The
qualitative characteristics are attributes that improve the usefulness
of information provided in financial statements. The framework suggests
that the financial statements should observe and maintain the following
four qualitative characteristics as far as possible within limits of
reasonable cost/ benefit.
1. Understandability: The financial statements should present information in a manner as to be readily understandable by the users with reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities. It is not right to think that more disclosures are always better. A mass of irrelevant information creates confusion and can be even more harmful than non-disclosure. No relevant information can be however withheld on the grounds of complexity.
2. Relevance: The financial statements should contain relevant information only. Information, which is likely to influence the economic decisions by the users, is said to be relevant. Such information may help the users to evaluate past, present or future events or may help in confirming or correcting past evaluations. The relevance of a piece of information should be judged by its materiality. A piece of information is said to be material if its omission or misstatement can influence economic decisions of a user.
3. Reliability: To be useful, the information must be reliable; that is to say, they must be free from material error and bias. The information provided are not likely to be reliable unless:
(a) Transactions and events reported are faithfully represented.
(b) Transactions and events are reported in terms of their substance and economic reality not merely on the basis of their legal form. This principle is called the principle of 'substance over form'.
(c) The reporting of transactions and events are neutral, i.e. free from bias.
(d) Prudence is exercised in reporting uncertain outcome of transactions or events.
4. Comparability: Comparison of financial statements is one of the most frequently used and most effective tools of financial analysis. The financial statements should permit both interfirm and intra-firm comparison. One essential requirement of comparability is disclosure of financial effect of change in accounting policies.
5. True and Fair View: Financial statements are required to show a true and fair view of the performance, financial position and cash flows of an enterprise. The conceptual framework does not deal directly with this concept of true and fair view, yet the application of the principal qualitative characteristics and of appropriate accounting standards normally results in financial statements portraying true and fair view of information about an enterprise.
1. Understandability: The financial statements should present information in a manner as to be readily understandable by the users with reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities. It is not right to think that more disclosures are always better. A mass of irrelevant information creates confusion and can be even more harmful than non-disclosure. No relevant information can be however withheld on the grounds of complexity.
2. Relevance: The financial statements should contain relevant information only. Information, which is likely to influence the economic decisions by the users, is said to be relevant. Such information may help the users to evaluate past, present or future events or may help in confirming or correcting past evaluations. The relevance of a piece of information should be judged by its materiality. A piece of information is said to be material if its omission or misstatement can influence economic decisions of a user.
3. Reliability: To be useful, the information must be reliable; that is to say, they must be free from material error and bias. The information provided are not likely to be reliable unless:
(a) Transactions and events reported are faithfully represented.
(b) Transactions and events are reported in terms of their substance and economic reality not merely on the basis of their legal form. This principle is called the principle of 'substance over form'.
(c) The reporting of transactions and events are neutral, i.e. free from bias.
(d) Prudence is exercised in reporting uncertain outcome of transactions or events.
4. Comparability: Comparison of financial statements is one of the most frequently used and most effective tools of financial analysis. The financial statements should permit both interfirm and intra-firm comparison. One essential requirement of comparability is disclosure of financial effect of change in accounting policies.
5. True and Fair View: Financial statements are required to show a true and fair view of the performance, financial position and cash flows of an enterprise. The conceptual framework does not deal directly with this concept of true and fair view, yet the application of the principal qualitative characteristics and of appropriate accounting standards normally results in financial statements portraying true and fair view of information about an enterprise.