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GAAP vs IFRS – Differenz und Vergleich

GAAP (US General Accepted Accounting Principles) ist der in den USA verwendete Rechnungslegungsstandard, während IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) der in über 110 Ländern weltweit verwendete Rechnungslegungsstandard ist. GAAP wird als eher „regelbasiertes“ Rechnungslegungssystem angesehen, während IFRS eher auf „Grundsätzen“ basiert. Die US-amerikanische Börsenaufsichtsbehörde (Securities and Exchange Commission) beabsichtigt, bis 2015 auf IFRS umzusteigen.

What follows is an overview of the differences between the accounting frameworks used by GAAP and IFRS. This is at a broad, framework level; differences in accounting treatments for individual cases may also be added as this gets updated.

Contents

Comparison chart

GAAP versus IFRS comparison chart
	GAAP	IFRS
Stands for	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles	International Financial Reporting Standards
Introduction	Standard guidelines and structure for typical financial accounting .	Universal financial reporting method that allows international businesses to understand each other and work together.
Used in	United States	Over 110 countries , including those in the European Union
Performance elements	Revenue or expenses, assets or liabilities, gains, losses, comprehensive income	Revenue or expenses, assets or liabilities
Required documents in financial statements	Balance sheet, income statement, statement of comprehensive income, changes in equity, cash flow statement, footnotes	Balance sheet , income statement, changes in equity, cash flow statement, footnotes
Inventory Estimates	Last-in, first-out; first-in, first-out ; or weighted-average cost	First-in, first-out or weighted-average cost
Inventory Reversal	Prohibited	Permitted under certain criteria
Purpose of the framework	US GAAP (or FASB) framework has no provision that expressly requires management to consider the framework in the absence of a standard or interpretation for an issue.	Under IFRS, company management is expressly required to consider the framework if there is no standard or interpretation for an issue.
Objectives of financial statements	In general, broad focus to provide relevant info to a wide range of stakeholders. GAAP provides separate objectives for business and non-business entities.	In general, broad focus to provide relevant info to a wide range of stakeholders. IFRS provides the same set of objectives for business and non-business entities.
Underlying assumptions	The “going concern” assumption is not well-developed in the US GAAP framework.	IFRS gives prominence to underlying assumptions such as accrual and going concern.
Qualitative characteristics	Relevance, reliability, comparability and understandability. GAAP establishes a hierarchy of these characteristics. Relevance and reliability are primary qualities. Comparability is secondary. Understandability is treated as a user-specific quality.	Relevance, reliability, comparability and understandability. The IASB framework (IFRS) states that its decision cannot be based upon specific circumstances of individual users.
Definition of an asset	The US GAAP framework defines an asset as a future economic benefit.	The IFRS framework defines an asset as a resource from which future economic benefit will flow to the company.

Objectives of Financial Statements

Both GAAP and IFRS aim to provide relevant information to a wide range of users. However, GAAP provides separate objectives for business entities and non-business entities, while the IFRS only has one objective for all types of entities.

Presentation of Earnings

GAAP emphasizes smooth earning results from year to year, giving investors a view of normalized results. Taxes, for example, are reported based on statutory rates, not on what the company actually paid. They are designed to help investors understand average capital spending and taxation for the company.

Documents

GAAP requires financial statements to include a balance sheet, income statement, statement of comprehensive income, changes in equity, cash flow statement, and footnotes. It is recommended that the balance sheet separates current and noncurrent assets and liabilities, and deferred taxes are included with assets and liabilities. Minority interests are included in liabilities as a separate line item.

IFRS requires financial statements to include a balance sheet, income statement, changes in equity, cash flow statement, and footnotes. The separation of current and noncurrent assets and liabilities is required, and deferred taxes must be shown as a separate line item on the balance sheet. Minority interests are included in equity as a separate line item.

Disclosure

Under GAAP, companies are required to disclose information about their accounting choices and their expenses in footnotes.

Intangibles

In GAAP, acquired intangible assets (like R&D and advertising costs) are recognized at fair value, while in IFRS, they are only recognized if the asset will have a future economic benefit and has a measured reliability.

Accounting for Assets

US GAAP defines an asset as a future economic benefit, while under IFRS, an asset is a resource from which economic benefit is expected to flow.

Fixed Assets

Under US GAAP, fixed assets such as property, plant and equipment are valued using the cost model i.e., the historical value of the asset less any accumulated depreciation. IFRS allows another model – the revaluation model – which is based on fair value on the date of evaluation, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

The video below compares the treatment of fixed assets under IFRS and GAAP.

Underlying Assumptions

Under the IASB framework (IFRS), underlying assumptions such as accrual and going concern are given more importance. The concept of going concern, especially, is more well-developed in IFRS compared with US GAAP.

How IFRS impacts US companies

While U.S. companies use GAAP and do not directly use IFRS for their SEC filings, IFRS nevertheless impacts them. For example, in cases of global mergers and acquisitions , when they have non-US subsidiaries or non-US stakeholders like investors, customers or vendors. In several such instances, U.S. companies may be required to provide financial information in line with IFRS standards.

The looming transition from GAAP to IFRS will also be challenging for several U.S. companies.