ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.

IAS 26 Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans

IAS 26 Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans applies to the financial statements of defined benefit plans where such financial statements are prepared.

Access the standard

Registration is required to access the free version of the Issued Standards, which do not include additional documents that accompany the full standard (such as illustrative examples, implementation guidance and basis for conclusions).

Summary

IAS 26 specifies measurement and disclosure principles for the financial statements of retirement benefit plans.

  • Defined contribution plans should provide a statement of net assets available for benefits and a description of the funding policy.
  • Defined benefit plans should provide a statement of net assets and accompanying information.
  • Retirement benefit plan assets should be carried at fair value.

Recent amendments

All amendments issued up to and including the publication date of 1 January 2022 are included within the IFRS Foundation’s latest version of the issued standard: 2022 Issued Standard – IAS 26. Issued amendments may, therefore, have a mandatory effective date that is later than 1 January 2022 – see below for details.

Any amendments issued after 1 January 2022 will not be included in the IFRS Foundation’s 2022 Issued Standards but will be listed below and identified as such.

See the Corporate Reporting Faculty’s annual IFRS factsheets for a more detailed discussion of recent IFRS amendments.

  • Disclosure of Accounting Policies amendment to IAS 26

    Mandatory date: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Earlier application is permitted.

    Disclosure of Accounting Policies amends IAS 1 to require the disclosure of material accounting policy information. A consequential amendment to IAS 26 requires the disclosure of material accounting policy information rather than significant accounting policies relating to retirement benefit plans.

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Other resources

Further support

Financial reporting helpsheets Corporate Reporting Faculty
Factsheets

In-depth analysis on a range of accounting issues.

Access factsheets
Black woman working at computer
Technical Advisory Services

Our experienced advisors can help you with technical questions.

Get in touch
Young man reading in a library
Library and Information Service

Expert help with research and access to trustworthy, professional sources.