Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) sections of the Companies Act 2006, or (2) regulations made under that Act, outline (a) the accounting treatment, and (b) the disclosure requirements, for finance secured through reverse factoring.

The Companies Act 2006 does not include specific requirements for finance secured through reverse factoring. However, section 393 places a requirement on directors that the accounts must provide a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of a company or group. This places a responsibility to provide such information as is necessary to ensure that requirement is met, including where reverse factoring is used in supply chain arrangements.

The correct accounting treatment for reverse factoring is dependent on the terms and conditions of the factoring arrangement in place. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Interpretations Committee and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have both issued guidance addressing the accounting standards requirements for reverse factoring, including guidance on additional disclosures. Copies of the guidance are attached below. The International Accounting Standards Board is also considering whether to add a project on reverse factoring to its agenda, as part of their responsibility for issuing International Financial Reporting Standards.