COVID-19 Updates

Australia

• April: ASIC – Changes to regulatory work and priorities in response to COVID-19

Austria

• APAB News

Belgium

• May 4: Announcement of 4/5/2020 of the BAOC
• March 24: Announcement of 24/03/2020 of the BAOC

Brazil

• March 17: Coronavirus: information and new measures adopted by the CVM

Denmark

• March 13: Information about the Danish Business Authority under coronavirus / covid-19

Dubai

• April 7: DFSA Takes Measures to Support its Financial Community

Finland

• April 7: Effects of the coronavirus on the Auditor Oversight Unit

France

• April 8: H3C Press Release – information on deadlines for auditors
• April 3: H3C Press Release

Greece

• April 9: Measures for the audit quality inspections and operation of the HAASOB due to the pandemic of corona virus (COVID 19)

Japan

• Information on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

Korea

• April 14: FSC’S response to COVID-19 pandemic

Liechtenstein

• General information in connection with the coronavirus epidemic

Luxembourg

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Update of the situation

Malaysia

• March: Capital Market Frequently Asked Questions Related to Covid-19
• March 24: SC Announces Further Relief Measures for Capital Market Licensed Entities
• March 20: SC Remains Operational and Continues to Support Its Stakeholders
• March 17: SC: Capital Market to Operate as Usual

Norway

• March 16: Coronavirus: Information on Finanstilsynet’s follow-up

South Africa

• March 23: IRBA response to COVID- 19 and Alignment to State of National Disaster Declared by the President

Sweden

• The exam for the auditor’s degree will be moved until 18 – 19 August 2020

Switzerland

• FAOA Reaction to the Coronavirus: Many FAOA employees are currently working from home to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. During this time, the FAOA remains fully functional and fulfils its legal mandate. You can reach FAOA employees by phone or e-mail, as usual.

Thailand

• April 15: SEC reduces annual fee for securities issuers to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19

United Kingdom

• FRC contact details during move to remote working
• March 17: FRC moved to telework status: https://www.frc.org.uk/news/march-2020-(1)/frc-covid-19-update-(1)

United States

• March 23: In Light of COVID-19, PCAOB Provides Audit Firms with Opportunity for Relief from Inspections
• March 18: PCAOB Update on Operations In Light of COVID-19

Albania

• COVID-19

Australia

• March: The Impact of Coronavirus on Financial Reporting and the Auditor’s Considerations (Australian Accounting Standards Board – Auditing and Assurance Standards Board)

Botswana

• April 2: The Impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Audit and Financial Reporting

Brazil

• April 2: Coronavirus: Recommendations on calculating expected losses of financial assets

Canada

• March 27: CPAB: COVID-19 audit implications
• March 18: CPAB: COVID-19 audit implications

Chinese Taipei

• February: In response to Covid-19, the FSC reminds auditors of their obligation on audit quality

Europe

• March 25: ESMA issues guidance on accounting implications of COVID-19
• March 25: EBA Statement on the application of the prudential framework regarding Default, Forbearance and IFRS9 in light of COVID19 measures
• March 24: CEAOB emphasises the following areas that are of high importance in view of Covid-19 impact on audits of financial statements

France

• March 20: http://www.h3c.org/fiches/covid19-2.htm
• March 19: http://www.h3c.org/fiches/covid19.htm

Georgia

• The SC’s AOB Emphasise the Need for High Quality Audit in light of Covid-19

Gibraltar

• COVID-19: GFSC update to auditors and firms on submission requirements for financial statements

Greece

• March 17: AASOB Guidance on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Italy

• April 10: COVID-19 Emergency: From CONSOB the operational indications to the market on how the meetings must be held and about financial information, prospectuses and auditing 

Japan

• April 22: Audit Consideration related to COVID-19 Part 4 (released by JICPA)
• April 15: Audit Consideration related to COVID-19 Part 3 (released by JICPA)
• April 10: Audit Consideration related to COVID-19 Part 2 (released by JICPA)
• April 3: Establishment of the Networking Group on the corporate disclosure, financial reporting and audit of listed companies in Consideration of the Impact of the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Infection
• March 18: Audit Consideration related to COVID-19 Part 1 (released by JICPA)

Korea

• April 13: Authorities recommend flexibility in accounting standards amid COVID-19 crisis

Luxembourg

• April 16: COVID-19 FAQs

Malaysia

• April 7: The SC’s AOB Emphasise the Need for High Quality Audit in light of Covid-19

Mauritius

• April 1: COVID-19 – Guidance to Auditors

The Netherlands

• March (updated): Alerts from The Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants (Dutch)

New Zealand

• March 20: COVID-19 – managing impacts on FMC reporting entity annual reporting and audits

Portugal

• March 20: CMVM Recommendations on the audit activity within the scope of Covid-19

Singapore

• May 20: Audit Practice Bulletin (APB) No.1 of 2020 Key audit considerations – COVID-19
• February: Group Audits – Inaccessibility of Component Auditors’ Work Papers and Other Considerations (Audit Guidance Statement 12, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants)

South Africa

• April 16: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Auditor’s Report: Going Concern
• April 1: Response to Accountants and Auditors wanting their services to be designated as essential
• March 26: Implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on audits, audit firms and regulatory requirements

Switzerland

• March 31: FINMA Guidance (Section 6): Expected credit loss approach under IFRS 9 and its application in the context of the COVID-19 crisis
• March 30: Professional Body EXPERTsuisse announcements related to Covid-19 (German, French, Italian)

Ukraine

• April 6: Information message regarding the consideration of factors related to the COVID 19 pandemic and the application of appropriate restrictive measures when auditing the financial statements

United Kingdom

• April 19: Modifications of Independent Auditor’s Opinions and Reports
• March 26: Joint announcement with FRC, FCA and PRA with guidance for companies preparing financial statements and guidance for audits
• March 16: press release announcing the issuance of guidance for auditors

United States

• April 3: SEC Statement on the Importance of High-Quality Financial Reporting in Light of the Significant Impacts of COVID-19
• April 2: COVID-19: Reminders for Audits Nearing Completion

Australia

• May 13: ASIC to further extend financial reporting deadlines for listed and unlisted entities and amends ‘no action’ position for AGMs
• April 9: ASIC to provide additional time for unlisted entity financial reports
• March 20: Guidelines for meeting upcoming AGM and financial reporting requirements

Belgium

• March 26: COVID-19 impact on listed companies

Chinese Taipei

• February: In response to Covid-19, the FSC has adopted regulatory relief measures for listed companies on financial reporting

Europe

• March 27: ESMA – Actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the EU financial markets regarding publication deadlines under the Transparency Directive

Georgia

• Guidance on COVID-19 – Impact on Financial and Management Reporting
• April 8: Extension of reporting deadlines for listed entities

Japan

• April 17: Notice regarding the deadline for submission of annual securities and other reports in connection with COVID-19 infection (Updated) (Japanese Only)
• April 15: Corporate Year-End Closing of Accounts, Auditing and Shareholders meeting in Response to the Increasing Impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
• February 10: Notice regarding the deadline for submission of annual securities and other reports (English translation provided)

Malaysia

• March 26: Extension of Time for Submission of Quarterly & Annual Reports, and Regularisation Plans by Listed Issuers Which Triggered the Criteria under Paragraphs 8.03A or 8.04 (Practice Note 17)

New Zealand

• March 19: Announced reporting deadlines extended by two months for NZX listed companies affected by COVID-19

Philippines

• March 12: http://www.sec.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020MCNo05.pdf

Saudi Arabia

• April 6: An announcement From the CMA Regarding the Extending of the statutory deadline to disclose the financial statements for listed companies whose Interim Period ends on 29/7/1441, 29/2/2020 and 31/03/2020
• March 31: An announcement From the CMA Regarding to the Deadline for Disclosing the Board Report and the Annual Financial Information that ends on 31/03/2020

Singapore

• April 7: Extension of Deadline for Holding Annual General Meetings and Filing Annual Returns

South Africa

• April 3: General Extension on Financial Reporting Periods

Thailand

• April 3: SEC grants deadline extension for submission and publication of annual financial statements of securities companies and derivatives business operators affected by the spread of COVID-19

Turkey

• Announcement on measures with respect to capital markets in response to the COVID-19 outbreak

Ukraine

• April 6: Information message on changes in the legislation related to the disclosure of financial statements

United Kingdom

• March 26: Joint announcement with FRC, FCA and PRA with guidance for companies preparing financial statements and guidance for audits
• March 23: FRC support for moratorium in corporate reporting
• March 19: Companies’ filing deadline extension
• March: FCA Primary Market Bulletin Issue No. 27 – Coronavirus update

United States

• March 4: US SEC grants publicly traded companies an additional 45 days to file certain disclosure reports

Australia

• May 13: ASIC to further extend financial reporting deadlines for listed and unlisted entities and amends ‘no action’ position for AGMs
• March 20: Guidelines for meeting upcoming AGM and financial reporting requirements

Japan

• April 15: Corporate Year-End Closing of Accounts, Auditing and Shareholders meeting in Response to the Increasing Impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

Malaysia

• March 17: Capital Market Regulators grant flexibility for Listed Issuers on AGMs and Issuance of Periodic Reports

Singapore

• April 7: Extension of Deadline for Holding Annual General Meetings and Filing Annual Returns
• February 27: Extension of time for Singapore listed companies to hold AGMs

Thailand

• March 30: SEC announces listed companies may consider postponing AGM if affected by Covid-19 spread

United Kingdom

• March 27: FRC guidance about company AGMs and the impact of Covid-19
• March 18: AGMs and impact of Covid-19 guidance note published

• May 1: IFIAR Chair’s Update on COVID-19 for stakeholders
• March 26: IFIAR update on COVID-19
• February 28: Cancellation of IFIAR in-person meetings
• Following local guidance in Tokyo, Japan, the Secretariat remains open as usual with Secretariat staff working from home at this time. The Secretariat can continued to be reached at secretariat@ifiar.org.

FSB

• Addressing financial stability risks of COVID-19
• April 2: FSB members take action to ensure continuity of critical financial services functions.

IAASB

• Auditor Reporting in the Current Evolving Environment Due to COVID-19
• Subsequent Events in the Current Evolving Environment-Audit Considerations for the Impact of COVID-19
• Going Concern in the Current Evolving Environment-Audit Considerations for the Impact of COVID-19
• Highlighting Areas of Focus in an Evolving Audit Environment Due to the Impact of COVID-19

IESBA

• May 8: IESBA Staff Release COVID-19 Q&A’s Highlighting Ethics & Independence Considerations

IOSCO

• May 29: IOSCO encourages issuers’ fair disclosure about COVID-19 related impacts
• April 3: IOSCO Statement on Application of Accounting Standards during the COVID-19 Outbreak
• March 25: Securities regulators coordinate responses to COVID-19 through IOSCO

Center for Audit Quality (CAQ)

• April: CAQ COVID-19 Resource: Key Auditor and Audit Committee Considerations