Inventory accounting: IFRS Standards vs US GAAP
Maneesh Kumar
Finance Manager| Finance Controller | Financial Accounting | Audit | US GAAP | IFRS | SYCOHADA GAAP | Country Level Management
Top 10 differences related to inventory accounting
From the IFRS Institute –?December 3, 2021
Inventory represents a significant part of the balance sheet for many companies. In accounting for inventory determining and capturing the costs to be recognized as an asset through the inventory lifecycle is key, because it affects a company’s KPIs such as gross profit margin. Despite similar objectives, IAS 21?differs from ASC 330 in a number of areas2. Here we summarize what we see as the main differences on inventory accounting between the two standards.
What are the requirements of IAS 2?
Inventories are assets that are:
Commercial samples, returnable packaging or equipment spare parts typically do not meet the definition of inventories, although these might be managed using the inventory system for practical reasons.
Inventories are generally measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value (NRV)3. Cost includes not only the purchase cost but also the conversion and other costs to bring the inventory to its present location and condition. If items of inventory are not interchangeable or comprise goods or services for specific projects, then cost is determined on an individual item basis. Conversely, when there are many interchangeable items, cost formulas – first-in, first-out (FIFO) or weighted-average cost – may be used. Techniques for measuring the cost of inventories, such as the standard cost method or the retail method, may be used for convenience if the results approximate cost.
What are cost formulas?
What are costing techniques?
NRV is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. It is based on the most reliable evidence available at the time the estimate is made, of the amount expected to be realizable from the inventories. When the NRV of an item of inventory falls below its cost or current carrying amount, the item is written down to its NRV and the associated loss is recognized immediately in the income statement. In our view, write-downs of inventory, as well as any reversals, should be presented in cost of sales. The amount of inventories and write-downs recognized as an expense in the period are disclosed.
How is IAS 2 different from US GAAP?
While both IAS 2 and ASC 330 share similar objectives, certain differences exist in the measurement and disclosure requirements that can affect comparability. Here we summarize what we see as the top 10 differences in measurement of inventories under IFRS Standards and US GAAP.
1. IAS 2 prohibits LIFO; US GAAP allows its use.
Unlike US GAAP, IAS 2 prohibits LIFO as a cost formula. The?International Accounting Standards Board (IASB? Board) eliminated the use of LIFO because of its lack of representational faithfulness of inventory flows.
US GAAP comparison
US GAAP allows the use of any of the three cost formulas referenced?above. While the majority of US GAAP companies choose FIFO or weighted average for measuring their inventory, some use LIFO for tax reasons. Companies using LIFO often disclose information using another cost formula; such disclosure reflects the actual flow of goods through inventory for the benefit of investors.
2. IAS 2 generally measures inventories at the lower of cost and NRV; US GAAP does not
Unlike US GAAP, inventories are generally?measured at the lower of cost and NRV3?under IAS 2, regardless of the costing technique or cost formula used.
US GAAP comparison
Like IAS 2, US GAAP companies using FIFO or the weighted-average cost formula measure inventories at the lower of cost and NRV. Unlike IAS 2, US GAAP companies using either LIFO or the retail method compare the items’ cost to their market value, rather than NRV.
‘Market value’ can differ from NRV. It is equal to current replacement cost (i.e. the amount that would be required currently to replace the inventory item), except that it cannot:
3. Retail method cost is reviewed regularly under IAS 2; not under US GAAP
Under IAS 2, the cost of inventories measured using the retail method is reviewed regularly, in our view at least at each reporting date, to determine that it approximates cost in light of current conditions. The percentage of gross profit margin is revised, as necessary, to reflect markdowns of the selling price of inventory.
US GAAP comparison
Unlike IAS 2, in our experience with the retail inventory method under US GAAP, markdowns are recorded as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of inventory and are permanent. There is no requirement to periodically adjust the retail inventory carrying amount to the amount determined under a cost formula.
4. Scope of onerous contracts requirements is broader under IFRS Standards than US GAAP
IFRS Standards define an onerous contract as one in which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received. Unavoidable costs are the lower of the costs of fulfilling the contract and any compensation or penalties from the failure to fulfill it. If a contract can be terminated without incurring a penalty, it is not onerous.
If a company has a contract to sell inventory for less than the direct cost to purchase or produce it, it has an onerous contract. A provision may be necessary if the write down to net realizable value is insufficient to absorb the expected loss – e.g. if inventory has not been purchased or fully produced.
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US GAAP comparison
In general, US GAAP does not permit recognizing provisions for onerous contracts unless required by the specific recognition and measurement requirements of the relevant standard. However, if a company commits to purchase inventory in the ordinary course of business at a specified price and in a specified time period, any loss is recognized, just like IFRS Standards.
5. Decommissioning and restoration costs form part of inventory costs under IAS 2; not under US GAAP
A company may have a decommissioning or restoration obligation to clean up a site at a later date, which must be provided for. Under IFRS Standards, decommissioning and restoration costs (i.e. from the accrual of the corresponding liability) incurred as a consequence of the production of inventory in a particular period form part of the cost of that inventory. Accordingly, these decommissioning and restoration costs are recognized in profit or loss when items of inventory have been sold.
US GAAP comparison
Unlike IAS 2, US GAAP does not allow asset retirement obligation costs incurred as a consequence of the production of inventory in a particular period to be a part of the cost of inventory. Instead, such costs are added to?the carrying amount of the related property, plant and equipment. The subsequent depreciation of the cost is included in production overheads in future periods over the asset’s estimated remaining useful life.
6. Certain items of PP&E are reclassified as inventory under IAS 2; not under US GAAP
Items of property plant and equipment that a company holds for rental to others and then routinely sells in the ordinary course of its activities are reclassified to inventory when they cease to be rented and become held for sale.
US GAAP comparison
US GAAP does not provide specific guidance around accounting for assets that are rented out and then subsequently sold on a routine basis, and practice may vary. Proceeds from the sale would be accounted for in a manner consistent with the nature of the asset, which may be different from IFRS Standards.
7. Reversal of write-downs allowed under IAS 2; prohibited under US GAAP
In some cases, NRV of an item of inventory, which has been written down in one period, may subsequently increase. In such circumstances, IAS 2 requires the increase in value (i.e. the reversal), capped at the original cost, to be recognized. Reversals of write-downs are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which the reversal occurs.
US GAAP comparison
Unlike IAS 2, under US GAAP, a write down of inventory to NRV (or market) is not reversed for subsequent recoveries in value unless it relates to changes in exchange rates.
8. IAS 2 requires a consistent cost formula for similar inventory; US GAAP does not
IAS 2 requires the same cost formula to be used for all inventories with a similar nature and use to the company, even if they are held by different legal entities in a group or in different countries. In practice, for an acquired business this often requires rapid realignment to its new parent’s group methodologies and systems.
US GAAP comparison
Unlike IAS 2, US GAAP allows use of different cost formulas for inventory, despite having similar nature and use to the company. Therefore, each company in a group can categorize its inventory and use the cost formula best suited to it.
9. IAS 2 accounting for storage, shipping and handling costs may differ from US GAAP
Under IAS 2, storage costs are expensed as incurred unless:
The costs necessary to bring the inventory to its present location?–?e.g. transport costs incurred between manufacturing sites?are capitalized. The accounting for the costs of transporting and distributing goods to customers depends on whether these activities represent a separate performance obligation from the sale of the goods.
US GAAP comparison
Like IAS 2, transport costs necessary to bring purchased inventory to its present location or condition form part of the cost of inventory. Unlike IAS 2, US GAAP does not contain specific guidance on storage and holding costs, which may give rise to differences from IFRS Standards in practice.
Unlike IFRS Standards, the accounting for shipping and handling activities undertaken after the customer has obtained control of the related goods is subject to a policy choice.
10. Intangible assets produced for re-sale may be inventory under IAS 2; not under US GAAP
Under IAS 2, inventory may include intangible assets that are produced for resale – e.g. software.
US GAAP Comparison
Unlike IAS 2, US GAAP inventory does not include intangible assets and differences from IFRS Standards may arise in practice – e.g. software inventory includes only the costs incurred for duplicating, documenting and producing materials from the product masters and for physically packaging them for sale.
The takeaway
The significance of inventory for certain industries makes accounting and valuation a pertinent focus area. The differences around costs and measurement between IFRS Standards and US GAAP can be difficult for companies to tackle as they switch between the two standards or conform acquired businesses to group costing policies. This is because changing inventory costing methodologies often requires systems and process changes. These GAAP differences can also affect the composition of costs of sales and performance measures such as gross margin.
Dual preparers should carefully assess all differences to prepare a model that is efficient to maintain, most representative of their inventory values and compliant with all applicable requirements under both GAAPs.
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