
Well, basically it is share capital, share premium, reserves, retained earnings or losses and some other items, too.
What can cause the change in net assets?
Net assets or equity can increase or decrease as a result of several things, for example:
- shareholders contribute cash to the company
- company makes a profit or loss
- company buys own shares back from the market
- company pays out the dividends to shareholders
- company revalues certain assets directly through equity and not through profit or loss
The key to understand the difference between profit or loss, other comprehensive income and changes in equity is to understand where these changes are coming from.
So which statement to use?
We can classify changes in net assets or equity into 2 main categories:
- Capital changes – these are all changes related to introduction and return of capital to shareholders, such as:
- Issuance of new shares
- Paying out of dividends to shareholders
- Buy-back of own shares from the market
- Performance changes – these are all changes coming from the activities of the company and not from the shareholders.
All capital changes must be reported in the statement of changes in equity.
We can further divide this category into 2 subcategories:
i. Changes resulting from or related to primary performance or main revenue-producing activities of the company that are reported in profit or loss. Here the following items fall:
- Revenue from sales of goods or services
- Expenses incurred to make sales of goods or services
- All other income and expenses, such as finance, administrative, marketing, personnel, etc.
- Gains related to primary performance (sale of property, plant and equipment, etc.)
The main point here is that other IFRS standard does not permit recognition of these changes directly to equity.
All these changes are reported in profit or loss.
ii. Changes resulting from other, non-primary or non-revenue producing activities of the company that are not reported in profit or loss as required or permitted by other IFRS standard.
Here’s the list of them:
- Changes in revaluation surplus related to property, plant and equipment (in line with IAS 16)
- Actuarial gains and losses (in line with IAS 19)
- Gains and losses arising from translating the financial statements of a foreign operation
- The effective portion of gains and losses on hedging instruments in a cash flow hedge
- Gains and losses on remeasuring available-for-sale financial assets (in line with IAS 39)
- For financial liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss: fair value changes attributable to changes in the liability’s credit risk (IFRS 9).
This list is quite exhaustive and I really cannot think of other items that should potentially belong here. All these changes are reported in other comprehensive income.
Follow these 2 steps
Step 1: Performance or capital change?
If you are not sure where certain item belongs, then think a while:
Is it performance change or capital change?
The reason for introducing other comprehensive income and merging it with profit or loss into the statement of comprehensive income was to distinguish between capital and performance changes.
The company needs to show clearly why its net assets go up or down – is it due to capital change? Or is it due to performance change?
Step 2: Allowed by other IFRS to OCI?
And then, if it is a performance change, is it from primary activity? Can we report it directly to equity in other comprehensive income – is it allowed by some IFRS standard or not?
If you answer these questions I’m sure you’ll never fall into trap of the wrong reporting and messing up individual components of your IFRS financial statements.
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It is magical
wonderful answers
Thanks Silvia. This certainly clears up a few grey areas for me.
WOW!
Thank you for the explanations. The graphic really drive it home.
Thank you so much.
This is an amazing presentation that commands good understanding. Thank you Sylvia
This is great.
Thanks much you make me to understand in simple way. You amazing ,you make me to be best accountant, I consider your contribution to my career. Love you
Thank you for teaching ifrs in a simple manner, easy to understand
Ugamoorthy
Chartered Accountant
Dubai
Ur lesson is a partway to be a professional accountant. Thanks
Thank you SILIVIA for teaching ifrs in a simple manner, easy to understand keep on.TKS!
Just want to say thank you for taking out time to write such helpful articles.
Please is there any way to download this article ?
It would be great if anyone could help.
Hi Allen, the best way to do it is to print it as pdf 🙂
Hi silvia, thanks a lot.
I need explanations on the second step that requires IFRS standard to OCI. Could you give us some of those standards and examples?
Thank you
The list is changing every time, but for example – some OCI can come up when revaluing defined benefit plans under IAS 19, or property-plant-equipment treated by revaluation model under IAS 16, or some investments under IFRS 9.
Excellent explanation.
Thanks a lot. Now I can see that these things can be understandable. Be blessed a lot for your Good work.
Sylvia, you are great. Your tutorials have help me a lot. Thanks!!!
Your tutoring is really great…. Pls how do i get some of ur e-marerial… I reside in nigeria
Hi Jibola, I’m happy you like my page 🙂 Please contact me through the contact page. Thank you! S.
Guess one of the best explanations of how to treat items in three broad heads. Silvia – Do you have something that explains hedge accounting. I dont understand that why the effective portion in a fair value hedge is not taken in OCI. And interestingly I have not seen it separately even in Profit and Loss.
Thanks for above tutorial.
Hi Ankit, thank you! 😉 Currently, I have posted just 1 article related to hedge accounting http://www.cpdbox.com/hedge-accounting-ias39-ifrs9/
Well, if you have a fair value hedge, then you don’t even need to calculate “effective” and “ineffective” part – that’s irrelevant. But on the other hand, you should also adjust the carrying amount of the hedged item to profit or loss – so in fact, you book 2 entries (1 on hedged item and the other one on hedging instrument and there will be an offset). You don’t do this in a cash flow hedge. S.
I would like to know the accounting standard with practical examples.
Ms. Silvia,
Thank for useful post. Related to OCI illustrate provided by IASB,
I see the heading “Gain (loss) on strategic equity securities” at non recycled subsequently items. Would you give me explanation and example related this item ?
Thanks,
http://financialstreet.blogspot.com/2013/09/statement-of-other-comprehensive-income.html
Thank you Sivia. Your explanation is really helpful.
Per IAS 1 Amendment 2013, presentation OCI is divided between those items that might be recycled to profit and loss subsequently and those items that will not.
I am confusing what is the logic between those separation and is there a clue when a specific OCI will be recycle or not?
Thanks!
Hi Godang,
there is a logic, because by showing these items separately, you are warning the users of financial statements about the potential future impact on profit or loss related to certain items. Items not recycled will not have an impact, but items recycled will have an impact on future P/L and potentially dividends, that’s the point.
Clue: Well, the clues are all over the standards. There isn’t comprehensive list of these items, but when some specific standard prescribes some accounting treatment, it usually tells you whether this item will or will not be recycled.
Hope it helps
S.
Supperb! thanks for this clearity. This as been a problem for me.
Hi
I would like to know whether the changes in fair value of assets held for sale under IFRS 5 are taken in P&L or OCI?
It would go to profit or loss because such change is not required for recognition in OCI by “any specific IFRS”. Like Sylvia accurately explained; for an item to be taken to OCI it must be required by a specific IFRS (it’s kinda rule based).
You’re amazing , thank you so much it has simplified a lot for me
Hello Silvia,
Should you report loan forgiven/written off by a lender in the OCI or P or L?
Since it’s not part of the main activities of the company, I’m thinking it should be OCI
Ronke, it’s P/L and I can’t think of any case when it is OCI. S.
Silvia.. I must say that nobody other than yourself could explain this any better..
Thank you very much for the explanation.
Thank you, Daniel, glad to help! 🙂
thank you very much.
for opening the new sides of thinking on this point.
Hi Silvia,
Thank you very much for the article.
Could you please let me know for what all purposes (like dividend payment, bonus shares etc) the balance lying in Other Comprehensive (OCI) can be used ? Does the standard say anything on this?
Thank you.
Its soo helping.
The Company has a funded defined benefit plan that is being administered by a trustee covering all eligible employees who have been with the Company for at least five years. The plan was terminated in March, 2016 following the Company’s Plan of Complete Dissolution and Liquidation.The employees covered by this plan will be transferred to another company and also its retirement plan. Both companies maintained their plan with the same trustee.
In the books the following balances are existing prior to the transfer:
CR balance Deferred Tax Liability 57,849
DR balance: Accumulated OCI 226,991
DR: Retirement Benefit Asset 192,829
The accumulated OCI resulted from accumulated actuarial gains and losses.
What will be my entries to close all of the accounts since the Company will be terminating the plan and transferring the plan to another company? Can I close the difference to Retained Earnings or to Accumulated OCI.
Thanks very much
Please Sivia is it to avoid causing profit to fluctuate that some gain have been hidden in oci?
Dear Pascal,
no, I would not say so. The main reason for presenting some items in OCI is to separate the items generated by the company’s operations from the items generated by other factors, like movements in fair value. S.
Hi Silvia…I never seen suh a wonderful explantion..before reading this i always had confusion which item belng to what..You are doing a great job..May god give you all happiness and wealth in your life…Keep it up 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Hi Silvia
I have been looking for a conceptual understanding of OCI and your model appeared to do that, but please explain how gain/loss on sale of PPE is considered a primary or revenue producing activity of the entity in order for it to be chucked into P&L?
Or the impairment of PPE?
Or the write off or foreign currency changes of a related party loan?
I feel i’m missing something?
Silvia, God Richly Bless You All. Am very glad with the explanation u’hv given.
Selvia you make the different is So easy but why you did not talk about the Other IFRS it was talk about the Same subject
Hi Silvia
There exists a parent and a subsidiary , and the parent for the sake of proper management of land , has decided to take over the land of subsidiaries. The accounting treatment being proposed is Credit Land and Debit Reserves in the books of subsidiary ( if there is sufficient reserves).
So my question is whether the transaction being proposed is correct and which standard is to be referred for above scenario.
Thanking you and looking forward to your response.
Sonam Choeden
Bhutan
Dear Sonam.
under IFRS, you rarely credit these transactions directly to equity. If the ownership of the land was truly transferred to the parent, then under IAS 16, you should derecognize the land and recognize profit or loss on disposal. S.
Great Expalanation… Keep it up
Thank you for such a brilliant presentation above:)
I understand that as mentioned above the changes on the below (Note A) will be presented in OCI
Note A: “Gains and losses on remeasuring available-for-sale financial assets (in line with IAS 39)”
Since IAS 39 will no longer be in effect after being superseded by IFRS 9 come 2018. Will the change mentioned in Note A be removed as part of OCI? thanks.
Hi Dickey,
in fat, the description would be updated to reflect the change. Although there are no available-for-sale assets under IFRS 9, you can still present some gains and losses on remeasuring certain assets in equity (OCI). S.
Hi Sylvia
Where can i present the changes in fair value of financial liability? Example changes of market value of dividends payable to perpetuity.
in OCI or Profit or loss?
This is not distributable to shareholders right? because it is unrealized.
Bravo!!!
So OCI is a distributable reserve correct?
I can utilise it to pay dividend?
My co has a share redemption at discount, so auditor eliminate our preference shares with its share premium and transfer the discount on redemption to OCI.
The auditor said no tax impact by showing as OCI. (ie its shown below PAT)
Dear Petter,
This depends on your legislation. The problem with OCI is that some items stay there, some items get recycled via profit or loss. The purpose of OCI is to show that some increases or decreases of resources are caused by the matters other than your operating activity – that’s why it is separate from profit or loss. S.
God bless you real good, this is a wonderful article
Hi,
What is the logic of recognizing changes in Actuarial valuation to OCI. Is it not an activity related to the primary business. i.e providing retirement benefits to the employees?
Regards
Hi Anath,
the logic is that the change in defined benefit plan liability arose NOT due to primary activity (current year service etc.), but from other factors out of company’s control, such as change in actuarial assumptions. S.
Can we distribute OCI on stake holders like dividend.
Please dear could you explain a little on how and where (P/L or OIC) to present a sale of PPE? either Loss/gain?
thank you
This is great Ms Silvia. Thanks.
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Bravo and thanks for producing such a knowledgeable article.
I already buy ur IFRS kit and it is wrothful.
thanks!
Hi, I am struggling to understand how any revaluation surplusses on fixed assets (tangible and intangible) are included within the ‘items that will never be reclassified to P&L” within OCI. Surely, if they asset is sold, any revaluation surplus is realised and must go to P&L.??
This is very productive article but still I got a confusion e.g what about translation gain/loss on primary business activity I.e in export case
Wow. This is so great, touching real practical matters. I always put revaluation adjustments to OCI. I would be glad if you guide us on depreciation on revaluation model. I split depreciation calculated on historical cost and portion calculated on revaluations. Is it correct that take depreciation on cost to P/L and the other to OCI as it is as a result of capital changes.
Very great explanation, especially with the amazing graph, Thank you very much Sylvia,
Great. Cleared my concepts. Outstanding !
Good one Sylvia. You explained it as simple as ABC. This is Financial Accounting made simple. Thank you.
Joseph
Thank you Sylvia.
This is an amazing presentation which clears me some doubt in financial reporting.
thanks for the clear distinction of the two (2) approaches
Many Thanks Dear
Silvia…u r amazing…how beautifully u explained..it. hat’s off 2 u
Amazing Silivia….I am from India…I haven’t met any Faculty who could explain IFRS in such a simplified manner..u r superb…it would have been little more beneficial if I could get these Articles in PDF form..
Thank you silvia. It is so useful presentation.
You,re awesome. The concept is clearer the way you explained visual and theoretical is something different.
Thanks very much dear. I owe u much….
Regrads.
I have a question when a portion of the revaluation surplus is transferred to retained earnings to compensate for the difference in depreciation, it is an equity transaction or comprehensive income transaction. Thanks
Thank Very much!
Thank you silvia. It is a great explanation.
If you have time please explain with journal entries for share buy back.Further is it possible to have benefit to the share holders due to the share buy back
Kind Regards
Ranjith
Hello Silvia Ma’am,
Thank you so much for clearing our confusion relating to IFRS.
The way you explain it with such an ease is simply remarkable.
Your articles and videos has really helped me in conceptual clarity and office works.
With regards,
Amit Shrestha
Institute of Chartered Accountants Nepal (ICAN)
Dear Amit, thanks a lot for your kind words, I really appreciate!
Thank you so much Siliva..
I really love the way you explain concepts in easier way…
From where can i get your e material ?
Hi Zahira, thanks a lot for your kind words! Please check out https://www.cpdbox.com/ifrs-kit/
Thanks Silvia
Thanks for this article. Simple and easy to understand!
Dear Ms Silvia. If I follow your steps, I would say fair value gain from Investment properties should be classified as Other Comprehensive Income. This is the case when the company use its property to earn rentals. So, it is not what IAS 40 said. My concern is the different between gain from Fair Value Model in IAS 40 and Revaluation Model in IAS 16. Could you please explain the reason why IASB suggest to record gain from FV the IP to P&L, other than OCI?
Thank you very much.
Dear Thuyen,I don’t think so. IAS 40 clearly says that FV change is in P/L and IAS 16 in OCI – so these 2 steps say (listen to the standard). For reason of IAS 40, I recommend reading the basis for conclusion.
As for difference between revaluation model under IAS 16 and FV model under IAS 40 – yes, it might seem confusing, but mostly – under IAS 40 => land and buildings; under IAS 16 => other long-term assets (and sometimes land/building used for own purposes, not meeting the definition of an investment property).
Dear Ms Silvia, Let me clarify more. I understand what IASB requires in IAS 16 and IAS 40. My concern is the reason why. I also understand why Revaluation gain in PPE should be recognized in OCI. But for Investment Property, I still not understand why.
Let’s check this example: a twin towers with the same specification (location, size, number of rooms….
The first tower has rental income only. So, it is Investment Property under IAS 40. Of course, the gain from Fair Value shall come to P&L.
For the second tower, the Company decided to run it as a Hotel. Under IAS 16, it is PPE and it’s revaluation gain shall come to OCI.
The amount of fair value of these 2 towers might be different, but the technique used and fair value level hierarchy is the same, let’s say: level 3 DCF.
It is believed that the 2 towers shall be used to earn income and the fair value might never realize, because the Company has not intention to disposal them. Let’s ignore the accounting classification of the 2 properties.
My question is, why there is 2 accounting treatments with the same properties and the same flow of economic benefits?
Thank you.
As I have already said – please check out the basis for conclusion of the both standards and I am sure IASB explained its decisions there. I fully understand your concerns, but I am not the one who drafts the rules of the standards – only IASB can explain its decision (that’s why they also issue Basis for conclusion for each standard they publish).
Thank you very much for introducing me the Basis for conclusion. Honestly, I did not know the existence of it before.
I found some ideas for my concern in the Basis. The reason might came from the relationship between economic benefits (rental income) flow to the company and the property itself. The different using purpose of property shall lead to different relationship, and therefore, different treatment should be made.
After reading this Basis, I finally have 1 new question. Why there is no depreciation for FV model? I may appreciate very much if you can give for opinion.
Thank you.
Hi Thuyen,
this is great, I am glad you read it. Under FV model there is no need for depreciation charge because you have to revalue to FV each reporting period and thus its carrying amount always reflects fair value. Under revaluation model under IAS 16 you do charge depreciation, because revaluations are less frequent (once per 3-5 years) and you somehow must reflect the 1-year usage. That’s very simplistic explanation.
Dear Thuyen,
The reason is in the purpose of the use of asset – if you are keeping the asset to earn a rental revenue or revenue from sales of InvProp later on, then that earning should be in recognised in PL, as what you would do with revenue from sale of goods.
BUT in case of IAS 16 the main aim of keeping the PPE is not the direct earning from its usage,
I think this way of thinking helps in all PL or OCI classification matters – PL: aim is earning, while OCI: there is no aim to earn.
Regards,
Subhan GASIMLI
Great explanation here.
Many thanks.
Hello Silvia, Thanks for this detailed explanation. I have only one query here. If A company’s primary performance is to provide port services and company is cash rich company having lots of idle fund and hence management has decided to put this money into Mutual funds, Fixed deposits and other short term investment which is not primary business of the company. so where we can present interest accrue from Fixed deposit and dividend arise from mutual fund ??
That would be under Finance income/expense, net; out of primary activities.
Why not under OCI ? This is non primary performance.
Yes, but it is a performance change, and it is not a by-product of any revaluation. As I wrote up in the article – this is just a general guidance, not the rule of thumb. IFRS 9 requires so.
Guys,
Question please. What if you transfer a property from IAS 16 to IAS 40 say after two years depreciation, and after the date of transfer you stop depreciating the asset as it is with the other party who uses it for say 3 years. The asset having a useful live of 9 years, you want now to take it back under IAS 16 and continue depreciation. Depreciation will be based on which value? It will be depreciated over how many years?
Thanks for feedback
Do we classify loss on redemption of participating shares under the OCI of the P&L? I am a bit confused about that
Thank you for taking time to help others
Thanks so much .
The graphical illustration drives it home so simply.
Amazing
Do you believe if an entity chooses the revaluation model under IAS 16 that the revaluation gains/loss should still go through OCI to a reserve in equity, or do you think this is this outdated thinking and IAS 16 should be revised to require FV movements to go through the P&L (under the revaluation model?
No, for one simple reason – it is assumed that you are using your PPE for own business purposes, not for obtaining gains from movement in prices on the market and thus any revaluation gain is not shown via profit or loss.
THIS IS WONDERFUL, THANKS A MILLION
Dear Silvia, Thanks a lot for this useful lesson. Keep us posted on IFRS knowledge. Stay blessed
Very straight to the point. That’s splendid. Thanks Silvia.
Hello Silvia, at school we were told that OCI gained from revaluation under IAS 16 can be either turned to retained earnings by:
a) selling the revalued asset, or
b) through the difference in depreciation of the asset valued at historical cost and fair value
Could you please explain the second option? I have no idea how higher depreciation costs could turn OCI to retained earnings…
One doubt… how the OCI is rolled forward from one year to another? Are the single OCI components accumulating as any equity account? Or should we foresee a sort of “Retained Other Comprehensive Income” whose opening balance is resulting from the prior year OCI?
You need to be consistent, so yes, they roll forward as the components of OCI.
Thank you so much Silvia. Simple & well explained.
Where shall I present OCI (arising from actuarial gain) in balance sheet?
Fair value of investment – Can we elect to
(i) classify as fair value through profit or loss; or
(ii) classify as fair value through OCI
In case of (i) if company is profitable – we can declare dividend and in case of (ii) we cannot declare dividend
If you own any shares in another company, that’s not your task to declare dividends – it is the company that declares that. I see no reason why your classification of shares would impact the dividend declaration.
If a gain on PPE is recorded, let’s say last year end, does it still appear in other comprehensive income the following year? And, does this amount appear in the balance sheet? what heading in the balance sheet?
Do you mean gain from revaluation of PPE if yes so its accumulated balance under equity called revaluation surplus
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