Historical Cost vs. Fair Value

Accounting information must have reliability. “Accounting information is reliable to the extent that it is verifiable, is a faithful representation, and is reasonably free of error and bias” (Kieso et al., 2007). Information should be comparable with a similar company and also consistent with the same company through different periods.

The field of accounting is constantly evolving. This is true not only for the theory of accounting itself but also the entities that govern its theory and practice. Presently, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are faced with some of the biggest challenges to date. To understand the significance of these two boards, it is necessary to understand their histories, relations between the boards, and the standards that they set. Also how the knowledge of these boards and the field they lead, gained through the masters of science in accountancy

For as long as businesses have existed, so has accounting. With time, it has become more complicated and detailed, but it is still a process of keeping financial accounts in order. Through accounting, or financial reporting, a system is set up to keep track of, maintain and audit the financial proceedings. Because accounting and financial reporting of a business is so important for its accuracy and in general, a lot of ethical, technological and legal concerns are involved. In this paper, we will look identify and explore the concerns of each of these.

Representations are faithful if there is a correspondence or agreement between the accounting measures or descriptions in the financial reports and the economic phenomena they purport to represent (FASB, 1980: 6; FASB, 2005: 3). The difference between reliability and a faithful representation is ambiguous. Since the attributes neutrality, completeness and substance of economic phenomena (substance over form) can be classified as qualities of faithful representation, reliability becomes redundant. Consequently, a point of attention is to discuss what exactly the notions reliability and faithful representation mean and what they do not mean (FASB, 2005: 2-3).In both frameworks neutrality is defined as free from bias. 'To that end, the common conceptual framework should not include conservatism or prudence among the desirable qualitative characteristics of accounting information. However the framework should note the continuing need to be careful in the face of uncertainty' (FASB, 2005: 3).

As the complexity of our financial economy develops it is important that our accounting standards progress in accordance. Accounting is very important to the development of the global and local economies. Accounting is basically the gathering, summarizing and presenting of financial information of an entity to interested internal, external and possible investors. This information should be presented in a non-bias way so that other people are able understand.

Over the past several years, there has been a growing controversy over the accounting issues of fair values and historical cost. The basis of this controversy revolves around which one of these principles is the most accurate. There are many different viewpoints on this issue. Many accounting professionals believe that fair value is just as accurate as the historical cost principle, while others believe that the historical cost is more reliable. The facts about each of these valuation methods will be researched and explained throughout this research document, as well as the different viewpoint about which method is the most accurate and reliable.

Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge of the Positive Accounting Theory. According to Deegan & Samkin (n.d.), Positive Accounting Theory explains and predicts accounting practice and does not seek to determine particular actions. For instance, which accounting policies will be choosen by firms and how newly proposed accounting standard will be reacted to by firms (Deegan & Samkin n.d.). In the same report, the author claims the first aspect of Positive Accounting Theory, which is “Explanation” means providing reasons for observed practice. For example, positive accounting theory pursues to explain why historical cost accounting continues being used by firms and why convinced firms switch between a numbers of accounting techniques. The second factor, which is “Prediction” indicates that the theory predicts “unobserved phenomena” (Deegan & Samkin n.d.). The author clarifies that this phenomena is not necessarily a future phenomena, they

Historically ,it is seen that there are numerous number of disputes in the field of financial reporting among different professionals, regulators and theoretitions .most of these disputes are related to the valuation of financial reporting components.the current curve in the progress of valuation is the push for and against the fair value approach.the purpose of this research is to examine the arguments on the use of fair value accounting and to identify the issues related to implementation of fair value accounting standards. Further, the results of literature related to role of fair value accounting within financial crisis are also investigated.

ACC307 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT TASK 1: Contemporary Issues of Accounting Theory Fair Value Measurement Overview After the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) released the IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement in May 2011 for the purpose of completing its joint project with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on fair value, the Australian Accounting Standard Board (AASB) released the Australian equivalent - AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement in the September of the same year. This standard permitted early adoption but generally started to take effect for the financial reporting periods beginning from 1 January 2013. This new standard requires no new requirement for the adoption and but it was accompanied with the issuing of AASB 2011-8 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the AASB 13 which has made consequential changes to 32 standards and 9 interpretations for the adoption in Australia. The new standard attempts to unify IFRS and US GAAP by specifying how entities should apply the fair value measurements that applied in previous IFRS standards. It clarifies and redefines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date”, sometimes referred to as an “exit price”. It also sets out a single source guidance for a robust measurement framework to ensure that the requirements are applied consistently and have clear

The article ‘Market Valuation of Accrual Components’ by Rick Francis tries to focus on the numerous aspects of capital market research in terms of financial accounting to enlighten the theme knowledge of the performance of cash flows and accruals for maintaining equity valuation. To know the empirical evidences which help to understand the market condition, market price and the cash flow of accruals is the main objective of this paper. In his journal he suggested the analysis of financial calculation will find the study easy because of evaluation accrual elements as well as cash flows before represents some recommendations for equity securities. The study also provide some basic concept to the financial accounting standards Board (FASB) regarding the issues of utility on accounting information by focusing equity investors as well as perception of accrual elements of earnings. The record of this paper support preliminary hypothesis which is valuation for other current accruals is not greater than the receivable accrual. Furthermore, the outcomes of this paper are founded relevant with investor findings gains and losses which are associated to the equity valuation. In some point to run the study the author found that cross sectional and temporal issues for measuring accruals components are problematic for the both primary and secondary and this may constrain in this article which may cause for identifying the null hypothesis incorrectly. The outcomes also suggest that

Accounting is the art of measuring and communicating financial information. To maintain uniformity and consistency in preparing and maintaining books of accounts, certain rules or principles have been evolved. These rules or principles are classified as concepts and conventions. One of the important concept in accounting is “Measurement” (Mattessich, 1977)

One of the most significant purposes of General Purpose Financial Reports is providing useful and valuable accounting information, which is an important basis to making appropriate decisions for information users. The quality of accounting information is directly related to information users in decision-making and its consequences. Hence, the four qualitative characteristics, namely Understandability, Relevance, Reliability and Comparability are set out in the conceptual framework to ensure that information users can make the right decisions. This essay will definitely and intensively evaluate and examine the four qualitative characteristics of accounting information.

An important function of the accounting field is to provide external users of financial statements with assurance that the financial information being presented is both reliable and accurate. This basic function of accounting is so important that there is an entire field of experts, called auditors, dedicated to assuring its proper performance. Throughout history there have been many instances in which the basic equilibrium between an institution and current/potential investor has been threatened due to a lack of accountability and trust between the two parties. This issue has been the catalyst for many discussions regarding the proper procedures a firm should follow in order to provide

To begin with, measurement is an essential part in every human’s daily activity. People apply measurements in Mathematics, in Science, in calculations, in Economics, or in their typical calculation for the simplest estimation of market price when buying any products or services. Measurement’s role in Accounting is by then not any less than a vital role. Indeed, all transactions or assumptions provided in the Accounting Information Systems are presented by numbers, which are results of the measurement process.

The historical cost: A technique of accounting based mostly chiefly on the first cost incurred in group action, it is relaxed to some extent by such exercise because the valuation of stock at the lower of value and web realizable price and appraisal of capital asset. The benefits of historical cost accounting is comparatively objective, however, the results of historical cost accounting will be false as profit will be exaggerated in terms of current values, and capital maintenance and anxious with the nominal quantity of the capital endowed instead of its buying power. As a result of these defects it is controversial that historical cost accounting is of very little use for deciding, however efforts to interchange it with such alternative ways.