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Discontinued operation

A discontinued operation is a component of an entity that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale and meets the specified IFRS 5 conditions, such as representing a separate major line of business or geographical area. Its results are presented and disclosed separately as required.

Worked example

A company sells a major geographical business line; the auditor evaluates whether it meets the definition and whether required presentation is complete.

Common mistake

Not every disposal or held-for-sale asset automatically qualifies as a discontinued operation.

Where it appears in your exams

QualificationExamRelationshipPeriod
ACCA AAA (INT) Supporting September 2026–June 2027
ACCA FR Direct September 2026–June 2027
ACCA SBR Direct September 2026–June 2027