## consultation-questionnaire-for-discussion-notes-july2026

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**Canonical URL:** [consultation-questionnaire-for-discussion-notes-july2026](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/data/statistics/gfsm/global-consultations/consultation-questionnaire-for-discussion-notes-july2026.pdf)

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### Overview
- IMF Government Finance Division Global Consultation.
- Prepared by the Statistics Department, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
- As part of the update to the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014), Task Teams are developing discussion notes for 32 research topics.
- Purpose: seek views on discussion notes that address gaps or clarify issues related to fiscal reporting and analysis; discussion notes articulate issues, include research and propose new guidance or refining of existing guidance.
- The questions relate to the following six discussion notes:
  - 2.3 Indigenous Governments
  - 2.19 Accounting in GFS for natural resources and their exploitation
  - 2.22 Government Assumption of Pension Obligations
  - 2.23 Employee benefits – defined-benefit schemes
  - 2.29 Retained earnings of public corporations and their impact on fiscal analysis
- Note: The consultation invites coordinated/consolidated responses for organizations/institutions.
- Closing Date / Responses requested by: August 28, 2026 (Responses are requested by Friday August 28, 2026).
- Contact for questions/difficulties: STA-GFSM-Coord@imf.org.

### Introductory questions and consent
- Respondent information requested:
  - Name
  - Position/Title
  - E-mail
  - Institution/Organization
  - Country
- Consent question:
  - Do you give consent so that (part or all) of your response to this consultation can be published?
    - ☐ yes
    - ☐ no
- Main interest/relationship with Government Finance Statistics (GFS) — selectable options:
  - ☐ GFS Compilation
  - ☐ compilation of other macroeconomic statistics (e.g., national accounts, balance of payments)
  - ☐ policymaking
  - ☐ GFS analysis and use (e.g., analyst academic)
  - ☐ other (please specify)

### DN 2.3 Indigenous Governments — issues and response format
- Respondents are asked to review options presented in the discussion note and select preferred options from dropdowns.
- Issues and selectable options:
  - Issue A: Preliminary criterion of Indigenous governments as units of general government
    - Select option: Option A1; Option A2;
    - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
  - Issue B: Indicators of control applicable to Indigenous organizations
    - Select option: Option B1; Option B2;
    - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
    - Question: Do the proposed indicators adequately capture the defining features of Indigenous governments?
  - Issue C: Classification of Indigenous governments within subsector of general government
    - Select option: Option C1; Option C2; Option C3; Option C4; Option C5
    - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
    - Questions:
      - Are there additional criteria or considerations relevant for statistical classification of Indigenous governments?
      - Are you aware of potential risks or concerns associated with statistical recognition of Indigenous governments?

### DN 2.19 Accounting in GFS for natural resources and their exploitation — issues and questions
- Respondents asked to review proposals in the discussion note; links to discussion note referenced.
- Issue A: Recording the economic ownership of natural resources and depletion
  - Questions (yes/no and free-text style):
    - Do you agree with the proposal that the updated GFSM incorporate the split asset approach to the treatment of natural resources following the 2025 SNA? Please provide further details.
    - Do you agree with the proposal that the updated GFSM should record depletion, similarly to depreciation, as an expense (as well as a negative transaction of nonproduced nonfinancial assets) for economic owners of natural resources? Please provide further details.
    - Do you agree with the proposal that the updated GFSM should not (within its classification taxonomy) differentiate between depletion borne the extractor and depletion borne by the legal owner of the natural resources? Please provide further details.
    - Please share details of main compilation challenges (data and methodological) in implementing the split asset approach and recording depletion for natural resources within the GFS of your country.
- Issue B: Concept and definition of depletion
  - Questions:
    - Do you agree with the proposal that the updated GFSM should adopt the definition of depletion as outlined in the 2025 SNA? Please provide further details.
    - Do you agree that the updated GFSM should include specific guidance on the compilation of estimates for natural resources, including valuation and depletion, based on existing guidance in the 2025 SNA and OECD Guide? Please provide further details.
- Issue C: Permits to use natural resources
  - Choice question:
    - Which option do you prefer for the recording of permits to use the radio spectra (Option C1; Option C2)?
    - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
- Issue D: Treatment of renewable energy resources as assets
  - Question:
    - Do you agree that renewable energy resources should be recognized in the updated GFSM as a distinct class of nonfinancial assets, consistent with the 2025 SNA? Please provide further details.
- Issue E: Treatment of biological resources
  - Choice question:
    - Which option do you prefer for distinguishing between cultivated and noncultivated biological resources, especially for timber resources (Option E1; Option E2)?
    - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
- Issue F: Terminology related to natural resources
  - Question:
    - Do you agree with the proposal that the updated GFSM adopt the same application of the term natural resources as in the 2025 SNA, i.e. including cultivated biological resources? Please provide further details.
- Issue G: Classification of natural resources
  - Questions:
    - Do you agree with the proposed classification of natural resources for the updated GFSM shown in Annex 3? Please provide further details.
    - Please share details of main compilation challenges (data and methodological) in implementing the new classification framework for natural resources within the GFS of your country.

### DN 2.22 Assumption of pension obligations — issues and choices
- Respondents asked to review options in the discussion note and select preferred options.
- Issue A: Government assumption of pension obligations of other institutional units
  - Select option: Option A1; Option A2; Option A3; Option A4; Option A5
  - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
  - Question: Are you aware of other scenarios involving government assumption of pension obligations (other than absorption of defined contribution schemes into first pillar state pension scheme and assumptions arising from court orders) where additional guidance would be beneficial?
- Issue B: Recording of pension assumptions on a cash basis
  - Select option: Option B1; Option B2; Option B3
  - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.

### DN 2.23 Employee benefit schemes — options and guidance
- Respondents asked to review options and select preferred option.
  - Select option: Option 1; Option 2;
  - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
  - Question: Do you agree that the main principles of IPSAS 39 should be analyzed to assess their suitability to be included as guidelines in the updated GFSM and associated supplementary guidance?

### DN 2.29 Retained earnings of public corporations and their impact on fiscal analysis — issues and options
- Respondents asked to review options and select preferred options.
- Issue A: Retained earnings of public corporations
  - Select option: Option A1; Option A2
  - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
  - Questions:
    - Are there additional memorandum items (e.g., total profit of the corporation, ownership percentage) that should be disclosed to aid interpretation?
    - What additional guidance would you need to interpret differences between the core account deficit and the RIE adjusted deficit (e.g., explanatory notes, illustrative examples)?
- Issue B: Share buybacks
  - Select option: Option B1; Option B2
  - Free-text: explain reason for option selected and provide additional comments or alternatives.
  - Question: Are you aware of any public sector share buybacks that have taken place in your country and if so for what purpose?
- Voluntary implementation and testing:
  - Question: Would your country be willing to participate in a pilot program and submit supplementary RIE tables to the IMF for methodological testing?

### Submission logistics and follow-up
- You are encouraged to provide a single coordinated/consolidated response for your organization/institution.
- Once submitted you will receive a copy of your responses by email.
- If you have any questions, or experience any difficulties, email: STA-GFSM-Coord@imf.org.

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/data/statistics/gfsm/global-consultations/consultation-questionnaire-for-discussion-notes-july2026.pdf_