IFRIC issues guidance on customer loyalty programmes
The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)∗
has today issued
an Interpretation, IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes.
The Interpretation addresses accounting by entities that grant loyalty award credits (such as
‘points’ or travel miles) to customers who buy other goods or services. Specifically, it
explains how such entities should account for their obligations to provide free or discounted
goods or services (‘awards’) to customers who redeem award credits.
The Interpretation requires entities to allocate some of the proceeds of the initial sale to the
award credits and recognise these proceeds as revenue only when they have fulfilled their
obligations. They may fulfil their obligations by supplying awards themselves or engaging
(and paying) a third party to do so.
The effect of the Interpretation will be to ensure that obligations to supply customer loyalty
awards are measured the same way, whether the award credits are sold separately or granted
to customers as part of a larger sale.
Introducing IFRIC 13, Robert Garnett, IFRIC Chairman and IASB member, said:
Until now, international standards have lacked clear guidance for award credits granted
‘free’ with other goods or services. The Interpretation will standardise practice in a
way that reflects our view that loyalty awards are separate goods or services for which
customers are implicitly paying.
The IFRIC has been assisted on this project by staff of the French national standardsetter,
the Conseil National de la Comptabilité. We are grateful to the CNC for this
support.
Background
Customer Loyalty Programmes are now “a part of doing business” across the world. All business sectors including travel & hospitality, retail, telecoms, B2B services and financial services, are represented by a wealth of programmes which in the most part offer incentives, in the for of rewards, to their members.
Developing Customer Loyalty is about building profitable relationships with customers to influence their commitment to one company or product over another.
Whether it is an semi-structured discussion about the potential role of Customer Loyalty in your organization, a structured "audit" of the potential opportunities and approaches or the strategic development and implementation of a Customer Loyalty Programme, we provide an experienced and cost-effective resource.