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Publications ~ Statement of Intent 2003-2006


STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS4


These statements have been compiled on the basis of government policies and the department’s purchase agreement with the Prime Minister at the time the statements were finalised.

These forecast financial statements comply with generally accepted accounting practice. The measurement base applied is historical cost adjusted for revaluations of assets. Revaluations are made to reflect the forecast service potential or economic benefit to be obtained through the control of assets.

The accrual basis of accounting has been used for the preparation of these financial statements.

These statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis.


STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICES

 

Specific Accounting Policies


Goods and Services Tax

The Statement of Unappropriated Expenditure and Statements of Departmental and Non-Departmental Expenditure and Appropriations are inclusive of GST. All other statements are GST exclusive. The Statement of Financial Position is also exclusive of GST, except for Creditors and Payables and Debtors and Receivables which are GST inclusive.

The amount of GST owing to or from the Inland Revenue Department at balance date, being the difference between Output GST and Input GST, is included in creditors and payables or debtors and receivables (as appropriate).

Fixed Assets

All fixed assets have been valued on historical cost basis, except for Crown assets which are included at insurance indemnity value. All individual assets or groups of assets are capitalised if their historical cost is $2,000 or greater. Gains and losses arising from the sale or disposal of assets have been included in the Statement of Financial Performance.


Depreciation of Assets

All fixed assets other than land have been depreciated on a straight-line basis that reflects the decline in service potential of the asset during the reporting period. Specific rates of depreciation used for the various classes of fixed assets are as follows:

Fixtures and fittings 10%
IT equipment 33%
Office equipment 20%
Furniture 20%
Motor vehicles 25%
Kitchen equipment, e.g. domestic appliances    20%
Major plant and machinery 10%
Minor plant and machinery 20%

Taxation

The department is exempt from the payment of income tax in terms of the Income Tax Act 1976. Accordingly, no charge for income tax has been provided for.


Financial Instruments

The department is party to financial arrangements in the form of bank accounts, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accruals as part of its everyday operations. These are reflected in the Statement of Financial Position at their fair value. Revenue and expenses in relation to the financial instruments are recognised in the Statement of Financial Performance in arriving at the operating surplus.


Cost Allocation

Direct costs are expenses incurred from activities in producing outputs. These costs are charged directly to the related output classes. Direct costs represent 90 per cent of total departmental appropriation for output costs. Indirect costs are expenses incurred by the corporate services unit and the office of the chief executive. Indirect costs are allocated to each output class in proportion to the level of appropriation in relation to the total vote. Indirect costs represent 10 per cent of total departmental appropriation for output costs.


Leases

The department leases office premises and photocopiers. As all risks and ownership are retained by the lessor, these leases are classified as operating leases. Operating lease costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.


Provision of Employee Entitlements

Provision is made in respect of the department’s liabilities for annual, retirement and long service leave. Annual leave entitlements have been calculated on an actual entitlement basis at current rates of pay; while other provisions have been calculated on an actuarial basis, based on the present value of expected future entitlements.


Commmittments

Future payments are disclosed as commitments at the points where a contractual obligation arises, to the extent that they are equally unperformed obligations. Commitments relating to employment agreements are not disclosed.


Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities are disclosed at the point at which the contingency is evident.


Changes in accounting policies

There have been no changes in accounting policies, including cost allocation accounting policies. All policies have been applied on bases consistent with those used in the previous period.


4 This statement is required for each department by section 34A(4) of the Public Finance Act 1989 as amended by the Public Finance Amendment Act 1994.

 

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