Glossary of Defined Terms Definitions

[Pages:30]GLOSSARY

Glossary of Defined Terms

This Glossary contains all terms defined in the 24 accrual basis International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) on issue as at December 31, 2006. A list of these IPSASs is located on the inside back cover of the Glossary. This Glossary does not include terms defined in the Cash Basis IPSAS, "Financial Reporting under the Cash Basis of Accounting." Users should refer to that Cash Basis IPSAS for these terms.

Where multiple definitions of the same term exist, this Glossary indicates all IPSASs in which the term appears and the definition that applies to that particular IPSAS.

Definitions

References to accrual basis IPSASs are by Standard number and paragraph number. For example, `1.7' refers users to International Public Sector Accounting Standard IPSAS 1, "Presentation of Financial Statements," paragraph 7. References set out in brackets indicate a minor variation in wording.

Term

Definition

Location

accounting basis

The accrual or cash basis of accounting as 24.7 defined in the accrual basis International Public Sector Accounting Standards and the Cash Basis International Public Sector Accounting Standard.

accounting policies

The specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an entity in preparing and presenting financial statements.

3.7, 6.718.8

accrual basis

A basis of accounting under which transactions and other events are recognized when they occur (and not only when cash or its equivalent is received or paid). Therefore, the transactions and events are recorded in the accounting records and recognized in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate. The elements recognized under accrual accounting are assets, liabilities, net assets/equity, revenue and expenses.

1.7, 3.7, 4.10, 5.5, 6.78.6(2.8)

906

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term active market

annual budget appropriation approved budget assets1 associate

Definition

Location

A market in which all the following 21.14 conditions exist:

(a) The items traded within the market are homogeneous;

(b) Willing buyers and sellers can normally be found at any time; and

(c) Prices are available to the public.

An approved budget for one year. It does 24.7 not include published forward estimates or projections for periods beyond the budget period.

An authorization granted by a legislative 24.7 body to allocate funds for purposes specified by the legislature or similar authority

The expenditure authority derived from 24.7 laws, appropriation bills, government ordinances and other decisions related to the anticipated revenue or receipts for the budgetary period.

Resources controlled by an entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits or service potential are expected to flow to the entity.

1.7, 2.8, 5.56.78.6

An entity, including an unincorporated entity such as a partnership, over which the investor has significant influence and that is neither a controlled entity nor an interest in a joint venture.

6.77.78.6

1 Commentary: Assets provide a means for entities to achieve their objectives. Assets that are used to deliver goods and services in accordance with an entity's objectives but which do not directly generate net cash inflows are often described as embodying "service potential". Assets that are used to generate net cash inflows are often described as embodying "future economic benefits". To encompass all the purposes to which assets may be put, this series of Standards uses the term "future economic benefits or service potential" to describe the essential characteristic of assets.

907

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term

Definition

Location

borrowing costs

Interest and other expenses incurred by an 5.5 entity in connection with the borrowing of funds.

budgetary basis

The accrual, cash or other basis of 24.7 accounting adopted in the budget that has been approved by the legislative body.

carrying amount (of investment property)

The amount at which an asset is 16.7 recognized in the statement of financial position.

carrying amount (of property, plant and equipment)

The amount at which an asset is 17.7 recognized after deducting any accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

carrying amount of an asset

The amount at which an asset is recognized in the statement of financial position after deducting any accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses thereon.

10.7, 21.14

carrying amount of The amount at which a liability is 10.7

a liability

recognized in the statement of financial

position.

cash

Comprises cash on hand and demand 2.8, 5.5,

deposits.

6.78.610.7

cash equivalents

Short-term, highly liquid investments that 2.8, are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

cash flows

Inflows and outflows of cash and cash 2.8, 8.6 equivalents.

cash-generating assets

Assets held to generate a commercial 21.14 return.

class of property, plant and equipment

A grouping of assets of a similar nature or function in an entity's operations that is shown as a single item for the purpose of disclosure in the financial statements.

17.13

GLOSSARY

908

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term close members of the family of an individual

closing rate commencement of the lease term

comparable basis

conditions on transferred assets

consolidated financial statements construction contract

constructive obligation

Definition

Location

Close relatives of the individual or 20.4 members of the individual's immediate family who can be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that individual in their dealings with the entity.

The spot exchange rate at the reporting 4.10 date.

The date from which the lessee is entitled 13.8 to exercise its right to use the leased asset. It is the date of initial recognition of the lease (i.e. the recognition of the assets, liabilities, revenue or expenses resulting from the lease, as appropriate).

The actual amounts presented on the same 24.7 accounting basis, same classification basis, for the same entities and for the same period as the approved budget.

Stipulations that specify that the future 23.7 economic benefits or service potential embodied in the asset is required to be consumed by the recipient as specified or future economic benefits or service potential must be returned to the transferor.

The financial statements of an economic 6.76.7, 7.7, entity presented as those of a single entity. 8.6

A contract, or a similar binding 11.4 arrangement, specifically negotiated for the construction of an asset or a combination of assets that are closely interrelated or interdependent in terms of their design, technology and function or their ultimate purpose or use.

An obligation that derives from an entity's 19.18 actions where:

(a) by an established pattern of past

909

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term

Definition

Location

practice, published policies or a sufficiently specific current statement, the entity has indicated to other parties that it will accept certain responsibilities; and

(b) as a result, the entity has created a valid expectation on the part of those other parties that it will discharge those responsibilities.

contingent asset

A possible asset that arises from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or nonoccurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the entity.

19.18

contingent liability contingent rent

(a) a possible obligation that arises from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the entity; or

19.18

(b) a present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognized because:

(i) it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential will be required to settle the obligation; or

(ii) the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability.

That portion of the lease payments that is 13.8 not fixed in amount but is based on the future amount of a factor that changes other than with the passage of time (e.g., percentage of future sales, amount of future usage, future price indices, future

GLOSSARY

910

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term

Definition

Location

market rates of interest).

contractor

An entity that performs construction work 11.4 pursuant to a construction contract.

contributions from owners

Future economic benefits or service potential that has been contributed to the entity by parties external to the entity, other than those that result in liabilities of the entity, that establish a financial interest in the net assets/equity of the entity, which:

1.7, 2.8, 5.56.78.6

(a) conveys entitlement both to distributions of future economic benefits or service potential by the entity during its life, such distributions being at the discretion of the owners or their representatives, and to distributions of any excess of assets over liabilities in the event of the entity being wound up; and/or

(b) can be sold, exchanged, transferred or redeemed.

control

The power to govern the financial and 6.7, 7.7, 8.6 operating policies of another entity so as to benefit from its activities.

control of an asset

Arises when the entity can use or 23.7 otherwise benefit from the asset in pursuit of its objectives and can exclude or otherwise regulate the access of others to that benefit.

controlled entity

An entity, including an unincorporated entity such as a partnership, that is under the control of another entity (known as the controlling entity).

6.7, 8.6, (7.7)

controlling entity

An entity that has one or more controlled , 6.7, 7.7,

entities.

8.6

911

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term cost

cost method

cost plus or cost based contract

costs of disposal

current replacement cost depreciable amount depreciation (amortization) distribution to owners

Definition

Location

The amount of cash or cash equivalents paid or the fair value of the other consideration given to acquire an asset at the time of its acquisition or construction.

16.7, 17.13

A method of accounting for an investment 7.7 whereby the investment is recognized at cost. The investor recognizes revenue from the investment only to the extent that the investor is entitled to receive distributions from accumulated surpluses of the investee arising after the date of acquisition. Entitlements due or received in excess of such surpluses are regarded as a recovery of investment and are recognized as a reduction of the cost of the investment.

A construction contract in which the 11.4 contractor is reimbursed for allowable or otherwise defined costs and, in the case of a commercially-based contract, an additional percentage of these costs or a fixed fee, if any.

Incremental costs directly attributable to 21.14 the disposal of an asset, excluding finance costs and income tax expense.

The cost the entity would incur to acquire 12.9 the asset on the reporting date.

The cost of an asset, or other amount 17.13 substituted for cost, less its residual value.

The systematic allocation of the 17.13, 21.14 depreciable amount of an asset over its useful life.

Future economic benefits or service potential distributed by the entity to all or some of its owners, either as a return on investment or as a return of investment.

1.7, 2.8, 3.7, 4.10, 5.5, 6.7, 7.7, 8.6

GLOSSARY

912

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Term economic entity2

Definition

Location

A group of entities comprising a 1.7, 2.8,

controlling entity and one or more 4.10, 5.5,

controlled entities.

6.7, 7.7, 8.6

economic life

Either:

13.8

(a) the period over which an asset is expected to yield economic benefits or service potential to one or more users; or

(b) the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from the asset by one or more users.

entity specific value

The present value of the cash flows an entity expects to arise from the continuing use of an asset and from its disposal at the end of its useful life or expects to incur when settling a liability.

17.13

equity instrument

Any contract that evidences a residual 15.9 interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities.

equity method

A method of accounting whereby the investment is initially recognized at cost and adjusted thereafter for the postacquisition change in the investor's share of net assets/equity of the investee. The surplus or deficit of the investor includes the investor's share of the surplus or deficit of the investee.

1.7, 4.10, 6.7, 7.7

A method of accounting whereby an 8.6 interest in a jointly controlled entity is initially recorded at cost and adjusted thereafter for the post-acquisition change in the venturer's share of net assets/equity

2 Commentary: The term "economic entity" is used in this series of Standards to define, for financial reporting purposes, a group of entities comprising the controlling entity and any controlled entities. Other terms sometimes used to refer to an economic entity include "administrative entity", "financial entity" (IPSAS 4: "financial reporting entity"), "consolidated entity" and "group". An economic entity may include entities with both social policy and commercial objectives. For example, a government housing department may be an economic entity which includes entities that provide housing for a nominal charge, as well as entities that provide accommodation on a commercial basis.

913

GLOSSARY

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download