Last reviewed: July 2026.
A debenture is a debt instrument issued by a company to raise finance. The investor is a creditor rather than an owner, so the issuer normally recognises a financial liability instead of equity.
Accounting depends on contractual substance, issue price, transaction costs, coupon terms, effective interest, conversion features, security and redemption conditions.
Debenture accounting overview
| Stage | Main accounting question | Typical treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Issue | What cash and transaction costs were received or paid? | Recognise the liability at fair value adjusted for qualifying transaction costs |
| Subsequent periods | What finance cost reflects the effective yield? | Apply the effective interest method when measured at amortised cost |
| Coupon payment | How much cash interest is paid? | Reduce cash and any accrued coupon payable |
| Redemption | What amount settles the liability? | Derecognise the carrying amount and recognise any settlement gain or loss |
| Conversion | Is there an equity component? | Apply IAS 32 and relevant derecognition requirements |
Liability versus equity classification
IAS 32 focuses on whether the issuer has a contractual obligation to deliver cash or another financial asset. A normal debenture with mandatory interest and principal payments is a financial liability.
A convertible debenture may contain a liability component and an equity conversion option when the fixed-for-fixed requirements are met.
Issue at par
A company issues debentures with face value of 500,000 CU at par and pays no material transaction costs:
- Debit cash 500,000 CU
- Credit debenture liability 500,000 CU
The legal description of the instrument should agree with the accounting classification.
Issue at a discount or premium
Issue proceeds may differ from face value. The initial carrying amount is based on the applicable IFRS 9 measurement, while the difference is reflected through effective interest over the instrument's life rather than recorded as an immediate ordinary loss or reserve.
Transaction costs
For a financial liability not measured at fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable issue costs reduce the initial carrying amount. They are then included in the effective interest calculation.
General overhead and costs unrelated to the specific issue are expensed according to their nature.
Coupon rate versus effective interest rate
The coupon rate determines contractual cash interest. The effective interest rate discounts estimated future contractual cash payments to the initial carrying amount.
When a debenture is issued at a discount or with transaction costs, finance expense normally differs from the cash coupon.
Worked effective-interest example
A company receives 470,000 CU after issue costs for debentures with face value 500,000 CU. The annual coupon is 5%, or 25,000 CU. Assume the effective interest rate is 7%.
- Opening carrying amount: 470,000 CU
- Finance expense: 470,000 × 7% = 32,900 CU
- Cash coupon: 25,000 CU
- Increase in liability: 7,900 CU
- Closing carrying amount: 477,900 CU
The detailed debenture issue entries guide explains the full amortised-cost schedule.
Accrued interest
At a reporting date between coupon dates, recognise the finance cost earned by lenders even if cash has not yet been paid. The accrual may be presented separately or included in the liability according to the entity's accounting system and disclosure policy.
Secured and unsecured debentures
Security affects credit risk and disclosure but does not normally change the basic liability classification. Record pledged assets and covenant terms in the supporting schedules and notes.
Redeemable debentures
Redemption may occur at par, at a premium or through scheduled instalments. The expected contractual redemption amount is incorporated in the effective interest calculation.
Use the debenture redemption guide for derecognition entries.
Convertible debentures
When an instrument contains both a liability and qualifying equity conversion feature, measure the liability component first and recognise the residual as equity. Subsequent finance cost is based on the liability component's effective interest rate.
Modification and exchange
A major change in terms may result in extinguishment of the original liability and recognition of a new one. A non-substantial modification usually adjusts the carrying amount and can produce an immediate gain or loss under the applicable requirements.
Analyse fees paid to lenders and third parties separately.
Debt settled with shares
IFRIC 19 addresses specified situations in which an entity issues equity instruments to extinguish a financial liability. Any difference between the liability carrying amount and the measurement of equity issued is generally recognised in profit or loss.
Presentation in financial statements
Classify the liability as current or non-current according to the entity's rights and the contractual settlement date. Finance costs appear separately from owner distributions.
Review the financial statements guide.
Risk disclosures
IFRS 7 disclosures can include liquidity risk, interest-rate risk, defaults, breaches, carrying amounts and accounting policies. A maturity analysis should agree with treasury records and contractual cash flows.
Connection to gearing
Debentures increase interest-bearing debt and can affect debt-to-equity, debt-to-capital and interest cover. Analyse financing risk rather than treating all debt as automatically harmful.
See the debt and gearing ratios guide.
Debenture accounting controls
- retain contracts, prospectuses and trustee documents;
- reconcile face value, carrying amount and cash proceeds;
- verify the effective interest schedule;
- accrue coupon and finance costs accurately;
- monitor covenants, security and maturity dates;
- approve modifications, conversions and redemptions;
- reconcile disclosures with treasury records.
Common mistakes
- crediting face value when net proceeds should determine initial carrying amount;
- using coupon interest as total finance expense;
- expensing qualifying transaction costs immediately;
- classifying a mandatory cash instrument as equity;
- ignoring conversion components or redemption premiums;
- failing to assess modifications and covenant breaches;
- omitting liquidity-risk disclosures.
Key takeaway
Debentures are normally financial liabilities measured using IFRS 9 and classified under IAS 32. Reliable accounting connects issue proceeds, effective interest, contractual cash flows and final settlement.
Official references: IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation, IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures, and IFRIC 19.