Beyond the GAAP – January 2026
This month, the IASB approved updates to six agenda decisions of the IFRS IC, a move made necessary by the application of IFRS 18 as of 1 January 2027, which will replace IAS 1.
Beyond the GAAP - the monthly newsletter on financial and sustainability reporting
Each month, the newsletter Beyond the GAAP aims at keeping readers informed of financial and sustainability reporting developments.
You will notably find in each issue:
- The news related to IFRS Accounting Standards (new Standards, amendments to Standards, IASB projects, IFRS IC agenda decisions, endorsement process in Europe)
- The news and priorities set by ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority)
- The news related to the issuance of sustainability reporting Standards (ESRS issued by EFRAG, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards issued by the ISSB)
Each issue is available in PDF format.
Beyond the GAAP – December 2025
This month, regulatory developments in the field of sustainability were marked by the final adoption, by the European co-legislators, of a compromise text on the ‘Content’ Directive. This is part of the Omnibus I package, aimed at simplifying CSRD requirements on sustainability reporting and the CSDDD on due diligence.
Beyond the GAAP – November 2025
This month, sustainability reporting has been the focus of much of the news. On 3 December, after several months of intense work involving all stakeholders, EFRAG submitted its technical advice on the revised draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) to the European Commission (EC). The EC must now take this into account in order to produce a new delegated act on ESRS (“Set 2”), replacing...
Beyond the GAAP – October 2025
As we approach year-end 2025, Beyond the GAAP presents our traditional summary of the IASB texts in force at 31 December 2025, as well as an overview of ESMA’s priorities for this year’s closing of accounts. Given the uncertainties arising from the current economic and geopolitical environment, the regulator emphasises the need for transparent communication on significant judgements and estimates,...
Beyond the GAAP – September 2025
This month, the IASB has discussed a number of projects: targeted amendments to IAS 37, the equity method, FICE (Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity), the statement of cash flows, and amortised cost measurement. It should also be noted that the new standard on the presentation of financial statements (IFRS 18), though not yet mandatory, is already under discussion: the IFRS Interpretations...
Beyond the GAAP – July-August 2025
This summer has seen significant progress on the work to simplify European sustainability reporting standards through the Omnibus I package proposals.
Beyond the GAAP – June 2025
The whole editorial team is extremely proud and delighted to announce that Forvis Mazars Partner Claire Dusser has been appointed by the IFRS Foundation as a new member of the IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC). She will serve a three-year term from 1 July 2025.
Beyond the GAAP – May 2025
As we approach the half-yearly closing of accounts for 2025, Beyond the GAAP presents our traditional overview of the standards and interpretations published by the IASB, indicating where they are in the EU endorsement process. We highlight those texts that are now mandatory and those for which early application is permitted at this closing date.
Beyond the GAAP - April 2025
Following the publication in the EU Official Journal of the ‘Stop the clock’ Directive on 16 April, European entities in “waves 2 and 3” are now certain that they will not have to publish sustainability information for the 2025 and 2026 financial reporting periods. The Directive must now be transposed before 31 December. Regarding the ongoing negotiations on the draft ‘Content’ Directive, the positions...
Beyond the GAAP - March 2025
On 3 April, the European Parliament approved the Commission’s proposed “Stop the clock” directive, which is being fast-tracked through the legislative process and will postpone mandatory sustainability reporting for wave 2 and 3 companies by two years. As it has already been endorsed by the EU Council, the directive is now expected to be published in the OJEU by late April or early May. Readers will...
Beyond the GAAP - February 2025
On 26 February, the European Commission presented its simplification proposals as part of the first “Omnibus” package, aiming to reduce the administrative burden on companies, particularly due to the CSRD and the EU Taxonomy Regulation. These proposals mark the beginning of a long legislative process that could significantly shift corporate sustainability reporting by introducing new thresholds, a...
Beyond the GAAP – January 2025
As companies subject to the reporting requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2025 prepare to publish their first sustainability statements in accordance with ESRS, the European Commission has published the “Competitiveness Compass” for the EU, its roadmap for the next five years. The Compass aims among other things to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden...
Beyond the GAAP – December 2024
Happy New Year from the Beyond the GAAP editorial team! The year 2024 concluded with the publication of targeted amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7, aimed at contracts referencing nature-dependent electricity, often structured as PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) or VPPAs (Virtual Power Purchase Agreements). These eagerly awaited amendments are detailed in this issue.
Beyond the GAAP – November 2024
As 2024 year-end closing approaches, Beyond the GAAP presents our traditional overview of the texts published by the IASB, taking account of their endorsement process at European level. We have identified those texts that are mandatory, as well as those that are optional at this year-end.
Beyond the GAAP – October 2024
With a few weeks to go until the 2024 year-end, the European market regulator, ESMA, has published its recommendations for 2024 reporting. These cover both IFRS financial reporting and the first ESRS sustainability statements. This issue includes special features on both sets of recommendations.
Beyond the GAAP – September 2024
The IASB continues to be very busy with standard-setting work around the topic of financial instruments, with redeliberations ongoing on the proposed amendments to the rules on PPA and VPPA contracts, and the launch of a research project on amortised cost measurement. It has also begun new projects to clarify or improve some older standards, publishing an exposure draft to address application questions...
Beyond the GAAP – July-August 2024
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) has now entered into force following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 July 2024. It must be transposed into national law by 26 July 2026. This major new directive, which establishes a corporate due diligence duty, will apply to around 6,000 European companies and around 900 non-EU companies. In other European...
Beyond the GAAP - June 2024
At the end of May, the IASB published the amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 relating to the classification and measurement of financial instruments, which are mandatory for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026. In this issue, we propose to review in detail the content of these amendments, which make some changes and clarifications concerning financial liabilities settled via an electronic...
Beyond the GAAP - May 2024
In May, EFRAG issued some important documents to support large entities that are required to publish a sustainability statement under ESRS. EFRAG had first issued a compilation of explanations provided to stakeholders in response to questions posed on the Q&A platform opened last October. In addition to reproducing some of the answers already published, this compilation includes 44 new explanations...
Beyond the GAAP – March 2024
In last month’s issue, we looked at the three main topics covered by the draft amendments to IAS 32, IFRS 7 and IAS 1, as set out in the Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity (FICE) exposure draft. In this issue, we present the Board’s proposals on the other seven topics, including contingent settlement provisions, shareholder decisions and reclassification of financial instruments...
Beyond the GAAP - February 2024
Last November, we reported the publication of an IASB exposure draft of proposed amendments to IAS 32, IFRS 7 and IFRS 1 on the classification of financial instruments with characteristics of equity (“FICE”). In this issue, we present the IASB's proposals on three of the topics covered by these amendments: how to account for rights and obligations arising from legal or regulatory requirements, instruments...
Beyond the GAAP - January 2024
This month, sustainability reporting has again dominated the news, with the provisional agreement from the European Parliament to delay Commission adoption of the next sets of ESRS (namely sector-specific ESRS and ESRS for non-EU groups) by two years, i.e. by 30 June 2026 instead of 30 June 2024 as initially indicated in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Sector-specific standards in...
Beyond the GAAP - December 2023
Happy New Year from everyone at Beyond the GAAP! The IASB work plan alone suggests that this new year will be a busy one on the accounting front. But the biggest new development in 2024 will be initial application of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), for the first companies falling within the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – i.e. large undertakings...
Beyond the GAAP - November 2023
As 2023 year-end closing approaches, we present our traditional overview of the texts published by the IASB, taking account of their endorsement process at European level. This includes the latest developments concerning the European Union's endorsement of the IAS 12 amendments relating to OECD Pillar Two and the IFRS 16 amendments on lease liabilities arising from sale and leaseback transactions....
Beyond the GAAP - October 2023
At the end of October, the European Securities and Markets Authority, ESMA, published its common priorities at European level for the 2023 reporting period.
Beyond the GAAP – September 2023
In mid-September, the European Commission (EC) launched a consultation on a draft delegated act that proposes to increase by 25% the size criteria set out in the Accounting Directive to classify undertakings and groups into different categories (micro, small, medium and large), in order to reflect inflation over the past ten years. This change in the thresholds, presented as part of a plan to increase...
Beyond the GAAP - July August 2023
On 31 July, only three weeks after the end of the public consultation on the draft delegated act, but a month behind the schedule set by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European Commission adopted the final regulation on the first set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), after making a few last-minute changes based on the responses (more than 600!) received.
Beyond the GAAP – June 2023
Almost seven months after EFRAG submitted the first drafts of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and two months later than initially announced, the European Commission (EC) published the amended versions of these standards on 9 June via a draft delegated act. The uncertainties surrounding the nature of the changes introduced by the EC have now been resolved! In this issue, Beyond...
Beyond the GAAP - May 2023
As the half-yearly reporting period draws to a close, Beyond the GAAP brings you the list of texts published by the IASB, including the IAS 12 amendments taking account of OECD's Pillar Two and the amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7 relating to supplier finance arrangements, both published this month. The list indicates whether these texts are mandatory or optional, depending on the progress of the European...
Beyond the GAAP - April 2023
Less than six months after launching the standard-setting project, the IASB seems well on the way to finalising the amendments to IAS 12 that will introduce a temporary exception to the recognition of deferred taxes resulting from the implementation of the OECD Pillar Two rules. The IASB acknowledged the timely and helpful feedback from stakeholders on its proposed amendments and, at the end of a...
Beyond the GAAP – March 2023
With the first requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into effect from 1 January 2024, some questions have arisen in the short term regarding the content of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that companies must apply in this context. The European Commission (EC) has recently stated that it plans to reduce the reporting burden on companies...
Beyond the GAAP – February 2023
At its monthly meeting in February 2023, the IASB continued its discussions on the Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity project (FICE) and reached a number of tentative decisions, which we discuss in detail in this issue. Readers will recall that this project, based on a discussion paper published in June 2018, is intended to clarify the principles of IAS 32, to address the issues...
Beyond the GAAP – January 2023
With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into effect on 5 January 2023, EU countries can now begin the work of transposing it into national law. In practice, the member states have until 6 July 2024 to transpose the CSRD and to specify certain requirements of the new directive, which some large companies will have to apply from 1 January 2024.
Beyond the GAAP – December 2022
As 2022 gives way to 2023, the whole editorial team at Beyond the GAAP would like to wish you all the best for the coming year! While there will probably still be much to discuss on the accounting front, there is sure to be even more activity in terms of sustainability reporting, both at European and international level. In particular, the European Commission is expected to endorse the delegated acts...
Beyond the GAAP – November 2022
As 2022 year-end closing approaches, we present our traditional overview of the new standards and amendments applicable at 31 December. Once again, no major new standards have been published this year, but disclosures are required on the impact of standards issued by the IASB but not yet effective, particularly for insurers in view of the entry into force of IFRS 17 on 1 January 2023.
Beyond the GAAP - June 2022
On 22 June, and after political negotiations, the European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a slightly revised version of the European Commission's initial proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), published in April 2021. In this issue, Beyond the GAAP presents the highlights of this provisional agreement so far, bearing in mind that the final text...
Beyond the GAAP – October 2022
On 28 October, the EU’s financial markets regulator, ESMA, published its European Common Enforcement Priorities for the annual financial and non-financial reporting for 2022.
Beyond the GAAP – September 2022
In September, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 16 on leases to clarify the subsequent measurement of a lease liability arising from sale and leaseback transactions where the lease payments are variable and not dependent on an index or rate. As requested by stakeholders, the IASB has ultimately provided no clarification on how to measure the proportion of the seller-lessee's retained interest in...
Beyond the GAAP - July-August 2022
The comment period for EFRAG’s public consultation on its first set of 13 draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) closed on 8 August. EFRAG’s Sustainability Reporting Board, supported by its Technical Expert Group, now has to analyse the more than 750 responses received in order to submit the final version of its draft standards to the European Commission by next November. The EC...
Want to know more?
