The IFRS Interpretations Committee has issued a tentative agenda decision on the scope of the requirement to disclose expenses by nature under IFRS 18, Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements. The decision clarifies when companies must provide additional details about expenses, particularly when expenses are presented according to their function rather than their nature.
Why Does This Matter?
Financial statements should be clear and understandable. When expenses are presented by function—for example, as “cost of sales” or “administrative expenses”—important information such as employee costs, depreciation and asset impairments may be concealed within larger totals.
The disclosure requirement supports transparency by helping users understand what the company’s money was spent on.
The Key Requirement
If a company presents any operating expenses by function in its statement of profit or loss, it must also provide a clear note disclosing specified expenses by nature. These include:
- depreciation and amortisation;
- employee benefits;
- impairment losses and reversals; and
- inventory write-downs and reversals.
The requirement applies regardless of why the expenses are presented by function.
The Question Considered
The question was whether the disclosure requirement applies only to certain operating expenses or to all expenses presented by function.
Some considered that it might apply only to “normal” operating expenses. Others asked whether it also applies to expenses required to be presented by other accounting standards, such as expenses related to financial instruments or insurance contracts.
The Committee’s Conclusion
The Committee clarified that there are no exceptions. If an expense is presented by function in the operating category, the disclosure requirement applies.
This is the case whether the functional presentation is optional or required by another accounting standard, and whether the expense relates to insurance, financial instruments or other activities.
Important Clarification
Some amounts disclosed may not represent expenses incurred in the current year. For example, an insurance expense may include costs that were previously included in the value of an asset.
This is permitted, but the company must clearly explain what those amounts relate to and identify the assets involved. This helps users understand the information and avoid confusion.
Does This Introduce New Accounting Rules?
No. The Committee concluded that IFRS 18 already provides sufficient guidance, and no new accounting standard or amendment is required. This is a clarification, not a change to the rules.
Invitation to Comment
The Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB) invites feedback until 16 January 2026.
Useful feedback may include clear reasoning, real-world examples and practical alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Grouping expenses should not conceal important information about costs.
- Transparency helps investors and the public understand the costs of a business.
- When expenses are presented by function, the required details by nature must also be disclosed.
- Clear disclosure helps build trust in financial reporting.
IFRS 18：按功能列报费用时按性质披露的要求
国际财务报告解释委员会发布了一项关于按性质披露费用要求适用范围的暂定议程决定，涉及《国际财务报告准则第18号——财务报表的列报与披露》（IFRS 18）。该决定阐明企业何时必须提供额外的费用明细，尤其是在费用按功能而非按性质列报时。
这项议题为何重要？
财务报表应清晰易懂。当企业按功能列报费用，例如列为“销售成本”或“管理费用”时，员工成本、折旧和资产减值等重要信息可能被包含在较大的汇总金额中，不易识别。
这项披露要求有助于提升透明度，让财务报表使用者了解企业资金的实际用途。
核心要求
如果企业在损益表的经营类别中按功能列报任何费用，就必须同时在附注中清晰披露指定费用的性质，包括：
- 折旧及摊销；
- 员工福利；
- 减值损失及转回；以及
- 存货跌价及转回。
无论企业为何按功能列报费用，此项要求均适用。
委员会考虑的问题
核心问题是：这项披露要求仅适用于某些经营费用，还是适用于所有按功能列报的费用？
部分观点认为，该要求可能仅适用于“常规”经营费用。另一些观点则询问，其他会计准则要求列报的费用，例如与金融工具或保险合同有关的费用，是否也适用。
委员会的结论
委员会澄清，此项要求不存在例外。只要某项费用在经营类别中按功能列报，就必须遵守披露要求。
无论按功能列报是企业的选择，还是其他会计准则的要求，也无论费用涉及保险、金融工具或其他业务活动，均不影响该要求的适用。
重要澄清
部分披露金额可能并非当期实际发生的费用。例如，保险费用中可能包含先前已计入资产价值的成本。
此类处理是允许的，但企业必须清楚说明这些金额所涉及的内容，并指出相关资产，以帮助使用者理解信息，避免产生混淆。
这是否引入了新的会计规则？
否。委员会认为，IFRS 18现已提供充分指引，无需制定新的会计准则或修订现有准则。这是一项澄清，并非规则变更。
征求意见
马来西亚会计准则委员会（MASB）征集意见的截止日期为2026年1月16日。
有参考价值的意见可以包括清晰的论证、实际案例和可行的替代方案。
核心要点
- 费用分组不应掩盖重要的成本信息。
- 透明披露有助于投资者和公众了解企业的实际成本。
- 按功能列报费用时，仍须披露相关费用的性质明细。
- 清晰的披露有助于建立对财务报告的信任。
