International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

ISA 560
April 2009

International Standard on Auditing

Subsequent Events

International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board International Federation of Accountants 545 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor New York, New York 10017 USA This International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 560, Subsequent Events was prepared by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), an independent standard-setting body within the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). The objective of the IAASB is to serve the public interest by setting high quality auditing and assurance standards and by facilitating the convergence of international and national standards, thereby enhancing the quality and uniformity of practice throughout the world and strengthening public confidence in the global auditing and assurance profession. This publication may be downloaded free of charge from the IFAC website: http://www.ifac.org. The approved text is published in the English language. The mission of IFAC is to serve the public interest, strengthen the worldwide accountancy profession and contribute to the development of strong international economies by establishing and promoting adherence to high quality professional standards, furthering the international convergence of such standards and speaking out on public interest issues where the professions expertise is most relevant.

Copyright April 2009 by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). All rights reserved. Permission is granted to make copies of this work provided that such copies are for use in academic classrooms or for personal use and are not sold or disseminated and provided that each copy bears the following credit line: Copyright April 2009 by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). All rights reserved. Used with permission of IFAC. Contact permissions@ifac.org for permission to reproduce, store or transmit this document. Otherwise, written permission from IFAC is required to reproduce, store or transmit, or to make other similar uses of, this document, except as permitted by law. Contact permissions@ifac.org. ISBN: 978-1-60815-019-9
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 560 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

(Effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2009)

CONTENTS
Paragraph Introduction Scope of this ISA ..................................................................................... Subsequent Events ................................................................................... Effective Date .......................................................................................... Objectives ............................................................................................... Definitions ............................................................................................... Requirements Events Occurring between the Date of the Financial Statements and the Date of the Auditors Report....................................................... Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Date of the Auditors Report but before the Date the Financial Statements are Issued .......................................................................................... Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Financial Statements Have Been Issued ........................................................... Application and Other Explanatory Material Scope of this ISA ..................................................................................... Definitions ............................................................................................... Events Occurring between the Date of the Financial Statements and the Date of the Auditors Report....................................................... A1 A2-A5 A6-A10 6-9 1 2 3 4 5

10-13 14-17

Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Date of the Auditors Report but before the Date the Financial Statements are Issued .......................................................................................... A11-A16 Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Financial Statements Have Been Issued ........................................................... A17-A18

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International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 560, Subsequent Events should be read in conjunction with ISA 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International Standards on Auditing.

AUDITING

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Introduction
Scope of this ISA 1. This International Standard on Auditing (ISA) deals with the auditors responsibilities relating to subsequent events in an audit of financial statements. (Ref: Para. A1)

Subsequent Events 2. Financial statements may be affected by certain events that occur after the date of the financial statements. Many financial reporting frameworks specifically refer to such events.1 Such financial reporting frameworks ordinarily identify two types of events: (a) (b) Those that provide evidence of conditions that existed at the date of the financial statements; and Those that provide evidence of conditions that arose after the date of the financial statements.

ISA 700 explains that the date of the auditors report informs the reader that the auditor has considered the effect of events and transactions of which the auditor becomes aware and that occurred up to that date.2 Effective Date 3. This ISA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2009.

Objectives
4. The objectives of the auditor are: (a) To obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about whether events occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditors report that require adjustment of, or disclosure in, the financial statements are appropriately reflected in those financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework; and To respond appropriately to facts that become known to the auditor after the date of the auditors report, that, had they been known to the auditor at that date, may have caused the auditor to amend the auditors report.

(b)

For example, International Accounting Standard (IAS) 10, Events After the Reporting Period deals with the treatment in financial statements of events, both favorable and unfavorable, that occur between the date of the financial statements (referred to as the end of the reporting period in the IAS) and the date when the financial statements are authorized for issue. ISA 700, Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements, paragraph A38. 4

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Definitions
5. For purposes of the ISAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) (b) Date of the financial statements The date of the end of the latest period covered by the financial statements. Date of approval of the financial statements The date on which all the statements that comprise the financial statements, including the related notes, have been prepared and those with the recognized authority have asserted that they have taken responsibility for those financial statements. (Ref: Para. A2) Date of the auditors report The date the auditor dates the report on the financial statements in accordance with ISA 700. (Ref: Para. A3) Date the financial statements are issued The date that the auditors report and audited financial statements are made available to third parties. (Ref: Para. A4-A5) Subsequent events Events occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditors report, and facts that become known to the auditor after the date of the auditors report.

(c) (d)

(e)

Requirements
Events Occurring between the Date of the Financial Statements and the Date of the Auditors Report 6. The auditor shall perform audit procedures designed to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence that all events occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditors report that require adjustment of, or disclosure in, the financial statements have been identified. The auditor is not, however, expected to perform additional audit procedures on matters to which previously applied audit procedures have provided satisfactory conclusions. (Ref: Para. A6) The auditor shall perform the procedures required by paragraph 6 so that they cover the period from the date of the financial statements to the date of the auditors report, or as near as practicable thereto. The auditor shall take into account the auditors risk assessment in determining the nature and extent of such audit procedures, which shall include the following: (Ref: Para. A7-A8) (a) Obtaining an understanding of any procedures management has established to ensure that subsequent events are identified.

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(b)

Inquiring of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance as to whether any subsequent events have occurred which might affect the financial statements. (Ref: Para. A9) Reading minutes, if any, of the meetings, of the entitys owners, management and those charged with governance, that have been held after the date of the financial statements and inquiring about matters discussed at any such meetings for which minutes are not yet available. (Ref: Para. A10) Reading the entitys latest subsequent interim financial statements, if any.

(c)

(d) 8.

If, as a result of the procedures performed as required by paragraphs 6 and 7, the auditor identifies events that require adjustment of, or disclosure in, the financial statements, the auditor shall determine whether each such event is appropriately reflected in those financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

Written Representations 9. The auditor shall request management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, to provide a written representation in accordance with ISA 5803 that all events occurring subsequent to the date of the financial statements and for which the applicable financial reporting framework requires adjustment or disclosure have been adjusted or disclosed.

Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Date of the Auditors Report but before the Date the Financial Statements Are Issued 10. The auditor has no obligation to perform any audit procedures regarding the financial statements after the date of the auditors report. However, if, after the date of the auditors report but before the date the financial statements are issued, a fact becomes known to the auditor that, had it been known to the auditor at the date of the auditors report, may have caused the auditor to amend the auditors report, the auditor shall: (Ref: Para. A11) (a) (b) (c) 11.
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Discuss the matter with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance. Determine whether the financial statements need amendment and, if so, Inquire how management intends to address the matter in the financial statements.

If management amends the financial statements, the auditor shall:

ISA 580, Written Representations. 6

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(a) (b)

Carry out the audit procedures necessary in the circumstances on the amendment. Unless the circumstances in paragraph 12 apply: (i) (ii) Extend the audit procedures referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 to the date of the new auditors report; and Provide a new auditors report on the amended financial statements. The new auditors report shall not be dated earlier than the date of approval of the amended financial statements.

12.

Where law, regulation or the financial reporting framework does not prohibit management from restricting the amendment of the financial statements to the effects of the subsequent event or events causing that amendment and those responsible for approving the financial statements are not prohibited from restricting their approval to that amendment, the auditor is permitted to restrict the audit procedures on subsequent events required in paragraph 11(b)(i) to that amendment. In such cases, the auditor shall either: (a) Amend the auditors report to include an additional date restricted to that amendment that thereby indicates that the auditors procedures on subsequent events are restricted solely to the amendment of the financial statements described in the relevant note to the financial statements; or (Ref: Para. A12) Provide a new or amended auditors report that includes a statement in an Emphasis of Matter paragraph4 or Other Matter paragraph that conveys that the auditors procedures on subsequent events are restricted solely to the amendment of the financial statements as described in the relevant note to the financial statements.

(b)

13.

In some jurisdictions, management may not be required by law, regulation or the financial reporting framework to issue amended financial statements and, accordingly, the auditor need not provide an amended or new auditors report. However, if management does not amend the financial statements in circumstances where the auditor believes they need to be amended, then: (Ref: Para. A13-A14) (a) If the auditors report has not yet been provided to the entity, the auditor shall modify the opinion as required by ISA 7055 and then provide the auditors report; or If the auditors report has already been provided to the entity, the auditor shall notify management and, unless all of those charged with

(b)

See ISA 706, Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditors Report. ISA 705, Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditors Report. 7

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governance are involved in managing the entity, those charged with governance, not to issue the financial statements to third parties before the necessary amendments have been made. If the financial statements are nevertheless subsequently issued without the necessary amendments, the auditor shall take appropriate action, to seek to prevent reliance on the auditors report. (Ref. Para: A15-A16) Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Financial Statements Have Been Issued 14. After the financial statements have been issued, the auditor has no obligation to perform any audit procedures regarding such financial statements. However, if, after the financial statements have been issued, a fact becomes known to the auditor that, had it been known to the auditor at the date of the auditors report, may have caused the auditor to amend the auditors report, the auditor shall: (a) (b) (c) 15. Discuss the matter with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance; Determine whether the financial statements need amendment; and, if so, Inquire how management intends to address the matter in the financial statements.

If management amends the financial statements, the auditor shall: (Ref: Para. A17) (a) (b) Carry out the audit procedures necessary in the circumstances on the amendment. Review the steps taken by management to ensure that anyone in receipt of the previously issued financial statements together with the auditors report thereon is informed of the situation. Unless the circumstances in paragraph 12 apply: (i) Extend the audit procedures referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 to the date of the new auditors report, and date the new auditors report no earlier than the date of approval of the amended financial statements; and Provide a new auditors report on the amended financial statements.

(c)

(ii) (d) 16.

When the circumstances in paragraph 12 apply, amend the auditors report, or provide a new auditors report as required by paragraph 12.

The auditor shall include in the new or amended auditors report an Emphasis of Matter paragraph or Other Matter(s) paragraph referring to a
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note to the financial statements that more extensively discusses the reason for the amendment of the previously issued financial statements and to the earlier report provided by the auditor. 17. If management does not take the necessary steps to ensure that anyone in receipt of the previously issued financial statements is informed of the situation and does not amend the financial statements in circumstances where the auditor believes they need to be amended, the auditor shall notify management and, unless all of those charged with governance are involved in managing the entity,6 those charged with governance, that the auditor will seek to prevent future reliance on the auditors report. If, despite such notification, management or those charged with governance do not take these necessary steps, the auditor shall take appropriate action to seek to prevent reliance on the auditors report. (Ref: Para. A18)

*** Application and Other Explanatory Material

Scope of this ISA (Ref: Para. 1) A1. When the audited financial statements are included in other documents subsequent to the issuance of the financial statements, the auditor may have additional responsibilities relating to subsequent events that the auditor may need to consider, such as legal or regulatory requirements involving the offering of securities to the public in jurisdictions in which the securities are being offered. For example, the auditor may be required to perform additional audit procedures to the date of the final offering document. These procedures may include those referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 performed up to a date at or near the effective date of the final offering document, and reading the offering document to assess whether the other information in the offering document is consistent with the financial information with which the auditor is associated.7

Definitions Date of Approval of the Financial Statements (Ref: Para. 5(b)) A2. In some jurisdictions, law or regulation identifies the individuals or bodies (for example, management or those charged with governance) that are responsible for concluding that all the statements that comprise the financial statements, including the related notes, have been prepared, and specifies the necessary approval process. In other jurisdictions, the approval process

6 7

ISA 260, Communication with Those Charged with Governance, paragraph 13. See ISA 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International Standards on Auditing, paragraph 2. 9

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is not prescribed in law or regulation and the entity follows its own procedures in preparing and finalizing its financial statements in view of its management and governance structures. In some jurisdictions, final approval of the financial statements by shareholders is required. In these jurisdictions, final approval by shareholders is not necessary for the auditor to conclude that sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base the auditors opinion on the financial statements has been obtained. The date of approval of the financial statements for purposes of the ISAs is the earlier date on which those with the recognized authority determine that all the statements that comprise the financial statements, including the related notes, have been prepared and that those with the recognized authority have asserted that they have taken responsibility for those financial statements. Date of the Auditors Report (Ref: Para. 5(c)) A3. The auditors report cannot be dated earlier than the date on which the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base the opinion on the financial statements including evidence that all the statements that comprise the financial statements, including the related notes, have been prepared and that those with the recognized authority have asserted that they have taken responsibility for those financial statements.8 Consequently, the date of the auditors report cannot be earlier than the date of approval of the financial statements as defined in paragraph 5(b). A time period may elapse due to administrative issues between the date of the auditors report as defined in paragraph 5(c) and the date the auditors report is provided to the entity.

Date the Financial Statements Are Issued (Ref: Para. 5(d)) A4. The date the financial statements are issued generally depends on the regulatory environment of the entity. In some circumstances, the date the financial statements are issued may be the date that they are filed with a regulatory authority. Since audited financial statements cannot be issued without an auditors report, the date that the audited financial statements are issued must not only be at or later than the date of the auditors report, but must also be at or later than the date the auditors report is provided to the entity.

Considerations Specific to Public Sector Entities A5. In the case of the public sector, the date the financial statements are issued may be the date the audited financial statements and the auditors report thereon are presented to the legislature or otherwise made public.

ISA 700, paragraph 41. In some cases, law or regulation also identifies the point in the financial statement reporting process at which the audit is expected to be complete. 10

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Events Occurring between the Date of the Financial Statements and the Date of the Auditors Report (Ref: Para. 6-9) A6. Depending on the auditors risk assessment, the audit procedures required by paragraph 6 may include procedures, necessary to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence, involving the review or testing of accounting records or transactions occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditors report. The audit procedures required by paragraphs 6 and 7 are in addition to procedures that the auditor may perform for other purposes that, nevertheless, may provide evidence about subsequent events (for example, to obtain audit evidence for account balances as at the date of the financial statements, such as cut-off procedures or procedures in relation to subsequent receipts of accounts receivable). Paragraph 7 stipulates certain audit procedures in this context that the auditor is required to perform pursuant to paragraph 6. The subsequent events procedures that the auditor performs may, however, depend on the information that is available and, in particular, the extent to which the accounting records have been prepared since the date of the financial statements. Where the accounting records are not up-to-date, and accordingly no interim financial statements (whether for internal or external purposes) have been prepared, or minutes of meetings of management or those charged with governance have not been prepared, relevant audit procedures may take the form of inspection of available books and records, including bank statements. Paragraph A8 gives examples of some of the additional matters that the auditor may consider in the course of these inquiries. In addition to the audit procedures required by paragraph 7, the auditor may consider it necessary and appropriate to: Read the entitys latest available budgets, cash flow forecasts and other related management reports for periods after the date of the financial statements; Inquire, or extend previous oral or written inquiries, of the entitys legal counsel concerning litigation and claims; or Consider whether written representations covering particular subsequent events may be necessary to support other audit evidence and thereby obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence.

A7.

A8.

Inquiry (Ref. Para. 7(b)) A9. In inquiring of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, as to whether any subsequent events have occurred that might affect the financial statements, the auditor may inquire as to the current status of items that were accounted for on the basis of preliminary or

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inconclusive data and may make specific inquiries about the following matters: Whether new commitments, borrowings or guarantees have been entered into. Whether sales or acquisitions of assets have occurred or are planned. Whether there have been increases in capital or issuance of debt instruments, such as the issue of new shares or debentures, or an agreement to merge or liquidate has been made or is planned. Whether any assets have been appropriated by government or destroyed, for example, by fire or flood. Whether there have been any developments regarding contingencies. Whether any unusual accounting adjustments have been made or are contemplated. Whether any events have occurred or are likely to occur that will bring into question the appropriateness of accounting policies used in the financial statements, as would be the case, for example, if such events call into question the validity of the going concern assumption. Whether any events have occurred that are relevant to the measurement of estimates or provisions made in the financial statements. Whether any events have occurred that are relevant to the recoverability of assets.

Reading Minutes (Ref. Para. 7(c)) Considerations Specific to Public Sector Entities A10. In the public sector, the auditor may read the official records of relevant proceedings of the legislature and inquire about matters addressed in proceedings for which official records are not yet available. Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Date of the Auditors Report but before the Date the Financial Statements Are Issued Management Responsibility towards Auditor (Ref: Para. 10) A11. As explained in ISA 210, the terms of the audit engagement include the agreement of management to inform the auditor of facts that may affect the financial statements, of which management may become aware during the period from the date of the auditors report to the date the financial statements are issued.9
9

ISA 210, Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements, paragraph A23. 12

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Dual Dating (Ref: Para. 12(a)) A12. When, in the circumstances described in paragraph 12(a), the auditor amends the auditors report to include an additional date restricted to that amendment, the date of the auditors report on the financial statements prior to their subsequent amendment by management remains unchanged because this date informs the reader as to when the audit work on those financial statements was completed. However, an additional date is included in the auditors report to inform users that the auditors procedures subsequent to that date were restricted to the subsequent amendment of the financial statements. The following is an illustration of such an additional date: (Date of auditors report), except as to Note Y, which is as of (date of completion of audit procedures restricted to amendment described in Note Y). No Amendment of Financial Statements by Management (Ref: Para. 13) A13. In some jurisdictions, management may not be required by law, regulation or the financial reporting framework to issue amended financial statements. This is often the case when issuance of the financial statements for the following period is imminent, provided appropriate disclosures are made in such statements. Considerations Specific to Public Sector Entities A14. In the public sector, the actions taken in accordance with paragraph 13 when management does not amend the financial statements may also include reporting separately to the legislature, or other relevant body in the reporting hierarchy, on the implications of the subsequent event for the financial statements and the auditors report. Auditor Action to Seek to Prevent Reliance on Auditors Report (Ref: Para. 13(b)) A15. The auditor may need to fulfill additional legal obligations even when the auditor has notified management not to issue the financial statements and management has agreed to this request. A16. Where management has issued the financial statements despite the auditors notification not to issue the financial statements to third parties, the auditors course of action to prevent reliance on the auditors report on the financial statements depends upon the auditors legal rights and obligations. Consequently, the auditor may consider it appropriate to seek legal advice.

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Facts Which Become Known to the Auditor after the Financial Statements Have Been Issued No Amendment of Financial Statements by Management (Ref: Para. 15) Considerations Specific to Public Sector Entities A17. In some jurisdictions, entities in the public sector may be prohibited from issuing amended financial statements by law or regulation. In such circumstances, the appropriate course of action for the auditor may be to report to the appropriate statutory body. Auditor Action to Seek to Prevent Reliance on Auditors Report (Ref: Para. 17) A18. Where the auditor believes that management, or those charged with governance, have failed to take the necessary steps to prevent reliance on the auditors report on financial statements previously issued by the entity despite the auditors prior notification that the auditor will take action to seek to prevent such reliance, the auditors course of action depends upon the auditors legal rights and obligations. Consequently, the auditor may consider it appropriate to seek legal advice.

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