There are a number of significant differences between US GAAP and IFRS in the area of accounting for pension and other postretirement and postemployment benefits. Some differences will result in less earnings volatility, while others will result in greater earnings volatility. The net effect depends on the individual facts and circumstances for a given employer. Further, differences could have a significant impact on presentation, operating metrics, and key ratios.

While there are few differences with respect to the measurement of defined benefit plans, there are key differences with regards to cost recognition and presentation. Under IFRS, the effects of remeasurements (which include actuarial gains/losses) are recognized immediately in other comprehensive income (OCI) and are not subsequently recycled through the income statement. Under US GAAP, these gains/losses are recognized in the income statement either immediately or in the future.

Under IFRS, all prior service costs (positive or negative) are recognized in profit or loss when the employee benefit plan is amended and are not allowed to be spread over any future service period, which may create volatility in profit or loss. This is different from US GAAP, under which prior service cost is recognized in OCI at the date the plan amendment is adopted and then amortized into income over the participants’ remaining years of service, service to full eligibility date, or life expectancy, depending on the facts and circumstances.

In addition, US GAAP requires an independent calculation of interest cost (based on the application of a discount rate to the projected benefit obligation) and expected return on assets (based on the application of an expected rate of return on assets to the calculated asset value), while IFRS applies the discount rate to the net benefit obligation to calculate a single net interest cost or income.

Under IFRS, companies have flexibility to present components of net benefit cost within different line items on the income statement. Components recognized in determining net income (i.e., service and finance costs, but not actuarial gains and losses) may be presented as (1) a single net amount or (2) separately displayed. US GAAP prescribes presentation of service cost in the same line item or items as other current employee compensation costs and presentation of the remaining components of net benefit cost separately in one or more line items and outside of income from operations (if that subtotal is presented).

Differences between US GAAP and IFRS also can result in different classifications of a plan as a defined benefit or a defined contribution plan. It is possible that a benefit arrangement that is classified as a defined benefit plan under US GAAP may be classified as a defined contribution plan under IFRS and vice versa. Classification differences would result in changes to the expense recognition model as well as to the balance sheet presentation.

Note that the FASB and the IASB use the term postemployment differently. The IASB uses the term postemployment to include pension, postretirement, and other postemployment benefits, whereas the FASB uses the term postretirement benefits (OPEB) to include postretirement benefits other than pensions (such as retiree medical) and the term postemployment benefits to include benefits before retirement (such as disability or termination benefits).

For simplicity, discussion of benefit cost in the remainder of this chapter refers to recognition in income. However, a portion of the benefit cost may be capitalized into inventory, fixed assets, or other balance sheet accounts when associated with employees whose compensation costs are capitalized.

ASC 420, ASC 710, ASC 712, ASC 715, ASC 820

IAS 19, IAS 37, IFRS 13, IFRIC 14

The following discussion captures a number of the more significant GAAP differences. It is important to note that the discussion is not inclusive of all GAAP differences in this area.