3. Mandatory exceptions
The general principle of IFRS 1 is that all IFRSs should be applied retrospectively in an entity’s first IFRS financial statements and/or each interim
financial report for part of the period covered by its first IFRS financial statements (if the report is prepared in accordance with IAS 34). However, the
IASB has determined that retrospective application in certain situations cannot be performed with sufficient reliability. In those situations, which are
listed below, full retrospective application is prohibited.
3.1 Accounting estimates
Accounting estimates required under IFRSs that were made under previous GAAP may not be adjusted on transition except to reflect differences in
accounting policies or unless there is objective evidence that the estimates were in error. The primary objective of this exception is to prevent
entities using the benefit of hindsight to adjust estimates based on circumstances and information which were not available when the amounts
were originally estimated under previous GAAP.
When restating previous GAAP amounts for the purpose of its opening IFRS statement of financial position, an entity may have information
available that was not available at the time the estimate was made. This information is treated as ‘non-adjusting’ (i.e. the amounts recognised are
not adjusted). IFRS 1 gives the following example to illustrate this requirement.