iii. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities arise from deductible and taxable temporary differences respectively, being the differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the tax bases. Deferred income tax assets also arise from unused tax losses and unused tax credits.
All deferred income tax liabilities, and all deferred income tax assets to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized, are recognized. Future taxable profits that may support the recognition of deferred income tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences include those that will arise from the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, provided those differences relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse either in the same period as the expected reversal of the deductible temporary difference or in periods into which a tax loss arising from the deferred income tax asset can be carried back or forward. The same criteria are adopted when determining whether existing taxable temporary differences support the recognition of deferred income tax assets arising from unused tax losses and credits, that is, those differences are taken into account if they relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse in a period, or periods, in which the tax loss or credit can be utilized.
The amount of deferred income tax recognized is measured based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realized and the deferred income tax liability is settled. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
The carrying amount of a deferred income tax asset is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and is reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow the related tax benefit to be utilized. Any such reduction is reversed to the extent that it becomes probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available.
iv. Current income tax balances and deferred income tax balances, and movements therein, are presented separately from each other and are not offset. Current income tax assets are offset against current income tax liabilities, and deferred income tax assets against deferred income tax liabilities, if the Company or the Group has the legally enforceable right to set off current income tax assets against current income tax liabilities and the following additional conditions are met:
– in the case of current income tax assets and liabilities, the Company or the Group intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously; or
– in the case of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, if they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either:
– the same taxable entity; or
– different taxable entities, which, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred income tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered, intend to realize the current income tax assets and settle the current income tax liabilities on a net basis or realize and settle simultaneously.
z. Employee benefits
i. Short-term employee benefits
Salaries, annual bonuses, paid annual leave and the cost of non-monetary benefits are accrued in the year in which the associated services are rendered by employees. Where payment or settlement is deferred and the effect would be material, these amounts are stated at their present values.
ii. Retirement benefits
The Group operates both defined benefit and defined contribution retirement schemes (including the Mandatory Provident Fund) for its employees, the assets of which are generally held in separate trustee-administered funds. The schemes are generally funded by contributions from the relevant Group companies and, in some cases, employees themselves, taking account of the recommendations of independent qualified actuaries if applicable.
For defined contribution plans, the Group pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis. The Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid.
The Group’s contributions to the defined contribution schemes are recognized as an expense in the income statement in the period to which the contributions relate.
The Group’s defined benefit liability recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position in respect of defined benefit retirement schemes is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of scheme assets. The calculation is performed annually by independent qualified actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates with reference to market bond yields at the end of the reporting period, which have terms approximating the terms of the related liability.
The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. This cost is included in staff costs in the income statement.
In calculating the Group’s defined benefit liability in respect of defined benefit retirement schemes, any actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.
iii. Share-based payments
The Group operates share option schemes where employees (and including directors) are granted options to acquire PCCW Shares at specified exercise prices. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognized as staff costs in the income statement with a corresponding increase in an employee share-based compensation reserve under equity. The fair value of the options granted is measured at grant date using the trinomial option pricing model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted, and spread over the respective vesting period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options. During the vesting period, the number of share options that is expected to vest is reviewed. Any adjustment to the cumulative fair value recognized in prior years is charged or credited in the income statement for the year of the review, unless the original staff costs qualify for recognition as an asset, with a corresponding adjustment to the employee share-based compensation reserve. On vesting date, the amount recognized as staff costs is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest (with a corresponding adjustment to the employee share- based compensation reserve). The equity amount is recognized in the employee share-based compensation reserve until either the share options are exercised (when it is transferred to the share capital account) or the share options expire (when it is released directly to retained profits or accumulated loss). When the share options are exercised, the proceeds received, net of any directly attributable transaction cost, are credited to share capital.