Step 2: Identifying a performance obligation

Insights into MFRS 15

Accurate and consistent revenue recognition is a cornerstone of sound financial reporting for all businesses, ensuring comparability across industries and markets. MFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (equivalent to IFRS 15) was jointly developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to align revenue reporting practices under IFRS and US GAAP. The objective of the standard is not to alter the definition of revenue, but to improve comparability by establishing a clear framework for recognising and measuring revenue.

Our ‘Insights into MFRS 15’ series summarises the key areas of the Standard, highlighting some areas that are challenging to apply in practice, to assist reporting entities in understanding how to apply MFRS 15’s requirements.

MFRS 15 introduced the five-step model for revenue recognition and applies specifically to contracts with customers. This article deals with Step 2 of the five-step model which covers the identification of performance obligations – the key units of account of MFRS 15. For a summary of the five-step model, refer to our article ‘Insights into MFRS 15 – Overview and scope’.

MFRS 15

MFRS 15

Step 2: Identifying a performance obligation

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How we can help

We hope you find the information in this article helpful in giving you some insight into aspects of MFRS 15. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised, please speak to your usual Grant Thornton contact.