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AAProvision and Materiality

BBinh6y ago
I have some problems with provision and materiality. One company has net profit before tax of £1.1 billion, and they set materiality levels equally 5% of net profit before tax. Company's lawyer says that: Company has to pay £120,000 for legal claim, and they just has only a 10% chance of recovering any of the loss from legal claim. What amounts of provision that the company should set in financial statement? The materiality is: £1.1.5% =£ 55,000 However, if they set the provision of 120,000. It is not following the materiality or if they set the provision of £108,000 (120000.90%). It is also not following the materiality. So What can I do now?
KimKimTutor6y ago#1
Do you mean: 5% x £1.1 Million = £55,000 or 5% x £1.1 Billion = £55 million? What do you mean "is not following the materiality"? In the circumstance you describe £120,000 is the best estimate of the liability - and this is the amount that should be provided for - i.e. Dr Profit or loss and Cr Liability. The 10% potential recovery is separate - and because it is only possible (<50%) rather than probable (>50%) - it won't even be disclosed as a contingent asset. It would NEVER be appropriate to consider 90% in this scenario. If net profit is £1.1 M: £120k is 10.9% of net profit and therefore material. Failure to make a provision would therefore be grounds for a modified opinion "except for" material misstatement. If net profit is £1.1 B: £120k is 0.01% of net profit and clearly trivial. Neither management nor the auditor will be interested in this matter.
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