A provision is a liability of uncertain timing or amount. Unlike accounts payable, where the amount and due date are known, provisions involve estimation. They represent obligations the business expects to settle but where the exact cost or timing has not been confirmed.
Under FRS 102 (Section 21), provisions are recognised when specific criteria are met. The standard draws heavily from IAS 37 and aims to prevent companies from using provisions to manipulate profits.
Recognition Criteria
A provision must be recognised in the financial statements when all three of the following conditions are met:
- The entity has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event
- It is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation
- A reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation
If any of these conditions is not met, no provision is recognised. Instead, the item may be disclosed as a contingent liability in the notes to the accounts.
| Condition | Met? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Present obligation, probable outflow, reliable estimate | All three met | Recognise a provision |
| Present obligation, possible outflow | Not all met | Disclose as contingent liability |
| Remote possibility | None met | No disclosure required |
Common Types of Provisions
Warranty Provisions
A company that sells products with a warranty must provide for the estimated cost of repairs or replacements. The obligation arises from the sale itself, making it a constructive obligation.
Example: A company sells 10,000 units with a one-year warranty. Historical data shows that 3% of units require repair at an average cost of £50:
Provision = 10,000 x 3% x £50 = £15,000
| Account | Debit (£) | Credit (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty expense | 15,000 | |
| Warranty provision | 15,000 |
Restructuring Provisions
A restructuring provision can be recognised when the company has a detailed formal plan and has raised a valid expectation in those affected that it will carry out the restructuring. Under FRS 102, the provision must only include the direct costs of the restructuring, not costs associated with ongoing activities.
Costs that may be included:
- Redundancy payments
- Lease termination penalties
- Costs of closing facilities
Costs that must not be included:
- Retraining or relocating staff who are staying
- Marketing costs for a new business direction
- Losses from future operations
Legal Provisions
When a company is involved in a legal dispute and it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required, a provision must be recognised. The amount should be the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation, including legal costs.
Decommissioning and Environmental Provisions
Companies with obligations to restore sites or decommission assets must recognise provisions at the point the obligation arises. For example, a company that operates a quarry under a licence requiring restoration must provide for the estimated restoration costs over the life of the quarry.
Onerous Contract Provisions
An onerous contract is one where the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received. The net obligation must be recognised as a provision.
Example: A company has a non-cancellable lease on a warehouse it no longer uses. The remaining lease payments total £60,000, and the property cannot be sublet. A provision of £60,000 is required.
Measurement of Provisions
Best Estimate
The amount recognised as a provision should be the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date. This means:
- For a single obligation, the most likely outcome is used
- For a large population of items (such as warranty claims), the expected value (probability-weighted average) is used
Discounting
Where the time value of money is material, the provision should be discounted to its present value. The discount rate should be a pre-tax rate reflecting current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability.
Example: A decommissioning obligation of £100,000 is expected to be settled in 5 years. Using a discount rate of 4%:
Present value = £100,000 / (1.04)^5 = £82,193
The provision is initially recognised at £82,193. Each year, the unwinding of the discount is charged to finance costs in the income statement.
Reimbursements
If some or all of the expenditure is expected to be reimbursed by another party (for example, under an insurance policy), the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset only when it is virtually certain to be received. It is not netted against the provision.
Provisions Versus Other Liabilities
Understanding the difference between provisions and other types of liabilities is important for correct classification:
| Type | Timing Known? | Amount Known? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade payable | Yes | Yes | Supplier invoice for £5,000 due in 30 days |
| Accrual | Timing broadly known | Amount estimated with reasonable certainty | Electricity bill for December, estimated at £400 |
| Provision | Uncertain | Uncertain | Warranty claims over 12 months, estimated £15,000 |
| Contingent liability | Uncertain | Uncertain | Possible but not probable court judgement |
Provisions on the Balance Sheet
Provisions are presented within liabilities on the balance sheet. Under the Companies Act 2006 formats, they appear separately from creditors:
| Provisions for liabilities | £ |
|---|---|
| Warranty provisions | 15,000 |
| Restructuring provision | 45,000 |
| Decommissioning provision | 82,193 |
| Legal provision | 25,000 |
| Total provisions | 167,193 |
Disclosure Requirements
FRS 102 requires the following disclosures for each class of provision:
- The carrying amount at the beginning and end of the period
- Additional provisions made during the period
- Amounts used (charged against the provision)
- Unused amounts reversed during the period
- The increase during the period from unwinding of discounts
- A brief description of the nature of the obligation and expected timing
Practical Examples
Example 1: Provision for Bad Debts
While the general allowance for doubtful debts is technically linked to accounts receivable, a specific provision against an identified bad debt meets the definition of a provision when the amount is uncertain.
A customer owing £12,000 has entered administration. The administrators estimate a dividend of 20p in the pound:
Expected recovery = £12,000 x 20% = £2,400 Provision required = £12,000 - £2,400 = £9,600
| Account | Debit (£) | Credit (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Bad debt expense | 9,600 | |
| Provision for bad debts | 9,600 |
Example 2: Dilapidations Provision
A company holds a commercial lease that requires the property to be restored to its original condition at the end of the lease. The estimated restoration cost is £35,000, and the lease has 7 years remaining. Using a discount rate of 3%:
Present value = £35,000 / (1.03)^7 = £28,462
The provision is built up over the lease term through the unwinding of the discount, charged to finance costs.
Example 3: Tax Provision
At year end, a company must accrue for its estimated corporation tax liability. While technically an accrual rather than a provision (the amount can usually be calculated with reasonable accuracy), it is sometimes disclosed alongside provisions.
For a company with taxable profits of £200,000 at the main rate of 25%:
| Account | Debit (£) | Credit (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation tax expense | 50,000 | |
| Corporation tax payable | 50,000 |
Provisions and Profit Manipulation
FRS 102 contains specific provisions to prevent the misuse of provisions for profit smoothing:
- Provisions must only be recognised for present obligations, not future intentions
- General provisions against unspecified future risks are not permitted
- Provisions must be reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to reflect the current best estimate
- Provisions must only be used for the purpose for which they were originally recognised
These rules ensure that provisions reflect genuine economic obligations rather than being used as a tool to manage reported profits across accounting periods.
Provisions and the Income Statement
The creation of a provision affects the income statement in the period it is recognised:
- The expense is debited, reducing profit
- When the provision is later utilised (the actual cost is incurred), it is debited against the provision rather than the income statement
- If the provision is no longer needed, it is reversed through the income statement, increasing profit
This timing difference means that the income statement in the year of recognition bears the cost, while the year of actual expenditure does not, provided the estimate was accurate.
HMRC and Tax Treatment
Not all provisions are allowable deductions for corporation tax purposes. HMRC generally requires that expenses are incurred before they are deductible, meaning many provisions are disallowable in the period they are recognised but become deductible when the actual expenditure occurs. This creates a timing difference that may give rise to a deferred tax asset or liability.
Key points:
- General provisions are not tax-deductible
- Specific provisions where the expense is probable may be deductible, depending on circumstances
- Warranty provisions are typically not deductible until actual claims are paid
- Restructuring provisions may be partially deductible when certain conditions are met
Professional tax advice should be sought when determining the tax treatment of significant provisions.