Information presented in the financial statements should
faithfully represent the transaction and events that occur during a period.
Faithfull representation requires that transactions and
events should be accounted for in a manner that represent their true economic
substance rather than the mere legal form. This concept is known as Substance
Over Form.
Substance over form requires that if substance of
transaction differs from its legal form than such transaction should be
accounted for in accordance with its substance and economic reality.
The rationale behind this is that financial information
contained in the financial statements should represent the business essence of
transactions and events not merely their legal aspects in order to present a
true and fair view.
Example
A machine is leased to Company A for the entire duration of
its useful life. Although Company A is not the legal owner of the machine, it
may be recognized as an asset in its balance sheet since the Company has
control over the economic benefits that would be derived from the use of the
asset. This is an application of the accountancy concept of substance over
legal form, where economic substance of a transaction takes precedence over its
legal aspects.
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