A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the transaction price and are subsequently measured as follows: Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost and commitments to receive a loan and to make a loan to another entity are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Where investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary shares or preference shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.
All other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, which is normally the transaction price and are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately.
All equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets or either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.
Any reversals of impairment are recognised in profit or loss immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.
Current tax is recognised for the amount of income tax payable in respect of the taxable profit for the current or past reporting periods using the tax rates and laws that that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences at the reporting date, except as otherwise indicated.
Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. If and when all conditions for retaining tax allowances for the cost of a fixed asset have been met, the deferred tax is reversed. Deferred tax is recognised when income or expenses from a subsidiary or associate have been recognised, and will be assessed for tax in a future period, except where:
- the company is able to control the reversal of the timing difference; and
- it is probable that the timing difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
A deferred tax liability or asset is recognised for the additional tax that will be paid or avoided in respect of assets and liabilities that are recognised in a business combination. The amount attributed to goodwill is adjusted by the amount of deferred tax recognised. Deferred tax is calculated using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference. With the exception of changes arising on the initial recognition of a business combination, the tax expense (income) is presented either in profit or loss, other comprehensive income or equity depending on the transaction that resulted in the tax expense (income). Deferred tax liabilities are presented within provisions for liabilities and deferred tax assets within debtors. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset only if:
- the company has a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and
- the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities which intend either to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis, or to realise the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.