An accounting estimate that is not made on a routine basis or as part of a routine practice or policy. In which case, the accounting estimate arises from the recording of non-routine and non-recurring transactions and events, and hence the management does not make such estimates on a frequent basis. This involves the estimation of certain items in the financial statements whose value cannot be determined using objective data.

An accounting estimate, in principle, is a monetary amount for which the measurement of value is subject to estimation uncertainty, all in line with the requirements of an applicable financial reporting framework. It is also defined as a technique to measure such items on financial statements that have no accurate quantification and are therefore figured out based on judgment and knowledge derived from experience and past performance.

Estimates, routine or non-routine, about transactions and events are also necessary for maintaining proper details in the books of accounts for future reference and use. Therefore, even though uncertainties and values must be estimated using historical data and approximations, all such estimates should also be a part of financial reporting. A well-established estimation provides for transparent and reliable financial statements, and vice versa.

Accounting estimates vary greatly in nature and are required to be made by an entity’s management when the monetary amounts cannot be directly observed from available data or conditions. The process of making accounting estimates involves selecting and applying a specific method that would be based on a set of assumptions and data, requiring the application of management’s judgment.

The estimation used for measurement of such monetary amounts is subject to the so-called estimation uncertainty, corresponding to inherent limitations in management’s judgment or data. These limitations lead to inherent subjectivity and variation in the measurement outcomes.

Applying management’s judgment adds to complexity and subjectivity of the process of estimation, and the effects of such factors and other inherent risk factors on the measurement of monetary amounts would increase their susceptibility to misstatement.