IFRS for SMEs — U.S. GAAP Comparison Wiki

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Employee Benefits

SME Par.IFRS SMEU.S. GAAP
Scope of this section
28.1 Employee benefits are all forms of consideration given by an entity in exchange for service rendered by employees, including directors and management. This section applies to all employee benefits, except for share-based payment transactions, which are covered by Section 26 Share-based Payment. Employee benefits covered by this section will be one of the following four types:
  1. short-term employee benefits, which are employee benefits (other than termination benefits) that are wholly due within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
  2. post-employment benefits, which are employee benefits (other than termination benefits) that are payable after the completion of employment.
  3. other long-term employee benefits, which are employee benefits (other than post-employment benefits and termination benefits) that are not wholly due within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
  4. termination benefits, which are employee benefits payable as a result of either:
    1. an entity’s decision to terminate an employee’s employment before the normal retirement date, or
    2. an employee’s decision to accept voluntary redundancy in exchange for those benefits.
 (a and c) Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP does not contain specific guidance on short-term employee benefits other than compensated absences, e.g., vacation accruals. Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP does not distinguish between long- and short-term employee benefits.

(b) Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP distinguishes between postemployment benefits and postretirement benefits.

(d) Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP distinguishes four types of termination benefits: ongoing benefit arrangements, contractual terminations, special terminations, and one-time terminations. See 28.31.
28.2 Employee benefits also include share-based payment transactions by which employees receive equity instruments (such as shares or share options) or cash or other assets of the entity in amounts that are based on the price of the entity’s shares or other equity instruments of the entity. An entity shall apply Section 26 in accounting for share-based payment transactions. See Section 26.
General recognition principle for all employee benefits
28.3 An entity shall recognise the cost of all employee benefits to which its employees have become entitled as a result of service rendered to the entity during the reporting period:
  1. as a liability, after deducting amounts that have been paid either directly to the employees or as a contribution to an employee benefit fund. If the amount paid exceeds the obligation arising from service before the reporting date, an entity shall recognise that excess as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
  2. as an expense, unless another section of this IFRS requires the cost to be recognised as part of the cost of an asset such as inventories or property, plant and equipment.
 Same.
Short-term employee benefits
 Examples
28.4 Short-term employee benefits include items such as:
  1. wages, salaries and social security contributions;
  2. short-term compensated absences (such as paid annual leave and paid sick leave) when the absences are expected to occur within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related employee service;
  3. profit-sharing and bonuses payable within twelve months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service; and
  4. non-monetary benefits (such as medical care, housing, cars and free or subsidised goods or services) for current employees.
  
 Measurement of short-term benefits generally
28.5 When an employee has rendered service to an entity during the reporting period, the entity shall measure the amounts recognised in accordance with paragraph 28.3 at the undiscounted amount of short-term employee benefits expected to be paid in exchange for that service. Same.
 Recognition and measurement—short-term compensated absences
28.6 An entity may compensate employees for absence for various reasons including annual vacation leave and sick leave. Some short-term compensated absences accumulate—they can be carried forward and used in future periods if the employee does not use the current period’s entitlement in full. Examples include annual vacation leave and sick leave. An entity shall recognise the expected cost of accumulating compensated absences when the employees render service that increases their entitlement to future compensated absences. The entity shall measure the expected cost of accumulating compensated absences at the undiscounted additional amount that the entity expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement that has accumulated at the end of the reporting period. The entity shall present this amount as a current liability at the reporting date. Same. However, unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP makes clear with regard to whether compensated absences accumulate, that the form of an employer’s policy for compensated absences should not prevail over actual practices.
28.7 An entity shall recognise the cost of other (non-accumulating) compensated absences when the absences occur. The entity shall measure the cost of non-accumulating compensated absences at the undiscounted amount of salaries and wages paid or payable for the period of absence. Same.
 Recognition—profit-sharing and bonus plans
28.8 An entity shall recognise the expected cost of profit-sharing and bonus payments only when:
  1. the entity has a present legal or constructive obligation to make such payments as a result of past events (this means that the entity has no realistic alternative but to make the payments), and
  2. a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.
 Unlike IFRS SMEs, there is no specific requirement for there to be a present legal or constructive obligation. However, differences from IFRS SMEs would not be expected in practice.
Post-employment benefits: distinction between defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans
28.9 Post-employment benefits include, for example:
  1. retirement benefits, such as pensions, and
  2. other post-employment benefits, such as post-employment life insurance and post-employment medical care.
Arrangements whereby an entity provides post-employment benefits are post-employment benefit plans. An entity shall apply this section to all such arrangements whether or not they involve the establishment of a separate entity to receive contributions and to pay benefits. In some cases, these arrangements are imposed by law rather than by action of the entity. In some cases, these arrangements arise from actions of the entity even in the absence of a formal, documented plan.		 Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP distinguishes between postemployment (after employment) benefits and postretirement (during retirement) benefits.

The Glossary of IFRS SMEs defines post-employment benefit plans as “Formal or informal arrangements under which an entity provides post-employment benefits for one or more employees.” Certain deferred compensation contracts that meet that definition may not, under U.S. GAAP, be equivalent to a postretirement income or health and welfare plan and thus would be subject to separate accounting requirements.
28.10 Post-employment benefit plans are classified as either defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans, depending on their principal terms and conditions.
  1. Defined contribution plans are post-employment benefit plans under which an entity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity (a fund) and has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions or to make direct benefit payments to employees if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. Thus, the amount of the post-employment benefits received by the employee is determined by the amount of contributions paid by an entity (and perhaps also the employee) to a post-employment benefit plan or to an insurer, together with investment returns arising from the contributions.
  2. Defined benefit plans are post-employment benefit plans other than defined contribution plans. Under defined benefit plans, the entity’s obligation is to provide the agreed benefits to current and former employees, and actuarial risk (that benefits will cost more or less than expected) and investment risk (that returns on assets set aside to fund the benefits will differ from expectations) are borne, in substance, by the entity. If actuarial or investment experience is worse than expected, the entity’s obligation may be increased, and vice versa if actuarial or investment experience is better than expected.
 Unlike IFRS SMEs, postemployment plans (as opposed to postretirement plans) are not required to be classified as defined contribution or defined benefit plans; instead, they are accounted for based on the type of benefit.

The definitions of defined contribution and defined benefit plans are generally the same. Unlike IFRS SMEs, however, the definition of a defined contribution plan requires the plan to provide an individual account for each participant’s assets.
 Multi-employer plans and state plans
28.11 Multi-employer plans and state plans are classified as defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans on the basis of the terms of the plan, including any constructive obligation that goes beyond the formal terms. However, if sufficient information is not available to use defined benefit accounting for a multi-employer plan that is a defined benefit plan, an entity shall account for the plan in accordance with paragraph 28.13 as if it was a defined contribution plan and make the disclosures required by paragraph 28.40. Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP distingushes between multiple-employer and multiemployer pension plans. Multiple-employer plans are accounted for as single-employer (defined benefit) plans; multiemployer plans are accounted for as defined contribution plans.
 Insured benefits
28.12 An entity may pay insurance premiums to fund a post-employment benefit plan. The entity shall treat such a plan as a defined contribution plan unless the entity has a legal or constructive obligation either:
  1. to pay the employee benefits directly when they become due, or
  2. to pay further amounts if the insurer does not pay all future employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
A constructive obligation could arise indirectly through the plan, through the mechanism for setting future premiums, or through a related party relationship with the insurer. If the entity retains such a legal or constructive obligation, the entity shall treat the plan as a defined benefit plan.		 Like IFRS SMEs, pension benefits beyond those covered under insurance policies are accounted for as defined benefit plans.
Post-employment benefits: defined contribution plans
 Recognition and measurement
28.13 An entity shall recognise the contribution payable for a period:
  1. as a liability, after deducting any amount already paid. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service before the reporting date, an entity shall recognise that excess as an asset.
  2. as an expense, unless another section of this IFRS requires the cost to be recognised as part of the cost of an asset such as inventories or property, plant and equipment
 Same.
Post-employment benefits: defined benefit plans
 Recognition
28.14 In applying the general recognition principle in paragraph 28.3 to defined benefit plans, an entity shall recognise:
  1. a liability for its obligations under defined benefit plans net of plan assets— its defined benefit liability (see paragraphs 28.15–28.23).
  2. the net change in that liability during the period as the cost of its defined benefit plans during the period (see paragraphs 28.24–28.27).
 Same.
 Measurement of the defined benefit liability
28.15 An entity shall measure a defined benefit liability for its obligations under defined benefit plans at the net total of the following amounts:
  1. the present value of its obligations under defined benefit plans (its defined benefit obligation) at the reporting date (paragraphs 28.16–28.22 provideguidance for measuring this obligation), minus
  2. the fair value at the reporting date of plan assets (if any) out of which the obligations are to be settled directly. Paragraphs 11.27–11.32 establish requirements for determining the fair values of those plan assets that are financial assets.
 Unlike IFRS SMEs, the measurement date of benefit obligations and plan assets may be a date no more than three months before the employer’s reporting date.

Unlike IFRS SMEs, there is more flexibility in accounting for deferred compensation contracts with individual employees if those contracts are not equivalent to a postretirement income or health and welfare benefit plan (see 28.9). Multiple attribution models, e.g., sinking-fund and straight-line, exist for such contracts.
 Inclusion of both vested and unvested benefits
28.16 The present value of an entity’s obligations under defined benefit plans at the reporting date shall reflect the estimated amount of benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods, including benefits that are not yet vested (see paragraph 28.26) and including the effects of benefit formulas that give employees greater benefits for later years of service. This requires the entity to determine how much benefit is attributable to the current and prior periods on the basis of the plan’s benefit formula and to make estimates (actuarial assumptions) about demographic variables (such as employee turnover and mortality) and financial variables (such as future increases in salaries and medical costs) that influence the cost of the benefit. The actuarial assumptions shall be unbiased (neither imprudent nor excessively conservative), mutually compatible, and selected to lead to the best estimate of the future cash flows that will arise under the plan. Same.
 Discounting
28.17 An entity shall measure its defined benefit obligation on a discounted present value basis. The entity shall determine the rate used to discount the futurepayments by reference to market yields at the reporting date on high qualitycorporate bonds. In countries with no deep market in such bonds, the entity shalluse the market yields (at the reporting date) on government bonds. The currencyand term of the corporate bonds or government bonds shall be consistent withthe currency and estimated period of the future payments. Generally the same. (Although U.S. GAAP does not specifically address situations in which no deep market in high-quality corporate bonds exists, one would expect market yields on government bonds to be acceptable in such situations because they tend to be higher quality than corporate bonds.)
 Actuarial valuation method
28.18 If an entity is able, without undue cost or effort, to use the projected unit credit method to measure its defined benefit obligation and the related expense, it shalldo so. If defined benefits are based on future salaries, the projected unit creditmethod requires an entity to measure its defined benefit obligations on a basisthat reflects estimated future salary increases. Additionally, the projected unitcredit method requires an entity to make various actuarial assumptions inmeasuring the defined benefit obligation, including discount rates, the expectedrates of return on plan assets, expected rates of salary increases, employeeturnover, mortality, and (for defined benefit medical plans) medical cost trendrates. Like IFRS SMEs, the projected unit credit method is generally required to be used. Unlike IFRS SMEs, however, the projected unit credit method without future increases in salary is used for certain cash balance plans.

Medical plans, unless they are provided through a pension or postretirement benefit plan, are not classified as defined benefit plans. Instead, they are accounting for under the literature on accounting for contingencies (provisions in IFRS terms).
28.19 If an entity is not able, without undue cost or effort, to use the projected unit credit method to measure its obligation and cost under defined benefit plans, the entity is permitted to make the following simplifications in measuring its defined benefit obligation with respect to current employees:
  1. ignore estimated future salary increases (ie assume current salaries continue until current employees are expected to begin receiving post-employment benefits);
  2. ignore future service of current employees (ie assume closure of the plan for existing as well as any new employees); and
  3. ignore possible in-service mortality of current employees between the reporting date and the date employees are expected to begin receiving post-employment benefits (ie assume all current employees will receive the post-employment benefits). However, mortality after service (ie life expectancy) will still need to be considered.
An entity that takes advantage of the foregoing measurement simplifications must nonetheless include both vested and unvested benefits in measuring its defined benefit obligation.		 Unlike IFRS SMEs, simplifications to the projected unit credit method are permitted only if the results are reasonably expected not to be materially different from the results of a detailed application.
28.20 This IFRS does not require an entity to engage an independent actuary to perform the comprehensive actuarial valuation needed to calculate its defined benefit obligation. Nor does it require that a comprehensive actuarial valuation must be done annually. In the periods between comprehensive actuarial valuations, if the principal actuarial assumptions have not changed significantly the defined benefit obligation can be measured by adjusting the prior period measurement for changes in employee demographics such as number of employees and salary levels. U.S. GAAP does not specifically require the engagement of an independent actuary; however, the need to engage an independent actuary is implied, unlike IFRS SMEs. U.S. GAAP also does not specifically address the need for annual actuarial valuations. In practice, however, the defined benefit obligation may be estimated from a prior measurement if the result would not be expected to differ materially from a new measurement using current participant data, like IFRS SMEs.
 Plan introductions, changes, curtailments and settlements
28.21 If a defined benefit plan has been introduced or changed in the current period, the entity shall increase or decrease its defined benefit liability to reflect the change, and shall recognise the increase (decrease) as an expense (income) in measuring profit or loss in the current period. Conversely, if a plan has been curtailed (ie benefits or group of covered employees are reduced) or settled (the employer’s obligation is completely discharged) in the current period, the defined benefit obligation shall be decreased or eliminated, and the entity shall recognise the resulting gain or loss in profit or loss in the current period. Unlike IFRS SMEs, prior (past) service costs are recognized initially in other comprehensive income (OCI), and both vested and unvested amounts generally are amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to profit or loss over the average remaining service period.

Like IFRS SMEs, gains and losses on the settlement or curtailment of a defined benefit plan are recognized immediately, Unlike IFRS SMEs, however, there is specific guidance on the calculation of the gain or loss.
 Defined benefit plan asset
28.22 If the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the reporting date is less than the fair value of plan assets at that date, the plan has a surplus. An entity shall recognise a plan surplus as a defined benefit plan asset only to the extent that it is able to recover the surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the plan. If the fair value of plan assets exceeds the projected benefit obligation, the employer recognizes an asset, like IFRS SMEs. Unlike IFRS SMEs, however, there is no limitation on the amount of the asset.
 Cost of a defined benefit plan
28.23 An entity shall recognise the net change in its defined benefit liability during the period, other than a change attributable to benefits paid to employees during the period or to contributions from the employer, as the cost of its defined benefit plans during the period. That cost is recognised either entirely in profit or loss as an expense or partly in profit or loss and partly as an item of other comprehensive income (see paragraph 28.24) unless another section of this IFRS requires the cost to be recognised as part of the cost of an asset such as inventories or property, plant and equipment. Like IFRS SMEs, the total cost of a defined benefit plan is the entire periodic change in the plan liabilities less plan assets. Unlike IFRS SMEs, however, this accounting is mandatory only for defined benefit postretirement plans; if an entity does not apply defined benefit plan accounting by analogy, it accounts for postemployment benefits based on the nature of the employee benefit.
 Recognition–accounting policy election
28.24 An entity is required to recognise all actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur. An entity shall:
  1. recognise all actuarial gains and losses in profit or loss, or
  2. recognise all actuarial gains and losses in other comprehensive income
as an accounting policy election. The entity shall apply its chosen accounting policy consistently to all of its defined benefit plans and all of its actuarial gains and losses. Actuarial gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income shall be presented in the statement of comprehensive income.		 Unlike IFRS SMEs, actuarial gains and losses that exceed a “corridor” generally are recognized over the average remaining working lives of active employees in the plan. Faster recognition in profit or loss is permitted, however.

Like IFRS SMEs, actuarial gains that are not included in profit or loss are recognized in OCI. Amounts recognized in AOCI are recycled to profit or loss, unlike IFRS SMEs.
28.25 The net change in the defined benefit liability that is recognised as the cost of a defined benefit plan includes:
  1. the change in the defined benefit liability arising from employee service rendered during the reporting period.
  2. interest on the defined benefit obligation during the reporting period.
  3. the returns on any plan assets and the net change in the fair value of recognised reimbursement rights (see paragraph 28.28) during the reporting period.
  4. actuarial gains and losses arising in the reporting period.
  5. increases or decreases in the defined benefit liability resulting from introducing a new plan or changing an existing plan in the reporting period (see paragraph 28.21).
  6. decreases in the defined benefit liability resulting from curtailing or settling an existing plan in the reporting period (see paragraph 28.21).
 The elements of the net change in the defined benefit liability correspond to U.S. GAAP. However, there are recognition and measurement differences with respect certain of those elements such as (d) and (e). See 28.21 and 28.24.
28.26 Employee service gives rise to an obligation under a defined benefit plan even if the benefits are conditional on future employment (in other words, they are not yet vested). Employee service before the vesting date gives rise to a constructive obligation because, at each successive reporting date, the amount of future service that an employee will have to render before becoming entitled to the benefit is reduced. In measuring its defined benefit obligation, an entity considers the probability that some employees may not satisfy vesting requirements. Similarly, although some post-employment benefits (such as post-employment medical benefits) become payable only if a specified event occurs when an employee is no longer employed (such as an illness), an obligation is created when the employee renders service that will provide entitlement to the benefit if the specified event occurs. The probability that the specified event will occur affects the measurement of the obligation, but does not determine whether the obligation exists. Same.
28.27 If defined benefits are reduced for amounts that will be paid to employees under government-sponsored plans, an entity shall measure its defined benefit obligations on a basis that reflects the benefits payable under the government plans, but only if:
  1. those plans were enacted before the reporting date, or
  2. past history, or other reliable evidence, indicates that those state benefits will change in some predictable manner, for example, in line with future changes in general price levels or general salary levels.
 Same.
 Reimbursements
28.28 If an entity is virtually certain that another party will reimburse some or all of the expenditure required to settle a defined benefit obligation, the entity shall recognise its right to reimbursement as a separate asset. The entity shall measure the asset at fair value. In the statement of comprehensive income (or in the income statement, if presented), the expense relating to a defined benefit plan may be presented net of the amount recognised for a reimbursement. Unlike IFRS SMEs, if an entity is to be reimbursed for the expenditure required to settle a defined benefit obligation, it is recognized when recovery is probable tyo the extent that benefits cost has been incurred. Unlike IFRS SMEs, reimbursement rights are measured at the present value of the amount to be reimbursed.
Other long-term employee benefits
28.29 Other long-term employee benefits include, for example:
  1. long-term compensated absences such as long-service or sabbatical leave.
  2. long-service benefits.
  3. long-term disability benefits.
  4. profit-sharing and bonuses payable twelve months or more after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service.
  5. deferred compensation paid twelve months or more after the end of the period in which it is earned.
 Same.
28.30 An entity shall recognise a liability for other long-term employee benefits measured at the net total of the following amounts:
  1. the present value of the benefit obligation at the reporting date, minus
  2. the fair value at the reporting date of plan assets (if any) out of which the obligations are to be settled directly.
An entity shall recognise the change in the liability in accordance with paragraph 28.23.		 Measurement depends on the nature of the benefit. In general, however, liabilities are not discounted unless the amount and timing of payments is fixed or reliably determinable, unlike IFRS SMEs.
Termination benefits
28.31 An entity may be committed, by legislation, by contractual or other agreements with employees or their representatives or by a constructive obligation based on business practice, custom or a desire to act equitably, to make payments (or provide other benefits) to employees when it terminates their employment. Such payments are termination benefits. Unlike IFRS SMEs, U.S. GAAP distinguishes four types of termination benefits: ongoing benefit arrangements, contractual terminations, special terminations (additional benefits offered for a short period to induce voluntary termination or early retirement), and one-time terminations (benefits provided to current employees that are involuntarily terminated under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement).
 Recognition
28.32 Because termination benefits do not provide an entity with future economic benefits, an entity shall recognise them as an expense in profit or loss immediately. Unlike IFRS SMEs, if future services beyond the minimum retention period is required, the cost of the termination benefit is recognized ratably over the employee’s remaining service period.
28.33 When an entity recognises termination benefits, the entity may also have to account for a curtailment of retirement benefits or other employee benefits. Same.
28.34 An entity shall recognise termination benefits as a liability and an expense only when the entity is demonstrably committed either:
  1. to terminate the employment of an employee or group of employees before the normal retirement date, or
  2. to provide termination benefits as a result of an offer made in order to encourage voluntary redundancy.
 Unlike IFRS SMEs, costs pursuant to an ongoing benefit arrangement or contractual termination benefit are recognized when probable and reasonably estimable.

Unlike IFRS SMEs, special termination benefits are recognized when the employee accepts the offer and the amount can be estimated.
28.35 An entity is demonstrably committed to a termination only when the entity has a detailed formal plan for the termination and is without realistic possibility of withdrawal from the plan. The criteria that must be met under U.S. GAAP in order to recognize a one-time termination benefit are more detailed than under IFRS SMEs, which may delay the recognition of one-time termination benefits under U.S. GAAP.

 
 Measurement
28.36 An entity shall measure termination benefits at the best estimate of the expenditure that would be required to settle the obligation at the reporting date. In the case of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy, the measurement of termination benefits shall be based on the number of employees expected to accept the offer. Unlike IFRS SMEs, one-time termination benefits are measured at fair value as of the date the plan is communicated to employees or, if the employees are required to render services until the termination date, as of the termination date.

For special termination benefits, the measure ment is based on the number of employees who have accepted the offer, unlike IFRS SMEs.
28.37 When termination benefits are due more than twelve months after the end of the reporting period, they shall be measured at their discounted present value. Generally the same for ongoing benefit arrangements, contractual terminations, and special terminations, provided the payments are fixed or reliably determinable.
Group plans
28.38 If a parent entity provides benefits to the employees of one or more subsidiaries in the group, and the parent presents consolidated financial statements usingeither the IFRS for SMEs or full IFRSs, such subsidiaries are permitted to recogniseand measure employee benefit expense on the basis of a reasonable allocation ofthe expense recognised for the group. Unlike IFRS SMEs, if a parent entity provides benefits to the employees of one or more subsidiaries, the subsidiaries account for their participation in the parent’s plan as participation in a multiemployer plan (i.e., like a defined contribution plan) unless the plan is equivalent to a multiple-employer plan, in which case it is accounted for as a defined benefit plan.
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