IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates
IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates prescribes how to include foreign currency transactions and foreign operations in the financial statements of an entity, and how to translate financial statements into a presentation currency.
Revised December 2003. Effective 1 January 2005.
Contents
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- Synopsis (including link to unaccompanied version of IAS 21)
- Related IFRICs
- Current proposals
Financial Reporting Faculty members only
Synopsis
IAS 21 prescribes the accounting for:
- Transactions in foreign currencies
- Translating the accounts of foreign operations prior to consolidation
Individual transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. At the date of settlement, cash transferred is recorded at the rate prevailing on the settlement date. Any exchange difference arising is recognised in profit or loss.
The statement of financial position of a foreign operation is translated using the closing rate, being the exchange rate at the reporting date. The statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income is translated using the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Where this is impracticable, an average rate for the year may be used provided that exchange rates do not fluctuate significantly. Exchange differences arising are reported as other comprehensive income.
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) provides free access to the consolidated unaccompanied international accounting standards for the current year through its website. Free registration is required.
This unaccompanied version does not include additional content that accompanies the full standard, such as illustrative examples, implementation guidance and bases for conclusions.
Which version of the standard?
Financial Reporting Faculty members who joined the faculty prior to 1 November 2022 have premium access to the consolidated edition of IFRS and amendments through the IASB's IFRS Standards Navigator service. Please log into IFRS Standards Navigator to access electronic versions of the standards through these links.
Please be aware that as part of the changes to ICAEW faculty membership, this service will be withdrawn after 31 December 2022.
The following interpretation refers to IAS 21
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IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration
clarifies the accounting treatment applicable to transactions that include the receipt or payment of foreign currency consideration in advance.
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IFRIC 16 Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation
provides guidance on what can be an eligible hedged risk, which entities may hold the hedging instrument and reclassification adjustments.
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SIC 7 Introduction of the Euro
The effective start of the EMU after the reporting date does not alter the requirements of IAS 21 at the reporting date.
Current proposals
IAS 21 does not include guidance on the exchange rate that an entity should use when the spot exchange rate is not observable. ED/2021/4 Lack Exchangeability was issued in April 2021 and proposes amendments to the standard to:
- Specify when a currency is exchangeable into another currency and when is it not;
- Clarify how a reporting entity should determine the exchange rate to apply when a currency is not exchangeable; and
- Introduce additional disclosures that apply when a currency is not exchangeable.
This page was last updated 4 February 2022.