Hard25 marksExtended Response
Complex IFRS Applications and TaxationIFRS 16IAS 37IAS 12IFRIC 1

ACCA · Question 04 · Complex IFRS Applications and Taxation

SECTION B

MetroWater Co is a public utility company providing water treatment and distribution services.

On 1 January 20X5, MetroWater sold its primary water treatment facility to an investment bank for $100 million. The carrying amount of the facility just prior to the sale was $75 million. Its fair value was $100 million. Immediately upon sale, MetroWater leased the facility back for a period of 15 years. The remaining useful life of the facility is 40 years. The lease payments are $8 million per annum, payable in arrears. The interest rate implicit in the lease is 5%. The present value of the annual lease payments is $83 million. The transaction satisfies the requirements of IFRS 15 'Revenue from Contracts with Customers' to be accounted for as a sale.

Separately, MetroWater has an extensive network of underground pipelines. Under environmental legislation, MetroWater has a legal obligation to decommission and safely remove these pipelines at the end of their useful lives. A decommissioning provision was established years ago. On 31 December 20X5, due to new, stricter environmental laws, the estimated future cash outflows required to decommission the pipelines increased significantly. Furthermore, the discount rate used to measure the provision has decreased due to changing market conditions.

Required:

(a) Explain and calculate how the sale and leaseback of the water treatment facility should be accounted for in the financial statements of MetroWater for the year ended 31 December 20X5. (12 marks)

(b) Discuss how the changes in the estimated cash flows and the discount rate relating to the decommissioning provision should be accounted for under IAS 37 'Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets' and IFRIC 1. Furthermore, explain the deferred tax implications (under IAS 12) of recognizing a decommissioning provision and the related asset. (13 marks)

How to approach this question

For part (a), confirm it's a sale under IFRS 15. Calculate the proportion of rights retained (PV of lease / FV). Calculate the ROU asset (Carrying amount x proportion retained). Calculate the gain to recognize (Total gain x proportion transferred). Provide the year-end depreciation and interest. For part (b), state the IFRIC 1 rule: changes in estimates/discount rates adjust the asset cost, not P&L. For deferred tax, explain that the asset creates a DTL and the provision creates a DTA, and the initial recognition exemption does not apply.

Full Answer

This question tests complex IFRS 16 mechanics and the interaction between provisions and deferred tax. Under IFRS 16, a sale and leaseback restricts the gain recognized to the rights transferred to the buyer. IFRIC 1 dictates that changes in decommissioning provisions adjust the asset cost, reflecting that the obligation is part of the cost of holding the asset. The IAS 12 amendment is highly examinable, clarifying that DTAs and DTLs must be recognized gross for leases and decommissioning provisions.

Common mistakes

In part (a), students often recognize the full $25m gain, forgetting to restrict it to the rights transferred. In part (b), students often expense the increase in the provision to P&L instead of capitalizing it to the asset under IFRIC 1.

Practice the full ACCA SBR — Strategic Business Reporting Practice Exam 2

4 questions · hints · full answers · grading

More questions from this exam