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FASB proposes presenting amounts reclassified out of accumulated OCI

A new FASB proposal would require preparers of financial statements to present in one place information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI). On Thursday, FASB issued a Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) for public comment. The board presented a plan to require a tabular disclosure

AICPA releases draft of proposed not-for-profit guide

A working draft of a proposed Audit and Accounting Guide, Not-for-Profit Entities, released Wednesday offers updates on many new accounting issues that have emerged in recent years. The proposed guide, released by the AICPA Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) and designed for CPAs performing work for not-for-profits, provides direction that

Impairment of financial instruments on FASB meeting agenda

FASB will continue its discussion of impairment of financial instruments during its board meeting on Aug. 22. A decision by FASB last month to address a number of topics and constituent concerns in the joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) was met with frustration by IASB Chairman

SEC considers rules that pit human rights groups against business interests

A controversial measure on so-called “conflict minerals” that has pitted human rights groups against business interests is among the regulations the SEC will consider implementing during an open meeting on Aug. 22. The SEC is considering adopting regulations that would implement Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and

Draft of not-for-profit guide scheduled for Aug. 15 release

CPAs performing work for not-for-profits will find guidance dedicated specifically to them in a working draft of a proposed audit and accounting guide, Not-for-Profit Entities, scheduled for release Aug. 15 by the AICPA’s Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC). The AICPA will be requesting that comments on the proposed guide be

Guidance provided on health care accounting for ICD-10 implementation costs

The AICPA Health Care Expert Panel has developed nonauthoritative guidance on how health care entities should account for costs incurred in connection with the implementation of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). By Oct. 1, 2013, the U.S. health care system is scheduled for a transition

FAF reviewing FASB business combinations standard

The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) is gathering survey participants for a post-implementation review of a FASB standard on business combinations that generated controversy after it was issued in 2007. A joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) resulted in FASB Statements No. 141(R), Business Combinations, and No. 160,

Avoiding missteps in the LIFO conformity rule

During inflationary times, companies can reduce their taxable income by using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost flow assumption for inventories. However, the tax savings from using LIFO come at a cost. Under the LIFO conformity rule in Sec. 472(c), if LIFO is used on a taxpayer’s tax return, no other

Financial reporting

  Accounting standard setters have agreed on a lessee accounting approach, setting the stage for a lease accounting exposure draft in the fourth quarter this year. FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) previously agreed that leases should be recorded on the balance sheet, but have been debating the

FASB releases recommendations for private company framework

FASB on Tuesday released its initial staff recommendations on whether and when it will be appropriate to adjust financial reporting requirements for private companies. The recommendations are contained in a paper, Private Company Decision-Making Framework: A Framework for Evaluating Financial Accounting and Reporting Guidance for Private Companies. FASB on Tuesday

FASB simplifies impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets

The guidance for testing the impairment of intangible assets such as indefinite-lived trademarks, licenses and distribution rights has been simplified by FASB. FASB on Friday issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) no. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. The standard applies to testing the decline

IASB to develop IFRS guidance for ‘micro-sized entities’

Very small companies are expected to receive IFRS financial reporting guidance tailored to their needs. The staff of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) will develop guidance to help so-called “micro-sized entities” apply IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) in their financial reporting. The IASB staff will

Lawmakers reflect on Sarbanes-Oxley’s effect on corporate culture

Former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes and former U.S. Rep. Michael Oxley say the regulations they sponsored and saw signed into law a decade ago are not perfect, but led to changes in the corporate culture in the United States and abroad. Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat, and Oxley, an Ohio Republican,

IFRS constitution change formally splits IASB chair, foundation CEO roles

The IFRS Foundation is changing its constitution to reflect the separation of the roles of the foundation’s CEO and the chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This move formalizes a separation that previously was implemented following an internal structure reorganization at the end of 2011. The chair of

SOX’s anniversary marked with congressional debate on benefits and costs

A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday debated the benefits and costs of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX)—and a bill that would decrease its scope—as the corporate governance law approached its 10th anniversary. The House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises heard sharply divided opinions from

Health Care Guide and Emerging GAAP Issues webinar to be rebroadcast on July 30

A rebroadcast of the webinar, “An Up Close Look at the Health Care Guide Including Emerging GAAP Issues,” will take place on July 30. The original broadcast, hosted by select members of the Health Care Expert Panel on June 7, delves into the revised AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide—Health Care

New FASAB mission statement emphasizes service to public interest

The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) has adopted a new mission statement that notes its service to the public interest. “The FASAB serves the public interest by improving federal financial reporting through issuing federal financial accounting standards and providing guidance after considering the needs of external and internal users

“More than insignificant” is key judgment in leases proposal

CPAs may have difficulty at times determining what constitutes “more than insignificant” consumption of a leased asset by a lessee under a proposed standard being jointly developed by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), according to a webcast conducted by the boards on Thursday. On rare occasions, a

SEC names Beswick acting chief accountant

Paul Beswick, who has worked at the SEC since 2007, was named acting chief accountant. He succeeds James Kroeker, whose last major task as chief accountant was completed Friday, his last day at the SEC. Kroeker’s staff issued its report on IFRS for U.S. public companies, capping a project that

Lack of SEC decision on IFRS turns CPAs’ focus to convergence projects

As the wait for an SEC decision on IFRS continues indefinitely, CPAs can turn their international standards focus to the convergence projects on leases, revenue recognition and financial instruments, some experts say. An SEC report released Friday did not contain a recommendation on whether U.S. public companies should be allowed

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