Materiality is the principle that financial information is material if its omission or misstatement could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users of the financial statements. It acts as a filter, ensuring that financial reports focus on information that genuinely matters while avoiding clutter from trivial items.
Section 1: The Definition
1.1 FRS 102
FRS 102 Section 2.6 states that information is material if its omission or misstatement could influence the economic decisions that users make on the basis of the financial statements. Materiality depends on the size and nature of the item judged in the particular circumstances.
1.2 IFRS
The IFRS Conceptual Framework uses a similar definition: information is material if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could reasonably be expected to influence decisions that primary users of financial statements make on the basis of those statements.
1.3 ISA 320
International Standard on Auditing 320 provides specific guidance for auditors on determining materiality. It distinguishes between:
- Overall materiality: The threshold for the financial statements as a whole
- Performance materiality: A lower amount used to reduce the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality
- Specific materiality: A lower threshold for particular items that may influence user decisions regardless of size (e.g., directors’ remuneration)
Section 2: How Materiality Is Determined
Materiality is not a fixed number. It requires professional judgement and varies depending on the entity, its stakeholders and the nature of the item in question.
2.1 Common Benchmarks
Auditors and preparers typically use one or more financial benchmarks as a starting point:
| Benchmark | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Profit before tax | 5% to 10% |
| Revenue | 0.5% to 1% |
| Total assets | 1% to 2% |
| Equity | 2% to 5% |
For example, a UK company with profit before tax of £2 million might set overall materiality at £100,000 to £200,000 (5% to 10%).
2.2 Factors Affecting the Choice
The appropriate benchmark depends on the entity’s circumstances:
- Profit-making entities: Profit before tax is often the primary benchmark
- Loss-making entities: Revenue or total assets may be more appropriate since profit is volatile or negative
- Asset-heavy entities: Total assets from the balance sheet may be the most relevant measure
- Not-for-profit entities: Total expenditure or total income is commonly used
- Start-ups: Revenue or total assets, since early-stage businesses rarely show stable profits
2.3 Qualitative Factors
Materiality is not purely about numbers. An item may be material because of its nature rather than its size:
- Related party transactions are material regardless of amount because of the potential for conflicts of interest
- Directors’ remuneration is scrutinised by shareholders and regulators
- Illegal payments or regulatory breaches are material by nature
- Changes in accounting policy affect comparability and user decisions
- Transactions close to a covenant threshold could trigger a breach
Section 3: Materiality in Financial Statement Preparation
3.1 Recognition Decisions
When preparing accounts under UK accounting standards, materiality affects whether an item is recognised separately or aggregated with other items.
For example, a company might own several small items of office equipment each costing less than £200. Although technically capital items subject to depreciation, the business may expense them immediately because the amounts are immaterial in the context of its overall financial statements.
3.2 Disclosure Decisions
Materiality also governs what must be disclosed in the notes to the accounts. FRS 102 requires various disclosures, but an entity need not provide a specific disclosure if the information is not material. This prevents the notes from becoming an overwhelming list of insignificant details.
Common areas where materiality judgements affect disclosure:
- Breakdown of revenue by category
- Analysis of operating expenses
- Details of provisions and contingent liabilities
- Segmental reporting information
- Related party transaction details
3.3 Aggregation and Offsetting
Immaterial items may be aggregated with similar items in the financial statements. However, items that are individually immaterial may be material in aggregate. A pattern of small errors all in the same direction could cumulatively distort the income statement or balance sheet.
Section 4: Materiality in Auditing
4.1 Planning Materiality
At the start of an audit, the auditor sets an overall materiality level for the financial statements as a whole. This determines the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures.
4.2 Performance Materiality
Performance materiality is set lower than overall materiality, typically at 50% to 75% of the overall figure. This provides a buffer, reducing the risk that the total of undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality.
4.3 Clearly Trivial Threshold
Misstatements below the clearly trivial threshold (typically 5% of overall materiality) need not be accumulated or reported to those charged with governance. This practical threshold avoids wasting audit time on insignificant items.
4.4 Summary of Audit Materiality Levels
| Level | Typical percentage | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Overall materiality | 100% | Threshold for the financial statements as a whole |
| Performance materiality | 50%–75% of overall | Working threshold for audit procedures |
| Clearly trivial | ~5% of overall | Below this, misstatements are disregarded |
Section 5: Materiality and Error Correction
5.1 Material Errors
If an error is material, it must be corrected before the financial statements are finalised. Under FRS 102 Section 10, material errors in prior period financial statements are corrected by restating the comparative figures.
5.2 Immaterial Errors
Errors that are individually and collectively immaterial do not require correction, although best practice is to correct all known errors where practical. The trial balance review process helps identify errors before accounts are finalised.
5.3 Audit Adjustments
During the audit, the auditor accumulates all identified misstatements and assesses whether, individually or in aggregate, they are material. If management refuses to correct material misstatements, the auditor may need to modify the audit opinion.
Section 6: Common Materiality Judgements in UK Practice
6.1 Capitalisation Thresholds
Most UK businesses set a capitalisation threshold below which capital expenditure is expensed. A common threshold is £500 to £1,000. Items below this amount are treated as expenses rather than assets subject to depreciation.
6.2 Accruals and Provisions
At the period end, businesses must judge whether to raise an accrual or provision for items such as:
- Utility bills not yet received
- Legal claims pending
- Warranty obligations
If the amount is immaterial, the adjustment may not be made. However, the cumulative effect of omitting multiple immaterial accruals should be considered.
6.3 Rounding
Financial statements commonly round figures to the nearest £1,000 or even £1 million for large companies. This is a practical application of materiality, provided the rounding does not distort the overall picture.
Section 7: Materiality and Other Accounting Principles
Materiality interacts with several other fundamental concepts:
- Accrual accounting requires adjustments that may be waived for immaterial items
- The matching principle need not be applied rigidly for amounts below the materiality threshold
- Prudence ensures that materiality is not used as an excuse to defer recognising losses
- Going concern assessments focus on material uncertainties that could threaten viability
Understanding materiality is essential for anyone preparing, auditing or interpreting UK financial statements. It ensures that financial reporting is both accurate and practical, focusing attention on the information that truly matters to users.