The role of enforcement mechanisms on IFRS implementation : perceptions from tax officials

Abstract

The adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-based accounting systems may not be enough to achieve global accounting harmonization. Prior studies shed light on the critical role played by enforcement mechanisms while effectively contributing to a worldwide adoption of IFRS. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of research on this topic that could bring to light opportunities to improve the effective implementation of IFRS-based models. This paper intends to reduce the gap of the research on this topic in Portugal by drawing conclusions from the perceptions of tax officials. This paper is a piece of qualitative longitudinal research since interviews were performed in two different moments: before adoption of an IFRS-based system, in 2009; and after adoption, in 2017. The findings of this study raise awareness towards a possible enduring and ongoing resistance to the implementation of the IFRS-based principles in Portugal, as a result of poor enforcement. Accordingly, this research suggests the need for drawing strategies to achieve the success of the Portuguese accounting reform, by effectively ensuring the financial reporting standards implementation, which ultimately may require the adoption of enforcement mechanisms.