3-1 CHAPTER3 Adjusting the Accounts 3-2 3-3 Timing Issues Accountants divide the economic life of a business into artificial time periods (Time Period Assumption) Jan 3-4 Feb Mar Apr Dec Generally a month, a quarter, or a year Also known as the “Periodicity Assumption” SO Explain the time period assumption Timing Issues Fiscal and Calendar Years 3-5 Monthly and quarterly time periods are called interim periods Public companies must prepare both quarterly and annual financial statements Fiscal Year = Accounting time period that is one year in length Calendar Year = January to December 31 SO Explain the time period assumption Timing Issues Review The time period assumption states that: a revenue should be recognized in the accounting period in which it is earned b expenses should be matched with revenues c the economic life of a business can be divided into artificial time periods d the fiscal year should correspond with the calendar year 3-6 SO Explain the time period assumption Timing Issues Accrual- vs Cash-Basis Accounting Accrual-Basis Accounting 3-7 Transactions recorded in the periods in which the events occur Revenues are recognized when earned, rather than when cash is received Expenses are recognized when incurred, rather than when paid SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting Timing Issues Accrual- vs Cash-Basis Accounting Cash-Basis Accounting 3-8 Revenues recognized when cash is received Expenses recognized when cash is paid Cash-basis accounting is not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting Timing Issues Recognizing Revenues and Expenses Revenue Recognition Principle Recognize revenue in the accounting period in which it is earned In a service enterprise, revenue is considered to be earned at the time the service is performed 3-9 SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting Timing Issues Recognizing Revenues and Expenses Expense Recognition Principle Match expenses with revenues in the period when the company makes efforts to generate those revenues “Let the expenses follow the revenues.” 3-10 SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting Illustration 3-26 3-55 SO Illustration 3-27 3-56 SO APPENDIX3A Alternative Treatment of Prepaid Expenses and Unearned Revenues 3-57 When a company prepays an expense, it debits that amount to an expense account When a company receives payment for future services, it credits the amount to a revenue account SO Prepare adjusting entries for the alternative treatment of deferrals APPENDIX3A Prepaid Expenses Company may choose to debit (increase) an expense account rather than an asset account This alternative treatment is simply more convenient Illustration 3A-2 3-58 SO Prepare adjusting entries for the alternative treatment of deferrals APPENDIX3A Unearned Revenues Company may credit (increase) a revenue account when they receive cash for future services Illustration 3A-5 3-59 SO Prepare adjusting entries for the alternative treatment of deferrals APPENDIX3A Summary of Additional Adjustment Relationships 3-60 Illustration 3A-7 SO Prepare adjusting entries for the alternative treatment of deferrals IFRS A Look at IFRS Key Points 3-61 Companies applying IFRS also use accrual-basis accounting to ensure that they record transactions that change a company’s financial statements in the period in which events occur Similar to GAAP, cash-basis accounting is not in accordance with IFRS IFRS also divides the economic life of companies into artificial time periods Under both GAAP and IFRS, this is referred to as the time period assumption IFRS requires that companies present a complete set of financial statements, including comparative information annually IFRS A Look at IFRS Key Points 3-62 GAAP has more than 100 rules dealing with revenue recognition Many of these rules are industry specific In contrast, revenue recognition under IFRS is determined primarily by a single standard Despite this large disparity in the amount of detailed guidance devoted to revenue recognition, the general revenue recognition principles required by GAAP that are used in this textbook are similar to those under IFRS As the Feature Story illustrates, revenue recognition fraud is a major issue in U.S financial reporting The same situation occurs in other countries, as evidenced by revenue recognition breakdowns at Dutch software company Baan NV, Japanese electronics giant NEC, and Dutch grocer AHold NV IFRS A Look at IFRS Key Points 3-63 A specific standard exists for revenue recognition under IFRS (IAS 18) In general, the standard is based on the probability that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the company selling the goods, providing the service, or receiving investment income In addition, the revenues and costs must be capable of being measured reliably GAAP uses concepts such as realized, realizable (that is, it is received, or expected to be received), and earned as a basis for revenue recognition Under IFRS, revaluation of items such as land and buildings is permitted IFRS allows depreciation based on revaluation of assets, which is not permitted under GAAP IFRS A Look at IFRS Key Points The terminology used for revenues and gains, and expenses and losses, differs somewhat between IFRS and GAAP For example, income is defined as: Increases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from shareholders Expenses are defined as: Decreases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of outflows or depletions of assets or incurrences of liabilities that result in decreases in equity other than those r elating to distributions to shareholders 3-64 IFRS A Look at IFRS Looking into the Future The IASB and FASB are now involved in a joint project on revenue recognition The purpose of this project is to develop comprehensive guidance on when to recognize revenue Presently, the Boards are considering an approach that focuses on changes in assets and liabilities (rather than on earned and realized) as the basis for revenue recognition 3-65 IFRS A Look at IFRS GAAP: a provides very detailed, industry-specific guidance on revenue recognition, compared to the general guidance provided by IFRS b provides only general guidance on revenue recognition, compared to the detailed guidance provided by IFRS c allows revenue to be recognized when a customer makes an order d requires that revenue not be recognized until cash is received 3-66 IFRS A Look at IFRS Which of the following statements is false? a IFRS employs the periodicity assumption b IFRS employs accrual accounting c IFRS requires that revenues and costs must be capable of being measured reliably d IFRS uses the cash basis of accounting 3-67 IFRS A Look at IFRS As a result of the revenue recognition project being undertaken by the FASB and IASB: a revenue recognition will place more emphasis on when revenue is earned b revenue recognition will place more emphasis on when revenue is realized c revenue recognition will place more emphasis on when changes occur in assets and liabilities d revenue will no longer be recorded unless cash has been received 3-68 Copyright “Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc All rights reserved Reproduction or translation of this work beyond that permitted in Section 117 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without the express written permission of the copyright owner is unlawful Request for further information should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc The purchaser may make back-up copies for his/her own use only and not for distribution or resale The Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or damages, caused by the use of these programs or from the use of the information contained herein.” 3-69 ... basis of accounting Timing Issues Accrual- vs Cash-Basis Accounting Cash-Basis Accounting 3-8 Revenues recognized when cash is received Expenses recognized when cash is paid Cash-basis accounting. .. accepted accounting principles (GAAP) SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting Timing Issues Recognizing Revenues and Expenses Revenue Recognition Principle Recognize revenue in the accounting. .. basis of accounting Timing Issues Illustration 3-1 GAAP relationships in revenue and expense recognition 3-11 SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting 3-12 SO Explain the accrual basis of accounting