AASB 2022-8 (12/22)

Accounting Standard AASB 2022-8

The Australian Accounting Standards Board makes Accounting Standard AASB 2022-8 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Insurance Contracts: Consequential Amendments under section 334 of the Corporations Act 2001.

Keith Kendall

Dated 15 December 2022 Chair – AASB

Accounting Standard AASB 2022-8

Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Insurance Contracts: Consequential Amendments

Objective

This Standard amends:

(a) AASB 1 First-time Adoption of Australian Accounting Standards (July 2015);

(b) AASB 3 Business Combinations (August 2015);

(d) AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (August 2015);

(e) AASB 9 Financial Instruments (December 2014);

(f) AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (December 2014);

(g) AASB 17 Insurance Contracts (July 2017);

(h) AASB 119 Employee Benefits (August 2015);

(i) AASB 132 Financial Instruments: Presentation (August 2015);

(j) AASB 136 Impairment of Assets (August 2015);

(k) AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets (August 2015);

(l) AASB 138 Intangible Assets (August 2015);

(m) AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards (July 2015); and

(n) AASB 1058 Income of Not-for-Profit Entities (December 2016);

to permit public sector entities to continue applying AASB 4 Insurance Contracts and AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023 but before 1 July 2026.

This Standard also amends AASB 17 to repeal AASB 1038 Life Insurance Contracts (July 2004) and supersede Interpretation 1047 Professional Indemnity Claims Liabilities in Medical Defence Organisations for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023.

Application

The amendments set out in this Standard apply to entities and financial statements in accordance with the application of the other Standards set out in AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards.

This Standard applies to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023, with earlier application permitted.

This Standard uses underlining, striking out and other typographical material to identify some of the amendments to a Standard, in order to make the amendments more understandable. However, the amendments made by this Standard do not include that underlining, striking out or other typographical material. Amended paragraphs are shown with deleted text struck through and new text underlined. New paragraphs are also underlined. Ellipses (…) are used to help provide the context within which amendments are made and also to indicate text that is not amended.

Amendments to AASB 1 First-time Adoption of Australian Accounting Standards (July 2015)

In Appendix D, a heading and paragraph AusD4.1 are added. The deleted paragraph D4 is noted for reference.

Insurance contracts

D4 [Deleted]

AusD4.1 Public sector entities that are first-time adopters may apply the transitional provisions in AASB 4 Insurance Contracts and AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts. AASB 4 restricts changes in accounting policies for insurance contracts, including changes made by a first-time adopter.

Amendments to AASB 3 Business Combinations (August 2015)

Paragraph Aus17.1 is added. Paragraph 17 is not amended but is included for reference.

Classifying or designating identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination

…

17 This Standard provides an exception to the principle in paragraph 15:

(a) classification of a lease contract …

(b) [deleted]

The acquirer shall classify those contracts on the basis of the contractual terms and other factors at the inception of the contract (or, if the terms of the contract have been modified in a manner that would change its classification, at the date of that modification, which might be the acquisition date).

Aus17.1 Public sector entities applying AASB 4 Insurance Contracts shall apply an exception to the principle in paragraph 15 to the classification of a contract as an insurance contract. The acquirer shall classify those contracts as described in paragraph 17.

In Appendix B, paragraph AusB63.1 is added. Paragraph B63 is not amended but is included for reference.

Other Australian Accounting Standards that provide guidance on subsequent measurement and accounting (application of paragraph 54)

B63 Examples of other Australian Accounting Standards that provide guidance on subsequently measuring and accounting for assets acquired and liabilities assumed or incurred in a business combination include:

(a) …

(b) [deleted]

AusB63.1 Further to paragraph B63, for public sector entities, AASB 4 Insurance Contracts provides guidance on the subsequent accounting for insurance contracts acquired in a business combination.

Amendments to AASB 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (August 2015)

Paragraph Aus5.1 is added. Paragraph 5 and footnote 3 are not amended but are included for reference.

Scope

…

5 The measurement provisions of this Standard3 do not apply to the following assets, which are covered by the Australian Accounting Standards listed, either as individual assets or as part of a disposal group:

(a) …

(f) groups of contracts within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts.

Aus5.1 Further to paragraph 5, for public sector entities, the measurement provisions of this Standard3 do not apply to contractual rights under insurance contracts as defined in AASB 4 Insurance Contracts.

…

3 Other than paragraphs 18 and 19, which require the assets in question to be measured in accordance with other applicable Australian Accounting Standards.

Amendments to AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (August 2015)

Paragraphs Aus3.1 and Aus29.1 are added. Paragraphs 3 and 29 are not amended but are included for reference.

Scope

3 This Standard shall be applied by all entities to all types of financial instruments, except:

(a) …

(d) insurance contracts as defined in AASB 17 Insurance Contracts or investment contracts with discretionary participation features within the scope of AASB 17. However, this Standard applies to:

(i) derivatives that are embedded in contracts within the scope of AASB 17, if AASB 9 requires the entity to account for them separately.

(ii) investment components that are separated from contracts within the scope of AASB 17, if AASB 17 requires such separation, unless the separated investment component is an investment contract with discretionary participation features.

(iii) an issuer’s rights and obligations arising under insurance contracts that meet the definition of financial guarantee contracts if the issuer applies AASB 9 in recognising and measuring the contracts. However, the issuer shall apply AASB 17 if the issuer elects, in accordance with paragraph 7(e) of AASB 17, to apply AASB 17 in recognising and measuring the contracts.

(iv) an entity’s rights and obligations that are financial instruments arising under credit card contracts, or similar contracts that provide credit or payment arrangements, that an entity issues that meet the definition of an insurance contract if the entity applies AASB 9 to those rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph 7(h) of AASB 17 and paragraph 2.1(e)(iv) of AASB 9.

(v) an entity’s rights and obligations that are financial instruments arising under insurance contracts that an entity issues that limit the compensation for insured events to the amount otherwise required to settle the policyholder’s obligation created by the contract, if the entity elects, in accordance with paragraph 8A of AASB 17, to apply AASB 9 instead of AASB 17 to such contracts.

(e) …

Aus3.1 Further to paragraph 3, public sector entities shall not apply this Standard to insurance contracts as defined in AASB 4 Insurance Contracts. However, a public sector entity shall apply this Standard to:

(a) derivatives that are embedded in insurance contracts if AASB 9 requires the entity to account for them separately; and

(b) financial guarantee contracts if the entity applies AASB 9 in recognising and measuring the contracts, in accordance with paragraph 4(d) of AASB 4.

…

Significance of financial instruments for financial position and performance

…

Fair value

…

29 Disclosures of fair value are not required:

(a) when the carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value, for example, for financial instruments such as short-term trade receivables and payables; or

(b) [deleted]

(d) for lease liabilities.

Aus29.1 Further to paragraph 29, for public sector entities applying AASB 4, disclosures of fair value are not required for a contract containing a discretionary participation feature (as described in AASB 4) if the fair value of that feature cannot be measured reliably. However, an entity shall disclose information to help users of the financial statements make their own judgements about the extent of possible differences between the carrying amount of those contracts and their fair value, including:

(a) the fact that fair value information has not been disclosed for these instruments because their fair value cannot be measured reliably;

(b) a description of the financial instruments, their carrying amount, and an explanation of why fair value cannot be measured reliably;

(d) information about whether and how the entity intends to dispose of the financial instruments; and

(e) if financial instruments whose fair value previously could not be reliably measured are derecognised, that fact, their carrying amount at the time of derecognition, and the amount of gain or loss recognised.

Amendments to AASB 9 Financial Instruments (December 2014)

Paragraphs Aus2.1.2, AusB2.1.1 and AusB2.4.1 are added. Paragraphs 2.1, B2.1 and B2.4 are not amended but are included for reference.

Chapter 2 Scope

2.1 This Standard shall be applied by all entities to all types of financial instruments except:

(a) …

(e) rights and obligations arising under an insurance contract as defined in AASB 17 Insurance Contracts, or an investment contract with discretionary participation features within the scope of AASB 17. However, this Standard applies to: …

(f) …

Aus2.1.2 Notwithstanding paragraph 2.1, public sector entities need not apply this Standard to rights and obligations arising under (i) an insurance contract as defined in AASB 4 Insurance Contracts, other than an issuer’s rights and obligations arising under an insurance contract that meets the definition of a financial guarantee contract, or (ii) a contract that is within the scope of AASB 4 because it contains a discretionary participation feature. However, this Standard applies to a derivative that is embedded in a contract within the scope of AASB 4 if the derivative is not itself a contract within the scope of AASB 4. Moreover, if an issuer of financial guarantee contracts has previously asserted explicitly that it regards such contracts as insurance contracts and has used accounting that is applicable to insurance contracts, the issuer may elect to apply either this Standard or AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts to such financial guarantee contracts (see paragraphs B2.5–B2.6). The issuer may make that election contract by contract, but the election for each contract is irrevocable.

Scope (Chapter 2)

B2.1 Some contracts require a payment based on climatic, geological or other physical variables. (Those based on climatic variables are sometimes referred to as ‘weather derivatives’.) If those contracts are not within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts, they are within the scope of this Standard.

AusB2.1.1 Notwithstanding paragraph B2.1, for public sector entities applying AASB 4 Insurance Contracts, contracts that require a payment based on climatic, geological or other physical variables and are not within the scope of AASB 4 or AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts are within the scope of this Standard.

…

B2.4 This Standard applies to the financial assets and financial liabilities of insurers, other than rights and obligations that paragraph 2.1(e) excludes because they arise under contracts within the scope of AASB 17.

AusB2.4.1 Notwithstanding paragraph B2.4, for public sector entities applying AASB 4, this Standard applies to the financial assets and financial liabilities of a public sector insurer, other than rights and obligations that paragraph Aus2.1.2 excludes because they arise under contracts within the scope of AASB 4.

Amendments to AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (December 2014)

Paragraph Aus5.3 is added. Paragraph 5 is not amended but is included for reference.

Scope

5 An entity shall apply this Standard to all contracts with customers, except the following:

(a) …

(b) contracts within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts. However, an entity may choose to apply this Standard to insurance contracts that have as their primary purpose the provision of services for a fixed fee in accordance with paragraph 8 of AASB 17;

…

Aus5.3 Further to paragraph 5, public sector entities shall not apply this Standard to insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4 Insurance Contracts.

Amendments to AASB 17 Insurance Contracts (July 2017)

In Appendix C, paragraph AusC1.1, a heading and paragraphs AusC34.1 and AusC34.2 are added. Paragraph C1 is not amended but is included for reference.

Effective date

C1 An entity shall apply AASB 17 for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. If an entity applies AASB 17 earlier, it shall disclose that fact. Early application is permitted for entities that apply AASB 9 Financial Instruments on or before the date of initial application of AASB 17.

AusC1.1 Notwithstanding paragraph C1, this Standard applies to public sector entities for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 July 2026. Early application is permitted. If a public sector entity applies this Standard earlier, it shall disclose that fact.

…

Withdrawal of AASB pronouncements

AusC34.1 This Standard repeals AASB 1038 Life Insurance Contracts issued in July 2004. Despite the repeal, after the time this Standard starts to apply under section 334 of the Corporations Act (either generally or in relation to an individual entity), the repealed Standard continues to apply in relation to any period ending before that time as if the repeal had not occurred.

[Note: When this Standard applies under section 334 of the Corporations Act (either generally or in relation to an individual entity), it supersedes the application of the repealed Standard.]

AusC34.2 When applied or operative, this Standard supersedes Interpretation 1047 Professional Indemnity Claims Liabilities in Medical Defence Organisations.

Amendments to AASB 119 Employee Benefits (August 2015)

Footnote Aus1 is added to the definition of ‘qualifying insurance policy’ in paragraph 8, following footnote 1.

Definitions

8 The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified:

…

A qualifying insurance policy is an insurance policy1, Aus1 issued by an insurer that is not a related party …

1 A qualifying insurance policy is not necessarily an insurance contract, as defined in AASB 17 Insurance Contracts.

Aus1 For public sector entities, a qualifying insurance policy is not necessarily an insurance contract, as defined in AASB 4 Insurance Contracts.

Amendments to AASB 132 Financial Instruments: Presentation (August 2015)

Paragraphs Aus4.1, Aus4.2 and AusAG8.1 are added. Paragraphs 4 and AG8 are not amended but are included for reference.

Scope

4 This Standard shall be applied by all entities to all types of financial instruments except:

(a) …

(d) insurance contracts as defined in AASB 17 Insurance Contracts or investment contracts with discretionary participation features within the scope of AASB 17. However, this Standard applies to: …

(e) [deleted]

(f) …

Aus4.1 Further to paragraph 4, public sector entities shall apply AASB 4 Insurance Contracts to insurance contracts as defined in AASB 4. However, this Standard applies to:

(a) derivatives that are embedded in insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4, if AASB 9 requires the entity to account for them separately; and

(b) financial guarantee contracts if an issuer applies AASB 9 in recognising and measuring the contracts, but AASB 4 shall apply if an issuer elects, in accordance with paragraph 4(d) of AASB 4, to apply AASB 4 in recognising and measuring them.

Aus4.2 Public sector entities apply AASB 4 to financial instruments that are within the scope of AASB 4 because they contain a discretionary participation feature. The issuer of these instruments is exempt from applying to these features paragraphs 15–32 and AG25–AG35 of this Standard regarding the distinction between financial liabilities and equity instruments. However, these instruments are subject to all other requirements of this Standard. Furthermore, this Standard applies to derivatives that are embedded in these instruments (see AASB 9).

…

Financial assets and financial liabilities

…

AG8 The ability to exercise a contractual right or the requirement to satisfy a contractual obligation may be absolute, or it may be contingent on the occurrence of a future event. For example, a financial guarantee is a contractual right of the lender to receive cash from the guarantor, and a corresponding contractual obligation of the guarantor to pay the lender, if the borrower defaults. The contractual right and obligation exist because of a past transaction or event (assumption of the guarantee), even though the lender’s ability to exercise its right and the requirement for the guarantor to perform under its obligation are both contingent on a future act of default by the borrower. A contingent right and obligation meet the definition of a financial asset and a financial liability, even though such assets and liabilities are not always recognised in the financial statements. Some of these contingent rights and obligations may be contracts within the scope of AASB 17.

AusAG8.1 For public sector entities, some of the contingent rights and obligations addressed in paragraph AG8 may be insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4.

Amendments to AASB 136 Impairment of Assets (August 2015)

Paragraph Aus2.1 is added. Paragraph 2 is not amended but is included for reference.

Scope

2 This Standard shall be applied in accounting for the impairment of all assets, other than:

(a) …

(h) contracts within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts that are assets and any assets for insurance acquisition cash flows as defined in AASB 17; and

(i) …

Aus2.1 Further to paragraph 2, public sector entities shall not apply this Standard to deferred acquisition costs, and intangible assets, arising from an insurer’s contractual rights under insurance contracts within the scopes of AASB 4 Insurance Contracts and AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts.

Amendments to AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets (August 2015)

Paragraph Aus5.1 is added. Paragraph 5 is not amended but is included for reference.

Scope

…

5 When another Standard deals with a specific type of provision, contingent liability or contingent asset, an entity applies that Standard instead of this Standard. For example, some types of provisions are addressed in Standards on:

(a) …

(e) insurance contracts and other contracts within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts;

(f) …

Aus5.1 Further to paragraph 5, public sector entities shall apply this Standard to provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets of an insurer, other than those arising from its contractual obligations and rights under insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4 Insurance Contracts.

Amendments to AASB 138 Intangible Assets (August 2015)

Paragraph Aus3.2 is added. Paragraph 3 is not amended but is included for reference.

Scope

…

3 If another Standard prescribes the accounting for a specific type of intangible asset, an entity applies that Standard instead of this Standard. For example, this Standard does not apply to:

(a) …

(g) contracts within the scope of AASB 17 Insurance Contracts and any assets for insurance acquisition cash flows as defined in AASB 17.

(h) …

Aus3.2 Further to paragraph 3, public sector entities shall not apply this Standard to deferred acquisition costs, and intangible assets, arising from an insurer’s contractual rights under insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4 Insurance Contracts. AASB 4 sets out specific disclosure requirements for those deferred acquisition costs but not for those intangible assets. Therefore, the disclosure requirements in this Standard apply to those intangible assets.

Amendments to AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards (July 2015)

Paragraphs 5A, 6A and 11A are amended. Paragraphs 12 and 26 are deleted.

Application of Australian Accounting Standards

5A AASB 4 Insurance Contracts applies to:

(a) general purpose financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector reporting entity; and

(b) financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector entity that are, or are held out to be, general purpose financial statements.;

in respect of annual periods beginning before 1 July 2026. However, a public sector entity may elect to apply AASB 17 Insurance Contracts instead of AASB 4.

…

6A AASB 17 Insurance Contracts applies as set out in paragraph 5, except when the entity is:

(a) a superannuation entity applying AASB 1056; or

(b) a not-for-profit public sector entity.

However, a public sector entity may elect to apply AASB 17 instead of both AASB 4 and AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts.

…

11A AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts applies to:

(a) general purpose financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector reporting entity; and

(b) financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector entity that are, or are held out to be, general purpose financial statements.;

in respect of annual periods beginning before 1 July 2026. However, a public sector entity may elect to apply AASB 17 Insurance Contracts instead of AASB 1023.

12 [Deleted] AASB 1038 Life Insurance Contracts applies to:

(a) a life insurer; or

(b) the parent in a group that includes a life insurer;

when the entity is a not-for-profit public sector entity that:

(d) prepares financial statements that are, or are held out to be, general purpose financial statements.

…

Application of Australian Interpretations

…

26 [Deleted] Interpretation 1047 Professional Indemnity Claims Liabilities in Medical Defence Organisations applies to entities that are or include medical defence organisations as follows:

(a) general purpose financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector reporting entity; and

(b) financial statements of each not-for-profit public sector entity that are, or are held out to be, general purpose financial statements.

Amendments to AASB 1058 Income of Not-for-Profit Entities (December 2016)

Paragraph Aus7.1 is added. Paragraph 7 is not amended but is included for reference.

Scope (paragraphs B2-B11)

7 An entity shall apply this Standard to transactions where the consideration to acquire an asset is significantly less than fair value principally to enable the entity to further its objectives, and the receipt of volunteer services, except for:

(a) …

(d) …

Aus7.1 Further to paragraph 7, public sector entities shall not apply this Standard to insurance contracts within the scope of AASB 4 Insurance Contracts or AASB 1023 General Insurance Contracts.

Commencement of the legislative instrument

For legal purposes, this legislative instrument commences on 31 December 2022.