IFRS 9 Financial Instruments does not directly apply to the IFRS for SMEs Standard, which uses its own, simplified sections (Sections 11 and 12) for financial instruments. However, the third edition (effective 2027) aligns Section 11 with certain IFRS 9 principles, though it retains the incurred loss model.
It applies to financial assets measured at amortised cost or FVTOCI, lease receivables, contract assets within the scope of IFRS 15 and specified written loan commitments (unless measured at FVTPL) and financial guarantee contracts (unless they are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 17).
The third edition of the IFRS for SMEs® Accounting Standard, issued in February 2025 and effective from January 2027, brings several key amendments compared to the second edition issued in 2015.
In terms of the Company's Act a company only needs to apply IFRS if the company is a state-owned company as defined by the Act or if the company is a public company listed on an exchange such as the JSE or AltX for example, all other companies are able to apply IFRS for SMEs.
All entities apart from public companies, state- owned companies and certain non-profit companies are allowed to apply the IFRS for SMEs. Profit companies, other than state owned or public companies, whose public interest score for the particular financial year is at least 350.
Agenda reference: 30D
25. Unlike IFRS 19, which is a disclosure-only Standard, the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is a stand-alone Standard that includes recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements.
A subsidiary that is part of a consolidated group that uses full IFRSs is not prohibited from using the IFRS for SMEs in its individual financial statements, provided that the subsidiary itself does not have public accountability.
Is an entity preparing financial statements in terms of the IFRS for SMEs Standard required to apply IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16? No. IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 which became effective during 2018 and 2019 are applicable to entities applying IFRS.
Which businesses are required to use IFRS depends on each jurisdiction. Typically, publicly traded companies must comply with IFRS. Some countries require SMEs to comply, too. Smaller, private companies can apply the standards to their accounting practices, even when it's not required by law.
The four pillars of IFRS S1 and S2 are governance, strategy, risk management and metrics and targets.
IAS 39 is no longer effective for most entities. It was replaced by IFRS 9 Financial Instruments from 1 January 2018, which introduced new rules for classification, measurement, impairment, and hedge accounting.
In addition, there are certain accounting treatments that are not allowable under the SMEs Standard. Examples of these disallowable treatments are the revaluation model for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and proportionate consolidation for investments in jointly controlled entities.
IFRS 9 classifies financial assets into three main measurement categories: • amortised cost • fair value through other comprehensive income • fair value through profit or loss. Classification is determined by both: • the entity's business model • the contractual cash flow characteristics of the asset.
According to IFRS 9, a company's business model refers to how an entity manages its financial assets in order to generate cash flows. It determines whether cash flows will result from collecting contractual cash flows, selling financial assets or both.
IFRS 9 Stage 1,2,3: The Three Stages of Expected Credit Losses
The IASB has determined that any entity that does not have public accountability may use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard.
LIFO is banned under IFRS due to potential financial distortions. LIFO can understate company earnings and lead to outdated inventory values. Under LIFO, tax liabilities are reduced but at the cost of outdated inventory values.
Declaring (and rightfully so) that their main goal is to protect US investors' interests, the SEC notes that IFRS lacks consistent application, allows too much leeway with judgment, and is underdeveloped in many specific areas, for which the US GAAP has detailed and accepted guidance and established practice ( ...
IFRS allows for the recognition of internally generated intangible assets where certain conditions are met. IFRS for SMEs does not allow for the recognition of these intangible assets. Borrowing costs under IFRS for SMEs are expensed as opposed to IFRS which requires them to be capitalised where applicable.
This is the first set of international accounting requirements developed specifically for small and medium-sized entities (SMEs). It has been prepared on IFRS foundations but is a stand-alone product that is separate from the full set of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).
IFRS 15 does not apply to wholly unperformed contracts where all parties have the enforceable right to end the contract without penalty. These contracts do not affect an entity's financial position until either party performs under the contract.
The standard IAS 2 Inventories does not permit using LIFO (last-in-first-out).
Who needs to comply with IFRS S1 and IFRS S2? IFRS S1 and S2 apply to companies that operate in jurisdictions where these standards are adopted either as mandatory requirements or as the recommended reporting baseline.
Ownership of a subsidiary is usually achieved by owning a majority of its shares. This gives the parent the necessary votes to elect their nominees as directors of the subsidiary, and so exercise control. This gives rise to the common presumption that 50% plus one share is enough to create a subsidiary.