Translation of monetary items
- Foreign currency monetary items are translated at the end of the balance sheet date using the closing rate
- Closing rate is the spot rate at the balance sheet date as per IAS 39
- Translating a monetary item at a contracted rate even it is as per the terms of the contract is not permitted
- This becomes a form of hedging and is covered by IAS 39 with strict guidelines for availing the privileges for hedge accounting
FX Translation process
- FX Translation process is different and distinct from the FX Revaluation process
- FX Revaluation is done entry by entry –which means that for every transaction line item appearing in the books of accounts in foreign currency, there will be a corresponding line item appearing in the functional currency based on the day’s closing FX rate
- FX Translation on the other hand is done at the account level
- The balance in the account represented in foreign currency will be valued at the closing rate on the date of valuation and the difference is treated as foreign exchange difference
- This foreign exchange difference is dealt with as per the requirements of IAS 21
The carrying amount of an item
- The carrying amount of an item is determined in conjunction with other relevant Standards
- Example: Property, plant and equipment may be measured in terms of fair value or historical cost in accordance with IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment
- Whether the carrying amount is determined on the basis of historical cost or on the basis of fair value, if the amount is determined in a foreign currency it is then translated into the functional currency in accordance with IAS 21 only
Comparison of two amounts
- The carrying amount of some items is determined by comparing two or more amounts
- Example: The carrying amount of inventories is the lower of cost and net realisable value in accordance with IAS 2 Inventories
- Similarly, in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of Assets, the carrying amount of an asset for which there is an indication of impairment is the lower of its carrying amount before considering possible impairment losses and its recoverable amount
Carrying amount -non-monetary assets
When an asset is non-monetary and is measured in a foreign currency, the carrying amount is determined by comparing:
- a)the cost or carrying amount, as appropriate, translated at the exchange rate at the date when that amount was determined (ie the rate at the date of the transaction for an item measured in terms of historical cost); and
- b)the net realisablevalue or recoverable amount, as appropriate, translated at the exchange rate at the date when that value was determined (eg the closing rate at the end of the reporting period)
Important note:
The effect of this comparison may be that an impairment loss is recognisedin the foreign currency but would not be recognisedin the functional currency, or vice versa
Example for this note
- A foreign currency asset consisting of $ 100,000 is recorded at the date of purchase at INR 3,500,000 @ exchange rate of Rs.35
- On valuation date the exchange rate is Rs.50 to a US$ and the recoverable amount of the asset is $ 80,000
- The carrying value of the foreign currency asset is Rs. 4,000,000 (recoverable amount in FC X exchange rate at the valuation date)
- The impairment loss of $20,000 in foreign currency is not recognized
Several exchange rates
- When several exchange rates are available, the rate used is that at which the future cash flows represented by the transaction or balance could have been settled if those cash flows had occurred at the
measurement date
- If exchangeability between two currencies is temporarily lacking, the rate used is the first subsequent rate at which exchanges could be made
EXAMPLES OF SUBSEQUENT MEASUREMENT
Foreign Currency Monetary item
Example –1:
- An entity (functional currency Euro) has an outstanding trade payable for A$1,500 which arose from a transaction when the spot exchange rate was Euro1 = A$1.2 and hence was initially recorded at Euro1,250. The closing rate is Euro1 = A$1.5
- At what amount should the payable be recorded at the end of the reporting period?
Foreign Currency Monetary item
•At the end of each reporting period, foreign currency monetary items are translated using the closing rate
•The payable is therefore Euro1,000 (=1,500/1.5) at the end of the reporting period
Non Monetary item –historical cost
Example –2:
•An entity (functional currency Euro) purchased a machine for A$12,000 when the spot exchange rate was Euro1 = A$1.2. The closing rate is Euro1 = A$1.5
•At what amount should the machine be recorded at the end of the reporting period?
Non Monetary item –historical cost
•At the end of each reporting period, non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction
•The machine is shown as Euro10,000 (=12,000/1.2) at the end of the reporting period
Non Monetary item –Fair value
Example –3:
•An entity (functional currency Euro) owns a building. The entity carries buildings at their revalued amounts. The valuation of the building was done at the end of the reporting period and the fair value was US $150,000. The building was purchased for US $100,000 when the spot rate was Euro1 = US $1.2. The closing rate is Euro1 = US $1.5.
•At what amount should the building be recorded at the end of the reporting period?
Non Monetary item –Fair value
•At the end of each reporting period, non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the value was determined
•The building is shown as Euro100,000 (=150,000/1.5) at the end of the reporting period
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