Wednesday, January 14, 2026

IFRS9 – Financial Instrument

Definition 1 - Financial Instrument or Asset is any asset that is Cash, any Equity instrument (e.g., Shares) of another company & a contractual right to receive Cash.

Definition 2 - It covers a contract between two parties which gives to one party financial asset & to other party financial liability & Equity. The simple words, financial asset means right to receive Cash.  

Definition 3 - In Simplest Language – In IFRS9 you Show financial assets at today’s market value, and decide whether the gain goes to profit or a separate place (OCI), based on why you bought the asset.

What type of assets are covered in IFRS 9?

1.     Shares                         -           Buying Tata / Apple shares

2.     Bonds / Debentures    -           Giving loan to a company

3.     FD / Loan given          -           Bank FD or money lent to someone

4.     Mutual Funds              -           Equity or debt MF

5.     Derivatives                  -           Gold future, dollar contract

Note - Land, building, car, inventory is not covered here 

Now Understand what is fair value in very simple manner

Fair Value means today’s market price. Forget about the purchase price, how much you paid. Only ask “If you sell it today, how much money will you get?”

Example - You bought a share at ₹2,000

Today’s market price = ₹2,300

Fair Value = ₹2,300

Now the question comes where to show this ₹300 Gain or loss (if any). Then you have to identify. Why did you buy this asset? Based on your answer, the profit goes to different places.

Case 1: You bought shares to make quick profit. With a though of “Price will go up. I will sell and earn”.

Example: Buy share at ₹1,500. Year-end price = ₹1,800. Gain = ₹300

This ₹300 is shown directly as profit

This is called - Fair Value through Profit & Loss (FVTPL)

Case 2: You bought shares as long-term investment. With a though of “I will keep it for many years”.

Example - Buy share at ₹1,000, Year-end value = ₹1,200. Gain = ₹200

This ₹200 is not treated as normal profit. As you have not booked it yet. It is shown in a separate box, not in profit. This separate box is called OCI (Other Comprehensive Income).

This method is called:

Fair Value through OCI (FVTOCI)

Case 3: Now understand FD / Loans / Bonds

Example: You give ₹1,00,000 to a bank or company. You expect Fixed interest every year & Full money back at the end. Here no daily buying or selling. no market guessing. So, in this case IFRS 9 says “Do NOT change its value daily”. You just show interest income & keep the original amount

SPPI Test - SPPI only asks ONE simple question:

Will you receive only my money + interest?

If you will get Simple interest type return SPPI Test pass. But if you will get Market-linked return then SPPI test is fail.

SPPI – Pass >>> Examples: Bank FD, Simple loan Fixed-interest bond

SPPI – failed >>> Examples: Return depends on share price, Return depends on gold or dollar price

How do you get Fair Value - Real market numbers

Level 1 – Direct market price for Listed shares and Mutual fund NAV >>> Stock exchange price

Level 2 – You have to do Market comparison for Unlisted bond from Similar interest rate data >>>RBI rates, bank yields

Level 3 – in Case of Startup investments Estimated value for Private company shares >>> Expected future profits (best estimate)

What you bought

Why you bought

Value based on

Shown where

Shares (trading)

Quick profit

Market price

Profit

Shares (long term)

Investment

Market price

Separate box (OCI)

FD / Loan

Interest

Original amount

Interest income

Derivatives

Speculation

Market price

Profit

Okay now we are going to connect the real word accounting with what we have learnt. Here we are going to learn about Two Financial Assets.


Investment in Equity instrument – IFRS9

Method

When Applicable

1. Fair Value through P&L

Default option for all Equity Investments

2. Fair Value through OCI

Irrevocable Election at initial recognition (non trading Only)

Simple – If management decided the URGL of particular equity will go to OCI. Then 2 conditions need to Follow

1.      The decision will be irrevocable for URGL transfer to OCI

2.      If the Equity will be sold in future, then realised gain or loss will not transfer to P&L. it will go to Retained earnings

Fair Value through P&L (FVTPL)

·       Default classification

·       Mandatory for equity Instruments held for Trading

·       Also used when entity does not make OCI election

·       Example – investing in shares of listed company for short term gain (Intraday or swing trading)  

Fair Value Through OCI (FVTOCI)

·       Only for equity instruments not held for trading.

·       Requires an irrevocable election at the time of initial recognition.

·       Suitable when investment is made for strategic reasons or long-term holding.

·       Example: Investment in shares of a business partner company for long-term strategic interest. 

Important Point

·       Equity shares do not have fixed or contractual payments like principal and interest.

·       Returns (like dividends or capital appreciation) are not predictable or contractual.

·       There's no maturity or repayment obligation in shares.

·       Conclusion: Equity investments cannot be measured at amortised cost under IFRS9 -

they must be measured at fair value (either through P&L or OCI).

Accounting for Equity Investments- Comparison (FVTPL vs FVTOCI)

 

Aspect

Fair Value Through P&L (FVTPL)

Fair Value Through OCI (FVTOCI)

Initial Measurement

At fair value

+ Transaction costs →P&L (expensed)

At fair value+ Transaction costs → Capitalised

Subsequent Measurement

Fair value changes -> P&L (gain/loss)

Fair value changes → OCI (gain/loss)

Dividend income

Goes to P&L if it represents return on investment

Goes to P&L if it represents return on investment

 

Accounting for Investment in Debt instrument – IFRS9
Debt instrument (e.g. Bonds, Debentures Can be classified under three Measurement Categories)
1.     Fair Value through P&L (FVTPL)
2.     Fair Value through OCI (FVTOCI) 
3.     Amortisation Cost  

  For accounting of investment in debt instrument you have to check two test

1. BMT – Business Model test – Whether the business model is to hold the asset to collect the contractual Cash flows  

2.     CCFT (SPPI)– Contractual cash flow test – are the Cash flow from the asset solely payments of principal and Interest (SPPI) if you are going to received Interest and principal amount at maturity

Three Accounting methods for financial Asset Debt instruments


1.     If BMT & CCFT both test Pass then show at amortisation cost means ignore fair Value (Held to collect cash flows)
2.     If BMT fails and CCFT test Pass then show as FVTOCI (Held to Collect + Sell)
3.     Fails CCFT or Default Category will go in FVTPL (Trading / Complex Instruments)



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