Employee Benefits
1
This Standard should be applied by an employer in accounting for all employee benefits, except employee share-based payments.
2
This Standard does not deal with accounting and reporting by employee benefit plans.
3
The employee benefits to which this Standard applies include those provided:
(a)
under formal plans or other formal agreements between an enterprise and individual employees, groups of employees or their representatives;
(b)
under legislative requirements, or through industry arrangements, whereby enterprises are required to contribute to state, industry or other multi-employer plans; or
(c)
by those informal practices that give rise to an obligation. Informal practices give rise to an obligation where the enterprise has no realistic alternative but to pay employee benefits. An example of such an obligation is where a change in the enterprise’s informal practices would cause unacceptable damage to its relationship with employees.
4
Employee benefits include:
(a)
short-term employee benefits, such as wages, salaries and social security contributions (e.g., contribution to an insurance company by an employer to pay for medical care of its employees), paid annual leave, profit-sharing and bonuses (if payable within twelve months of the end of the period) and non-monetary benefits (such as medical care, housing, cars and free or subsidised goods or services) for current employees;
(b)
post-employment benefits such as gratuity, pension, other retirement benefits, post-employment life insurance and post-employment medical care;
(c)
other long-term employee benefits, including long-service leave or sabbatical leave, jubilee or other long-service benefits, long-term disability benefits and, if they are not payable wholly within twelve months after the end of the period, profit-sharing, bonuses and deferred compensation; and
(d)
termination benefits.
5
Employee benefits include benefits provided to either employees or their spouses, children or other dependants and may be settled by payments (or the provision of goods or services) made either:
(a)
directly to the employees, to their spouses, children or other dependants, or to their legal heirs or nominees; or
(b)
to others, such as trusts, insurance companies.
6
An employee may provide services to an enterprise on a full-time, part-time, permanent, casual or temporary basis. For the purpose of this Standard, employees include whole-time directors and other management personnel.
7
The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified:
7.1
Employee benefits are all forms of consideration given by an enterprise in exchange for service rendered by employees.
7.2
Short-term employee benefits are employee benefits (other than termination benefits) which fall due wholly within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
7.3
Post-employment benefits are employee benefits (other than termination benefits) which are payable after the completion of employment.
7.4
Post-employment benefit plans are formal or informal arrangements under which an enterprise provides post-employment benefits for one or more employees.
7.5
Defined contribution plans are post-employment benefit plans under which an enterprise pays fixed contributions into a separate entity (a fund) and will have no obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
7.6
Defined benefit plans are post-employment benefit plans other than defined contribution plans.
7.7
Multi-employer plans are defined contribution plans (other than state plans) or defined benefit plans (other than state plans) that:
(a)
pool the assets contributed by various enterprises that are not under common control; and
(b)
use those assets to provide benefits to employees of more than one enterprise, on the basis that contribution and benefit levels are determined without regard to the identity of the enterprise that employs the employees concerned.
7.8
Other long-term employee benefits are employee benefits (other than post-employment benefits and termination benefits) which do not fall due wholly within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
7.9
Termination benefits are employee benefits payable as a result of either:
(a)
an enterprise’s decision to terminate an employee’s employment before the normal retirement date; or
(b)
an employee’s decision to accept voluntary redundancy in exchange for those benefits (voluntary retirement).
7.10
Vested employee benefits are employee benefits that are not conditional on future employment.
7.11
The present value of a defined benefit obligation is the present value, without deducting any plan assets, of expected future payments required to settle the obligation resulting from employee service in the current and prior periods.
7.12
Current service cost is the increase in the present value of the defined benefit obligation resulting from employee service in the current period.
7.13
Interest cost is the increase during a period in the present value of a defined benefit obligation which arises because the benefits are one period closer to settlement.
7.14
Plan assets comprise:
(a)
assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund; and
(b)
qualifying insurance policies.
7.15
Assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund are assets (other than non-transferable financial instruments issued by the reporting enterprise) that:
(a)
are held by an entity (a fund) that is legally separate from the reporting enterprise and exists solely to pay or fund employee benefits; and
(b)
are available to be used only to pay or fund employee benefits, are not available to the reporting enterprise’s own creditors (even in bankruptcy), and cannot be returned to the reporting enterprise, unless either:
(i)
the remaining assets of the fund are sufficient to meet all the related employee benefit obligations of the plan or the reporting enterprise; or
(ii)
the assets are returned to the reporting enterprise to reimburse it for employee benefits already paid.
7.16
A qualifying insurance policy is an insurance policy issued by an insurer that is not a related party (as defined in AS 18, Related Party Disclosures) of the reporting enterprise, if the proceeds of the policy:
(a)
can be used only to pay or fund employee benefits under a defined benefit plan; and
(b)
are not available to the reporting enterprise’s own creditors (even in bankruptcy) and cannot be paid to the reporting enterprise, unless either:
(i)
the proceeds represent surplus assets that are not needed for the policy to meet all the related employee benefit obligations; or
(ii)
the proceeds are returned to the reporting enterprise to reimburse it for employee benefits already paid.
7.17
Fair value is the amount for which an asset could be exchanged or a liability settled between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction.
7.18
The return on plan assets is interest, dividends and other revenue derived from the plan assets, together with realised and unrealised gains or losses on the plan assets, less any costs of administering the plan and less any tax payable by the plan itself.
7.19
Actuarial gains and losses comprise:
(a)
experience adjustments (the effects of differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred); and
(b)
the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions.
7.20
Past service cost is the change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation for employee service in prior periods, resulting in the current period from the introduction of, or changes to, post-employment benefits or other long-term employee benefits. Past service cost may be either positive (where benefits are introduced or improved) or negative (where existing benefits are reduced).
8
Short-term employee benefits include items such as:
(a)
wages, salaries and social security contributions;
(b)
short-term compensated absences (such as paid annual leave) where the absences are expected to occur within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related employee service;
(c)
profit-sharing and bonuses payable within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service; and
(d)
non-monetary benefits (such as medical care, housing, cars and free or subsidised goods or services) for current employees.
9
Accounting for short-term employee benefits is generally straightforward because no actuarial assumptions are required to measure the obligation or the cost and there is no possibility of any actuarial gain or loss. Moreover, short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis.
10
When an employee has rendered service to an enterprise during an accounting period, the enterprise should recognise the undiscounted amount of short-term employee benefits expected to be paid in exchange for that service:
(a)
as a liability (accrued expense), after deducting any amount already paid. If the amount already paid exceeds the undiscounted amount of the benefits, an enterprise should recognise that excess as an asset (prepaid expense) to the extent that the prepayment will lead to, for example, a reduction in future payments or a cash refund; and
(b)
as an expense, unless another Accounting Standard requires or permits the inclusion of the benefits in the cost of an asset (see, for example, AS 10, Property, Plant and Equipment).
11
An enterprise should recognise the expected cost of short-term employee benefits in the form of compensated absences under paragraph 10 as follows:
(a)
in the case of accumulating compensated absences, when the employees render service that increases their entitlement to future compensated absences; and
(b)
in the case of non-accumulating compensated absences, when the absences occur.
12
An enterprise may compensate employees for absence for various reasons including vacation, sickness and short-term disability, and maternity or paternity. Entitlement to compensated absences falls into two categories:
(a)
accumulating; and
(b)
non-accumulating.
13
Accumulating compensated absences are those that are carried forward and can be used in future periods if the current period’s entitlement is not used in full. Accumulating compensated absences may be either vesting (in other words, employees are entitled to a cash payment for unused entitlement on leaving the enterprise) or non-vesting (when employees are not entitled to a cash payment for unused entitlement on leaving). An obligation arises as employees render service that increases their entitlement to future compensated absences. The obligation exists, and is recognised, even if the compensated absences are non-vesting, although the possibility that employees may leave before they use an accumulated non-vesting entitlement affects the measurement of that obligation.
14
An enterprise should measure the expected cost of accumulating compensated absences as the additional amount that the enterprise expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement that has accumulated at the balance sheet date.
15
The method specified in the previous paragraph measures the obligation at the amount of the additional payments that are expected to arise solely from the fact that the benefit accumulates. In many cases, an enterprise may not need to make detailed computations to estimate that there is no material obligation for unused compensated absences. For example, a leave obligation is likely to be material only if there is a formal or informal understanding that unused leave may be taken as paid vacation.
16
Non-accumulating compensated absences do not carry forward: they lapse if the current period’s entitlement is not used in full and do not entitle employees to a cash payment for unused entitlement on leaving the enterprise. This is commonly the case for maternity or paternity leave. An enterprise recognises no liability or expense until the time of the absence, because employee service does not increase the amount of the benefit.
17
An enterprise should recognise the expected cost of profit-sharing and bonus payments under paragraph 10 when, and only when:
(a)
the enterprise has a present obligation to make such payments as a result of past events; and
(b)
a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.
18
Under some profit-sharing plans, employees receive a share of the profit only if they remain with the enterprise for a specified period. Such plans create an obligation as employees render service that increases the amount to be paid if they remain in service until the end of the specified period. The measurement of such obligations reflects the possibility that some employees may leave without receiving profit-sharing payments.
19
An enterprise may have no legal obligation to pay a bonus. Nevertheless, in some cases, an enterprise has a practice of paying bonuses. In such cases also, the enterprise has an obligation because the enterprise has no realistic alternative but to pay the bonus. The measurement of the obligation reflects the possibility that some employees may leave without receiving a bonus.
20
An enterprise can make a reliable estimate of its obligation under a profit-sharing or bonus plan when, and only when:
(a)
the formal terms of the plan contain a formula for determining the amount of the benefit; or
(b)
the enterprise determines the amounts to be paid before the financial statements are approved; or
(c)
past practice gives clear evidence of the amount of the enterprise’s obligation.
21
An obligation under profit-sharing and bonus plans results from employee service and not from a transaction with the enterprise’s owners. Therefore, an enterprise recognises the cost of profit-sharing and bonus plans not as a distribution of net profit but as an expense.
22
If profit-sharing and bonus payments are not due wholly within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service, those payments are other long-term employee benefits (see paragraphs 127-132).
23
Although this Standard does not require specific disclosures about short-term employee benefits, other Accounting Standards may require disclosures. For example, where required by AS 18, Related Party Disclosures an enterprise discloses information about employee benefits for key management personnel.
24
Post-employment benefits include:
(a)
retirement benefits, e.g., gratuity and pension; and
(b)
other benefits, e.g., post-employment life insurance and post-employment medical care.
25
Post-employment benefit plans are classified as either defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans, depending on the economic substance of the plan as derived from its principal terms and conditions. Under defined contribution plans:
(a)
the enterprise’s obligation is limited to the amount that it agrees to contribute to the fund. Thus, the amount of the post-employment benefits received by the employee is determined by the amount of contributions paid by an enterprise (and also by the employee) to a post-employment benefit plan or to an insurance company, together with investment returns arising from the contributions; and
(b)
in consequence, actuarial risk (that benefits will be less than expected) and investment risk (that assets invested will be insufficient to meet expected benefits) fall on the employee.
26
Examples of cases where an enterprise’s obligation is not limited to the amount that it agrees to contribute to the fund are when the enterprise has an obligation through:
(a)
a plan benefit formula that is not linked solely to the amount of contributions; or
(b)
a guarantee, either indirectly through a plan or directly, of a specified return on contributions; or
(c)
informal practices that give rise to an obligation, for example, an obligation may arise where an enterprise has a history of increasing benefits for former employees to keep pace with inflation even where there is no legal obligation to do so.
27
Under defined benefit plans:
(a)
the enterprise’s obligation is to provide the agreed benefits to current and former employees; and
(b)
actuarial risk (that benefits will cost more than expected) and investment risk fall, in substance, on the enterprise. If actuarial or investment experience are worse than expected, the enterprise’s obligation may be increased.
28
Paragraphs 29 to 43 below deal with defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans in the context of multi-employer plans, state plans and insured benefits.
29
An enterprise should classify a multi-employer plan as a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan under the terms of the plan (including any obligation that goes beyond the formal terms). Where a multi-employer plan is a defined benefit plan, an enterprise should:
(a)
account for its proportionate share of the defined benefit obligation, plan assets and cost associated with the plan in the same way as for any other defined benefit plan; and
(b)
disclose the information required by paragraph 120.
30
When sufficient information is not available to use defined benefit accounting for a multi-employer plan that is a defined benefit plan, an enterprise should:
(a)
account for the plan under paragraphs 45-47 as if it were a defined contribution plan;
(b)
disclose:
(i)
the fact that the plan is a defined benefit plan; and
(ii)
the reason why sufficient information is not available to enable the enterprise to account for the plan as a defined benefit plan; and
(c)
to the extent that a surplus or deficit in the plan may affect the amount of future contributions, disclose in addition:
(i)
any available information about that surplus or deficit;
(ii)
the basis used to determine that surplus or deficit; and
(iii)
the implications, if any, for the enterprise.
31
One example of a defined benefit multi-employer plan is one where:
(a)
the plan is financed in a manner such that contributions are set at a level that is expected to be sufficient to pay the benefits falling due in the same period; and future benefits earned during the current period will be paid out of future contributions; and
(b)
employees’ benefits are determined by the length of their service and the participating enterprises have no realistic means of withdrawing from the plan without paying a contribution for the benefits earned by employees up to the date of withdrawal. Such a plan creates actuarial risk for the enterprise; if the ultimate cost of benefits already earned at the balance sheet date is more than expected, the enterprise will have to either increase its contributions or persuade employees to accept a reduction in benefits. Therefore, such a plan is a defined benefit plan.
32
Where sufficient information is available about a multi-employer plan which is a defined benefit plan, an enterprise accounts for its proportionate share of the defined benefit obligation, plan assets and post-employment benefit cost associated with the plan in the same way as for any other defined benefit plan. However, in some cases, an enterprise may not be able to identify its share of the underlying financial position and performance of the plan with sufficient reliability for accounting purposes. This may occur if:
(a)
the enterprise does not have access to information about the plan that satisfies the requirements of this Standard; or
(b)
the plan exposes the participating enterprises to actuarial risks associated with the current and former employees of other enterprises, with the result that there is no consistent and reliable basis for allocating the obligation, plan assets and cost to individual enterprises participating in the plan.
33
Multi-employer plans are distinct from group administration plans. A group administration plan is merely an aggregation of single employer plans combined to allow participating employers to pool their assets for investment purposes and reduce investment management and administration costs, but the claims of different employers are segregated for the sole benefit of their own employees. Group administration plans pose no particular accounting problems because information is readily available to treat them in the same way as any other single employer plan and because such plans do not expose the participating enterprises to actuarial risks associated with the current and former employees of other enterprises. The definitions in this Standard require an enterprise to classify a group administration plan as a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan in accordance with the terms of the plan (including any obligation that goes beyond the formal terms).
34
Defined benefit plans that share risks between various enterprises under common control, for example, a parent and its subsidiaries, are not multi-employer plans.
35
In respect of such a plan, if there is a contractual agreement or stated policy for charging the net defined benefit cost for the plan as a whole to individual group enterprises, the enterprise recognises, in its separate financial statements, the net defined benefit cost so charged. If there is no such agreement or policy, the net defined benefit cost is recognised in the separate financial statements of the group enterprise that is legally the sponsoring employer for the plan. The other group enterprises recognise, in their separate financial statements, a cost equal to their contribution payable for the period.
36
AS 29, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets requires an enterprise to recognise, or disclose information about, certain contingent liabilities. In the context of a multi-employer plan, a contingent liability may arise from, for example:
(a)
actuarial losses relating to other participating enterprises because each enterprise that participates in a multi-employer plan shares in the actuarial risks of every other participating enterprise; or
(b)
any responsibility under the terms of a plan to finance any shortfall in the plan if other enterprises cease to participate.
37
An enterprise should account for a state plan in the same way as for a multi-employer plan (see paragraphs 29 and 30).
38
State plans are established by legislation to cover all enterprises (or all enterprises in a particular category, for example, a specific industry) and are operated by national or local government or by another body (for example, an autonomous agency created specifically for this purpose) which is not subject to control or influence by the reporting enterprise. Some plans established by an enterprise provide both compulsory benefits which substitute for benefits that would otherwise be covered under a state plan and additional voluntary benefits. Such plans are not state plans.
39
State plans are characterised as defined benefit or defined contribution in nature based on the enterprise’s obligation under the plan. Many state plans are funded in a manner such that contributions are set at a level that is expected to be sufficient to pay the required benefits falling due in the same period; future benefits earned during the current period will be paid out of future contributions. Nevertheless, in most state plans, the enterprise has no obligation to pay those future benefits: its only obligation is to pay the contributions as they fall due and if the enterprise ceases to employ members of the state plan, it will have no obligation to pay the benefits earned by such employees in previous years. For this reason, state plans are normally defined contribution plans. However, in the rare cases when a state plan is a defined benefit plan, an enterprise applies the treatment prescribed in paragraphs 29 and 30.
40
An enterprise may pay insurance premiums to fund a post-employment benefit plan. The enterprise should treat such a plan as a defined contribution plan unless the enterprise will have (either directly, or indirectly through the plan) an obligation to either:
(a)
pay the employee benefits directly when they fall due; or
(b)
pay further amounts if the insurer does not pay all future employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
41
The benefits insured by an insurance contract need not have a direct or automatic relationship with the enterprise’s obligation for employee benefits. Post-employment benefit plans involving insurance contracts are subject to the same distinction between accounting and funding as other funded plans.
42
Where an enterprise funds a post-employment benefit obligation by contributing to an insurance policy under which the enterprise (either directly, indirectly through the plan, through the mechanism for setting future premiums or through a related party relationship with the insurer) retains an obligation, the payment of the premiums does not amount to a defined contribution arrangement. It follows that the enterprise:
(a)
accounts for a qualifying insurance policy as a plan asset (see paragraph 7); and
(b)
recognises other insurance policies as reimbursement rights (if the policies satisfy the criteria in paragraph 103).
43
Where an insurance policy is in the name of a specified plan participant or a group of plan participants and the enterprise does not have any obligation to cover any loss on the policy, the enterprise has no obligation to pay benefits to the employees and the insurer has sole responsibility for paying the benefits. The payment of fixed premiums under such contracts is, in substance, the settlement of the employee benefit obligation, rather than an investment to meet the obligation. Consequently, the enterprise no longer has an asset or a liability. Therefore, an enterprise treats such payments as contributions to a defined contribution plan.
44
Accounting for defined contribution plans is straightforward because the reporting enterprise’s obligation for each period is determined by the amounts to be contributed for that period. Consequently, no actuarial assumptions are required to measure the obligation or the expense and there is no possibility of any actuarial gain or loss. Moreover, the obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis, except where they do not fall due wholly within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
45
When an employee has rendered service to an enterprise during a period, the enterprise should recognise the contribution payable to a defined contribution plan in exchange for that service:
(a)
as a liability (accrued expense), after deducting any contribution already paid. If the contribution already paid exceeds the contribution due for service before the balance sheet date, an enterprise should recognise that excess as an asset (prepaid expense) to the extent that the prepayment will lead to, for example, a reduction in future payments or a cash refund; and
(b)
as an expense, unless another Accounting Standard requires or permits the inclusion of the contribution in the cost of an asset (see, for example, AS 10, Property, Plant and Equipment).
46
Where contributions to a defined contribution plan do not fall due wholly within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service, they should be discounted using the discount rate specified in paragraph 78.
47
An enterprise should disclose the amount recognised as an expense for defined contribution plans.
48
Where required by AS 18, Related Party Disclosures an enterprise discloses information about contributions to defined contribution plans for key management personnel.
49
Accounting for defined benefit plans is complex because actuarial assumptions are required to measure the obligation and the expense and there is a possibility of actuarial gains and losses. Moreover, the obligations are measured on a discounted basis because they may be settled many years after the employees render the related service. While the Standard requires that it is the responsibility of the reporting enterprise to measure the obligations under the defined benefit plans, it is recognised that for doing so the enterprise would normally use the services of a qualified actuary.
50
Defined benefit plans may be unfunded, or they may be wholly or partly funded by contributions by an enterprise, and sometimes its employees, into an entity, or fund, that is legally separate from the reporting enterprise and from which the employee benefits are paid. The payment of funded benefits when they fall due depends not only on the financial position and the investment performance of the fund but also on an enterprise’s ability to make good any shortfall in the fund’s assets. Therefore, the enterprise is, in substance, underwriting the actuarial and investment risks associated with the plan. Consequently, the expense recognised for a defined benefit plan is not necessarily the amount of the contribution due for the period.
51
Accounting by an enterprise for defined benefit plans involves the following steps:
(a)
using actuarial techniques to make a reliable estimate of the amount of benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods. This requires an enterprise to determine how much benefit is attributable to the current and prior periods (see paragraphs 68-72) and to make estimates (actuarial assumptions) about demographic variables (such as employee turnover and mortality) and financial variables (such as future increases in salaries and medical costs) that will influence the cost of the benefit (see paragraphs 73-91);
(b)
discounting that benefit using the Projected Unit Credit Method in order to determine the present value of the defined benefit obligation and the current service cost (see paragraphs 65-67);
(c)
determining the fair value of any plan assets (see paragraphs 100-102);
(d)
determining the total amount of actuarial gains and losses (see paragraphs 92-93);
(e)
where a plan has been introduced or changed, determining the resulting past service cost (see paragraphs 94-99); and
(f)
where a plan has been curtailed or settled, determining the resulting gain or loss (see paragraphs 110-116).
52
For measuring the amounts under paragraph 51, in some cases, estimates, averages and simplified computations may provide a reliable approximation of the detailed computations.
53
An enterprise should account not only for its legal obligation under the formal terms of a defined benefit plan, but also for any other obligation that arises from the enterprise’s informal practices. Informal practices give rise to an obligation where the enterprise has no realistic alternative but to pay employee benefits. An example of such an obligation is where a change in the enterprise’s informal practices would cause unacceptable damage to its relationship with employees.
54
The formal terms of a defined benefit plan may permit an enterprise to terminate its obligation under the plan. Nevertheless, it is usually difficult for an enterprise to cancel a plan if employees are to be retained. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, accounting for post-employment benefits assumes that an enterprise which is currently promising such benefits will continue to do so over the remaining working lives of employees.
55
The amount recognised as a defined benefit liability should be the net total of the following amounts:
(a)
the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the balance sheet date (see paragraph 65);
(b)
minus any past service cost not yet recognised (see paragraph 94);
(c)
minus the fair value at the balance sheet date of plan assets (if any) out of which the obligations are to be settled directly (see paragraphs 100-102).
56
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is the gross obligation, before deducting the fair value of any plan assets.
57
An enterprise should determine the present value of defined benefit obligations and the fair value of any plan assets with sufficient regularity that the amounts recognised in the financial statements do not differ materially from the amounts that would be determined at the balance sheet date.
58
The detailed actuarial valuation of the present value of defined benefit obligations may be made at intervals not exceeding three years. However, with a view that the amounts recognised in the financial statements do not differ materially from the amounts that would be determined at the balance sheet date, the most recent valuation is reviewed at the balance sheet date and updated to reflect any material transactions and other material changes in circumstances (including changes in interest rates) between the date of valuation and the balance sheet date. The fair value of any plan assets is determined at each balance sheet date.
59
The amount determined under paragraph 55 may be negative (an asset). An enterprise should measure the resulting asset at the lower of:
(a)
the amount determined under paragraph 55; and
(b)
the present value of any economic benefits available in the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. The present value of these economic benefits should be determined using the discount rate specified in paragraph 78.
60
An asset may arise where a defined benefit plan has been overfunded or in certain cases where actuarial gains are recognised. An enterprise recognises an asset in such cases because:
(a)
the enterprise controls a resource, which is the ability to use the surplus to generate future benefits;
(b)
that control is a result of past events (contributions paid by the enterprise and service rendered by the employee); and
(c)
future economic benefits are available to the enterprise in the form of a reduction in future contributions or a cash refund, either directly to the enterprise or indirectly to another plan in deficit.
61
An enterprise should recognise the net total of the following amounts in the statement of profit and loss, except to the extent that another Accounting Standard requires or permits their inclusion in the cost of an asset:
(a)
current service cost (see paragraphs 64-91);
(b)
interest cost (see paragraph 82);
(c)
the expected return on any plan assets (see paragraphs 107-109) and on any reimbursement rights (see paragraph 103);
(d)
actuarial gains and losses (see paragraphs 92-93);
(e)
past service cost to the extent that paragraph 94 requires an enterprise to recognise it;
(f)
the effect of any curtailments or settlements (see paragraphs 110 and 111); and
(g)
the effect of the limit in paragraph 59(b), i.e., the extent to which the amount determined under paragraph 55 (if negative) exceeds the amount determined under paragraph 59(b).
62
Other Accounting Standards require the inclusion of certain employee benefit costs within the cost of assets such as tangible fixed assets (see AS 10, Property, Plant and Equipment). Any post-employment benefit costs included in the cost of such assets include the appropriate proportion of the components listed in paragraph 61.
63
Illustration I attached to the Standard illustrates describing the components of the amounts recognised in the balance sheet and statement of profit and loss in respect of defined benefit plans.
64
The ultimate cost of a defined benefit plan may be influenced by many variables, such as final salaries, employee turnover and mortality, medical cost trends and, for a funded plan, the investment earnings on the plan assets. The ultimate cost of the plan is uncertain and this uncertainty is likely to persist over a long period of time. In order to measure the present value of the post-employment benefit obligations and the related current service cost, it is necessary to:
(a)
apply an actuarial valuation method (see paragraphs 65-67);
(b)
attribute benefit to periods of service (see paragraphs 68-72); and
(c)
make actuarial assumptions (see paragraphs 73-91).
65
An enterprise should use the Projected Unit Credit Method to determine the present value of its defined benefit obligations and the related current service cost and, where applicable, past service cost.
66
The Projected Unit Credit Method (sometimes known as the accrued benefit method pro-rated on service or as the benefit/years of service method) considers each period of service as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement (see paragraphs 68-72) and measures each unit separately to build up the final obligation (see paragraphs 73-91).
67
An enterprise discounts the whole of a post-employment benefit obligation, even if part of the obligation falls due within twelve months of the balance sheet date.
68
In determining the present value of its defined benefit obligations and the related current service cost and, where applicable, past service cost, an enterprise should attribute benefit to periods of service under the plan’s benefit formula. However, if an employee’s service in later years will lead to a materially higher level of benefit than in earlier years, an enterprise should attribute benefit on a straight-line basis from:
(a)
the date when service by the employee first leads to benefits under the plan (whether or not the benefits are conditional on further service); until
(b)
the date when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits under the plan, other than from further salary increases.
69
The Projected Unit Credit Method requires an enterprise to attribute benefit to the current period (in order to determine current service cost) and the current and prior periods (in order to determine the present value of defined benefit obligations). An enterprise attributes benefit to periods in which the obligation to provide post-employment benefits arises. That obligation arises as employees render services in return for post-employment benefits which an enterprise expects to pay in future reporting periods. Actuarial techniques allow an enterprise to measure that obligation with sufficient reliability to justify recognition of a liability.
70
Employee service gives rise to an obligation under a defined benefit plan even if the benefits are conditional on future employment (in other words they are not vested). Employee service before the vesting date gives rise to an obligation because, at each successive balance sheet date, the amount of future service that an employee will have to render before becoming entitled to the benefit is reduced. In measuring its defined benefit obligation, an enterprise considers the probability that some employees may not satisfy any vesting requirements. Similarly, although certain post-employment benefits, for example, post-employment medical benefits, become payable only if a specified event occurs when an employee is no longer employed, an obligation is created when the employee renders service that will provide entitlement to the benefit if the specified event occurs. The probability that the specified event will occur affects the measurement of the obligation, but does not determine whether the obligation exists.
71
The obligation increases until the date when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits. Therefore, all benefit is attributed to periods ending on or before that date. Benefit is attributed to individual accounting periods under the plan’s benefit formula. However, if an employee’s service in later years will lead to a materially higher level of benefit than in earlier years, an enterprise attributes benefit on a straight-line basis until the date when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits. That is because the employee’s service throughout the entire period will ultimately lead to benefit at that higher level.
72
Where the amount of a benefit is a constant proportion of final salary for each year of service, future salary increases will affect the amount required to settle the obligation that exists for service before the balance sheet date, but do not create an additional obligation. Therefore:
(a)
for the purpose of paragraph 68(b), salary increases do not lead to further benefits, even though the amount of the benefits is dependent on final salary; and
(b)
the amount of benefit attributed to each period is a constant proportion of the salary to which the benefit is linked.
73
Actuarial assumptions comprising demographic assumptions and financial assumptions should be unbiased and mutually compatible. Financial assumptions should be based on market expectations, at the balance sheet date, for the period over which the obligations are to be settled.
74
Actuarial assumptions are an enterprise’s best estimates of the variables that will determine the ultimate cost of providing post-employment benefits. Actuarial assumptions comprise:
(a)
demographic assumptions about the future characteristics of current and former employees (and their dependants) who are eligible for benefits. Demographic assumptions deal with matters such as:
(i)
mortality, both during and after employment;
(ii)
rates of employee turnover, disability and early retirement;
(iii)
the proportion of plan members with dependants who will be eligible for benefits; and
(iv)
claim rates under medical plans; and
(b)
financial assumptions, dealing with items such as:
(i)
the discount rate (see paragraphs 78-82);
(ii)
future salary and benefit levels (see paragraphs 83-87);
(iii)
in the case of medical benefits, future medical costs, including, where material, the cost of administering claims and benefit payments (see paragraphs 88-91); and
(iv)
the expected rate of return on plan assets (see paragraphs 107-109).
75
Actuarial assumptions are unbiased if they are neither imprudent nor excessively conservative.
76
Actuarial assumptions are mutually compatible if they reflect the economic relationships between factors such as inflation, rates of salary increase, the return on plan assets and discount rates. For example, all assumptions which depend on a particular inflation level (such as assumptions about interest rates and salary and benefit increases) in any given future period assume the same inflation level in that period.
77
An enterprise determines the discount rate and other financial assumptions in nominal (stated) terms, unless estimates in real (inflation-adjusted) terms are more reliable, for example, where the benefit is index-linked and there is a deep market in index-linked bonds of the same currency and term.
78
The rate used to discount post-employment benefit obligations (both funded and unfunded) should be determined by reference to market yields at the balance sheet date on government bonds. The currency and term of the government bonds should be consistent with the currency and estimated term of the post-employment benefit obligations.
79
One actuarial assumption which has a material effect is the discount rate. The discount rate reflects the time value of money but not the actuarial or investment risk. Furthermore, the discount rate does not reflect the enterprise-specific credit risk borne by the enterprise’s creditors, nor does it reflect the risk that future experience may differ from actuarial assumptions.
80
The discount rate reflects the estimated timing of benefit payments. In practice, an enterprise often achieves this by applying a single weighted average discount rate that reflects the estimated timing and amount of benefit payments and the currency in which the benefits are to be paid.
81
In some cases, there may be no government bonds with a sufficiently long maturity to match the estimated maturity of all the benefit payments. In such cases, an enterprise uses current market rates of the appropriate term to discount shorter term payments, and estimates the discount rate for longer maturities by extrapolating current market rates along the yield curve. The total present value of a defined benefit obligation is unlikely to be particularly sensitive to the discount rate applied to the portion of benefits that is payable beyond the final maturity of the available government bonds.
82
Interest cost is computed by multiplying the discount rate as determined at the start of the period by the present value of the defined benefit obligation throughout that period, taking account of any material changes in the obligation. The present value of the obligation will differ from the liability recognised in the balance sheet because the liability is recognised after deducting the fair value of any plan assets and because some past service cost are not recognised immediately. [Illustration I attached to the Standard illustrates the computation of interest cost, among other things]
83
Post-employment benefit obligations should be measured on a basis that reflects:
(a)
estimated future salary increases;
(b)
the benefits set out in the terms of the plan (or resulting from any obligation that goes beyond those terms) at the balance sheet date; and
(c)
estimated future changes in the level of any state benefits that affect the benefits payable under a defined benefit plan, if, and only if, either:
(i)
those changes were enacted before the balance sheet date; or
(ii)
past history, or other reliable evidence, indicates that those state benefits will change in some predictable manner, for example, in line with future changes in general price levels or general salary levels.
84
Estimates of future salary increases take account of inflation, seniority, promotion and other relevant factors, such as supply and demand in the employment market.
85
If the formal terms of a plan (or an obligation that goes beyond those terms) require an enterprise to change benefits in future periods, the measurement of the obligation reflects those changes. This is the case when, for example:
(a)
the enterprise has a past history of increasing benefits, for example, to mitigate the effects of inflation, and there is no indication that this practice will change in the future; or
(b)
actuarial gains have already been recognised in the financial statements and the enterprise is obliged, by either the formal terms of a plan (or an obligation that goes beyond those terms) or legislation, to use any surplus in the plan for the benefit of plan participants (see paragraph 96(c)).
86
Actuarial assumptions do not reflect future benefit changes that are not set out in the formal terms of the plan (or an obligation that goes beyond those terms) at the balance sheet date. Such changes will result in:
(a)
past service cost, to the extent that they change benefits for service before the change; and
(b)
current service cost for periods after the change, to the extent that they change benefits for service after the change.
87
Some post-employment benefits are linked to variables such as the level of state retirement benefits or state medical care. The measurement of such benefits reflects expected changes in such variables, based on past history and other reliable evidence.
88
Assumptions about medical costs should take account of estimated future changes in the cost of medical services, resulting from both inflation and specific changes in medical costs.
89
Measurement of post-employment medical benefits requires assumptions about the level and frequency of future claims and the cost of meeting those claims. An enterprise estimates future medical costs on the basis of historical data about the enterprise’s own experience, supplemented where necessary by historical data from other enterprises, insurance companies, medical providers or other sources. Estimates of future medical costs consider the effect of technological advances, changes in health care utilisation or delivery patterns and changes in the health status of plan participants.
90
The level and frequency of claims is particularly sensitive to the age, health status and sex of employees (and their dependants) and may be sensitive to other factors such as geographical location. Therefore, historical data is adjusted to the extent that the demographic mix of the population differs from that of the population used as a basis for the historical data. It is also adjusted where there is reliable evidence that historical trends will not continue.
91
Some post-employment health care plans require employees to contribute to the medical costs covered by the plan. Estimates of future medical costs take account of any such contributions, based on the terms of the plan at the balance sheet date (or based on any obligation that goes beyond those terms). Changes in those employee contributions result in past service cost or, where applicable, curtailments. The cost of meeting claims may be reduced by benefits from state or other medical providers (see paragraphs 83(c) and 87).
92
Actuarial gains and losses should be recognised immediately in the statement of profit and loss as income or expense (see paragraph 61).
92A
Paragraph 145(b)(iii) explains the need to consider any unrecognised part of the transitional liability in accounting for subsequent actuarial gains.
93
Actuarial gains and losses may result from increases or decreases in either the present value of a defined benefit obligation or the fair value of any related plan assets. Causes of actuarial gains and losses include, for example:
(a)
unexpectedly high or low rates of employee turnover, early retirement or mortality or of increases in salaries, benefits (if the terms of a plan provide for inflationary benefit increases) or medical costs;
(b)
the effect of changes in estimates of future employee turnover, early retirement or mortality or of increases in salaries, benefits (if the terms of a plan provide for inflationary benefit increases) or medical costs;
(c)
the effect of changes in the discount rate; and
(d)
differences between the actual return on plan assets and the expected return on plan assets (see paragraphs 107-109).
94
In measuring its defined benefit liability under paragraph 55, an enterprise should recognise past service cost as an expense on a straight-line basis over the average period until the benefits become vested. To the extent that the benefits are already vested immediately following the introduction of, or changes to, a defined benefit plan, an enterprise should recognise past service cost immediately.
95
Past service cost arises when an enterprise introduces a defined benefit plan or changes the benefits payable under an existing defined benefit plan. Such changes are in return for employee service over the period until the benefits concerned are vested. Therefore, past service cost is recognised over that period, regardless of the fact that the cost refers to employee service in previous periods. Past service cost is measured as the change in the liability resulting from the amendment (see paragraph 65).
96
Past service cost excludes:
(a)
the effect of differences between actual and previously assumed salary increases on the obligation to pay benefits for service in prior years (there is no past service cost because actuarial assumptions allow for projected salaries);
(b)
under and over estimates of discretionary pension increases where an enterprise has an obligation to grant such increases (there is no past service cost because actuarial assumptions allow for such increases);
(c)
estimates of benefit improvements that result from actuarial gains that have already been recognised in the financial statements if the enterprise is obliged, by either the formal terms of a plan (or an obligation that goes beyond those terms) or legislation, to use any surplus in the plan for the benefit of plan participants, even if the benefit increase has not yet been formally awarded (the resulting increase in the obligation is an actuarial loss and not past service cost, see paragraph 85(b));
(d)
the increase in vested benefits (not on account of new or improved benefits) when employees complete vesting requirements (there is no past service cost because the estimated cost of benefits was recognised as current service cost as the service was rendered); and
(e)
the effect of plan amendments that reduce benefits for future service (a curtailment).
97
An enterprise establishes the amortisation schedule for past service cost when the benefits are introduced or changed. It would be impracticable to maintain the detailed records needed to identify and implement subsequent changes in that amortisation schedule. Moreover, the effect is likely to be material only where there is a curtailment or settlement. Therefore, an enterprise amends the amortisation schedule for past service cost only if there is a curtailment or settlement.
98
Where an enterprise reduces benefits payable under an existing defined benefit plan, the resulting reduction in the defined benefit liability is recognised as (negative) past service cost over the average period until the reduced portion of the benefits becomes vested.
99
Where an enterprise reduces certain benefits payable under an existing defined benefit plan and, at the same time, increases other benefits payable under the plan for the same employees, the enterprise treats the change as a single net change.
100
The fair value of any plan assets is deducted in determining the amount recognised in the balance sheet under paragraph 55. When no market price is available, the fair value of plan assets is estimated; for example, by discounting expected future cash flows using a discount rate that reflects both the risk associated with the plan assets and the maturity or expected disposal date of those assets (or, if they have no maturity, the expected period until the settlement of the related obligation).
101
Plan assets exclude unpaid contributions due from the reporting enterprise to the fund, as well as any non-transferable financial instruments issued by the enterprise and held by the fund. Plan assets are reduced by any liabilities of the fund that do not relate to employee benefits, for example, trade and other payables and liabilities resulting from derivative financial instruments.
102
Where plan assets include qualifying insurance policies that exactly match the amount and timing of some or all of the benefits payable under the plan, the fair value of those insurance policies is deemed to be the present value of the related obligations, as described in paragraph 55 (subject to any reduction required if the amounts receivable under the insurance policies are not recoverable in full).
103
When, and only when, it is virtually certain that another party will reimburse some or all of the expenditure required to settle a defined benefit obligation, an enterprise should recognise its right to reimbursement as a separate asset. The enterprise should measure the asset at fair value. In all other respects, an enterprise should treat that asset in the same way as plan assets. In the statement of profit and loss, the expense relating to a defined benefit plan may be presented net of the amount recognised for a reimbursement.
104
Sometimes, an enterprise is able to look to another party, such as an insurer, to pay part or all of the expenditure required to settle a defined benefit obligation. Qualifying insurance policies, as defined in paragraph 7, are plan assets. An enterprise accounts for qualifying insurance policies in the same way as for all other plan assets and paragraph 103 does not apply (see paragraphs 40-43 and 102).
105
When an insurance policy is not a qualifying insurance policy, that insurance policy is not a plan asset. Paragraph 103 deals with such cases: the enterprise recognises its right to reimbursement under the insurance policy as a separate asset, rather than as a deduction in determining the defined benefit liability recognised under paragraph 55; in all other respects, including for determination of the fair value, the enterprise treats that asset in the same way as plan assets. Paragraph 120(f)(iii) requires the enterprise to disclose a brief description of the link between the reimbursement right and the related obligation.
106
If the right to reimbursement arises under an insurance policy that exactly matches the amount and timing of some or all of the benefits payable under a defined benefit plan, the fair value of the reimbursement right is deemed to be the present value of the related obligation, as described in paragraph 55 (subject to any reduction required if the reimbursement is not recoverable in full).
107
The expected return on plan assets is a component of the expense recognised in the statement of profit and loss. The difference between the expected return on plan assets and the actual return on plan assets is an actuarial gain or loss.
108
The expected return on plan assets is based on market expectations, at the beginning of the period, for returns over the entire life of the related obligation. The expected return on plan assets reflects changes in the fair value of plan assets held during the period as a result of actual contributions paid into the fund and actual benefits paid out of the fund.
109
In determining the expected and actual return on plan assets, an enterprise deducts expected administration costs, other than those included in the actuarial assumptions used to measure the obligation.
110
An enterprise should recognise gains or losses on the curtailment or settlement of a defined benefit plan when the curtailment or settlement occurs. The gain or loss on a curtailment or settlement should comprise:
(a)
any resulting change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation;
(b)
any resulting change in the fair value of the plan assets;
(c)
any related past service cost that, under paragraph 94, had not previously been recognised.
111
Before determining the effect of a curtailment or settlement, an enterprise should remeasure the obligation (and the related plan assets, if any) using current actuarial assumptions (including current market interest rates and other current market prices).
112
A curtailment occurs when an enterprise either:
(a)
has a present obligation, arising from the requirement of a statute/regulator or otherwise, to make a material reduction in the number of employees covered by a plan; or
(b)
amends the terms of a defined benefit plan such that a material element of future service by current employees will no longer qualify for benefits, or will qualify only for reduced benefits.
113
A settlement occurs when an enterprise enters into a transaction that eliminates all further obligations for part or all of the benefits provided under a defined benefit plan, for example, when a lump-sum cash payment is made to, or on behalf of, plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified post-employment benefits.
114
In some cases, an enterprise acquires an insurance policy to fund some or all of the employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. The acquisition of such a policy is not a settlement if the enterprise retains an obligation (see paragraph 40) to pay further amounts if the insurer does not pay the employee benefits specified in the insurance policy. Paragraphs 103-106 deal with the recognition and measurement of reimbursement rights under insurance policies that are not plan assets.
115
A settlement occurs together with a curtailment if a plan is terminated such that the obligation is settled and the plan ceases to exist. However, the termination of a plan is not a curtailment or settlement if the plan is replaced by a new plan that offers benefits that are, in substance, identical.
116
Where a curtailment relates only to some of the employees covered by a plan, or where only part of an obligation is settled, the gain or loss includes a proportionate share of the previously unrecognised past service cost (and of transitional amounts remaining unrecognised under paragraph 145(b)). The proportionate share is determined on the basis of the present value of the obligations before and after the curtailment or settlement, unless another basis is more rational in the circumstances.
117
An enterprise should offset an asset relating to one plan against a liability relating to another plan when, and only when, the enterprise:
(a)
has a legally enforceable right to use a surplus in one plan to settle obligations under the other plan; and
(b)
intends either to settle the obligations on a net basis, or to realise the surplus in one plan and settle its obligation under the other plan simultaneously.
118
This Standard does not specify whether an enterprise should present current service cost, interest cost and the expected return on plan assets as components of a single item of income or expense on the face of the statement of profit and loss.
119
An enterprise should disclose information that enables users of financial statements to evaluate the nature of its defined benefit plans and the financial effects of changes in those plans during the period.
120
An enterprise should disclose the following information about defined benefit plans:
(a)
the enterprise’s accounting policy for recognising actuarial gains and losses.
(b)
a general description of the type of plan.
(c)
a reconciliation of opening and closing balances of the present value of the defined benefit obligation showing separately, if applicable, the effects during the period attributable to each of the following:
(i)
current service cost,
(ii)
interest cost,
(iii)
contributions by plan participants,
(iv)
actuarial gains and losses,
(v)
foreign currency exchange rate changes on plans measured in a currency different from the enterprise’s reporting currency,
(vi)
benefits paid,
(vii)
past service cost,
(viii)
amalgamations,
(ix)
curtailments, and
(x)
settlements.
(d)
an analysis of the defined benefit obligation into amounts arising from plans that are wholly unfunded and amounts arising from plans that are wholly or partly funded.
(e)
a reconciliation of the opening and closing balances of the fair value of plan assets and of the opening and closing balances of any reimbursement right recognised as an asset in accordance with paragraph 103 showing separately, if applicable, the effects during the period attributable to each of the following:
(i)
expected return on plan assets,
(ii)
actuarial gains and losses,
(iii)
foreign currency exchange rate changes on plans measured in a currency different from the enterprise’s reporting currency,
(iv)
contributions by the employer,
(v)
contributions by plan participants,
(vi)
benefits paid,
(vii)
amalgamations, and
(viii)
settlements.
(f)
a reconciliation of the present value of the defined benefit obligation in (c) and the fair value of the plan assets in (e) to the assets and liabilities recognised in the balance sheet, showing at least:
(i)
the past service cost not yet recognised in the balance sheet (see paragraph 94);
(ii)
any amount not recognised as an asset, because of the limit in paragraph 59(b);
(iii)
the fair value at the balance sheet date of any reimbursement right recognised as an asset in accordance with paragraph 103 (with a brief description of the link between the reimbursement right and the related obligation); and
(iv)
the other amounts recognised in the balance sheet.
(g)
the total expense recognised in the statement of profit and loss for each of the following, and the line item(s) of the statement of profit and loss in which they are included:
(i)
current service cost;
(ii)
interest cost;
(iii)
expected return on plan assets;
(iv)
expected return on any reimbursement right recognised as an asset in accordance with paragraph 103;
(v)
actuarial gains and losses;
(vi)
past service cost;
(vii)
the effect of any curtailment or settlement; and
(viii)
the effect of the limit in paragraph 59(b), i.e., the extent to which the amount determined in accordance with paragraph 55 (if negative) exceeds the amount determined in accordance with paragraph 59(b).
(h)
for each major category of plan assets, which should include, but is not limited to, equity instruments, debt instruments, property, and all other assets, the percentage or amount that each major category constitutes of the fair value of the total plan assets.
(i)
the amounts included in the fair value of plan assets for:
(i)
each category of the enterprise’s own financial instruments; and
(ii)
any property occupied by, or other assets used by, the enterprise.
(j)
a narrative description of the basis used to determine the overall expected rate of return on assets, including the effect of the major categories of plan assets.
(k)
the actual return on plan assets, as well as the actual return on any reimbursement right recognised as an asset in accordance with paragraph 103.
(l)
the principal actuarial assumptions used as at the balance sheet date, including, where applicable:
(i)
the discount rates;
(ii)
the expected rates of return on any plan assets for the periods presented in the financial statements;
(iii)
the expected rates of return for the periods presented in the financial statements on any reimbursement right recognised as an asset in accordance with paragraph 103;
(iv)
medical cost trend rates; and
(v)
any other material actuarial assumptions used.
(m)
the effect of an increase of one percentage point and the effect of a decrease of one percentage point in the assumed medical cost trend rates on:
(i)
the aggregate of the current service cost and interest cost components of net periodic post-employment medical costs; and
(ii)
the accumulated post-employment benefit obligation for medical costs.
(n)
the amounts for the current annual period and previous four annual periods of:
(i)
the present value of the defined benefit obligation, the fair value of the plan assets and the surplus or deficit in the plan; and
(ii)
the experience adjustments arising on:
(A)
the plan liabilities expressed either as (1) an amount or (2) a percentage of the plan liabilities at the balance sheet date, and
(B)
the plan assets expressed either as (1) an amount or (2) a percentage of the plan assets at the balance sheet date.
(o)
the employer’s best estimate, as soon as it can reasonably be determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the annual period beginning after the balance sheet date.
121
Paragraph 120(b) requires a general description of the type of plan. Such a description distinguishes, for example, flat salary pension plans from final salary pension plans and from post-employment medical plans. The description of the plan should include informal practices that give rise to other obligations included in the measurement of the defined benefit obligation in accordance with paragraph 53. Further detail is not required.
122
When an enterprise has more than one defined benefit plan, disclosures may be made in total, separately for each plan, or in such groupings as are considered to be the most useful. It may be useful to distinguish groupings by criteria such as the following:
(a)
the geographical location of the plans, for example, by distinguishing domestic plans from foreign plans; or
(b)
whether plans are subject to materially different risks, for example, by distinguishing flat salary pension plans from final salary pension plans and from post-employment medical plans.
123
Paragraph 30 requires additional disclosures about multi-employer defined benefit plans that are treated as if they were defined contribution plans.
124
Where required by AS 18, Related Party Disclosures, an enterprise discloses information about:
(a)
related party transactions with post-employment benefit plans; and
(b)
post-employment benefits for key management personnel.
125
Where required by AS 29, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets an enterprise discloses information about contingent liabilities arising from post-employment benefit obligations.
126
Illustration II attached to the Standard contains illustrative disclosures.
127
Other long-term employee benefits include, for example:
(a)
long-term compensated absences such as long-service or sabbatical leave;
(b)
jubilee or other long-service benefits;
(c)
long-term disability benefits;
(d)
profit-sharing and bonuses payable twelve months or more after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service; and
(e)
deferred compensation paid twelve months or more after the end of the period in which it is earned.
128
In case of other long-term employee benefits, the introduction of, or changes to, other long-term employee benefits rarely causes a material amount of past service cost. For this reason, this Standard requires a simplified method of accounting for other long-term employee benefits. This method differs from the accounting required for post-employment benefits insofar as that all past service cost is recognised immediately.
129
The amount recognised as a liability for other long-term employee benefits should be the net total of the following amounts:
(a)
the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the balance sheet date (see paragraph 65);
(b)
minus the fair value at the balance sheet date of plan assets (if any) out of which the obligations are to be settled directly (see paragraphs 100-102).
130
For other long-term employee benefits, an enterprise should recognise the net total of the following amounts as expense or (subject to paragraph 59) income, except to the extent that another Accounting Standard requires or permits their inclusion in the cost of an asset:
(a)
current service cost (see paragraphs 64-91);
(b)
interest cost (see paragraph 82);
(c)
the expected return on any plan assets (see paragraphs 107-109) and on any reimbursement right recognised as an asset (see paragraph 103);
(d)
actuarial gains and losses, which should all be recognised immediately;
(e)
past service cost, which should all be recognised immediately; and
(f)
the effect of any curtailments or settlements (see paragraphs 110 and 111).
131
One form of other long-term employee benefit is long-term disability benefit. If the level of benefit depends on the length of service, an obligation arises when the service is rendered. Measurement of that obligation reflects the probability that payment will be required and the length of time for which payment is expected to be made. If the level of benefit is the same for any disabled employee regardless of years of service, the expected cost of those benefits is recognised when an event occurs that causes a long-term disability.
132
Although this Standard does not require specific disclosures about other long-term employee benefits, other Accounting Standards may require disclosures, for example, where the expense resulting from such benefits is of such size, nature or incidence that its disclosure is relevant to explain the performance of the enterprise for the period (see AS 5, Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Prior Period Items and Changes in Accounting Policies). Where required by AS 18 Related Party Disclosures an enterprise discloses information about other long-term employee benefits for key management personnel.
133
This Standard deals with termination benefits separately from other employee benefits because the event which gives rise to an obligation is the termination rather than employee service.
134
An enterprise should recognise termination benefits as a liability and an expense when, and only when:
(a)
the enterprise has a present obligation as a result of a past event;
(b)
it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation; and
(c)
a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
135
An enterprise may be committed, by legislation, by contractual or other agreements with employees or their representatives or by an obligation based on business practice, custom or a desire to act equitably, to make payments (or provide other benefits) to employees when it terminates their employment. Such payments are termination benefits. Termination benefits are typically lump-sum payments, but sometimes also include:
(a)
enhancement of retirement benefits or of other post-employment benefits, either indirectly through an employee benefit plan or directly; and
(b)
salary until the end of a specified notice period if the employee renders no further service that provides economic benefits to the enterprise.
136
Some employee benefits are payable regardless of the reason for the employee’s departure. The payment of such benefits is certain (subject to any vesting or minimum service requirements) but the timing of their payment is uncertain. Although such benefits may be described as termination indemnities, or termination gratuities, they are post-employment benefits, rather than termination benefits and an enterprise accounts for them as post-employment benefits. Some enterprises provide a lower level of benefit for voluntary termination at the request of the employee (in substance, a post-employment benefit) than for involuntary termination at the request of the enterprise. The additional benefit payable on involuntary termination is a termination benefit.
137
Termination benefits are recognised as an expense immediately.
138
Where an enterprise recognises termination benefits, the enterprise may also have to account for a curtailment of retirement benefits or other employee benefits (see paragraph 110).
139
Where termination benefits fall due more than 12 months after the balance sheet date, they should be discounted using the discount rate specified in paragraph 78.
140
Where there is uncertainty about the number of employees who will accept an offer of termination benefits, a contingent liability exists. As required by AS 29, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets an enterprise discloses information about the contingent liability unless the possibility of an outflow in settlement is remote.
141
As required by AS 5, Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Prior Period Items and Changes in Accounting Policies an enterprise discloses the nature and amount of an expense if it is of such size, nature or incidence that its disclosure is relevant to explain the performance of the enterprise for the period. Termination benefits may result in an expense needing disclosure in order to comply with this requirement.
142
Where required by AS 18, Related Party Disclosures an enterprise discloses information about termination benefits for key management personnel.
142A
An enterprise may disclose the amounts required by paragraph 120(n) as the amounts are determined for each accounting period prospectively from the date the enterprise first adopts this Standard.
143
Where an enterprise first adopts this Standard for employee benefits, the difference (as adjusted by any related tax expense) between the liability in respect of employee benefits other than defined benefit plans and termination benefits, as per this Standard, existing on the date of adopting this Standard and the liability that would have been recognised at the same date, as per the pre-revised AS 15, should be adjusted against opening balance of revenue reserves and surplus.
144
On first adopting this Standard, an enterprise should determine its transitional liability for defined benefit plans at that date as:
(a)
the present value of the obligation (see paragraph 65) at the date of adoption;
(b)
minus the fair value, at the date of adoption, of plan assets (if any) out of which the obligations are to be settled directly (see paragraphs 100-102);
(c)
minus any past service cost that, under paragraph 94, should be recognised in later periods.
145
If the transitional liability is more than the liability that would have been recognised at the same date as per the pre-revised AS 15, the enterprise should make an irrevocable choice to recognise that increase as part of its defined benefit liability under paragraph 55:
(a)
immediately as an adjustment against the opening balance of revenue reserves and surplus (as adjusted by any related tax expense), or
(b)
as an expense on a straight-line basis over up to five years from the date of adoption.
146
This Standard requires immediate expensing of expenditure on termination benefits (including expenditure incurred on voluntary retirement scheme (VRS)). However, where an enterprise incurs expenditure on termination benefits on or before 31st March, 2009, the enterprise may choose to follow the accounting policy of deferring such expenditure for amortisation over its pay-back period. However, the expenditure so deferred cannot be carried forward to accounting periods commencing on or after 1st April, 2010.
(a)
accounting policies for employee benefits (see AS 1 Disclosure of Accounting Policies). Paragraph 120(a) of the Standard requires this disclosure to include the enterprise’s accounting policy for recognising actuarial gains and losses.
(b)
a general description of the type of plan (paragraph 120(b)).
(c)
a narrative description of the basis used to determine the overall expected rate of return on assets (paragraph 120(j)).
(d)
employee benefits granted to directors and key management personnel (see AS 18 Related Party Disclosures).
Notes, amendments & references (6)
[This Accounting Standard includes paragraphs set in bold italic type and plain type, which have equal authority. Paragraphs in bold italic type indicate the main principles. This Accounting Standard should be read in the context of its objective, the Preface to the Statements of Accounting Standards and the ‘Applicability of Accounting Standards to Various Entities’ (see Appendix 1 to this Compendium).]
* Originally issued in 1995 and titled as ‘Accounting for Retirement Benefits in the Financial Statements of Employers’. AS 15 (revised 2005) was originally published in the March 2005 issue of the Institute’s Journal. Subsequently, the Institute, in January 2006, made a Limited Revision to AS 15 (revised 2005) primarily with a view to bring the disclosure requirements of the standard relating to the defined benefit plans in line with the corresponding International Accounting Standard (IAS) 19, Employee Benefits; to clarify the application of the transitional provisions; and to provide relaxation/exemptions to the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Thereafter, another Limited Revision to AS 15 (revised 2005) was made primarily with a view to provide an option to an entity to charge additional liability arising upon the first application of the standard as an expense over a period up to five years with a disclosure of unrecognised amount. An entity was allowed to exercise this option only during the first accounting year commencing on or after 7th December 2006. These Limited Revisions have been duly incorporated in AS 15 (revised 2005). The Standard was earlier notified as part of Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006, under Companies Act, 1956. The Standard has been notified as part of Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2021, under Companies Act, 2013.
1 Attention is specifically drawn to paragraph 4.3 of the Preface, according to which accounting standards are intended to apply only to items which are material.
2 The accounting for such benefits is dealt with in the Guidance Note on Accounting for Employee Share-based Payments issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
3 For applicability of paragraphs 50 to 116 to Small and Medium-sized Companies and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, refer to the provisos appearing after paragraph 116.
4 Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, inserted the following footnote in Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2021, under Companies Act, 2013, which is relevant for companies: “Transitional Provisions given in Paragraphs 142A-146 are relevant only for standards notified under Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006, as amended from time to time.”