...financial statements to stockholders, and the Internal Revenue Service requires all businesses to file annual tax returns. Many business transactions affect more than one of these arbitrary time periods. For example, a new building purchased by Bank of America or a new airplane purchased by Southwest Airlines will be used for many years. It does not make sense to expense the full cost of the building or the airplane at the time of purchase because each will be used for many subsequent periods. Instead, we determine the impact of each transaction on specific accounting periods. When determining the amount of revenues and expenses to report in a given accounting period can be challenging. Proper reporting requires an understanding of the nature of the company’s business. Two principles are used as guidelines; they are the revenue recognition principle and the matching principle. The revenue recognition principle requires that companies recognize revenue in the accounting period in which it is earned. For example, in a service company, revenue is considered to be earned at the time the service is performed. When recognizing expenses, a simple rule is followed; “Let the expenses follow the revenues.” Which means expense recognition is tied to revenue recognition. The practice of expense recognition is referred to as the matching principle because it dictates that efforts (expenses) be matched with accomplishments (revenues). Recognizing expenses too early overstates current period...
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...Revenue Recognition: Converge between U.S. GAAP and IFRS While the basic revenue recognition model under US GAAP and IFRS share some similarities, if we make a comparison under two systems, we may find quite a few differences. In general, IFRS has much less industry-specific guidance than does US GAAP. First, one of the main differences lies in timing of revenue recognition with respect to contracts criteria such as long-term construction or contingency. According to US GAAP, revenue must be realized or realizable with certainty. The revenue recognition criteria may lead to deferrals in recognition. On the contrary, IFRS just defines the revenue recognition as “when it is possible that future economic benefits will flow into the enterprise and can be measured reliably”. Second, as for the long-term contracts revenue recognition, if reliable estimate cannot be made, GAAP allows completed contract method. It differs from that of the IFRS, which allows the cost recovery method. Third, US GAAP provides a much more detailed guidance about separation and allocation of multiple-deliverable arrangements in comparison to the guidance of IFRS. The US GAAP does not allow revenue recognition if a company fails to deliver remaining elements. Under IFRS, an entity can recognize its revenue if delivery is probable. The new ASU entitled “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” definitely leads to some important changes from current GAAP. There are core revenue recognition principle and five...
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...theme Revenue Recognition R evenue is usually the largest single item in financial statements, and the issues involving revenue recognition are among the most important and difficult ones that standardsetters and accountants face. In recent years, concerns related to the recognition of revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards have heightened significantly. Quite often, companies end up tweaking the Revenue numbers, besides some other reasons. Recording revenue improperly is also a commonly used ‘earnings management technique’. The ever evolving business models and the growing online economy have only compounded the issue. Earnings Management/Issues with revenue recognition have been the subject of headlines in the United States and in the other parts of the world in the last few years. -Shrikant Sortur The author is a member of the Institute as well as AICPA, working with Lason Systems Inc, MI, USA. He can be reached at shrikant_ sortur@yahoo.com Revenue Recognition Under US GAAP It is estimated that Revenue Recognition related aspects appear in close to two hundred different pieces of accounting literature; of course these pieces of literature include many nuances, some of which are unique to particular transactions. Since no comprehensive standard on revenue recognition exists, there is a significant gap between the broad conceptual guidance in the Financial International Accounting Standards (IAS) are drafted on a ‘Principles-based’ approach....
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...CHAPTER 18 REVENUE RECOGNITION MULTIPLE CHOICE—Conceptual AnswerNo.Description c1.Revenue recognition principle. b2.Definition of "realized." a3.Definition of "earned." d4.Recognizing revenue at point of sale. d5.Recording sales when right of return exists. c6.Revenue recognition when right of return exists. d7.Revenue recognition when right of return exists. b8.Appropriate accounting method for long-term contracts. c9.Percentage-of-completion method. b10.Percentage-of-completion method. c11.Classification of progress billings and construction in process. b12.Calculation of gross profit using percentage-of-completion. a13.Disclosure of earned but unbilled revenues. c14.Revenue, cost, and gross profit under completed contract. b15.Disadvantage of using percentage-of-completion. a16.Loss recognition on a long-term contract. c17.Accounting for long-term contract losses. d18.Criteria for revenue recognition of completion of production. a19.Completion-of-production basis. c20.Presentation of deferred gross profit. c21.Appropriate use of the installment-sales method. b22.Valuing repossessed assets. b23.Gross profit deferred under the installment-sales method. b24.Income recognition under the cost-recovery method. b25.Income recognition under the cost-recovery method. d26.Cost recovery basis of revenue recognition. d*27.Allocation of initial franchise fee. a*28Recognition...
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...successful. Through financial statements investors, creditors, and managers can analyze the health, risks, and profits. Two principles come into play when discussing financial statements and what information is applicable during certain periods. Those principles are revenue recognition principle and expense recognition principle. After discovering which transactions are applicable the information is input in the financial statements. Then the applicable information is written in a journal with explanations. Sometimes changes occur and when this happens one needs to understand the situations requiring adjustment journal entries. The revenue recognition principle requires the company to only recognize earned revenue in the accounting period. This principle falls under generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. The principle applies to companies depending on the type of accounting base they use. Under accrual-basis accounting, for example a delivery service company completes deliveries for a shipment company the entire month of July for a fee of $500. The company should recognize the revenue upon completion of the month, even if the delivery service company does not expect payment for another couple of weeks. Under the same principle and accounting basis, if advance payment occurs to the delivery service company, they cannot record the payment as revenue but as a liability until the work is complete. Under cash-basis accounting, using the same example as above, the...
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...1. Is Eye Vision’s arrangement with Holland Hospital within the scope of ASC 985-605, Software: Revenue Recognition? In this case, the main content of the Eye Vision’s arrangement with Holland Hospital include embedded software medical equipment and an initial option to purchase a two-year separately priced maintenance agreement. In this case, because “Eye Vision has never sold, nor does it offer to sell, the Clear View Laser without the embedded software because the software is necessary to perform the medical procedures for which the laser is intended”, and “Eye Vision has never sold, nor does it offer to sell, the Clear View Laser without the embedded software because the software is necessary to perform the medical procedures for which the laser is intended”. So the software components and non software components of tangible product could be consider function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality, so according the FASB codification 985-605-15-4 and 985-605-15-4A, the equipment and the software are excluded from the Software: Revenue Recognition., Accordingly, the initial option to purchase a two-year separately priced maintenance agreement on the Clear View would be non-software deliverables excluded from the scope of Software: Revenue Recognition. References from FASB codification ASC 985-605-15-4 The guidance in this Subtopic does not apply to the following transactions and activities: e. Software components of tangible products...
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...Working With Financial Statements ACC 300 April 06, 2015 Working With Financial Statements Introduction – Revenue Recognition Principle - Explain revenue recognition principle Expense Recognition Principle - It is to be expected that in accounting there are principles to follow, just as they are in other various fields regarding finances. An example of this is banking where allocations and limitations are set. According to the principle of expense recognition revenue reflects in earning periods. Our expression as consumers is to enter into an agreement that has something to offer both parties. As the seller I am choosing the price, and the buyer agrees to listed price. The transaction has informed an agreement that is recognized through assurance. (Boundless Accounting) To recognize expenses, revenue is regarded and allies to the balance sheet. For example as the owner of a good I have fixed costs, and production cost that are in place whether I sell the goods or not. In lieu of the expenses recognition, we must meet the matching principle to move up own our balance sheet. An income statement shows these transactions due to the fact we are forced to record revenue and expenses, specifically those relating in cash. Costs are to broad to list all of them in an essay forum. However the two main categories are product costs and period costs. What are these? Period costs are things such as payroll, admin related expenses, and benefits solutions. In most cases...
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...materially accurate and if it faithfully represents the information that it purports to present. Significant misstatements or omissions in financial statements reduce the reliability of information contained in them. Matching Concept: Matching Principle requires that expenses incurred by an organization must be charged to the income statement in the accounting period in which the revenue, to which those expenses relate, is earned. Prior to the application of the matching principle, expenses were charged to the income statement in the accounting period in which they were paid irrespective of whether they relate to the revenue earned during that period. This resulted in non recognition of expenses incurred but not paid for during an accounting period (i.e. accrued expenses) and the charge to income statement of expenses paid in respect of future periods (i.e. prepaid expenses). Application of matching principle results in the deferral of prepaid expenses in order to match them with the revenue earned in future periods. Similarly, accrued expenses are charged in the income statement in which they are incurred to match them with the current period's revenue. Timeliness of Accounting Information Concept: Timeliness principle in accounting refers to the need for accounting information to be presented to the users in time to fulfill...
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...IFRS vs GAAP – differences in revenue recognition IFRS and GAAP in Canada are both principle-based frameworks with significant conceptual similarities, but where they differ drastically is in the application of those general principles. By looking at the detailed guidance of GAAP vs IFRS for processing various accounting transactions, one can start to embrace the magnitude of the disparity between the two sets of reporting standards. Revenue recognition principle illustrates the IFRS vs GAAP divergence. Under IFRS, the revenue from the sale of goods is recognized when the seller has transferred the significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer and no longer has control or managerial involvement over the goods. Canadian GAAP follows the same logic, but has more specific criteria underlying these principles such as: the existence of persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the occurrence of delivery or rendering of services, and whether the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable. By the same token, Canadian GAAP provides a detailed approach for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements which is not specific to a scenario or industry; IFRS does not provide such detailed guidance, however, it does consider some specific scenarios. The Canadian GAAP vs IFRS distinction can be further seen in examining multi-deliverable arrangements. Canadian GAAP provides a detailed approach for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements which...
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...The revenue recognition principle is a cornerstone of accrual accounting together with matching principle. They both determine the accounting period, in which revenues and expenses are recognized. According to the principle, revenues are recognized when they are realised or realisable, and are earned (usually when goods are transferred or services rendered), no matter when cash is received. In cash accounting – in contrast – revenues are recognized when cash is received no matter when goods or services are sold. Cash can be received in an earlier or later period than obligations are met (when goods or services are delivered) and related revenues are recognized that results in the following two types of accounts: * Accrued revenue: Revenue is recognized before cash is received. * Deferred revenue: Revenue is recognized after cash is received The revenue recognition principle is a cornerstone of accrual accounting together with matching principle. They both determine the accounting period, in which revenues and expenses are recognized. According to the principle, revenues are recognized when they are realised or realisable, and are earned (usually when goods are transferred or services rendered), no matter when cash is received. In cash accounting – in contrast – revenues are recognized when cash is received no matter when goods or services are sold. Cash can be received in an earlier or later period than obligations are met (when goods or services are delivered) and...
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...at a 25% discount from the law firm’s usual hourly rates. Legal services for domestic cases, bankruptcy, and drug and alcohol related matters are limited under the memberships. 2. Legal Plan Services is mandated to follow statement No. 168, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles concepts. The statement is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The objective is to prepare all of their products following the same revenue and expense recognition rules (deferral of revenue and accrual recognition of expenses). An explanation of specific recognition rules follows. * ASC 605-10-05-1 “The Revenue Recognition Topic provides guidance for transaction-specific revenue recognition and certain matters related to revenue-generating activities that are not addressed specifically in other topics.” * ASC 605-28-25 “The Recognition Section provides guidance on the required criteria, timing, and location (within the financial statements) for recording a particular item in the financial statements. Disclosure is not recognition” 3. Legal Plan Services recognize various types of...
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...Daniel Fischer undertakes a revenue recognition review for each of the 3 divisions as SEC has issued SAB 101 guidelines. The effects of applying this guideline would be reported as a cumulative effect adjustment resulting from a change in accounting principle. As a test, Fisher has selected from each of the three divisions a limited number of representative sales transactions to review and the main question is- if all revenue recognition criteria is met other than the issues raised by the customer acceptance provisions, when should revenue be recognized. SAB 101 The guidelines are as follows: 1. Persuasive evidence exists 2. Delivery of ordered goods has occurred or services have been rendered. 3. The sellers price to the buyer is fixed or determinable 4. Collectability of the sales proceeds is reasonable assured ANS1. The revenue recognition methods adopted by Boston Automation Systems are as follows: 1. Product revenue is recognized upon shipment i.e Sales Method. The products of the company come with a warranty, and the company recognizes the estimated cost of this warranty when the revenue has been recognized. 2. The service revenues are recognized as the services are provided or over the period of the contract as applicable i.e Delivery method. The service revenue is separated from product, installation and maintenance revenue based on the amounts charged when they are separately sold. 3. For certain contracts revenue is recognized using percentage-of-completion...
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...Business Accounting Revenue Recognition ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE: REVENUE RECOGNITION This document describes the Revenue Recognition methods that are currently employed at ASB(ASB): Revenue Recognition Methods The ASB revenue recognition policy follows the definitions and principles stated in the Nokia Accounting Standards as well as the relevant International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) mainly IAS 11 "Construction contracts" and IAS 18 "Revenue". ASB´s main revenue recognition methods are contract accounting, general revenue recognition and service revenue recognition methods. Basic Revenue Recognition Criteria Revenue can be recognized for majority of ASB sales (regardless of revenue recognition methods) when all the following criteria have been met: 1. A contract is in place (binding obligation) 2. Delivery has occurred: a. IAS 11 (contract accounting); delivery has occurred and services performed according to the contract delivery terms, b. IAS 18 (general revenue recognition); the significant risks and rewards of ownership (as defined in the contract) have transferred to the customer. 3. Continuing managerial involvement usually associated with ownership and effective control have ceased, 4. The amount of revenue can be measured reliably (the fee is fixed or determinable), 5. It is probable that economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to ASB (collectibility is probable) and 6. The costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction...
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...released the Exposure Draft: Revenue Recognition in Contracts with Customers which aims to replace the existing FRS 18 Revenue. The exposure draft aims to improve and streamline current revenue recognition methods and provide a more robust framework to do so. As a result, revenue recognition under the exposure draft is carried out differently in a number of ways. Maxis Berhad is an investment holding company which provides telecommunication, internet and corporate services. It engages in multiple activities and recognises revenue from these activities using the principles laid down in FRS 18. Revenue is recognised only when it can be measured reliably and the company is expected to receive economic benefits. The company also lays out particular conditions to apply revenue recognition to different activities. As a result, if the company is to implement the exposure draft it would have to face several changes in the way it recognises revenue. Specifically, activation fees for various subscription plans will have to be recognized as revenue over the expected contractual period of those plans, rather than allocated as part of the revenue for the included monthly service and handset. This would also require Maxis to determine an estimate for expected lifespan of customers’ contract, taking into account possible renewals. In addition, Maxis will also have to change the way it recognises revenue for its prepaid mobile starter packs. At present, revenue is recognised when the starter...
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...CHAPTER 18 Revenue Recognition ASSIGNMENT CLASSIFICATION TABLE (BY TOPIC) Topics Questions Brief Exercises Exercises Problems Concepts for Analysis *1. Realization and recognition; sales transactions; high rates of return. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22 1 1, 2, 3 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 *2. Long-term contracts. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17 1, 2, 3, 6 *3. Installment sales. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 7, 8, 9 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 1, 2, 3 *4. Repossessions on installment sales. 8 13, 17, 18 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 *5. Cost-recovery method; deposit method. 13, 22, 23, 24 10 15, 16 8, 9 *6. Franchising. 22, 25, 26, 27, 28 11 19, 20 10 *7. Consignments. 29 12 21 *This material is dealt with in an Appendix to the chapter. ASSIGNMENT CLASSIFICATION TABLE (BY LEARNING OBJECTIVE) Learning Objectives Brief Exercises Exercises Problems 1. Apply the revenue recognition principle. 1 1, 2, 3 2. Describe accounting issues for revenue recognition at point of sale. 1 1, 2, 3 1 3. Apply the percentage-of-completion method for long-term contracts. 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17 4. Apply the completed-contract method for long-term contracts. 4, 5 4, 8, 9, 10 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17 5. Identify the proper accounting for losses on long-term contracts. 6 10 5...
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