What is a Special Purpose Framework?

A Special Purpose Framework (SPF), sometimes called a Special Purpose Financial Reporting Framework, is a financial reporting framework designed to meet the financial information needs of specific users or to comply with a specific agreement or regulatory requirement. It’s not designed for general-purpose financial statements that are intended for a broad range of users.

There are various reasons entities might use a special purpose framework, such as:

• Contractual agreements that require financial statements prepared on a specific basis.
• Compliance with regulatory requirements in some industries or jurisdictions.
• Tax reporting purposes when financial statements need to be prepared in line with certain tax regulations.

Examples of special purpose frameworks include:

• Cash Basis of Accounting: Recognizes transactions and events only when cash (including cash equivalents) is received or paid.
• Tax Basis of Accounting: Prepares financial statements according to tax regulations and laws. These may differ significantly from general-purpose financial reporting standards.
• Regulatory Basis of Accounting: Tailors financial statements to meet specific regulatory requirements, which might be applicable to certain industries or sectors.
• Contractual Basis of Accounting: Arranges financial statements to comply with a specific contract or agreement.

It’s crucial that users of financial statements prepared under a special purpose framework understand the basis of preparation and its implications. This understanding ensures that the financial information is interpreted correctly and that decisions are made based on relevant and appropriate data.

To ensure clarity, entities using a special purpose framework often provide notes to the financial statements that describe the framework and any significant accounting policies applied. This helps ensure that users are aware they’re not looking at general-purpose financial statements and understand the context in which to interpret the data.

Example of a Special Purpose Framework

Let’s use the Tax Basis of Accounting as our example for a Special Purpose Framework (SPF).

Scenario: A Small Business and Tax Basis Financial Statements

• Setting the Scene:
  • Imagine there’s a small business named “GreenLand Gardening.”
  • GreenLand doesn’t have public accountability, and its main concern is preparing financial statements for tax compliance.
  • Due to its specific needs, GreenLand opts to prepare its financial statements using the tax basis of accounting, a type of special purpose framework. This means that the company’s financial statements will be aligned with tax regulations and laws, rather than general financial reporting standards.
  • Under the tax basis of accounting:
    • Revenue might be recognized when it’s taxable.
    • Expenses might be recognized when they’re deductible.
    • Some expenses, which are not deductible for tax purposes (e.g., certain types of entertainment expenses), might not appear on the income statement at all.
    • Depreciation might be calculated based on tax regulations rather than the usual accounting standards.
    • GreenLand’s balance sheet and income statement might look different from those of a similar company using a different framework (e.g., accrual accounting).
    • For instance, if there’s a difference between tax regulations and general financial reporting standards regarding the valuation of inventory, GreenLand’s inventory values on its balance sheet might differ from those of a company using the general financial reporting standards.
    • GreenLand should include notes in its financial statements specifying that they have been prepared using the tax basis of accounting. This helps ensure that any users of the financial statements—like a bank evaluating GreenLand for a loan—understand the context and basis of the presented information.

    In this example, GreenLand Gardening has chosen a framework that best fits its primary purpose for financial reporting. By doing so, it can efficiently align its financial recording and reporting processes with its tax compliance needs. However, it’s critical that any stakeholders interacting with the company’s financial statements are aware of this choice to interpret the information correctly.