The AICPA Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) expressed significant objections to FASB’s financial instruments impairment proposal. The high-profile project is designed to address some of the causes of the recent financial crisis and calls for measurement and reporting of expected losses rather than incurred losses. Although the project began as
FASB financial accounting & reporting
FASB nonpublic EBP vote meant to guard private companies’ proprietary information
FASB on Wednesday voted to indefinitely defer certain disclosures about investments held by a nonpublic employee benefit plan (EBP) in the plan sponsor’s own equity securities. Stakeholders have expressed concerns to FASB that certain disclosure requirements for nonpublic EBPs would reveal sensitive proprietary information of private companies. FASB in the
FASB agrees to advance three private company alternatives for public comment
The march toward possible exceptions and modifications to U.S. GAAP for private companies continued Monday when FASB voted to issue three Private Company Council (PCC) initiatives for public exposure. FASB expects to issue the exposure drafts later this month. After the exposure period, the PCC will review comments of stakeholders
FASB clarifies characteristics of investment companies
A FASB standard released Friday identifies characteristics a company must assess to determine whether it is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes. Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-08, Financial Services—Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements, takes effect for fiscal years beginning after Dec.
CPAs expect modest difficulty applying revenue recognition standard
Finance executives in the United States expect modest difficulty implementing the sweeping, global changes in revenue recognition that are coming their way, according to a new survey. In the second-quarter AICPA Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey, released Thursday, CPA executives explained their expectations for the assimilation of the new
FASB to consider business combination concerns
FASB has promised to give consideration to various stakeholder concerns that arose during a recent post-implementation review (PIR) of its business combinations standard. The review report, released last week, described concerns about FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations, also known as Statement 141(R). In a response released Thursday,
Revenue recognition’s effect on gift card accounting: Are you prepared?
Prepaid cards and several other payable-based consumer products are popular retail items and marketing tools. Portions of the proposed revenue recognition standard that FASB is working on will affect gift card programs. Companies with gift card programs need to be prepared as the proposed standard will require the recognition of
New members named by FAF trustees, IASB
Two prominent standard-setting positions were filled when the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) announced additions Thursday. Terry Warfield, Ph.D., chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Accounting & Information Systems department, was named to the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) board of trustees. Warfield served as the
Mixed results in FAF review of FASB business combinations standard
A Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) team gave FASB’s standard on business combinations a mixed review, according to information provided by FAF on Wednesday. The FAF post-implementation review team performed an in-depth analysis of FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (Statement 141R), which is codified in ASC Topic 805,
IASB chair: Lease changes unpopular, but necessary
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Chairman Hans Hoogervorst on Thursday acknowledged the converged lease accounting proposal is bound to be unpopular with many companies. Indeed, less than four hours after FASB and the IASB formally announced the revised proposal, the U.S. trade organization ELFA (the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association)
Much-awaited leases proposal includes dual-recognition approach
One of the most challenging international convergence projects attempted by FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) cleared an important hurdle Thursday with the proposal of a revised financial reporting standard for leases. FASB and the IASB released nearly identical, revised exposure drafts that call for a dual-recognition approach
Survey issued to guide FASB’s future priorities
FASB’s primary advisory group issued a survey Wednesday to solicit stakeholder views about the board’s future agenda. The Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC) advises FASB on priorities for the future and possible new agenda items. Responses to the survey are requested by May 30. FASAC periodically surveys stakeholders to
Converged leases project struggles to maintain momentum
Moody’s Investors Service Managing Director Mark LaMonte offered a blunt assessment of the converged lease accounting proposal that is expected to be issued soon. “My personal view, I wouldn’t mind seeing this go away,” LaMonte said Thursday at the 12th annual Baruch College financial reporting conference in New York City.
FASB proposal would guard private companies’ proprietary information
Stakeholders have expressed concerns to FASB that certain disclosure requirements for nonpublic employee benefit plans would reveal sensitive proprietary information of private companies. FASB is addressing that concern by proposing an indefinite deferral of the effective date for certain disclosures about investments held by a nonpublic employee benefit plan in
Financial reporting
FASB issued a revised proposal that would provide a comprehensive framework for classifying and measuring financial instruments. The Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, would require financial assets to be classified and measured based on the asset’s
Golden to succeed Seidman as FASB chairman
Russell Golden, whose technical expertise as a FASB staff member led him to a spot on the standard-setting board in 2010, will succeed Leslie Seidman as FASB’s chairman on July 1. The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) announced Golden’s appointment Tuesday. FAF Chairman Jeffrey Diermeier said in a news release that
New FASB chairman Golden describes priorities
Russell Golden, who was named Tuesday to be Leslie Seidman’s successor as FASB chairman, said the board’s immediate priorities will include completing international convergence projects and ensuring that accounting standards for private companies are relevant. Golden, 42, a FASB board member who will become chairman on July 1 after Seidman’s
New FASB rules standardize liquidation reporting
A new FASB standard released Monday provides guidance for organizations on when and how to prepare financial statements using the liquidation basis of accounting. Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2013-07, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205): Liquidation Basis of Accounting, describes how financial statements must be prepared by a company that
FASB lease proposal moves forward despite dissenting views
FASB decided Wednesday to move forward with a re-proposal on financial reporting for leases that will be converged with that of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). FASB Chairman Leslie Seidman cast the deciding vote in a 4–3 decision. Board members Tom Linsmeier, Marc Siegel, and R. Harold Schroeder dissented.
New FASB discontinued operations proposal aims for relevance
Investors told FASB that current GAAP calls too often for disposals of assets to be presented as discontinued operations. FASB has responded to those concerns by issuing a proposal that would redefine “discontinued operation” in such a way that discontinued operations disclosures would be required only for disposals that are
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
Get your clients ready for tax season
Help clients avoid surprises with year-end planning strategies for managing taxable income, maximizing deductions, and adjusting to OBBBA changes affecting individuals and businesses.
