LOS C requires us to:
contrast cash flow statements prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the US generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP).
In comparison to the U.S. GAAP (which are primarily the rule-based standards), IFRSs are more of the principle-based standards. Therefore, U.S. GAAP specifies exact heads under which the specific items of cash flow should be reported. But the IFRS gives flexibility to the reporting entities to report the items under different heads if it results in a more appropriate presentation of the financial information, and financial statements become more understandable and useful for the users. The examples of some of the items in respect of whom there is a difference in the prescribed presentation are:
|
Items |
Reporting Under |
|
|
IFRS |
U.S. GAAP |
|
|
Dividends Received |
Either operating or investing activities |
Operating Activities |
|
Dividend Paid |
Either operating or financing activities |
Financing Activities |
|
Interest Received |
Either operating or investing activities |
Operating Activities |
|
Interest Paid |
Either operating or financing activities |
Operating Activities |
|
Taxes Paid |
Operating Activities * |
Operating Activities |
* If however, the tax expenses can specifically be associated with an investing or financing activity, they could be reported as one.