article banner

IAS 36 Impairment of Assets series

IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’ is not a new Standard, and while many of its requirements are familiar, an impairment review of assets (either tangible or intangible) is frequently challenging to apply in practice. This is because IAS 36’s guidance is detailed, prescriptive and complex in some areas.

The articles set out below in our ‘Insights into IAS 36’ series have been written to assist preparers of financial statements and those charged with the governance of reporting entities understand the requirements set out in IAS 36, and revisit some areas where confusion has been seen in practice.

We hope you find the information in these articles helpful in giving you some insight into IAS 36. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised, please speak to your Grant Thornton advisor.

Overview of the Standard

'At a glance’ overview of IAS 36’s main requirements and major steps in applying them.

Read more

Scope and structure

Taking a closer look at the scope of the impairment review and how it is structured.

Read more

Undertaking an impairment review

When is a detailed impairment test, as set out in IAS 36, required?

Read more

Identifying cash-generating units

Identifying CGUs is a critical step in the impairment review and can have a significant impact on its results.

Read more

Allocating assets to cash-generating units

How do you determine which assets belong to which CGUs, or groups of CGUs?

Read more

Allocating goodwill to cash-generating units

After the entity identifies its CGUs, it must determine which assets belong to which CGUs, or groups of CGUs.

Read more

Estimate the recoverable amount

This article covers the definitions of recoverable amount and fair value less costs of disposal (FVLCOD) and provides an overview of value in use (VIU)

Read more

Value in use – estimating future cash inflows and outflows

This article is the second in a three-part series on Step 4 of the impairment review on estimating the recoverable amount and discusses estimating future cash inflows and outflows in value in use calculations.

Read more

Value in use – applying the appropriate discount rate

This article is the final in a three-part series on Step 4 of the impairment review on estimating the recoverable amount and discusses how to estimate an appropriate discount rate in value in use (VIU) calculations.

Read more

Comparing recoverable amount with carrying amount

This article discusses when there are exceptions to the rule of comparing recoverable amount with carrying amount.

Read more

Recognising impairment losses

Step 6 of applying the guidance in IAS 36 as set out in our article ‘Insights into IAS 36 – Overview of the Standard’ .

Read more

Reversing impairment losses

Step 6 of applying the guidance in IAS 36 as set out in our article ‘Insights into IAS 36 – Overview of the Standard’ relates to recognising or reversing and impairment losses.

Read more

Presentation and disclosure

This article provides a summary of the IAS 36 disclosure requirements and highlights particular areas of focus for regulators, including select illustrative examples for these areas of focus.

Read more

Other impairment issues

This article considers some regularly encountered application issues when applying IAS 36

Read more