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Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises

Derecognition of Financial Liabilities

Summary

The AcSB is undertaking narrow‑scope standard setting to address concerns related to the derecognition of financial liabilities guidance under Section 3856 Financial Instruments in Part II of the CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE).

Recent amendments made by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments clarified that a financial liability is generally extinguished on the settlement date rather than on the trade date, with a limited exception for certain electronic payment systems. Although these amendments do not apply to entities applying ASPE, concerns have been raised that some entities may look to the amended IFRS Accounting Standards guidance because the derecognition principles in Section 3856 align with IFRS 9.

The AcSB aims to support consistent application of the derecognition requirements, address identified concerns and limit the risk of unintended consequences.

Staff Contact(s)

Maxim Sergheev, CPA Principal, Accounting Standards Board

Project Status

  • Information gathering

    Completed prior to February 2026.

  • Approving project

    The AcSB approved the project in March 2026​

    The AcSB is developing narrow-scope proposals to address concerns related to the derecognition of financial liabilities

  • Engaging communities
  • Deliberating feedback
  • Final pronouncement

Meeting & event summaries


August 5, 2026

AcSB Decision Summary – July 15, 2026

Narrow-scope Amendment – Derecognition of Financial Liabilities

The AcSB discussed proposals for inclusion in an exposure draft for its Derecognition of Financial Liabilities project. As part of its deliberations, the Board considered feedback from its Private Enterprise Advisory Committee and Medium and Small Practitioners Advisory Committee.

The AcSB discussed proposals to introduce an accounting policy choice for determining when financial liabilities settled in cash should be derecognized. The Board will continue discussing the proposals at its September 2026 meeting. The Board plans to issue an exposure draft in November 2026.

March 11, 2026

AcSB Decision Summary – March 11-12, 2026

The AcSB considered an amendment to Section 3856 Financial Instruments that would provide an option for an enterprise to either use the trade date or the settlement date as the date a financial liability is extinguished. The AcSB decided to address this through a narrow-scope-amendment project in the 2026-2027 Annual Plan and will discuss the timing and scope of this project at a future meeting.

March 18, 2025

AcSB Decision Summary – March 18-19, 2025

Guidance Framework: Derecognition of Financial Liabilities

The AcSB continued discussing how recent amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments affect Section 3856 Financial Instruments in Part II of the Handbook, regarding the derecognition of financial liabilities.

Although the IASB issued an amendment, there have been no changes to ASPE in this area. Therefore, the AcSB does not expect changes in how these transactions are being accounted for in Canada by entities applying Section 3856.

After considering input from its Private Enterprise Advisory Committee and Medium and Small Practitioners Advisory Committee, the AcSB concluded that further guidance would be helpful to clarify the requirements in ASPE.

The AcSB tentatively decided to provide guidance by issuing a narrow-scope amendment to Section 3856 through an annual improvement. The topic will be added to the list of potential projects to be addressed in the future and may be bundled with other unrelated minor amendments that meet the criteria for annual improvement.

November 26, 2024

AcSB Decision Summary – November 26-27, 2024

The Board recommended that next steps related to the topic of providing clarification on the derecognition of financial liabilities be assessed through the Guidance Framework.

September 17, 2024

AcSB Decision Summary – September 17-18, 2024

Amendments to Other Frameworks

The AcSB discussed the impact of recent amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments on Section 3856 Financial Instruments associated with the derecognition of financial liabilities settled using electronic payment systems. The Board understands that this amendment is expected to impact other transactions in addition to those settled electronically. Notwithstanding the changes to IFRS, there have been no changes to ASPE. Therefore, the Board does not expect changes in how these transactions are being accounted for in Canada by entities applying Section 3856. The Board directed staff to discuss this issue with its Private Enterprise Advisory Committee and Small Practitioners Working Group at an upcoming meeting.

Disclaimer

This project summary has been prepared for information purposes only. Decisions reported are tentative and reflect only the current status of discussions on this project, which may change after further Board deliberations. Decisions to publish Handbook material are final only after a formal voting process.