GAAP Codification Resources
Accounting research has changed dramatically, shifting CPAs to an online tool for searching and referencing U.S. GAAP. On July 1, the FASB
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) became the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards for nongovernmental entities, in addition to guidance issued by the SEC. The ASC disassembled and repackaged thousands of pronouncements (including guidance from FASB, FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force and the AICPA Accounting Standards Executive Committee) to organize them under roughly 90 topics. Here is a collection of articles, news and resources designed to help you harness the power of the codification database.JofA ARTICLES
Dec. 2008
FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification was designed to simplify the classification of accounting standards by restructuring all authoritative U.S. GAAP for nongovernmental entities into one Web-accessible database under a common referencing system. The authors offer a detailed look at the structure of the codification and compare the results of research using the new system with those of traditional research methods.
Framing the Future: A First Look at FASB’s GAAP Codification
May 08
FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification will affect the day-to-day work of nearly every CPA who practices, teaches or researches accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The project reorganizes authoritative pronouncements into 90 accounting topics in a consistent, searchable structure. Find out what you need to know about the changes ahead.
NEWS UPDATES
FASB Expected to Issue Accounting Standards Codification as Authoritative on July 1
May 12, 2009
Significant changes will affect the way CPAs perform accounting research and reference accounting literature in day-to-day work. On July 1, FASB is expected to issue the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) as authoritative. The ASC will become the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards for nongovernmental entities, in addition to guidance issued by the SEC.
FASB Advances GAAP Codification Plan
March 31, 2009
FASB took another step forward in its plan to codify U.S. GAAP with the release of an exposure draft on changes to the GAAP hierarchy.In the draft, the standard setter reiterates the planned July 1 effective date for the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to become the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards, except for SEC rules and interpretive releases. The 20-page proposal would modify FASB Statement no. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The proposal would establish only two levels of GAAP—authoritative and nonauthoritative.
VIDEO
May 12, 2009
On July 1, FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification is expected to become authoritative. Arleen Thomas, AICPA Senior Vice President – Member Competency and Development, highlights how the codification will be different from GAAP as CPAs have always known it.
RESOURCES
FASB Accounting Standards Codification home page, http://asc.fasb.org/home
From the Maryland Association of CPAs:
- Codification: Lots of optimism, a few ‘gray areas’
- Standards Codification gets official FASB nod
- A Codification Q&A
- A PowerPoint tour of the Codification Web site
AICPA RESOURCES
Find a codification overview, archived Webcasts and other links to help you prepare for the shift to the FASB ASC at the Accounting and Auditing Web site.
FASB ASC PowerPoint Presentation
This presentation is designed to help you educate members in your organization on the ASC. It will help them understand the purpose, meaning and structure of the ASC; how to use the ASC; available resources; and what they need to do now to be prepared when the ASC becomes authoritative on July 1.
