Foreign currency translation definition
/What is Foreign Currency Translation?
Foreign currency translation is used to convert the results of a parent company's foreign subsidiaries to its reporting currency. This is a key part of the financial statement consolidation process, resulting in a set of financial statements that are presented solely in the parent company’s reporting currency. The steps in this translation process are as follows:
Determine the functional currency of the foreign entity.
Remeasure the financial statements of the foreign entity into the reporting currency of the parent company.
Record gains and losses on the translation of currencies.
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How to Determine the Functional Currency
The financial results and financial position of a company should be measured using its functional currency, which is the currency that the company uses in the majority of its business transactions.
If a foreign business entity operates primarily within one country and is not dependent upon the parent company, its functional currency is the currency of the country in which its operations are located. However, there are other foreign operations that are more closely tied to the operations of the parent company, and whose financing is mostly supplied by the parent or other sources that use the dollar. In this latter case, the functional currency of the foreign operation is probably the dollar. These two examples anchor the ends of a continuum on which you will find foreign operations. Unless an operation is clearly associated with one of the two examples provided, it is likely that you must make a determination of functional currency based on the unique circumstances pertaining to each entity. For example, the functional currency may be difficult to determine if a business conducts an equal amount of business in two different countries.
The functional currency in which a business reports its financial results should rarely change. A shift to a different functional currency should be used only when there is a significant change in the economic facts and circumstances.
Example of Functional Currency Determination
Armadillo Industries has a subsidiary in Australia, to which it ships its body armor products for sale to local police forces. The Australian subsidiary sells these products and then remits payments back to corporate headquarters. Armadillo should consider U.S. dollars to be the functional currency of this subsidiary.
Armadillo also owns a subsidiary in Russia, which manufactures its own body armor for local consumption, accumulates cash reserves, and borrows funds locally. This subsidiary rarely remits funds back to the parent company. In this case, the functional currency should be the Russian ruble.
How to Translate Financial Statements
When translating the financial statements of an entity for consolidation purposes into the reporting currency of a business, translate the financial statements using the rules noted below. If there are translation adjustments resulting from the implementation of these rules, record the adjustments in the shareholders' equity section of the parent company’s consolidated balance sheet. If the process of converting the financial statements of a foreign entity into the reporting currency of the parent company results in a translation adjustment, report the related profit or loss in other comprehensive income.
The foreign currency translation rules are as follows:
Assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities are to be translated using the current exchange rate as of the balance sheet date.
Income statement items. Income statement line items, which include revenues, expenses, gains, and losses, are to be translated using the exchange rate as of the dates when those items were originally recognized. This can involve quite a substantial number of exchange rates for many days during the reporting period.
Allocations. Translate all expense and revenue allocations using the exchange rates in effect when those allocations are recorded. Examples of allocations are depreciation and the amortization of deferred revenues.
Different balance sheet date. If the foreign entity being consolidated has a different balance sheet date than that of the reporting entity, use the exchange rate in effect as of the foreign entity’s balance sheet date.
Profit eliminations. If there are intra-entity profits to be eliminated as part of the consolidation, apply the exchange rate in effect on the dates when the underlying transactions took place.
Statement of cash flows. In the statement of cash flows, state all foreign currency cash flows at their reporting currency equivalent using the exchange rates in effect when the cash flows occurred. A weighted average exchange rate may be used for this calculation; otherwise, tracking down exchange rates for every transaction would impose a substantial burden on the accounting department.