IASB Invites Comments On Stock Options Treatment.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: International Accounting Standards Board Discussion Paper, Accounting for Share-based Payment - Brief Article

Want to comment on the International Accounting Standards Board Discussion Paper, Accounting for Share-based Payment (refers to stock options)? You can, by Dec. 15. The first big issue the IASB is tackling looks like it could be highly contentious (see Phil Livingston's opinion on page 6) and could threaten the newly formed group's goals of converging global accounting standards.

Sir David Tweedie, IASB chairman, said: "The widespread use of share options to pay employees, external advisors and others; the calls from users of financial statements for improvements in accounting for these transactions; and the differing proposals emanating from national standard-setters demonstrate the importance of developing a high-quality global accounting standard on share-based payment." He acknowledges there are "complex issues for the Board to consider, in particular, how we can measure the value of employee share options." Tweedie hopes that additional comments will provide the...