The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has released the 2025 edition of its Handbook of International Quality Management, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements.

The IAASB Handbook comprises the following five volumes:

• Volume 1: International Auditing Practice Notes (IAPNs), International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and International Standards on Quality Management (ISQMs)
• Volume 2: International Standard on Auditing for Audits of Financial Statements of Less Complex Entities (the ISA for LCE)
• Volume 3: International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements
• Volume 4: International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs), International Standards on Review Engagements (ISREs), and International Standards on Related Services (ISRSs)
• Volume 5: A Framework for Audit Quality: Key Elements that Create an Environment for Audit Quality and the International Framework for Assurance Engagements

The following standards, which are not yet effective, are included in the 2025 Handbook:

• ISA 240 (Revised), The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements
• ISA 570 (Revised 2024), Going Concern
• ISSA 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements

The 2025 Handbook is available as a PDF download; print copies can be ordered via the IAASB website.

Reproducing and Translating the IAASB Handbook
To help adoption and implementation of the IAASB standards, stakeholders are invited to request permission to reproduce or translate the IAASB handbook via the Online Permissions Requests or Inquiries system on the IFAC website.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing, assurance, related services, and quality management standards and guidance in the public interest that support consistent performance of quality engagements. Along with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, the IAASB is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit. The Public Interest Oversight Board oversees IAASB and IESBA activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please visit Permissions.

The latest edition of the IAASB Handbook comprises the following five volumes:

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has released narrow scope amendments to its standards revising the definition of listed entity to align with the definition in the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards). The new definition will amend the International Standards on Quality Management and International Standards on Auditing. In addition, amendments to International Standard on Review Engagement 2400 (Revised), Engagements to Review Historical Financial Statements, aim to align with the IESBA Code of Ethics regarding certain public disclosures about the application of independence requirements.

The narrow scope amendments:

• Adopt the same definition of publicly traded entity (PTE) in the ISQMs and ISAs as adopted in the IESBA Code of Ethics, while recognizing the role local standard setters and regulators play in defining PTEs for their jurisdictions.
• Incorporate an overarching objective for differential requirements for PTEs in the ISQMs and ISAs and a framework for when it may be appropriate to apply such requirements to other entities.
• Amend the applicability of the existing requirements for audits of listed entities to apply to audits of PTEs.
• Add a new requirement in ISRE 2400 (Revised) for public disclosure in the practitioner’s review report when the practitioner applied independence requirements specific to reviews of financial statements of certain entities, e.g., for public interest entities.

Throughout the development of these amendments, the IAASB maintained close collaboration and coordination with IESBA, striving to align key concepts in the IAASB’s and IESBA’s standards, to the greatest extent possible.

To assist its stakeholder understanding and implementing the narrow scope amendments, the IAASB has published a Basis for Conclusions, available on its website here.

Effective Date and Resources
The narrow scope amendments become effective for engagements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2026. This effective date is aligned with the effective dates for the IAASB’s recently revised standards on going concern and fraud, ISA 570 (Revised 2024) and ISA 240 (Revised), respectively. Together, these standards provide a stronger, more coordinated response to the risks of fraud and financial distress.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing, assurance, related services, and quality management standards and guidance in the public interest that support consistent performance of quality engagements. Along with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, the IAASB is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit. The Public Interest Oversight Board oversees IAASB and IESBA activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please visit Permissions.

These narrow scope amendments to IAASB standards revise the definition of listed entity to align with the definition in the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards). The new definition will amend the International Standards on Quality Management and International Standards on Auditing.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board is hosting a three-part global webinar series designed to assist sustainability assurance practitioners, firms, jurisdictional standard setters, and professional organizations as they adopt, implement, or apply International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements (ISSA 5000) Regulators, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders (e.g., preparers, those charged with governance or users of sustainability reporting) may also find these webinars helpful.

This series, ISSA 5000 in Focus, will take participants through ISSA 5000 from engagement acceptance, assessing risks and designing and performing procedures, and finally to concluding and reporting. Each webinar includes an explanation of ISSA 5000 requirements with practical implementation insights, real-world examples, and solutions to common challenges.

Across the three sessions, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of ISSA 5000 concepts, scope, and application.
• Enhance their understanding of the requirements of ISSA 5000, including addressing assurance issues that may be particularly challenging, such as materiality and value chain considerations.
• Explore common pitfalls and how to overcome them.
• Engage directly with IAASB experts during Q&A segments.

Each webinar will take place twice to accommodate different time zones and a global audience. The webinars will air via Zoom with livestreaming on YouTube.

Webinar #1: Foundational Principles and Concepts

• Register for October 1, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 2, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #2: Engagement Planning, Risk Assessment & Response

• Register for October 7, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 8, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #3: Concluding and Reporting on Sustainability Assurance Engagements

• Register for October 14, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 15, 18:00 UTC

Additional details on each webinar are available below.

Webinar #1: Foundational Principles and Concepts

Dates: October 1 (11:00 UTC) or October 2 (18:00 UTC)
Being well prepared sets the tone for a successful sustainability assurance engagement. In this session, IAASB experts will walk participants through the fundamental concepts and underlying premises for applying ISSA 5000—explaining its scope, authority, and why it was developed—and addressing overarching matters in preparing to perform a high-quality sustainability assurance engagement, including making sound engagement acceptance decisions.

• Register for October 1, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 2, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #2: Engagement Planning, Risk Assessment & Response

Dates: October 7 (11:00 UTC) or October 8 (18:00 UTC)
Planning, risk assessment and response are at the heart of delivering a robust sustainability assurance engagement. Together they enable the practitioner to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence as a basis for their sustainability assurance conclusion. This session explores what is key to an effective strategy and engagement plan under ISSA 5000, and the essential aspects of identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement of the sustainability information and designing and performing procedures to respond to those risks.

• Register for October 7, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 8, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #3: Concluding and Reporting on Sustainability Assurance Engagements

Dates: October 14 (11:00 UTC) or October 15 (18:00 UTC)

The assurance engagement culminates in the practitioner’s conclusion about whether the sustainability information is free from material misstatement. The practitioner’s conclusion and assurance report are the ultimate deliverables of the sustainability assurance engagement and are designed to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users about the entity’s sustainability information. In this session, IAASB experts will guide participants through the final stages of the engagement process under ISSA 5000—the evaluation of evidence, forming a conclusion, and preparation of an assurance report.

• Register for October 14, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 15, 18:00 UTC

The assurance engagement culminates in the practitioner’s conclusion about whether the sustainability information is free from material misstatement.  The practitioner’s conclusion and assurance report are the ultimate deliverables of the sustainability assurance engagement and are designed to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users about the entity’s sustainability information.

Being well prepared sets the tone for a successful sustainability assurance engagement. In this session, IAASB experts will walk participants through the fundamental concepts and underlying premises for applying ISSA 5000—explaining its scope, authority, and why it was developed—and addressing overarching matters in preparing to perform a high-quality sustainability assurance engagement, including making sound engagement acceptance decisions. 

Offered at two different times to accommodate a global audience, this webinar will cover: 

Planning, risk assessment and response are at the heart of delivering a robust sustainability assurance engagement. Together they enable the practitioner to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence as a basis for their sustainability assurance conclusion.

ISSA 5000 in Focus: Webinar Series for Sustainability Assurance Engagements

The IAASB has released two new resources to further support jurisdictions and stakeholders in adopting and implementing the International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.

1. Extracts from ISSA 5000 for Limited and Reasonable Assurance Engagements

In response to stakeholder requests, the IAASB has prepared reference extracts containing only the material in ISSA 5000 relevant to limited assurance engagements and, separately, reasonable assurance engagements. These extracts are designed to help regulators, standard setters, and other stakeholders more easily identify the requirements and application material most relevant to their jurisdictional decisions. They do not amend or override ISSA 5000, the authoritative text of which remains the full standard.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document on ISAE 3000 (Revised) and ISAE 3410

The IAASB has published FAQs clarifying that, for jurisdictions adopting IAASB standards, ISAE 3000 (Revised) and ISAE 3410 will no longer apply to sustainability assurance engagements once ISSA 5000 becomes effective in December 2026. These FAQs aim to support a smooth transition and consistent application of the new standard.

In addition, the IAASB has updated the adoption information on its website, reflecting the growing global momentum toward adoption of ISSA 5000.

Together with previously published materials, these publications underscore the IAASB’s commitment to supporting adoption and implementation of ISSA 5000 and fostering high-quality, globally consistent sustainability assurance practices.

Access the extracts, FAQs, and adoption information, as well as previously published materials, on the IAASB website here.