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TOPICS / ACCOUNTING & REPORTING

G-20: Achieve Single Set of Global Accounting Standards by June 2011

In an agreement reached Friday to make dozens of changes to the regulation of financial markets, systems and institutions, the leaders of the G-20 called on “international accounting bodies to redouble their efforts to achieve a single set of high quality, global accounting standards within the context of their independent

FASB Allows Early Adoption of Key Provisions of New Revenue Recognition Approach

FASB on Wednesday brought U.S. GAAP closer to the approach FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have outlined in their preliminary views documents for their joint revenue recognition project that is scheduled for completion in 2011. At its board meeting, FASB ratified the consensus approach reached at the

FASB Drops Some FIN 48 Disclosure Requirements for Private Companies

FASB on Wednesday issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-06 to provide additional implementation guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes and to eliminate the disclosures required by FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Paragraphs 740-10-50-15(a) through (b) for nonpublic entities, including pass-through and not-for-profit entities. The new guidance involves requirements

Financial Reporting

  FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. The goal of the proposed statement is to provide more information regarding the nature of credit risk inherent in the creditor’s portfolio

FASB Proposes Fair Value Measurement Disclosures Update

FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed Accounting Standards Update that would affect all entities that are required to make disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The board says the proposal would improve Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures—Overall Subtopic (Subtopic 820-10) of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.

Proposed Regulatory Capital Rule Incorporates Guidance in FASB 166 and 167

The federal banking and thrift regulatory agencies are seeking comment on a proposed regulatory capital rule related to FASB’s adoption of Statement no. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140, and Statement no. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R). Beginning in 2010, these accounting

XBRL U.S. GAAP Tags Now Aligned to FASB Accounting Codification

The XBRL U.S. GAAP Taxonomy has been updated to reflect the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after Sept.15, 2009, FASB and XBRL US announced Tuesday.   The codification, which became effective July 1, reorganizes thousands of U.S. GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90

Financial Reporting

  FASB published standards that change the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities. Both standards will require new disclosures. FASB Statement no. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets, and Statement no. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), will affect financial institution balance sheets beginning in 2010.

International Fair Value Accounting Draft Cross-Referenced to U.S. Counterpart

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Wednesday published new resources to help stakeholders understand how its exposure draft on fair value measurement compares to the U.S. accounting standard upon which it is based. The new resources include:   A marked-up version of the text that shows the wording differences

Accounting Leaders Discuss Simplifying Financial Reporting

Strategies for ridding the financial reporting system of some of its complexities took center stage at a forum of accounting leaders held in New York on Friday. The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) and the AICPA held the third of three roundtable discussions about the topic at the AICPA’s office. The

FASB Issues Exposure Draft on Credit Quality Disclosures

FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. Respondents were asked to comment on whether they believe the proposed statement would achieve its goal of providing more information regarding the nature

FASB Introduces Disclosure Project

FASB introduced a project Wednesday that is intended to make financial statement disclosures more useful, organized and consistent, and less redundant. The project will focus on developing a framework for improved GAAP disclosures, according to FASB Chairman Robert Herz. The vision for the framework is for it to allow companies

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

Cap-and-Trade Accounting Resources

Editor’s note: These are Web-exclusive resources for “Accounting for Emissions.” Excel worksheets and other tools to estimate carbon output by individuals and certain businesses at the EPA Web site. The Carbon Disclosure Project Global 500 Report 2008 and a number of other national and international disclosure studies, www.cdproject.net/reports.asp The Petition

Highlights

  The PCAOB issued Staff Audit Practice Alert no. 4 to describe potential implications of three FASB Staff Positions on reviews of interim financial information and annual audits. The FSPs relate to fair value measurement and other-than-temporary impairment. They are: FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and

Financial Reporting

  The AICPA’s accounting standards staff issued Technical Practice Aid (TPA) 6931.11, Fair Value Measurement Disclosures for Master Trusts. The aid, available at tinyurl.com/d94du2, provides guidance on fair value measurement disclosure requirements for an employee benefit plan when the plan holds investments in a master trust.   The Financial Crisis

Obama Announces Broad Regulatory Reform Proposals

President Obama on Wednesday presented a plan for regulatory reforms that would consolidate banking regulators, create new government agencies and give new powers to the Federal Reserve. One proposal of particular interest to the accounting profession includes three recommendations addressed to accounting standard setters. The plan echoes the Group of

FASB Issues Standards on Securitizations, SPEs

FASB on Friday published standards that change the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities. Both standards will require new disclosures. FASB Statement no. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets, and Statement no. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), will affect financial institution balance sheets beginning in

Financial Reporting

  FASB revised FASB Statement no. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations, to address application issues raised by preparers, auditors, and people in the legal profession on initial recognition and measurement, subsequent measurement and accounting, and disclosure of assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. The application concerns

Highlights

  Significant changes next month 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

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Tax season quick guide

Get ready for tax season with the JofA’s annual filing season quick guide, an easy-to-use compilation of dollar thresholds, tax tables, standard amounts, credits, and deductions. Download and print for quick reference this tax season.