A Comparision between various GAAPs'
Inventories
Definition
All four frameworks define inventories as those: held for sale in the ordinary course of business; in the process of production or for sale in the form of
materials; or supplies to be consumed in the production process or in the rendering of services.
Measurement
IAS
Carried at the lower of cost or net realisable value (being sale proceeds less all further costs to bring the inventories to completion). Reversal
US GAAP
replacement cost subject to an upper limit of net realisable value and a lower limit of net realisable value less a normal profit margin.
Reversal of a write down is prohibited.
Broadly consistent with IAS, in that the lower of cost and market value is used to value inventories. Market value is defined as being current
UK GAAP
Similar to IAS.
Indian GAAP
Formula for determining cost
Method IAS US GAAP UK GAAP INDIAN GAAP
Similar to IAS.
LIFO.
FIFO.
Ö (i) Ö Not permitted Not permittedÖ Ö Ö Ö
Weighted average
cost.
Ö Ö Ö Ö
GAAP differences
Comparison of GAAP requirements under IAS, US, UK and India
(i) Allowed alternative : Where an entity values inventory using LIFO, it must quantify and disclose the difference between that method and either the lower
of : the benchmark treatment (either FIFO or weighted average) and net realiasable value; or the lower of current cost at the balance sheet date and
NRV.
Consistency of the cost formula for similar inventories
ssets
IAS
Requires that an entity must use the same cost formula for all inventories having a similar nature and use to the entity.
US GAAP
Similar to IAS.
UK GAAP
Not specified, but consistency is a fundamental principle.
Indian GAAP
Allocation of fixed overheads
IAS
Similar to UK GAAP.Any allocation of fixed production overheads is based on normal capacity levels, with unallocated overheads expensed as incurred.
US GAAP
In limited circumstances idle capacity costs may also be absorbed into inventory costs.
UK GAAP
Similar to IAS.
Indian GAAP
Similar to IAS.
REFERENCES: IAS:
IAS 2, SIC-1. US GAAP: ARB 43. UK GAAP: SSAP 9. Indian GAAP: AS 2
is required for a subsequent increase in value of inventory previously written down.