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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 11 – Accounting for Foreign Currency Transactions

## Recognition and Subsequent Measurement of Foreign Currency Transactions

A foreign currency transaction is one that is denominated in, or requires settlement in, a foreign currency.

Examples:

  • Purchase or sale of goods/services in foreign currency
  • Borrowing or lending in foreign currency
  • Purchase or sale of PPE denominated in foreign currency

---

### Step 1 – Initial Recognition

Record the transaction at the exchange rate on the date of the transaction.

---

### Step 2 – Subsequent Measurement at Balance Sheet Date

Item TypeCarried atRemeasure at Closing Rate?
Monetary items (payables, receivables, loans)Closing rate✓ Yes
Non-monetary at historical cost (PPE-cost model, Inventory-cost)Rate on transaction date✗ No
Non-monetary at fair value / NRV (PPE-revaluation, Inventory-NRV)Rate when fair value was determined✓ Yes

---

### Step 3 – Exchange Differences → Profit & Loss

All exchange differences arising on monetary items are transferred to the Profit & Loss Account.

#### Quick Shortcut to identify Gain vs Loss:

ItemRate IncreasesRate Decreases
Liability (payable, loan)Loss (will pay more ₹)Gain (will pay less ₹)
Asset (receivable)Gain (will receive more ₹)Loss (will receive less ₹)

---

### Journal Entry Pattern

On transaction date:

```

Dr Asset / PPE / Purchases A/c [FC × transaction rate]

Cr Creditors / Loan A/c [FC × transaction rate]

```

At year-end (monetary items only):

```

If Exchange Loss:

Dr Exchange Loss A/c (P&L)

Cr Creditors / Loan A/c

If Exchange Gain:

Dr Creditors / Loan A/c

Cr Exchange Gain A/c (P&L)

```

On settlement:

```

Dr Creditors / Loan A/c [Book value at last remeasurement]

Dr/Cr Exchange Loss/Gain A/c [Balancing figure]

Cr Bank A/c [FC × settlement rate]

```

Worked example

### Example 1

Illus 2 – Trade Payable (Import)

On 01.01.Y1: Purchased inventory worth $15,000 when rate was ₹75/$.

```

Dr Purchases/Inventory A/c 11,25,000

Cr Creditors A/c 11,25,000

(15,000 × ₹75)

```

On 31.03.Y1 (year-end): Closing rate = ₹74/$

  • New value of creditor = 15,000 × 74 = ₹11,10,000
  • Book value = ₹11,25,000
  • Exchange Gain = ₹15,000 (liability decreased → gain)

```

Dr Creditors A/c 15,000

Cr Exchange Gain (P&L) 15,000

```

On 7.7.Y1 (payment): Rate = ₹73/$

  • Amount paid = 15,000 × 73 = ₹10,95,000
  • Book value of creditor = ₹11,10,000
  • Exchange Gain on settlement = ₹15,000

```

Dr Creditors A/c 11,10,000

Cr Bank A/c 10,95,000

Cr Exchange Gain (P&L) 15,000

```

### Example 2

Ques 8 CDR – Mixed Items

(i) Trade Payable (Import)

On 1st Jul Y1: Imported goods, trade payable = $36,000 @ ₹86/$ = ₹30,96,000

At year-end: Closing rate = ₹90/$

  • New value = 36,000 × 90 = ₹32,40,000
  • Exchange Loss = 32,40,000 − 30,96,000 = ₹1,44,000 (liability increased → loss)

```

Dr Exchange Loss (P&L) 1,44,000

Cr Trade Payables 1,44,000

```

(ii) Plant (paid on date of import – no creditor created)

1st Oct Y1: Plant purchased for $18,500 @ ₹88/$ = ₹16,28,000. Payment made on import date.

PPE is a non-monetary item carried at historical cost → not remeasured.

  • Fx Gain/Loss at year-end = NIL
  • Value remains ₹16,28,000

(iii) Trade Receivable (Export)

1st Dec Y1: Exported goods; trade receivable = $60,000 @ ₹84/$ = ₹50,40,000

At year-end: Closing rate = ₹90/$

  • New value = 60,000 × 90 = ₹54,00,000
  • Exchange Gain = 54,00,000 − 50,40,000 = ₹3,60,000 (asset increased → gain)

```

Dr Trade Receivables 3,60,000

Cr Exchange Gain (P&L) 3,60,000

```

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Remeasuring PPE (under cost model) or Inventory (at cost) at the closing rate – non-monetary items carried at historical cost are NEVER remeasured.
  • Forgetting to remeasure monetary items at the year-end closing rate – every Balance Sheet date requires remeasurement.
  • Not recognising exchange difference on settlement date – even after year-end remeasurement, a further gain/loss arises between the year-end rate and the actual payment rate.
  • Treating exchange loss on a liability as a gain because 'we paid less in the foreign currency' – always convert to ₹ to determine the actual gain or loss.
  • Applying exchange rate adjustments to P&L items (purchases, sales) – these are already recorded at the transaction date rate and are not adjusted.
Bare-Act text Para 7, 11 · AS 11 – The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates · click to expand
A foreign currency transaction shall be recorded, on initial recognition in the reporting currency, by applying to the foreign currency amount the exchange rate between the reporting currency and the foreign currency at the date of the transaction. At each balance sheet date, foreign currency monetary items shall be reported using the closing rate. Non-monetary items which are carried in terms of historical cost denominated in a foreign currency shall be reported using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.
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