Workbook on IAS 10 EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD
IAS 10 — Events after the Reporting Period
Source: IAS 10 (IASB revised December 2003; amended 2011, 2014 & 2018) | DipIFR Scope: FullKey Takeaways
- An adjusting event provides evidence of conditions that existed at the year-end → adjust the financial statements.
- A non-adjusting event relates to conditions that arose after the year-end → do not adjust, but disclose if material.
- The cut-off date is when the financial statements are authorised for issue by the board — not the date of shareholder approval or regulatory filing.
- The Going Concern Override: if a post-year-end event makes the entity no longer viable, the entire financial statements must be recast on a break-up (liquidation) basis.
- Dividends declared after the year-end are never a liability at the reporting date — always non-adjusting; disclose only.
- A customer bankruptcy after the year-end is adjusting — it confirms the customer was credit-impaired at year-end.
- A fire or flood after the year-end is non-adjusting — the building was intact at year-end.
- The sale of inventory after the year-end at below cost is adjusting — it provides evidence of NRV at year-end (IAS 2).
- A court settlement confirming a year-end obligation is adjusting — adjust any existing provision or recognise a new one.
- Always ask yourself: "Did the condition EXIST at the year-end?" Yes = Adjust. No = Do not adjust, but disclose.
Table of Contents
IAS 10 prescribes (a) when an entity should adjust its financial statements for events after the reporting period, and (b) the disclosures required about the date of authorisation for issue and about those events. The standard also requires that if post-period events indicate that the going concern assumption is no longer appropriate, the financial statements must not be prepared on a going concern basis.
IAS 10 applies to all entities preparing financial statements under IFRS. It was originally issued in May 1999, substantially revised in December 2003, and subsequently amended by IFRS 13 (2011), IFRS 9 (2014), and the Definition of Material amendment to IAS 1 and IAS 8 (October 2018, effective 1 January 2020).
Every IAS 10 scenario requires you to establish when the "window" closes. Under IAS 10, the window for post-period events runs from immediately after the year-end to the date the financial statements are authorised for issue. Critically, this is the board approval date — not when shareholders vote, not when the accounts are filed with a regulator.
Every exam scenario reduces to one question: "Did the underlying condition exist at year-end?"
| Event | Classification | Accounting Treatment | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court case settled after year-end, confirming a year-end liability | ✅ Adjusting | Adjust the provision to the settlement amount | The obligation existed at year-end; settlement provides evidence of its amount |
| Customer goes bankrupt after year-end, owing a balance at year-end | ✅ Adjusting | Increase bad debt provision / write off receivable | Bankruptcy confirms customer was credit-impaired at year-end |
| Inventory sold after year-end at a price below cost | ✅ Adjusting | Write down inventory to NRV (per IAS 2) | Post-year-end sale price provides evidence of NRV at year-end |
| Final cost of assets purchased before year-end confirmed after year-end | ✅ Adjusting | Adjust asset carrying amount | Purchase transaction existed at year-end |
| Fraud or error discovered after year-end | ✅ Adjusting | Correct the financial statements | The fraud/error existed in the prior period |
| Bonus amounts confirmed after year-end (obligation existed at year-end) | ✅ Adjusting | Accrue the bonus | Constructive obligation existed at year-end under IAS 19 |
| Fire or flood destroys assets after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Do not adjust; disclose if material | Assets were intact at year-end; fire is a new condition |
| Decline in investment market values after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Do not adjust; disclose if material | Reflects new post-year-end market conditions, not year-end conditions |
| Major acquisition after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Do not adjust; disclose if material | New condition arises after year-end |
| Dividends declared after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Never a liability; disclose in notes | No obligation existed at year-end |
| Tax rate change enacted after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Do not adjust deferred tax; disclose if material | New law; did not exist at year-end |
| New share issue after year-end | ❌ Non-Adjusting | Do not adjust; disclose | New transaction after year-end |
| Going concern viability destroyed after year-end | ⭐ Going Concern Override | Recast entire financial statements on liquidation/break-up basis | Pervasive impact; fundamental change in accounting basis required |
An entity shall adjust the amounts recognised in its financial statements to reflect adjusting events after the reporting period. IAS 10 paragraph 9 lists the following as adjusting events:
- Settlement of a court case that confirms a present obligation existing at year-end
- Receipt of information indicating an asset was impaired at year-end (e.g., customer bankruptcy, inventory NRV evidence)
- Determination of the cost of assets purchased, or proceeds from assets sold, before year-end
- Determination of profit-sharing or bonus amounts, where an obligation existed at year-end (IAS 19)
- Discovery of fraud or errors that show the financial statements are incorrect
An entity shall not adjust the amounts recognised in its financial statements to reflect non-adjusting events after the reporting period. However, if a non-adjusting event is material, non-disclosure could influence the decisions of users, so disclosure is required.
- Major business combination or disposal of a major subsidiary
- Announcing a plan to discontinue an operation
- Major purchases or disposals of assets; assets classified as held for sale
- Destruction of a major production plant by a fire after the reporting period
- Announcing or commencing a major restructuring (IAS 37)
- Major share transactions after the reporting period
- Abnormally large changes in asset prices or foreign exchange rates
- Changes in tax rates or tax laws enacted after the reporting period
- Entering into significant commitments or contingent liabilities (e.g., guarantees)
- Major litigation commencing solely from events that occurred after the reporting period
- The nature of the event
- An estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made
This is a standalone rule in IAS 10 paragraph 12. It applies regardless of how large the dividend is. Even if the board "intends" to pay a dividend at year-end, until it is formally declared, there is no present obligation. The dividend is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements in accordance with IAS 1.
IAS 10 paragraph 14 states that an entity shall not prepare its financial statements on a going concern basis if, after the reporting period, management determines either that it intends to liquidate the entity or cease trading, or that it has no realistic alternative but to do so.
- A major customer goes bankrupt after year-end, and the loss is so large the entity itself cannot survive
- The board decides after year-end to liquidate and sell all assets
- A fire after year-end destroys the entity's only production facility and the entity has no insurance and no ability to replace it
- Loss of a critical licence or regulatory approval after year-end that prevents the entity from operating
Date of Authorisation for Issue (Mandatory):
- Disclose the date when the financial statements were authorised for issue
- Disclose who gave that authorisation
- If owners or others have the power to amend the financial statements after issue, disclose that fact
Updating Disclosure for Adjusting Events:
- If new information is received after the reporting period about conditions existing at year-end, update the related disclosures in the financial statements, even if the amounts are not changed
- Example: if a contingent liability at year-end becomes a firm liability after year-end, both the provision is created (adjustment) and the contingent liability note is updated
Non-Adjusting Events (Mandatory if Material):
- Nature of the event
- Estimate of the financial effect (or statement that one cannot be made)
Example 1 — Post-Year-End Fire
NON-ADJUSTINGScenario — December 2024 Style
Year-end: 31 December 20X4. Board authorises for issue: 25 February 20X5. On 15 January 20X5, a fire destroyed inventory and equipment at a subsidiary's warehouse. Carrying value of inventory: $4.2m; equipment: $3.8m. The subsidiary has no insurance covering the full loss.
Requirement
Classify under IAS 10 and state the required treatment and disclosure.
Solution
The fire occurred after the reporting date (15 January 20X5). At 31 December 20X4, the warehouse was intact. The fire created a new condition that did not exist at year-end.
Classification: Non-Adjusting Event.
Treatment: Do not adjust the carrying values of inventory or equipment in the 31 December 20X4 financial statements.
Disclosure required (IAS 10 para 21): A note must disclose:
- Nature: "On 15 January 20X5, a fire destroyed inventory and equipment at the Group's warehouse subsidiary."
- Financial effect: "The estimated loss is $8.0m ($4.2m inventory + $3.8m equipment), before any insurance recovery."
Example 2 — Inventory Sold Below Cost
ADJUSTINGScenario — December 2022 Style
Year-end: 31 December 20X4. Financial statements authorised: 20 February 20X5. Inventory is held at cost of $500,000 at year-end. On 14 January 20X5 (two weeks after year-end), the entire batch is sold for $320,000.
Requirement
Classify and state the required accounting treatment.
Solution
The post-year-end sale at $320,000 provides direct evidence of the Net Realisable Value (NRV) of the inventory as it stood at 31 December 20X4. Under IAS 2, inventory must be held at the lower of cost and NRV. The NRV ($320,000) is lower than cost ($500,000).
Classification: Adjusting Event.
Treatment: Write down inventory to $320,000 in the year-end financial statements. Recognise a write-down of $180,000 in cost of sales (P&L).
Example 3 — Legal Case Settlement
ADJUSTINGScenario — December 2020 Style
At 31 December 20X4, an entity has an ongoing legal dispute. A provision of $1.5m has been recognised. Three weeks after year-end, the court orders the entity to pay $2.3m. Financial statements have not yet been authorised for issue.
Requirement
Classify and show the accounting treatment.
Solution
The legal obligation existed at 31 December 20X4 — the case was ongoing and a provision had already been recognised. The court ruling provides definitive evidence of the amount of the present obligation that existed at year-end.
Classification: Adjusting Event.
Treatment: Increase the provision from $1.5m to $2.3m. Additional charge to P&L = $0.8m.
Example 4 — Customer Bankruptcy
ADJUSTINGScenario
At 31 December 20X4, a receivable of $600,000 is outstanding from Customer X. No impairment provision had been recognised as Customer X appeared solvent at year-end. On 20 January 20X5, Customer X is declared bankrupt. The liquidator confirms the entity will receive nothing.
Solution
Under IAS 10 paragraph 9(b)(i): "the bankruptcy of a customer that occurs after the reporting period usually confirms that the customer was credit-impaired at the end of the reporting period."
Classification: Adjusting Event.
Treatment: Recognise a full bad debt provision of $600,000 against the year-end receivable balance. Charge $600,000 to P&L for the year ended 31 December 20X4.
Example 5 — Dividends Declared After Year-End
NON-ADJUSTINGScenario
At 31 December 20X4, the directors of Alpha Ltd intend to recommend a dividend of $2m. On 24 January 20X5, the board formally declares the dividend. Financial statements for 31 December 20X4 have not yet been authorised for issue.
Solution
The dividend was not declared until 24 January 20X5 — after the reporting date. No obligation existed at 31 December 20X4 because the declaration had not yet occurred.
Classification: Non-Adjusting Event (IAS 10 para 12).
Treatment: Do not recognise the $2m as a liability in the 31 December 20X4 statement of financial position.
Disclosure: Disclose the dividend in the notes to the financial statements in accordance with IAS 1. Example note: "Subsequent to the reporting date, the board declared a dividend of $2,000,000 (XX cents per share), payable [date]."
Example 6 — Going Concern Triggered
GOING CONCERN OVERRIDEScenario
At 31 December 20X4, Beta Ltd has net assets of $3m. On 5 February 20X5, Beta's largest client (representing 90% of revenue) goes into liquidation and owes Beta $4.5m, which will be irrecoverable. Beta has no other financing facilities and the directors resolve to cease trading and wind up the company.
Solution
Two layers of IAS 10 apply:
Layer 1 — Customer bankruptcy is an adjusting event: Write off $4.5m receivable → this wipes out all net assets and creates net liabilities of $1.5m.
Layer 2 — Going concern override: Following the write-off, management determines it has no realistic alternative but to liquidate. The entire financial statements for 31 December 20X4 must be recast on a break-up (liquidation) basis: assets at forced-sale values, all liabilities classified as current, restructuring/wind-up costs recognised.
- Forgetting to mention note disclosure for non-adjusting material events (costs 1-2 marks)
- Classifying fire/flood as adjusting because "it changes the value of the assets"
- Recognising post-year-end dividends as a liability at year-end
- Using shareholder approval date or regulatory filing date as the IAS 10 cut-off instead of board authorisation date
- Identifying a non-adjusting event but failing to check if the going concern override applies
- Quoting IAS 37 definitions for legal provisions without mentioning IAS 10 for the timing classification
- Writing general IAS 10 theory without applying the classification to the specific scenario given
✓ Knowledge Check — 5 Questions
1. An entity's year-end is 31 December 20X4. On 10 February 20X5, a flood destroys the entity's main warehouse. The financial statements are authorised for issue on 28 February 20X5. How should the flood be treated?
- Adjusting event — adjust the carrying value of the warehouse to nil
- Non-adjusting event — do not adjust; disclose the nature and estimated financial effect if material
- Adjusting event — adjust the insurance receivable in the financial statements
- No treatment required — events outside the reporting period are ignored
Show Answer
2. At 31 December 20X4, an entity has a $900,000 receivable from a customer. On 18 January 20X5, that customer is declared bankrupt and the liquidator confirms zero recovery. What is the treatment?
- Non-adjusting — disclose $900,000 as a post-year-end loss in the notes only
- Adjusting — write off the $900,000 receivable in the 20X4 financial statements
- Adjusting — only adjust if a bad debt provision already existed at year-end
- Non-adjusting — bankruptcy arises after year-end so conditions did not exist
Show Answer
3. On 15 February 20X5, the board formally declares a dividend of $1.5m. The 20X4 financial statements are authorised for issue on 20 March 20X5. How should the dividend be treated in the 20X4 financial statements?
- Recognise as a liability of $1.5m in the 20X4 statement of financial position
- Recognise as a deduction from retained earnings with no liability
- Do not recognise as a liability; disclose in the notes to the financial statements
- Recognise in other comprehensive income for 20X4
Show Answer
4. A court case was ongoing at 31 December 20X4 with a contingent liability of $500,000 disclosed. On 22 January 20X5, the court rules against the entity and awards damages of $800,000. What is the required treatment?
- Non-adjusting — the court ruling happened after year-end; continue to disclose $500,000 contingent liability
- Adjusting — remove the contingent liability and recognise a provision of $800,000 in the 20X4 financial statements
- Adjusting — recognise a provision of $300,000 (the increase only)
- Non-adjusting — disclose the $800,000 ruling as a post-year-end note
Show Answer
5. An entity's main subsidiary provides 85% of group revenue. After the year-end, the subsidiary's operating licence is revoked by the regulator, making all trading impossible. The directors conclude the group must be liquidated. What does IAS 10 require?
- Disclose as a material non-adjusting event in the notes only
- Adjust the subsidiary's assets to nil in the consolidated statements
- Recast the entire group financial statements on a liquidation/break-up basis
- Treat as an adjusting impairment event under IAS 36
Show Answer
- Identify the date: "The event occurred on [date], which is after the year-end of [date] but before the authorisation date of [date]. Therefore IAS 10 applies."
- Ask the evidence question: "Did the underlying condition exist at the year-end?" Yes → Adjusting. No → Non-Adjusting.
- State the treatment: Adjusting → "Adjust the financial statements to reflect..." Non-Adjusting → "Do not adjust the financial statements."
- Always check disclosure and going concern: "As the event is [non-adjusting / adjusting], a note disclosure is required [if material]." AND "Consider whether the going concern assumption remains appropriate."
- ✅ Court case settled — obligation existed at year-end
- ✅ Customer bankrupt — customer was impaired at year-end
- ✅ Inventory sold below cost — NRV evidence of year-end condition
- ✅ Subsidiary sold at a loss — impairment existed at year-end
- ✅ Fraud or error discovered — existed in prior period
- ✅ Final bonus amounts confirmed — obligation existed at year-end
- ❌ Fire, flood, earthquake — new event after year-end
- ❌ Market prices fall — new market conditions post-year-end
- ❌ Tax rate change — new law enacted after year-end
- ❌ Major acquisition — new transaction after year-end
- ❌ Dividends declared — no obligation at year-end
- ❌ New share issue — new transaction after year-end
- ❌ New litigation from post-year-end events — no year-end condition
- IAS 37 — Provisions: adjusting events from legal cases require a provision or adjustment per IAS 37. Always mention both standards.
- IAS 2 — Inventories: post-year-end sales provide NRV evidence. Write down to NRV per IAS 2.
- IAS 36 — Impairment: post-year-end evidence of impairment (e.g., subsidiary sold at a loss) is adjusting and triggers an IAS 36 review.
- IFRS 18 — Presentation: going concern disclosures and dividend note disclosures are governed by IFRS 18 requirements referenced in IAS 10.
- IAS 8 — Errors and Policies: the discovery of fraud or errors after year-end is an adjusting event under IAS 10 and is corrected per IAS 8 if the error relates to a prior period.
- IFRS 3 — Business Combinations: acquisitions after the year-end are non-adjusting events requiring specific IFRS 3 disclosures.