IPSASB's Policy Paper, Process for Reviewing and Adapting IASB Documents, sets out the process for considering IASB documents for alignment. The IPSASB uses analysis resulting from this process to determine whether identified public sector issues warrant departures from the IASB document when developing the related IPSASB document.

The IAASB has released the 2022 edition of the Handbook of International Quality Management, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements, which includes:

• IAASB’s new and revised suite of quality management standards:
  • International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Statements, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements
  • ISQM 2, Engagement Quality Reviews
  • International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 220 (Revised), Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements
  • Conforming and Consequential Amendments to Other ISAs Arising from the Quality Management Project
  • Conforming and Consequential Amendments to the IAASB’s Other Standards as a Result of the New and Revised Quality Management Standards
• International Standard on Related Services (ISRS) 4400 (Revised), Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements

The following standards, which are not yet effective for this version of the handbook, have been included in the back of Volume 1:

• ISA 600 (Revised), Special Considerations—Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors)
• Conforming and Consequential Amendments to Other International Standards arising from ISA 600 (Revised)

Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the handbook can be downloaded from the IAASB website, where users can also order print copies of the three-volume handbook.

The vendor for the e-International Standards (eIS) online platform is experiencing technical difficulties in finalizing the IAASB eIS handbook. In the interim, please refer to the PDF versions of the handbook. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Reproducing and Translating the IAASB Handbook

To help adoption and implementation of the IAASB standards, stakeholders are invited to request permission to reproduce or translate the IAASB handbook via the Online Permissions Requests or Inquiries system on the IFAC website.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing, assurance, related services, and quality management standards and guidance in the public interest that support consistent performance of quality engagements. Along with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, the IAASB is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit. The Public Interest Oversight Board oversees IAASB and IESBA activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please visit Permissions.

The latest edition of the IAASB handbook includes:

The IPSASB's Biennial Review, Delivering in an Evolving Environment, summarizes the Board’s successes, challenges, and key outputs during 2021 and 2022 in the context of its Strategy and Work Program 2019-2023.

IPSASB Staff issued this Q&A to provide insights into the reasons for developing the Conceptual Framework, the development process, its role, its update and its relationship with the IASB’s Conceptual Framework.

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®), developer of IPSAS®, international accrual-based accounting standards for use by governments and other public sector entities around the world, has published an updated chapter of its Conceptual Framework, which establishes the concepts that are applied in developing IPSAS and Recommended Practice Guidelines (RPGs) and are applicable to the preparation and presentation of public sector entities’ general purpose financial reports. The Conceptual Framework enables the IPSASB to ensure the consistency of its standard-setting by strengthening the linkage between IPSASs. Additionally, the transparency of the concepts underpinning the development of IPSASs and RPGs enhances the IPSASB’s accountability.  

The updated chapter, Chapter 3, Qualitative Characteristics, completes the limited scope project to improve its Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities, which also included: 

• Chapter 5, Elements in Financial Statements 
• Chapter 7, Measurement of Assets and Liabilities in Financial Statements 

The updated chapters have been informed by the IPSASB’s experience using the Conceptual Framework since its approval in 2014, and by global developments, notably the International Accounting Standards Board’s publication of a revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting in 2018. 

“As the IPSASB enters its next strategic phase, the Conceptual Framework will continue to be a cornerstone of the IPSASB’s literature,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “These changes strengthen the Conceptual Framework and reinforce its relevance to both our financial reporting and new sustainability reporting activities.”  

The updated Chapter 3 includes guidance on prudence, which is not a separate qualitative characteristic in its own right and adds ‘obscuring’ information to ‘misstating’ and ‘omitting’ information as a factor relevant to materiality judgments. The addition of ‘obscuring’ is an acknowledgement that, for example, voluminous disclosures of immaterial items can have an adverse impact on the usefulness of financial reports. 

The updated Chapter 5 includes revised definitions of an asset and a liability. Guidance on these definitions has been restructured to better align with the components of the definitions, making it more user-friendly. There are also new sections on unit of account and executory contracts that are equally unperformed by both parties. 

The IPSASB has fully revised Chapter 7 to streamline measurement concepts by eliminating unused measurement bases and focusing on the most commonly used measurement bases. The new subsequent measurement framework explains how the various measurement components applied to estimate the value of an asset or liability interact.  

The updated chapters of the Conceptual Framework became effective for the IPSASB when published.  

How to Access 
To access the updated Conceptual Framework chapters, the summary At-a-Glance document, webcast and a related Staff Questions and Answers document visit the IPSASB website. The IPSASB encourages IFAC members, associates, and Network Partners to promote the availability of these pronouncements to their members and employees. 
 
About the IPSASB 
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the government of Canada. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org. 
 
About the Public Interest Committee 
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.