Impact of corona virus on financial reporting explained by ICAI

written by ADMIN | March 27, 2020

Impact of Corona Virus on Financial Reporting:

Inventory Measurement (Ind AS 2 and AS 2)

In accordance with Ind AS 2, Inventories, and AS 2, Valuation of Inventories, it might be necessary to write down inventories to net realisable value due to reduced movement in inventory, decline in selling prices, or inventory obsolescence due to lower than expected sales.

Impairment of Non-Financial Assets (Ind AS 36 and AS 28)

Due to COVID 19, there might be temporary ceasing of operations or an immediate decline in demand or prices resulting in lowering of revenues and profitability and reduced economic activity. These are the factors that the
management may consider as the indicators that may require impairment testing for the purpose of Ind AS 36 and AS 28.

An entity needs to estimate the recoverable amount of the asset for impairment testing. Recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and the value in use. In cases where the recoverable amount is estimated based on value in use, the considerations on accounting estimates apply.

Goodwill impairment

The standard requires that goodwill being tested for impairment at a level that reflects the way an entity manages its operations and with which the goodwill would naturally be associated. Due to COVID-19, there might be significant changes with an adverse effect in operations of a cash generating unit to which goodwill is
allocated and therefore requiring additional focus and attention while testing of impairment of goodwill as at March 31, 2020.

Financial Instruments (Ind AS 109 & 107) (Impairment Losses)

Financial Instruments within the scope of Ind AS 109 such as Loans, Trade Receivables, Other Receivables, Investment in Debt instruments, Financial Guarantees and Loan Commitments not measured at fair value through profit or loss, Contract Assets and Lease Receivables are subject to impairment loss recognition and measurement based on an approach called Expected Credit Loss (ECL). This approach was introduced in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008 to strengthen the accounting recognition of loan-loss provisions by incorporating a broader range of credit information. ECL approach is expected to consider forward looking information and it is measured based on probability weighted amount that is determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes. The widespread contraction in economic activity across the globe due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 is likely to have an impact on the quantification of ECL and classification of financial assets into 3 buckets for recognition and measurement of impairment losses. In this context, following are important factors to be considered by the preparers.

Ind AS 109 – Appendix A states that a financial asset is credit-impaired when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flow of the financial asset have occurred. Evidence that a financial asset is credit-impaired include observable data about various events, for example, the lender(s) of the borrower, for economic or contractual reasons relating to the borrower’s financial difficulty, having granted to the borrower a concession(s) that the lender(s) would not otherwise consider.

In respect of Ind AS 107, Financial Instruments Disclosures, entities may need to disclose the impact of COVID-19 on various credit related aspects such as methods, assumptions and information used in estimating ECL, policies and procedures for valuing collaterals etc.

If the entity is unable to assess the impact of COVID-19 in estimating the impairment loss due to the inadequacy of information, the same should be disclosed appropriately.

Leases (Ind AS 116)

Due to COVID-19, there may be changes in the terms of lease arrangements or lessor may give some concession to the lessee with respect to lease payments, rent free holidays etc. Such revised terms or concessions shall be considered while accounting for leases, which may lead to the application of accounting relating to the modification of leases. However, anticipated revisions should not be taken into account.

Leases (AS 19, AS 29)

Due to COVID-19 there can be changes in the terms of lease arrangements or lessor may give some concession to the lessee with regard to lease payments. Such revised terms or concessions shall be considered while accounting for leases. However, anticipated revision should not be taken into account.

Property Plant and Equipment (PPE)

Ind AS 16 and AS 10 require that useful life and residual life of PPE needs revision in annual basis. Due to COVID-19, PPE can remain under-utilised or not utilised for a period of me. It may be noted that the standards require depreciation charge even if the PPE remains idle. Further, COVID-19 impact may have affected the expected useful life and residual life of PPE.

Valuation of Inventory on a date other than date of financial statements i.e. 31st March 2020:

Due to government-imposed shutdowns or due to unavailability of the client personnel, it may not be practicable for most of the business entities to conduct physical verification of inventory as on the date of the financial statements i.e. 31st March, 2020. The auditor must plan procedures depending on the underlying circumstances wherein the inventory count date could be advanced prior to the year- end or deferred to a date after the year-end.

The auditor would need to comply with the procedures given in Paragraphs 5 and 7 read with Paragraphs A9 to A14 of SA 501 cited below:

“5. If physical inventory counting is conducted at a date other than the date of the financial statements, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required by paragraph 4, perform audit procedures to obtain audit evidence about whether changes in inventory between the count date and the date of the financial statements are properly recorded. (Ref: Para. A9-A11).”

Impact of Corona Virus on Audit of Financial Statements

Responsibilities of auditor with regard to Going Concern:

It is the responsibility of management to make the assessment as to whether the entity is a going concern. In assessing whether the going concern assumption is appropriate, management takes into account all available information about the future, which is at least, but is not limited to, twelve months from the date when
the financial statements are authorised for issue. The assessment will be specific to the entity’s circumstances.

In the current scenario, while making this assessment, management would generally be expected to prepare detailed forecasts which, will require regular updation tillll the financial statements are authorised for issue. These forecasts should capture potential scenarios and management’s plans.

Management should consider the impact of COVID-19 on customers, suppliers and employees. For example, could the entity continue to operate if employees are not able to physically present, and how reduced cash flows impact its working capital requirements. Management should also consider whether the insurance policies taken by the entity cover the losses arising from the COVID -19.

If the entity is disclosing in their subsequent events disclosures that an estimate of impact cannot be made due to the evolving situation, this may result in a material uncertainty on going concern within the audit report.

Written Representations:

As per SA 580, the auditor should obtain written representations from the management regarding the various estimates and assessments made by the management. The written representations should be exhaustive, containing the occurrence, method of measurement, completeness of transactions recorded and the disclosure of financial impacts in the financial statements. Auditors need to assess whether any specific representations may be required to be obtained from the Management in relation to Managements’ assessment of impact from the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 on the financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2020 as well as for the reasonable foreseeable future.

Conclusion

The impact of COVID-19 on the economy, financial markets and entities in particular continues to evolve. The role of auditors at mes like this is under increased scrutiny as the auditors have a public interest obligation to complete the audit work in accordance with professional standards and ethics requirements. Under the current
circumstances, auditors must recognise that the manner in which they conducted the audits in the past may need significant modification to address the challenges and uncertainties arising out of the impact of COVID-19.

Auditors should exercise a very high degree of skepticism and be prepared to call out where the Company’s narrative that the Board presents is not specific enough and does not “tell the whole story” of the various scenarios and level of uncertainty specific to the Company’s operations. Irrespective of the challenges and uncertainties, there should not be any dilution or non-compliance with the auditing standards in carrying out the audits.

You can download the entire advisory by ICAI HERE.

 

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