Sustainability is not just about the environment. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defines sustainability as “a commitment to eradicate poverty and achieve a sustainable world by 2030 and beyond, with human well-being and a healthy planet at its core.” Sustainable development is a core principle of the Treaty on European Union and a priority objective for the Union’s internal and external policies.
The new pronouncement adds implementation guidance and illustrative examples to IPSAS 5. The new material illustrates how the existing principles for when borrowing costs can be capitalized should be applied in various regularly encountered public sector contexts. No amendments are proposed to the authoritative material in IPSAS 5, and the existing option to expense or capitalize borrowing costs is retained.
“We undertook this project to illustrate how to apply existing principles in IPSAS 5 to scenarios that are unique to the public sector,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “This new guidance should support our constituents in applying the existing standard to the practical challenges they have identified in determining which borrowing costs can be capitalized and when.”
This illustrative guidance addresses public sector specific issues by focusing on transactions associated with capitalizing borrowing costs when funds are borrowed by a related entity or centralized lending program. The additional guidancefacilitates the preparation of financial reporting information thatis relevant, faithfully representative, and comparable forthese important public sector transactions.
About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.
About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.
This pronouncement adds of non-authoritative guidance to IPSAS 5, Borrowing Costs. The non-authoritative guidance adds implementation guidance and illustrative examples to IPSAS 5.
The new material in ED 74 illustrates how the existing principles for when borrowing costs can be capitalized are applied in various regularly encountered public sector scenarios. No amendments are proposed to the authoritative material in IPSAS 5.
