FASB financial accounting & reporting

FASB wants to clarify the definition of a business to help financial statement preparers evaluate whether they should account for transactions as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a standard that is intended to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes on the balance sheet.

The proposal would require disclosures about the type of arrangement and the method of accounting for government assistance.

The standard, which will include substantial changes to lessee accounting, is expected to be issued in early 2016.

FASB intends to improve the guidance on collectibility, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition in the new revenue recognition standard.

FASB issued new rules that are intended to simplify accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination.

FASB issued two exposure drafts that address the use of materiality—an attempt to help organizations eliminate unnecessary disclosures in financial statements.

The proposed taxonomy contains updates for accounting standards and other recommended improvements to the official taxonomy, which is used by public issuers registered with the SEC.

FASB proposed changes to the new revenue recognition standard that are meant to clarify how to determine whether an entity is a principal or an agent in a contract.

A key AICPA committee has expressed concern that FASB’s proposed changes to not-for-profit accounting standards would lead to a further divergence between the financial reporting models of not-for-profits and for-profit businesses.

FASB published an accounting standards update that formalizes a one-year deferral in the effective date of its new revenue recognition standard.

FASB issued guidance designed to clarify when a scope exception to derivatives and hedging guidance can be applied to certain electricity contracts within nodal energy markets.

FASB is seeking comments on two Proposed Accounting Standards Updates related to derivatives and hedging.