THE IMPACT OF IFRS ON REVENUE RECOGNITION ISSUE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) can be said to be a set of international accounting standards(IAS) that states how transactions and other events should be reported in financial statements. IFRS are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and they clearlydefine how accountants must maintain and report their accounts. IFRS were established in order to have a common accounting language, so business and accounts can be understood from company to company and country to country.

1. IFRSs refers to the entire body of IASB pronouncements, including standards and interpretations approved by the IASB and IASs and SIC interpretations approved by the predecessor International Accounting Standards Committee.

IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) are specifically designed as a common global language for business affairs so that company accounts are understandable and comparable across international boundaries. IFRS creates a single source of revenue requirements for all entitiesin all industries. The new revenue standard is a significant change fromcurrent IFRS.The new standard applies to revenue from contracts with customersand replaces all of the revenue standards and interpretations in IFRS. IFRS is principles-based, consistent with current revenuerequirements, but provides more application guidance. The lack of brightlines will result in the need for increased judgment.The new standard will have little effect on some entities, but will requiresignificant changes for others, especially those entities for which currentIFRS provides little application guidance.

IFRS introduces a new approach to determine whether revenue should be recognized overtime or at a point in time. Three scenarios are specified in which revenue will be recognized over time broadly, they are when: the customer receives and consumes the benefits of the seller’s performance as the seller performs, 2, the seller is creating a ‘work in progress’ asset which could not be directed to a different customer and in respect of which the customer has an obligation to pay for the entities work to date. If revenue is to be recognized over time, a method should be used which best reflects the pattern of transfer of goods or services to the customer. If a transaction does not fit into any of the three scenarios described above, revenue will instead be recognized at a point in time, when control passes to the customer.

1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of the study:

• To examine the impact of IFRS on revenue recognition in Nigeria.
• To provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue recognition issues.
• To improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across industries, entities within those industries, jurisdictions and capital markets.
• To reduce the complexity of applying revenue recognition requirements by reducing the volume of the relevant standards and interpretations.
• To provide more useful information to users through new disclosure requirements.

1.3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The lack of adequate revenue recognition in big and corporate institutions has necessitated this. Most Nigerian companies often overlook the impact of the international financial reporting standard on revenue recognition in revenue allocation and income streams. 

1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

On revenue and revenue recognition, this research work will enable people to apply the detailed rules in particular situations, such as accounting for construction contracts and government grants. Help understand the basic foundation of the principles of how to deal with income.

Consider how you need to recognize revenue and other forms ofincome in the financial statements.

Understand the basics of IAS to help the transition when IFRS replaces it.

Account for and disclose provisions of grants by government and other forms of government assistance.

1.5. SCOPE/LIMITATION

This study is on the impact of international reporting financial reporting standard on the revenue recognition issue with UBA in Mogadishu district Abuja serving as the case study.

1.6. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What is the impact of IFRS on revenue recognition issue in financial institutions?
• Is revenue recognition important to investors?
• What is the effect of revenue recognition on revenue recognition?

1.7. HYPOTHESIS

H0: IFRS significantly impacts on revenue recognition in Nigeria.

H1: IFRS significantly impacts on revenue recognition in Nigeria.

1.8. DEFINITION OF TERMS

IFRS: International financial reporting standards

REVENUE: the money that a government receives from taxes or that an organization etc, receives from its business.

CUSTOMER: a person or an organization that buys something from a shop, store or business.