Revenue Recognition & Theories of Accounting
The Joint Project
Revenue recognition requirements in US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) differ from those in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs); the former consists of broad concepts whereas IFRSs contain fewer standards, but applying the two main standards to complex transactions were difficult and needed improvement (Australian Accounting Standards Board, 2010). Accordingly, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) initiated a joint project to clarify the revenue recognising principles and to establish a common revenue standard that would: (a) remove inconsistencies in existing
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The CF is an example of a normative theory of accounting because it prescribes guidance such as the qualitative characteristics financial information should possess, as contrasted with positive theories, which seek to explain and/or predict particular phenomena (Deegan, 2009). Both theories are developed on the basis of deductive reasoning, which relies upon the use of logic to develop arguments and related theory. Although typically all research and theories are value-laden, the prescriptive nature of normative theories means more value judgement and social biasness is involved in its development, which may be a reason for the apparent functional failure of CFs. Raymond Chambers (1957) was a distinguished contributor to normative theory; he developed the Continuously Contemporary Accounting theory that describes how financial accounting should be undertaken, suggesting that the most useful information about an organisation’s assets for the purposes of economic decision-making is information about their ‘current cash equivalents’.
Alternatively, positive theories begin with some assumptions and, through logical deduction, enable explanations or predictions to be made, typically evaluated by considering how well these relate to actual observations. Watts and Zimmerman (1978) developed the Positive Accounting Theory, which seeks to predict and
Revenue recognition accounting standard ensures the correct revenue is recorded for each period of the income statement, it was previously based on the realization principle - requires revenue to be recognized when the earning process is virtually complete and is certain to collectability. FASB & IASB developed a new revenue recognition standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” on May 28, 2014, ASU No 2014-09. (RRPA Revenue Recognition and Profitability Analysis-1-LO1-5).
This research project will inform the reader of the difference between the United States accounting standards and International accounting standards. The United States uses the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to issue financial reporting procedures. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). There are proposals for the United States to adopt the International standards. Financial reporting procedures are debated about the United States using the Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP) or following the global procedures. This
Since 2002, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB) have been working toward “convergence” of US General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). They have made significant progress in efforts to converge critical accounting standards such as those dealing with revenue recognition, financial instruments and leases. Once these projects are complete, the "era" of convergence will be at an end. Nevertheless, the benefits for investors of eventually getting to consistently applied, high-quality, globally accepted accounting
The documents that comprise GAAP vary in format, completeness, and structure. As a result, financial statement preparers sometimes are not sure whether they have the right GAAP; determining what is authoritative and what is not becomes difficult. In response to these concerns, the FASB developed the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification. The FASB’s primary goal in developing the Codification is to provide in one place all the authoritative literature related to a particular topic. Professional accountants pay for access to the FASB. The OU Accounting Department has paid for academic access to the FASB Codification. Our Login information is:
The revenue recognition framework had significant differences under The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) provisions. The transformation of revenue recognition was necessary to provide the integrity to financial statements. Moreover, new revenue recognition standards should be applicable to all businesses (p50 A New World of Revenue Recognition).
The Company is planning to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the near future and should be made aware of the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB) relevant accounting guidelines. While FASB has extensive revenue recognition guidelines, IASB only has one, IAS 18. IASB’s revenue recognition guideline for the sales of goods [IAS 18.14] states that revenue
A joint convergence committee created the members of (FASB) and (IASB). (IASB) is recognized as an independent accounting standard-setting body that is similar to (FASB) that joins (GAAP), and is governed by the (IFRS) foundation. Due to this convergence, (AICPA) believes U.S. adoption of a single set of high-quality, globally accepted accounting standards will benefit U.S. financial markets and public companies by enabling preparation of transparent and comparable financial reports throughout the world, (American Institute of CPAs, 2016). Secondly, (AICPA) is dedicated to supplying the whole accounting profession with information, tools and IFRS.com for instance to assimilate as well as implement a new set of standards. As the (AICPA) supports continual convergence of reliable accounting standards between (IFRS) and (GAAP) the mission of completion between (IASB) and (FASB) is prolonged. (AICPA) will always support funding mechanisms of the body-making
After over a decade of extensive deliberation, the IASB and FASB officially released their joint revenue recognition standard to be applied under both GAAP and IFRS. The FASB and IASB which they have been in collaboration for a converged revenue recognition principle since 2008. The new revenue recognition standard represents a milestone in the convergence process, as it is the first fully integrated joint standard. The purpose of the new revenue recognition principle is to standardize across the board how companies should recognize revenue recorded in financial statements.
recognition requirements in U.S. GAAP are different from those in IFRSs and both are considered in need of improvement. U.S. GAAP comprises broad revenue recognition concepts and numerous industry or transaction-specific requirements that can result in different accounting for economically similar transactions. Although, IFRSs contain less guidance on revenue recognition, its two main standards IAS 18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction Contracts can be difficult to understand and apply beyond simple transactions. Also, they lack guidance on important topics such as revenue recognition for multiple-element arrangements.
The famous accounting scandals of late 1900s and early 2000s believed to cause the legislation, the SEC and FASB to issue changes and updates on its accounting principles on revenue recognition topics. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA, 2002) outlined, AU Section 316 and Statement on Auditing Standard No. 99 (SAS 99) Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit, as a guide for auditors to focus on two broad areas of fraud such as the fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets (p. 1722). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC, 1999) Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB 101), Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, states that revenue is realized or realizable and earned or recognize when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exist, delivery has occurred or services has been rendered, seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured (topic13). Any one of the (SAB 101) criteria needs to be meet before the company can recognize revenue (topic 13). FASB ASC 606 new guidance on the requirements for determination of revenue from contracts with customers (topic 606), as
When talking about accounting, the first thing we should know is the history of its development. Traditionally, the development is from inductive to deductive. Inductive theory assume what is done by the majority is the most appropriate practice. However, It did not seek to evaluate the logic or merit of
In the instant case of Elegant Housing, Inc. neither has the affirmative customer acceptance been received by Caltron Computers, Inc. nor has the 6 month trial period ending on May 15, 20X2 lapsed. In light of the above circumstances and the revenue recognition provisions, it is recommended that the revenue of $400,000 should not be recognized.
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) are working together to eliminate a variety of difference between the United States generally accepted accounting procedures (U.S. GAAP or GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This convergence project grew out of an agreement reached by the two boards in 2002 (Deloitte, 2004).
It has been become an issue of great concern that the accounting profession must find a common theory in order to address and put the issue at rest. This therefore, has called for the study of this topic under review “the demand for and supply of accounting theories: the market for excuses. As a result of this several questions have been raised. For instance, the question of why accounting theories are predominantly normative has been put forward by this article? Secondly, why no single theory in accounting profession that is generally or widely accepted? It has been argued that the financial accounting theories have been found to be ineffective most especially in the area of impacting accounting practice and policy, though, this has been
The definition of accounting theory according to Coetsee (2010) is described in two different ways. The first philosophy concludes that accounting theory is a set of general principles that guide the evolution of accounting practice. The other philosophy describes accounting theory as activity of explaining and predicting accounting practice. What the viewer can see from the statement of the first philosophy is that the accounting theory exists before accounting practices meanwhile the latter states that the accounting practice exists before the theory. Since there are many arguments about this matter, many academic researchers have concluded that accounting theory can be divided into two categories which are positive and normative theory.