Topic 303 - Employee benefits

IAS 19 Employee Benefits

IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction

• 303.1.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee long service leave

• 303.1.1.2

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Definition of plan assets

• 303.1.1.3

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Accounting for a statutory employee profit sharing arrangement

• 303.3.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Classification of an insured plan

• 303.3.1.2

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Effect of a Potential Discount on Plan Classification

• 303.4.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Defined contribution plans with vesting conditions

• 303.5.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee benefits—Undiscounted vested employee benefits

• 303.5.1.2

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Benefit allocation for defined benefit plans IAS 19

• 303.5.1.3

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Death in service benefits

• 303.5.1.4

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Attributing Benefit to Periods of Service

• 303.6.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Accounting for contribution-based promises: impact of the 2011 amendments to AS 19

• 303.6.1.2

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Pre-tax or post-tax discount rate

• 303.6.1.3

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Actuarial assumptions: discount rate

• 303.6.1.4

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee benefit plans with a guaranteed return on contributions or notional contributions

• 303.6.1.5

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Discount rate in a country that has adopted another country’s currency

• 303.7.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Changes to a plan caused by government

• 303.8.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Should longevity swaps held under a defined benefit plan be measured as a plan asset at fair value or on another basis as a ‘qualifying insurance policy’?

• 303.12.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - Applying the definition of termination benefits to ‘Altersteilzeit’ plans

• 303.13.1.1

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction—Stable workforce assumption

• 303.13.1.2

• IFRIC Agenda Decision - IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction: Should an entity assume continuation of a minimum funding requirement for contributions relating to future service

303.1.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee long service leave

November 2005 - The IFRIC considered whether a liability for long-service leave falls within IAS 19 or whether it is a financial liability within the scope of IAS 32.

The IFRIC noted that IAS 19 indicates that employee benefit plans include a wide range of formal and informal arrangements. It is therefore clear that the exclusion of employee benefit plans from IAS 32 includes all employee benefits covered by IAS 19.

The IFRIC decided that, since the Standard is clear, it would not expect diversity in practice and would not add this item to its agenda.

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303.1.1.2

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Definition of plan assets

January 2008 - The IFRIC received a request for guidance on the accounting for investment or insurance policies that are issued by an entity to a pension plan covering its own employees (or the employees of an entity that is consolidated in the same group as the entity issuing the policy). The request asked for guidance on whether such policies would be part of plan assets in the consolidated and separate financial statements of the sponsor.

The IFRIC noted the definitions of plan assets, assets held by a long‑term employee benefit fund and a qualifying insurance policy in IAS 19 paragraph 7. The IFRIC noted that, if a policy was issued by a group company to the employee benefit fund then the treatment would depend upon whether the policy was a ‘non‑transferable financial instrument issued by the reporting entity’. Since the policy was issued by a related party, it could not meet the definition of a qualifying insurance policy.

The IFRIC considered that the issue was too narrow in scope to develop an Interpretation and decided not to add the issue to its agenda.

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303.1.1.3

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Accounting for a statutory employee profit sharing arrangement

November 2010 - The Committee received a request for clarification of the accounting for a statutory employee profit‑sharing arrangement that requires an entity to share 10 per cent of profit, calculated in accordance with tax law (subject to specific exceptions), with employees.

The Committee noted that although such a statutory employee profit sharing arrangement calculates amounts to be payable to employees in accordance with tax law, it meets the definition of an employee benefit and is in the scope of IAS 19. Therefore, the employee profit‑sharing arrangement described in the request should not be accounted for by analogy to IAS 12 Income Taxes or IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.

The Committee observed that the objective of IAS 19 is to record compensation expenses only when the employee has provided the related service. Consequently, an entity should not recognise an asset or liability related to future expected reversals of differences between taxable profit and accounting profit in connection with such an employee profit‑sharing arrangement.

The Committee noted that the statutory employee profit‑sharing arrangement described in the request should be accounted for in accordance with IAS 19, and that IAS 19 provides sufficient guidance on amounts that should be recognised and measured, with the result that significantly divergent interpretations are not expected in practice. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.3.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Classification of an insured plan

August 2002 - This issue relates to a particular insured plan found in Sweden. The IFRIC was asked to provide guidance on whether the particular plan was a defined benefit plan, or a defined contribution plan under IAS 19 and, if it was thought to be a defined benefit plan, whether it would qualify for the exemptions from defined benefit plan accounting available under IAS 19 for some multi‑employer plans.

The IFRIC agreed not to develop an Interpretation. IAS 19 was clear that the particular plan considered was a defined benefit plan. However, the IFRIC’s Agenda Committee was looking at whether the general issue of the availability of the exemptions for multi‑employer plans should be examined by the IFRIC.

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303.3.1.2

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Effect of a Potential Discount on Plan Classification

June 2019 - The Committee received a request about the classification of a post-employment benefit plan applying IAS 19. In the fact pattern described in the request, an entity sponsors a post- employment benefit plan that is administered by a third party. The relevant terms and conditions of the plan are as follows:

The request asked whether, applying IAS 19, the existence of a right to a potential discount would result in a defined benefit plan classification.

Paragraph 8 of IAS 19 defines defined contribution plans as ‘post-employment benefit plans under which an entity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity (a fund) and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods’. Defined benefit plans are ‘post-employment benefit plans other than defined contribution plans’.

Paragraphs 27⁠–⁠30 of IAS 19 specify requirements relating to the classification of post-employment benefit plans as either defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans.

Paragraph 27 states that ‘[p]ost-employment benefit plans are classified as either defined contribution or defined benefit plans, depending on the economic substance of the plan as derived from its principal terms and conditions’. The Committee therefore noted the importance of assessing all relevant terms and conditions of a post-employment benefit plan, as well as any informal practices that might give rise to a constructive obligation, in classifying the plan. That assessment would identify whether:

The Committee noted that, in the fact pattern described in the request, assessing the relevant terms and conditions of the plan would include, for example, assessing (a) the manner and frequency in which annual contributions and any potential discount (including the target ratio) are determined; and (b) whether the manner and frequency of determining the contributions and any discount transfers actuarial risk and investment risk (as described in IAS 19) to the entity.

The Committee observed that, to meet the definition of a defined contribution plan, an entity must (a) have an obligation towards employees to pay fixed contributions into a fund; and (b) not be obliged to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current or prior periods. For example, there should be no possibility that future contributions could be set to cover shortfalls in funding employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

The Committee also observed that paragraphs 28 and 30 of IAS 19 specify that, under defined contribution plans, actuarial risk and investment risk fall in substance on the employee whereas, under defined benefit plans, those risks fall in substance on the entity. Paragraphs 28 and 30 describe (a) actuarial risk as the risk that benefits will cost the entity more than expected or will be less than expected for the employee; and (b) investment risk as the risk that assets invested will be insufficient to meet expected benefits. Paragraph BC29 of IAS 19 explains that the definition of defined contribution plans does not exclude the upside potential that the cost to the entity may be less than expected.

Consequently, the Committee concluded that, applying IAS 19, the existence of a right to a potential discount would not in itself result in classifying a post-employment benefit plan as a defined benefit plan. Nonetheless, the Committee reiterated the importance of assessing all relevant terms and conditions of a plan, as well as any informal practices that might give rise to a constructive obligation, in classifying the plan.

The Committee noted that, applying paragraph 122 of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, an entity would disclose the judgements that its management has made regarding the classification of post-employment benefit plans, if those are part of the judgements that had the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

The Committee concluded that the requirements in IAS 19 provide an adequate basis for an entity to determine the classification of a post-employment benefit plan as a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add the matter to its standard-setting agenda.

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303.4.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Defined contribution plans with vesting conditions

July 2011 - The Interpretations Committee received a request seeking clarification on the effect that vesting conditions have on the accounting for defined contribution plans. The Committee was asked whether contributions to such plans should be recognised as an expense in the period for which they are paid or over the vesting period. In the examples given in the submission, the employee’s failure to meet a vesting condition could result in the refund of contributions to, or reductions in future contributions by, the employer.

The Committee noted from the definition of a defined contribution plan in paragraph 8 of IAS 19 and the explanation in paragraph BC5 of IAS 19 that vesting conditions do not affect the classification of a plan as a defined contribution plan if the employer is not required to make additional contributions to cover shortfalls because of these vesting conditions. In addition, the Committee noted from the guidance in paragraph 50 of IAS 19 that accounting for defined contribution plans is based on accounting for the reporting entity’s obligation to pay contributions to the separate entity that runs the plan, but not accounting for the obligation to the employees who benefit from the plan. As such, the Committee noted that accounting for defined contribution plans under IAS 19 focuses on the employer’s obligation to make a contribution to the separate entity that runs the plan. Consequently, paragraph 51 of IAS 19 requires, and paragraph IN5 of IAS 19 explains, that each contribution to a defined contribution plan is to be recognised as an expense or recognised as a liability (accrued expense) over the period of service that obliges the employer to pay this contribution to the defined contribution plan. This period of service is distinguished from the period of service that entitles an employee to receive the benefit from the defined contribution plan (ie the vesting period), although both periods may be coincident in some circumstances. Refunds are recognised as an asset and as income when the entity/employer becomes entitled to the refunds, eg when the employee fails to meet the vesting condition.

The Committee noted that there is no significant diversity in practice in respect of the effect that vesting conditions have on the accounting for defined contribution post‑employment benefit plans, nor does it expect significant diversity in practice to emerge in the future. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.5.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee benefits—Undiscounted vested employee benefits

April 2002 - The IFRIC considered the possibility of issuing guidance on whether vested benefits payable when an employee left service could be recognised at an undiscounted amount (ie the amount that would be payable if all employees left the entity at the balance sheet date). The IFRIC agreed that it would not issue an interpretation on this matter because the answer is clear under IAS 19: the measurement of the liability for the vested benefits must reflect the expected date of employees leaving service and be discounted to a present value.

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303.5.1.2

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Benefit allocation for defined benefit plans IAS 19

September 2007 - IAS 19 requires entities to attribute the benefit in defined benefit plans to periods of service in accordance with the benefit formula, unless the benefit formula would result in a materially higher level of benefit allocated to future years. In that case, the entity allocates the benefit on a straight‑line basis (paragraph 67 of IAS 19). The IFRIC had previously considered whether entities should take into account expected increases in salary in determining whether a benefit formula expressed in terms of current salary allocates a materially higher level of benefit in later years.

The IFRIC considered this issue as part of its deliberations leading to Draft IFRIC Interpretation D9 Employee Benefits with a Promised Return on Contributions or Notional Contributions. However, the IFRIC suspended work on this project until it could see what implications might be drawn from the Board’s deliberations in its project on post‑employment benefits.

The IFRIC noted that the Board will not address this issue for all defined benefit plans in phase I of its project on post‑employment benefits. However, the IFRIC noted that it would be difficult to address this issue while the Board had an ongoing project that addressed the issue for some defined benefit plans. The IFRIC decided to remove this issue from its agenda.

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303.5.1.3

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Death in service benefits

January 2008 - An entity may provide payments to employees if they die while employed (‘death in service’ benefits). In some situations, IAS 19 requires these benefits to be attributed to periods of service using the Projected Unit Credit Method. The IFRIC received a request for guidance on how an entity should attribute these benefits to periods of service. The request noted that different treatments existed in practice.

The IFRIC noted that paragraph 67(b) of IAS 19 requires attribution of the cost of the benefits until the date ‘when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits under the plan, other than from further salary increases.’

In the case of death in service benefits, the IFRIC noted that:

The IFRIC concluded that divergence in this area was unlikely to be significant. In addition, any further guidance that it could issue would be application guidance on the use of the Projected Unit Credit Method. The IFRIC therefore decided not to add the issue to its agenda.

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303.5.1.4

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Attributing Benefit to Periods of Service

May 2021 - The Committee received a request about the periods of service to which an entity attributes benefit for a particular defined benefit plan. Under the terms of the plan:

a. employees are entitled to a lump sum benefit payment when they reach a specified retirement age provided they are employed by the entity when they reach that retirement age; and

b. the amount of the retirement benefit to which an employee is entitled depends on the length of employee service with the entity before the retirement age and is capped at a specified number of consecutive years of service.

To illustrate the fact pattern described in the request, assume an entity sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. Under the terms of the plan:

a. employees are entitled to a retirement benefit only when they reach the retirement age of 62 provided they are employed by the entity when they reach that retirement age;

b. the amount of the retirement benefit is calculated as one month of final salary for each year of service with the entity before the retirement age;

c. the retirement benefit is capped at 16 years of service (that is, the maximum retirement benefit to which an employee is entitled is 16 months of final salary); and

d. the retirement benefit is calculated using only the number of consecutive years of employee service with the entity immediately before the retirement age.

Paragraphs 70–74 of IAS 19 require an entity to attribute benefit to periods of service under the plan’s benefit formula from the date when employee service first leads to benefits under the plan until the date when further employee service will lead to no material amount of further benefits under the plan. Paragraph 71 requires an entity to attribute benefit to periods in which the obligation to provide post-employment benefits arises. That paragraph also specifies that the obligation arises as employees render services in return for post-employment benefits an entity expects to pay in future reporting periods. Paragraph 72 specifies that employee service before the vesting date gives rise to a constructive obligation because, at the end of each successive reporting period, the amount of future service an employee will have to render before becoming entitled to the benefit is reduced.

For the defined benefit plan illustrated in this agenda decision:

a. if an employee joins the entity before the age of 46 (that is, there are more than 16 years before the employee’s retirement age), any service the employee renders before the age of 46 does not lead to benefits under the plan. Employee service before the age of 46 affects neither the timing nor the amount of the retirement benefit. Accordingly, the entity’s obligation to provide the retirement benefit arises for employee service rendered only from the age of 46.

b. if an employee joins the entity on or after the age of 46, any service the employee renders leads to benefits under the plan. Employee service rendered from the date of employment affects the amount of the retirement benefit. Accordingly, the entity’s obligation to provide the retirement benefit arises from the date the employee first renders service.

Paragraph 73 of IAS 19 specifies that an entity’s obligation increases until the date when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits under the plan. The Committee observed that:

a. each year of service between the age of 46 and the age of 62 leads to further benefits because service rendered in each of those years reduces the amount of future service an employee will have to render before becoming entitled to the retirement benefit.

b. an employee will receive no material amount of further benefits from the age of 62, regardless of the age at which the employee joins the entity. The entity therefore attributes retirement benefit only until the age of 62.

Consequently, for the defined benefit plan illustrated in this agenda decision, the Committee concluded that the entity attributes retirement benefit to each year in which an employee renders service from the age of 46 to the age of 62 (or, if employment commences on or after the age of 46, from the date the employee first renders service to the age of 62). The Committee’s conclusion aligns with the outcome set out in the

first part of Example 2 illustrating paragraph 73 (that is, for employees who join before the age of 35), which is part of IAS 19.

The Committee concluded that the principles and requirements in IFRS Standards provide an adequate basis for an entity to determine the periods to which retirement benefit is attributed in the fact pattern described in the request. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add a standard-setting project to the work plan.

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303.6.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Accounting for contribution-based promises: impact of the 2011 amendments to AS 19

September 2012 - The Interpretations Committee received a request for clarification about the accounting in accordance with IAS 19 (2011) for contribution-based promises. An underlying concern in the submission was whether the revisions to IAS 19 in 2011 that, for example, clarified the treatment of risk-sharing features related to defined benefit obligations, affect the accounting for contribution-based promises.

The Interpretations Committee noted that the 2011 amendments to IAS 19 clarified the treatment of risk-sharing features (described in paragraph BC144 as features that share the benefit of a surplus or the cost of a deficit between the employer and the plan participants or benefit plans that provide benefits that are conditional to some extent on whether there are sufficient assets in the plan to fund them). The Interpretations Committee noted that the IASB did not intend to address elements specific to contribution-based promises in the amendments. Accordingly, the Interpretations Committee does not expect the 2011 amendments to cause changes to the accounting for contribution-based promises unless such promises also include elements of risk sharing arrangements between employees and employers. Finally, the Interpretations Committee noted that the IASB expressed, in paragraph BC148 of the revised Standard, that addressing concerns about the measurement of contribution-based promises and similar promises was beyond the scope of the 2011 amendments.

On the basis of the analysis described above, the Interpretations Committee decided not to add the issue to its agenda. It is, however, working towards proposals to address the accounting for contribution-based promises.

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303.6.1.2

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Pre-tax or post-tax discount rate

July 2013 - The Interpretations Committee received a request for guidance on the calculation of defined benefit obligations. In particular, the submitter asked the Interpretations Committee to clarify whether, in accordance with IAS 19 Employee Benefits (2011), the discount rate used to calculate a defined benefit obligation should be a pre-tax or post-tax rate.

The tax regime in the jurisdiction of the submitter can be summarised as follows:

The Interpretations Committee noted that:

Consequently, the Interpretations Committee observed that the discount rate used to calculate a defined benefit obligation should be a pre-tax discount rate. On the basis of the analysis above the Interpretations Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.6.1.3

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Actuarial assumptions: discount rate

November 2013 - The Interpretations Committee discussed a request for guidance on the determination of the rate used to discount post-employment benefit obligations. The submitter stated that:

In the light of the points above, the submitter asked the Interpretations Committee whether corporate bonds with a rating lower than ‘AA’ can be considered to be HQCB.

The Interpretations Committee observed that IAS 19 does not specify how to determine the market yields on HQCB, and in particular what grade of bonds should be designated as high quality. The Interpretations Committee considers that an entity should take into account the guidance in paragraphs 84 and 85 of IAS 19 (2011) in determining what corporate bonds can be considered to be HQCB. Paragraphs 84 and 85 of IAS 19 (2011) state that the discount rate:

The Interpretations Committee further noted that ‘high quality’ as used in paragraph 83 of IAS 19 reflects an absolute concept of credit quality and not a concept of credit quality that is relative to a given population of corporate bonds, which would be the case, for example, if the paragraph used the term ‘the highest quality’. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee observed that the concept of high quality should not change over time. Accordingly, a reduction in the number of HQCB should not result in a change to the concept of high quality. The Interpretations Committee does not expect that an entity’s methods and techniques used for determining the discount rate so as to reflect the yields on HQCB will change significantly from period to period. Paragraphs 83 and 86 of IAS 19, respectively, contain requirements if the market in HQCB is no longer deep or if the market remains deep overall, but there is an insufficient number of HQCB beyond a certain maturity.

The Interpretations Committee also noted that:

The Interpretations Committee discussed this issue in several meetings and noted that issuing additional guidance on, or changing the requirements for, the determination of the discount rate would be too broad for it to address in an efficient manner. The Interpretations Committee therefore recommends that this issue should be addressed in the IASB’s research project on discount rates. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.6.1.4

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Employee benefit plans with a guaranteed return on contributions or notional contributions

May 2014 - The Interpretations Committee observed that the accounting for the plans that fall within the scope of the project is an important issue. These plans are part of a growing range of plan designs that incorporate features that were not envisaged when IAS 19 was first developed. The accounting for these plans in accordance with IAS 19 is problematic and has resulted in diversity in practice.

The Interpretations Committee attempted to develop a solution to improve the financial reporting for such plans. However, it was unable to reach a consensus in identifying a suitable scope for an amendment that would both:

In the Interpretations Committee’s view, developing accounting requirements for these plans would be better addressed by a broader consideration of accounting for employee benefits, potentially through the research agenda of the IASB. The Interpretations Committee acknowledged that reducing diversity in practice in the short term would be beneficial. However, because of the difficulties encountered in progressing the issues, the Interpretations Committee decided to remove the project from its agenda. The Interpretations Committee notes the importance of this issue because of the increasing use of these plans. Consequently, the Interpretations Committee would welcome progress on the IASB’s research project on post-employment benefits.

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303.6.1.5

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Discount rate in a country that has adopted another country’s currency

June 2017 - The Committee received a request to clarify how an entity determines the rate used to discount post-employment benefit obligations (discount rate) in a country (Ecuador) that has adopted another currency as its official or legal currency (the US dollar). The entity’s post-employment benefit obligation is denominated in US dollars. The submitter says there is no deep market for high quality corporate bonds denominated in US dollars in the country in which the entity operates (Ecuador).

The submitter asked whether, in that situation, the entity considers the depth of the market in high quality corporate bonds denominated in US dollars in other markets or countries in which those bonds are issued (for example, the United States). If there is no deep market in high quality corporate bonds denominated in US dollars, IAS 19 requires the entity to use the market yield on government bonds denominated in US dollars when determining the discount rate. The submitter asked whether the entity can use market yields on bonds denominated in US dollars issued by the Ecuadorian government, or whether instead the entity is required to use market yields on bonds denominated in US dollars issued by a government in another market or country.

The Committee observed, applying paragraph 83 of IAS 19, that:

The Committee noted that the discount rate does not reflect the expected return on plan assets. Paragraph BC130 of IAS 19 says that the measurement of the obligation should be independent of the measurement of any plan assets actually held by a plan.

In addition, the Committee considered the interaction between the requirements in paragraphs 75 and 83 of IAS 19. Paragraph 75 of IAS 19 requires actuarial assumptions to be mutually compatible. The Committee concluded that it is not possible to assess whether, and to what extent, a discount rate derived by applying the requirements in paragraph 83 of IAS 19 is compatible with other actuarial assumptions. Accordingly, the entity applies the requirements in paragraph 83 of IAS 19 when it determines the discount rate.

The Committee concluded that the requirements in IAS 19 provide an adequate basis for an entity to determine the discount rate when the entity operates in a country that has adopted another currency as its official or legal currency. Consequently, the Committee decided not to add this matter to its standard-setting agenda.

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303.7.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Changes to a plan caused by government

November 2007 - The IFRIC was asked to provide guidance on accounting for the effects of a change to a defined benefit plan resulting from action by a government.

The IFRIC noted that IAS 19 already provides guidance on whether the identity of the originator of the change affects the accounting. Paragraph BC55 of the Basis for Conclusions on IAS 19 explains the IASC Board’s decision to reject the proposal that ‘past service cost should not be recognised immediately if the past service cost results from legislative changes (such as a new requirement to equalise retirement ages for men and women) or from decisions by trustees who are not controlled, or influenced, by the entity’s management’. In other words, IASC did not believe that the source of the change should affect the accounting. Therefore, the accounting for changes caused by government should be the same as for changes made by an employer.

The IFRIC acknowledged that, in some circumstances, it might be difficult to determine whether the change affects either actuarial assumptions or benefits payable and noted that judgement is required. The IFRIC also noted that any guidance beyond that given in IAS 19 would be more in the nature of application guidance than an Interpretation. 

For this reason, the IFRIC decided not to add this item to the agenda.

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303.8.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Should longevity swaps held under a defined benefit plan be measured as a plan asset at fair value or on another basis as a ‘qualifying insurance policy’?

March 2015 - The Interpretations Committee received a request to clarify the measurement of longevity swaps held under an entity’s defined benefit pension plan.

The submitter raised a question about whether an entity should:

The submitter also raised questions about presentation if the measurement in criterion (b) were to be used. The outreach did not provide evidence that the use of longevity swaps is widespread. The Interpretations Committee understands that when such transactions take place, the predominant practice is to account for a longevity swap as a single instrument, and measure it at fair value as part of plan assets, by applying paragraphs 8 and 113 of IAS 19 and IFRS 13.

On the basis of this analysis, the Interpretations Committee concluded that it did not expect diversity to develop in the application of IAS 19 and it therefore decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.12.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - Applying the definition of termination benefits to ‘Altersteilzeit’ plans

January 2012 - The Interpretations Committee received a request for guidance regarding the application of IAS 19 (2011) to ‘Altersteilzeit’ plans (ATZ plans) in Germany. ATZ plans are early retirement programmes designed to create an incentive for employees within a certain age group to smooth the transition from (full- or part-time) employment into retirement before the employees’ legal retirement age. ATZ plans offer bonus payments to employees in exchange for a 50 per cent reduction in working hours. Their employment is terminated at the end of a required service period. The bonus payments are wholly conditional on the completion of the required service period. If employment ends before the required service is provided, the employees do not receive the bonus payments. ATZ plans typically operate over a period of one to six years. Eligibility for the benefit would be on the basis of the employee’s age but would also typically include a past service requirement.

IAS 19 (2011) was the result of revisions issued in 2011 to IAS 19. These revisions, among other things, amended the guidance relating to termination benefits. Paragraph 8 of IAS 19 (2011) defines termination benefits as ‘employee benefits provided in exchange for the termination of an employee’s employment as a result of either:

The Committee observed that ATZ plans have attributes of both required service and termination benefits. The Committee noted that the distinction between benefits provided in exchange for services and termination benefits should be based on:

The Committee noted that, in the fact pattern described above, consistently with paragraph 162(a) of IAS 19 (2011), the fact that the bonus payments are wholly conditional upon completion of an employee service over a period indicates that the benefits are in exchange for that service. They therefore do not meet the definition of termination benefits.

On the basis of the analysis described above, the Committee decided not to add the issue to its agenda.

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303.13.1.1

IFRIC Agenda Decision - IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction—Stable workforce assumption

November 2008 - The IFRIC received a request to consider an issue arising from IFRIC 14. The issue related to the economic benefit available in the form of reductions in future contributions when there is a minimum funding requirement. IFRIC 14 requires the economic benefit to be determined assuming a stable workforce in the future unless the entity is demonstrably committed at the end of the reporting period to make a reduction in the number of employees covered by the plan. The request noted that in some circumstances the assumption of a stable workforce may understate the economic benefits available to the entity as a reduction in future contributions. The request noted that contributions to a plan are recognised as an expense, not an asset, if they provide no economic benefits in accordance with IFRIC 14. Therefore, by choosing the timing and the level of such contributions, an entity can affect its reported earnings.

The IFRIC noted that the requirements of IFRIC 14 regarding the assumption of a stable workforce are explicit. The issue was discussed extensively during the development of IFRIC 14 and the request provided no new information to cause the IFRIC to reconsider its conclusion. The IFRIC therefore decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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303.13.1.2

IFRIC Agenda Decision - IFRIC 14 IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction: Should an entity assume continuation of a minimum funding requirement for contributions relating to future service

July 2015 - The Interpretations Committee received a request to clarify whether the future minimum funding requirement for contributions to a defined benefit plan to cover future service would apply for only the fixed period that had been agreed between the entity and the pension trustees. The conclusion on this issue could affect how the economic benefit available as a reduction in future contributions is determined, which could in turn affect the amount of the net defined benefit liability or asset to be recognised in the entity’s statement of financial position.

In the circumstances described by the submitter, neither a plan wind-up nor a plan closure to future accrual has been decided upon at the end of the reporting period. In addition, a pension regulation or a contractual agreement, or both, specify that:

The Interpretations Committee observed that, although the level of contributions after the fixed period will be subject to future negotiations, if the plan continues after the fixed period the entity must continue to make contributions for future service that are consistent with the statement of funding principles.

The Interpretations Committee noted that paragraph 18 of IFRIC 14 requires an entity to analyse its minimum funding requirements at a given date into the contributions that are required to cover:

The Interpretations Committee also noted that:

The Interpretations Committee noted that the question raised by the submitter relates only to the minimum funding requirement for contributions to cover future service.

The Interpretations Committee then noted that, in the circumstances described, the pension trustees determine some or all of the factors (or funding principles) establishing the minimum funding basis (as that term is used in IFRIC 14) and record them in the statement of funding principles. Accordingly, when the entity estimates the future minimum funding requirement contributions, it should (i) include the amounts in the schedule of contributions for the fixed period specified by the schedule; and (ii) beyond that period, make an estimate that assumes a continuation of those factors establishing the minimum funding basis as determined by the pension trustees. This is because:

The Interpretations Committee further noted that, for any factors affecting the estimation of future minimum funding requirements that are not determined by the trustees (for example, the remaining life of the plan is not specified by the existing funding principles), the assumptions used to estimate future minimum funding requirement contributions for future service beyond the fixed period must be consistent with those used for determining future service costs. This is because paragraphs 17 and 21 of IFRIC 14 require an entity to use assumptions that are consistent with those used to determine the defined benefit obligation and with the situation that exists at the end of the reporting period.

On the basis of this analysis, the Interpretations Committee determined that, in the light of the existing IFRS requirements, sufficient guidance exists and that neither an Interpretation nor an amendment to a Standard was necessary and therefore decided not to add this issue to its agenda.

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