The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued amendments to IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates that will require companies to provide more useful information in their financial statements when a currency cannot be exchanged into another currency.
The amendments respond to stakeholder feedback and concerns about diversity of practice in accounting for a lack of exchangeability between currencies. The amendments will help companies and investors by addressing a matter not previously covered in the accounting requirements for the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates.
These amendments will require companies to apply a consistent approach in assessing whether a currency can be exchanged into another currency and, when it cannot, in determining the exchange rate to use and the disclosure to provide.
IASB vice-chair, Linda Mezon-Hutter, said: “These amendments fill a gap in our accounting standards. Diverse views on assessing whether a currency can be exchanged into another currency, and the exchange rate to use when it cannot, could lead to material differences in companies’ financial statements.”
The amendments will become effective from annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025, although early application is permitted.
