DATE: January 19, 2016
TO: Chris Yost, CPA
FROM: Holly Thobe, Junior Accountant
SUBJECT: Using the Accounting Standards Codification
All Staff Accountants must learn how to research GAAP accounting standards using FASB’s accounting standards Codification system. The purpose of this memo is to provide instructions on how to research the accounting standards using the new Codification system. Users will discover how to research the accounting standards using the Codification system, explore the updated revenue recognition standards, and learn how to access updates from the system.
FASB Accounting Standards Codification
The FASB Codification database is easy to use when researching the accounting standards once the basics are fully understood. The FASB Codification database can be accessed by logging in at http://aaahq.org/ascLogin.cfm and using the following codes (case sensitive): Username – AAA51207 Password – HFdU64n
The Codification uses a hierarchy to organize its subject matter. Area is the largest collection, and then comes topic, subtopic and section. Each topic, subtopic and section is identified with a number and a title. The numbers provide a simple way to find specific accounting guidance. A three-digit number and a title identify topics. The first digit of the numerical identifier resembles the area of the topic. Subtopics are either exclusive or shared. Exclusive subtopics have unique content and shared subtopics have common content. To identify
The information in this report regarding the accounting standards for private companies is as stated in the proposal stage. The three options discussed are options being considered and the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) has issued an
The FASB Accounting Standards Codification® is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.
In 1973 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was established to set the financial accounting standards in the United States of America for nongovernmental entities. These standards are collectively called U.S. Generally accepted Accounting Principles, or U.S. GAAP. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants acknowledge the authority of these standards (FASB, n.d). A “proven, independent due process” is used to collect the viewpoints of the financial statements prepares and users for the constant improvement of these standards. An Accounting Status Update(ASU) is not an authoritative source however documents the amendments to communicate the changes in the FASB Codification for a user to understand the reason and future of those changes (FASB, n.d).
According to the Notice to Constituents (v4.7), the FASC superseded all previous level (a)-(d) US GAAP (refers to the previous accounting hierarchy) standards by a standard setter. This means that all other accounting literature not included in the Codification is non-authoritative.
The purpose of this research paper is to summarize research on codification topic 410 based on the information found in different academic databases. The first part of the paper will focus on the FASB Codification database. The second part of the paper will compare and contrast three other databases on the same codification 410 within the RIA Checkpoint databases: AICPA: Auditing and Accounting Guides, SOX Reporter, and GAAP Practice Manual. A summary of benefits and issues with the searches of each database will also be discussed.
Entity-wide disclosures are required under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280-10-50-40 through 280-10-50-42. The disclosures are required because every corporation does not report information in a similar fashion, and the disclosures would provide comparability of the financial statements among entities. For example, if a corporation uses a geographic approach in its financial statements, disclosing certain information about the products or services sold will make comparability to other companies much easier. The disclosures will also help with comparability within an entity if they decide to choose another method of reporting operating segments in the future. There are three types of entity-wide disclosures; products and services, geographic areas, and/or major customers. Every public company has to comply with the disclosures, even if the company has one reportable segment. The only exception to the entity-wide disclosures is if it is impractical to provide the information, such as it would be extremely costly to the corporation, or if the “internal reporting systems are not capable of gathering financial information by product or service by geographic area.” A disclosure should be made when entity-wide disclosures are impractical.
Even if uniformity were to be reached, the IOSCO disclosure standards do not encircle all of the information required of an easy access to cross-border capital markets.
The FASB accounting codification is an advanced system that allows certified public accountants and other users to quickly access non-SEC authoritative content, perform relevant research, and submit timely and appropriate feedback. The FASB codification research system is a real-time, online database that allows users to access codification whose primary aim is to simplify the accessibility and structure of all authoritative generally accepted accounting principles, reduce the time and effort invested when researching accounting-related issues, decrease the risk of non-compliance with the generally accepted accounting principles, provide access to all authoritative information from a single place, facilitate the updating of accounting standards, and foster research and convergence efforts for the FASB (Wiley, 2017).
The FASB Accounting Standards Codification® is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be applied to nongovernmental entities.
In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was created and their mission is “to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information.” (FASB.org, 2009a). The FASB is a private, not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to develop generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) within the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) designated the FASB as the organization responsible for setting accounting standards for public companies in the U.S. Therefore, the FASB plays a vital and important role in protecting the financial well being and the overall stability of our
The purpose of creating FASB is to establish standards of financial accounting that control the establishment of financial reports by nongovernmental organizations. This instance is identified as the number one authority by the SEC and the American Institute of Certified Public.FASB Accounting Standards Codification serves as a reference guide of authoritative standards for accounting and reporting, to be applied by nongovernmental organizations. Some examples are; ASC 830-230-55-1 that can identify as Statement of Cash Flows for Manufacturing Organization with Foreign Operations, ASC 926-330-35-1 can be justified as Products Held for Sale, ASC 954-440-25-2 identified as Continuing Care Retirement Community, ASC 505-20-50–1 means Equity, Stock Dividends and Stock Split and Disclosure, ASC 710-10-05-6 describe as Employees Compensations..
The Codification’s goal is to clarify the company of thousands of U.S. authoritative accounting announcements published by diverse standard-setters. Therefore, to accomplish this objective, the FASB sponsored a project to incorporate and typically adapt all related accounting publication announced by the standard-setters of the U.S. in conjunction with those of the FASB, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
“Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 470-20-25-10 defines convertible bonds as debt securities which are convertible into common stock of the issuer or an affiliated company at a specified price at the option of the holder,” (Schulman, 2014). Convertible bonds Under APB Opinion No. 14 you are allowed to ignore the conversion and treat the convertible bonds as a straight debt. “This approach is defended on the basis that the bond and conversion option are not separable. Thus the conversion feature itself, regardless of its nature, has no marketable valuation,” (Schroeder, Clark & Cathey, 2014, p. 392). There are about four different views opposing views, as “opponents of the current requirement argue that it results in an
The board acknowledges the diverse nature of regulatory framework in developing concrete and uniform standards. These standards help in proposing and clarifying a complete guidance as well as demonstrating the understanding of complex issues in accounting. Moreover, help in demonstrating advanced knowledge in the application of accounting standards in the preparation and analysis of financial statements.
First, The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issues The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on U.S securities and exchange companies listed.