Lux GAAP vs IFRS: Key similarities and differences

Introduction:

International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") have gained momentum in Europe. The globalisation of business and finance has inevitably led to calls for a common set of high quality, global accounting standards. IFRS has been successfully adopted in almost a hundred of countries over the last couple of years.

Luxembourg actively supports the development of these international accounting standards and, since 2010, the option to use IFRS as adopted by the European Union for the preparation of both stand-alone and consolidated accounts of non-listed companies has been introduced into national law.

Therefore, mastering the key differences between these two frameworks and be able to identify the risks and opportunities linked to the adoption of this or that accounting standard is essential for accounting practitioners.

Objectives:

At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• explain the basic principles of both frameworks,
• understand the main differences between the two frameworks,
• describe the key attention points when passing from one framework to the other.

1. Introduction

2. Presentation of financial statements

• 2.1 General requirements
• 2.2 Balance sheet – Statement of financial position
• 2.3 Profit and loss account – Statement of comprehensive income
• 2.4 Statement of change in equity
• 2.5 Statement of cash flows

3. Main balance sheet items

• 3.1 Tangible assets
• 3.2 Intangible assets and goodwill
• 3.3 Financial assets
• 3.4 Inventories
• 3.5 Equity vs debt instruments
• 3.6 Provisions and contingent liabilities

4. Main profit and loss accounts items

• 4.1 Revenue recognition
• 4.2 Expenses recognition