Eleni-Flaschards Flashcards
Accounts receivable
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Accounts receivable (ASPE)
- Considered a financial instrument (financial asset), as it represents a contractual right to receive cash or another financial asset from another party
- As such, accounts receivable must be tested for impairment at the end of the reporting period if significant adverse changes during the period cast doubt on collectability
- If impaired, then should be written down to the amount expected to be collected through the use of an allowance account
- The amount of the reduction shall be recognized as a bad debt expense in net income.
Reference: ASPE 3856.05(h), .16, .17
Inventory valuation
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Inventory valuation (ASPE)
- Inventories shall be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value (NRV).
- The cost of inventories shall comprise all costs of purchase, costs of conversion, and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition.
- NRV is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less estimated selling costs
- Estimates of NRV are based on the most reliable evidence available, at the time the estimates are made, of the amount the inventories are expected to realize upon sale.
Reference: ASPE 3031.07, .10-12, .29
Inventory costs
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Inventory costs (ASPE)
- The cost of inventories shall comprise all purchase, conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition
- Trade discounts, rebates and other similar items are deducted in determining the costs of purchase
- Storage, administrative overhead, and selling costs are specifically excluded from the cost of inventories
Reference: ASPE 3031.11, .12, .17
Internally generated intangible assets – R&D
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Internally generated intangible assets – R&D (ASPE)
- Research costs are always expensed when incurred
- Accounting policy choice to either capitalize or expense development costs
- Development costs can be capitalized if all of the following exist:
- Technically feasible
- Intention to complete it
- Ability to use or sell it
- Availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development
- Ability to reliably measure the expenditures attributed
- Probable future economic benefits will be generated
- Case: TankCo*
- Reference: ASPE 3064.37, .40, .41*
Goodwill and intangible assets – Amortization
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Goodwill and intangible assets – Amortization (ASPE)
- Intangibles are to be amortized over their estimated useful lives unless they are considered to have an indefinite life
- Assets with indefinite lives are not to be amortized until the life is no longer considered indefinite (however it must still be tested for impairment)
- Amortization method and useful life should be reviewed annually
- The expected useful life must consider:
- expected use of the asset,
- expected useful life of related assets,
- contractual, legal and regulatory provisions and other economic factors
Reference: ASPE 3064.56, .57, .61
Investments
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Investments (ASPE)
- Investments subject to significant influence can be accounted for using the equity or cost method
- Investments without significant influence:
- Not quoted on an active market – accounted for using cost method
- Quoted on active market – accounted for at fair value
Reference: ASPE 3051 and 3856.11 - .15
Financial instruments – Impairment
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Financial instruments – Impairment (ASPE)
- Financial instruments tested for impairment at the end of each reporting period. Where impairment exists, reduce the carrying value to the highest of:
- Present value (PV) of cash flows expected from holding the asset
- Net realizable value (if asset sold)
- Amount entity expects to realize from exercising its right to collateral
- Impairment can be reversed if asset subsequently recovers in value
Reference: ASPE 3856.16 - .19
Deductibility of expenses
Taxation
Core – Level B
Deductibility of expenses (Taxation)
- General limitation – To be deductible, expense or outlay must be made or incurred by the taxpayer for the purpose of gaining, producing or maintaining income, and be expected to generate income related to the taxpayer’s business or property
- Case: Dogani, Roxanne Kalpert, Solar Panel Solutions, Elcar*
- Reference: ITA 18(1)(a)*
Common business expenses DISALLOWED
Taxation
Core – Level B
Common business expenses DISALLOWED (Taxation)
- Amortization / Impairment / Accounting Gains & Losses (deduct via CCA)
- Personal expenses and membership / club dues
- Charitable donations – deduction to determine Taxable Income for a Corp.
- Political contributions – limited tax credit available for an individual; Federal Accountability Act deems corporate political contributions to be illegal, resulting in no deduction or credit.
- Taxes, interest and penalties related to tax
- Meals & entertainment (50% for business purposes, deductible for remote or temporary work sites, or special events for employees)
- Expenses re: issue or sale of shares and refinancing costs (deduct over 5 years)
- Life insurance premiums (except where the policy has been assigned as collateral)
- Unpaid amounts & unpaid remuneration (accrued salary which is unpaid 180 days after fiscal period is deemed not to have been incurred until actually paid)
- Carrying charges on vacant land (non-deductible portion added to ACB)
- Soft costs on construction of building (include interest, legal, accounting fees, insurance, property taxes; must be capitalized)
Case: Culinary Crawl, TankCo, Elder Care Centre and Spa, Roxanne Kalpert, Solar Panel Solutions, Elcar Reference: ITA 20(1), 18, 67.1, 78
Common business expenses ALLOWED
Taxation
Core – Level B
Common business expenses ALLOWED (Taxation)
- Automobile expenses
- Home office expenses
- Convention expenses (limited to 2 per year)
- Foreign taxes (deductions in excess of 15% on foreign-source property income, since foreign tax credits limited to 15%; if no foreign tax credit can be claimed, entire amount of foreign non-business income tax is deductible)
- Inventory valuation (lower of cost or market, method must be consistent, LIFO not permitted)
- Reserves – no deduction for a reserve, contingent liability or sinking fund in general, but reserve is permitted for doubtful debts, amounts not due under an installment sales contract; any reserve deducted in one year must be taken into income the next year
- Case: Culinary Crawl, TankCo, Elder Care Centre and Spa, Roxanne Kalpert, Solar Panel Solutions, Elcar, Veza Eye Centre, StillGood Food*
- Reference: ITA 10, 18, 20, 126(1)*
Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)
Taxation
Core – Level B
Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) (Taxation)
- CCA may be claimed on all tangible capital property other than land, must be available for use
- Inducements (such as leasehold improvements) may be included in income or used to reduce capital cost
- Most classes subject to Accelerated Investment Incentive of 1.5 × CCA on net additions (except 53, 43.1, and 43.2, which are subject to 100% CCA in the year of purchase)
- Dispositions are credited to UCC at lesser of cost and proceeds (excess of proceeds over original cost result in a capital gain)
- Terminal loss – when there is a balance of UCC in the class but there are no assets remaining, the UCC can be claimed as a terminal loss (capital loss cannot arise on the disposition of depreciable property)
- Recapture – arises when the balance in the class is negative (i.e. when the adjustment re: disposal is in excess of the UCC) and is taken into income
- Recapture / Terminal loss calculated as: Lesser of a) proceeds and b) cost; less UCC. If positive, then recapture. If negative, then terminal loss.
- Case: Culinary Crawl, TankCo, Elder Care Centre and Spa, Roxanne Kalpert, Ferguson Real Estate, Solar Panel Solutions, Veza Eye Centre*
- Reference: ITA 20(1)(a), ITR Schedule II*
Reporting alternatives – Specific items
Audit & Assurance
Core – Level B
Reporting alternatives – Specific items (Audit & Assurance)
- CAS 805 Report – Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement
- A report providing audit level assurance on individual financial statements or accounts, rather than financial statements on the whole
- May not be a practical alternative if the financial statements on the whole are not being audited
- Case: TankCo*
- Reference: CAS 805*
Retiring allowance rollover to RRSP
Taxation
Core – Level B
Retiring allowance rollover to RRSP (Taxation)
A retiring allowance (also called severance pay) is an amount paid to officers or employees when or after they retire from an office or employment, in recognition of long service or for the loss of office or employment. A retiring allowance includes:
- payments for unused sick-leave credits on termination; and
- amounts individuals receive when their office or employment is terminated, even if the amount is for damages (wrongful dismissal when the employee does not return to work).
Individuals with years of service before 1996 may be able to directly transfer all or part of a retiring allowance to a registered pension plan (RPP) or a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). The amount that is eligible for transfer is limited to:
- $2,000 for each year prior to 1996
- Additional $1,500 for each year prior to 1989 (if no vested contributions to RPP or DPSP by employer)
Reference: ITA 60(j.1)
Shareholder loan
Taxation
Core – Level C
Revenue recognition – Consignment sales
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Revenue recognition – Consignment sales (ASPE)
- Consignment sales include goods shipped but not yet billed
- They could be returned if not sold or only billed for to the extent sold
- Performance is not considered complete upon delivery for such goods, as the risks and rewards are deemed not to have been transferred from the seller to the buyer because of the seller’s continuing involvement
- As such, revenue cannot be recognized up until either the goods can no longer be returned or a payment is made in regards to them
Reference: ASPE 3400.13 - .15
Asset criteria
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Asset criteria (ASPE)
Definition of an asset:
- Future benefit
- Entity can control the benefit
- Event that caused benefit already occurred
Reference: ASPE 1000.25
Residency
Taxation
Core – Level C
Residency (Taxation)
- CRA considers both significant and secondary residential ties in assessing whether a taxpayer is a resident of Canada
- Significant residential ties – factors that make a strong case, in and of themselves, that residential ties exist:
- a home in Canada
- a spouse or common-law partner in Canada
- dependents in Canada
- Secondary residential ties – factors that may contribute to whether residential ties exist (including, but not limited to):
- personal property in Canada (car, furniture, etc.)
- social ties in Canada (memberships in Canadian recreational groups, etc.)
- economic ties in Canada (Canadian bank account or credit cards, etc.)
- Canadian driver’s licence, Canadian passport, or Canadian health insurance
- If a taxpayer is determined to be a resident of Canada, they are taxed on all of their worldwide income; non-residents of Canada are taxed only on income tied to Canadian sources
Case: Roxanne Kalpert, Elcar; Reference: ITA 2, 3, Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1
PPE – Betterments
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
PPE – Betterments (ASPE)
- A “betterment” enhances service potential (increase in physical output or service capacity, associated operating costs are lowered, useful life is extended, or quality of output is improved)
- If the expenditure can be classified as a betterment à capitalize asset
- If the expenditure cannot be classified as a betterment à expense as repair and maintenance
Reference: ASPE 3061.14
Non-monetary transactions
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level B
Non-monetary transactions (ASPE)
- Asset exchanged in a non-monetary transaction should be measured at the more reliably measurable of the fair value of the asset given up and the fair value of the asset received, unless the transaction lacks commercial substance or neither the fair value of the asset received nor the fair value of the asset given up is reliably measurable, in which case, it should be measured at the carrying value of the asset given up
- A non-monetary transaction has commercial substance when the entity’s future cash flows are expected to change significantly as a result of the transaction, i.e.
- the risk, timing and amount of the future cash flows of the asset received differ significantly from the risk, timing and amount of the cash flows of the asset given up; or
- the entity-specific value of the asset received differs from the entity-specific value of the asset given up, and the difference is significant relative to the fair value of the assets exchanged
- Case: Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ASPE 3831.06, .07, .11*
Non-monetary transactions
Financial Reporting (IFRS)
Core – Level B
Non-monetary transactions (IFRS)
- Asset exchanged in a non-monetary transaction should be measured at the more reliably measurable of the fair value of the asset given up and the fair value of the asset received, unless the transaction lacks commercial substance or neither the fair value of the asset received nor the fair value of the asset given up is reliably measurable, in which case, it should be measured at the carrying value of the asset given up
- A non-monetary transaction has commercial substance when the entity’s future cash flows are expected to change significantly as a result of the transaction, i.e.
- the risk, timing and amount of the future cash flows of the asset received differ significantly from the risk, timing and amount of the cash flows of the asset given up; or
- the entity-specific value of the asset received differs from the entity-specific value of the asset given up, and the difference is significant relative to the fair value of the assets exchanged
- Case: Dogani*
- Reference: IAS 16.24-.26*
Review engagements
Audit & Assurance
Core – Level B
Review engagements (Audit & Assurance)
- The objective of a review engagement is to obtain limited assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement
- A conclusion is formed on whether anything has come to the practitioner’s attention to cause them to believe the financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework, i.e. ASPE, IFRS
- Limited assurance about the results of the examination is provided, with an explicit statement that an audit opinion is not expressed
- Report expresses negative assurance - “nothing has come to our attention…”
- Similar to an audit, independence is required as it is an assurance engagement
- Materiality must be determined
- Typical procedures include:
- Obtaining knowledge of the client’s business
- Making inquiries of management and client personnel
- Performing analytical procedures
- Case: Elder Care Centre and Spa, King Street Theatre*
- Reference: CSRE 2400*
Opening balances
Audit & Assurance
Core – Level B
Opening balances (Audit & Assurance)
- Sufficient and appropriate evidence regarding opening balances being free of material misstatement must be obtained in order to issue an opinion
- Evidence may be obtained by reviewing the previous auditor’s working papers, if the client has been audited before, or by performing specified audit procedures on the opening balances, if the client is being audited for the first time
- If the opening balances cannot be verified, it may be necessary to issue a qualified opinion or denial / disclaimer of opinion due to the scope limitation
- Generally, the opening balance scope limitation would not apply to a review engagement as there’s no requirement to send out A/R confirmations or attend inventory counts, which are time-sensitive and generally only required for audit level assurance
- Case: TankCo*
- Reference: CAS 510, paragraph 6(c), 10*
Employee vs. Contractor
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employee vs. Contractor (Taxation)
- No single test is decisive. Must consider:
- Intention of the parties
- Control of work (hours, location, how job is completed)
- Ownership of tools (who supplies)
- Chance of profit and risk of loss
- Ability to subcontract work or hire assistants
- Integration
- Issues:
- Contractors can deduct all reasonable expenses whereas employment deductions are limited
- Employees can receive EI benefits, contractors can opt in with restrictions
- Employers are required to withhold source deductions for employees
- Employer may be responsible for both employee and employer contributions of EI and CPP if an individual is incorrectly classified as a contractor
Case: Solar Panel Solutions; Reference: RC4110
Employer provided automobile –
Standby charge
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employer provided automobile – Standby charge (Taxation)
- Standby charge is a taxable employment benefit that only applies if an employer-provided automobile is available to the employee for personal use
- Calculated as:
- 2% of the original cost per month available; or
- 2/3 of the monthly lease payment per month available
- reduced by payments made by the individual to the employer
- reduced standby charge applicable where personal use less than 1,667 km per month and automobile primarily used for business purposes (consider greater than 50%)
- Case: Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ITA 6(1)*
Employer provided automobile –
Operating cost benefit
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employer provided automobile – Operating cost benefit (Taxation)
- Taxable employment benefit, calculated as:
- $0.28 (for 2019 & 2020) per km of personal use; or
- 50% of the standby charge (only when vehicle used at least 50% for business)
- Operating costs include gas, insurance and maintenance, but not parking
- Case: Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ITA 6(1)(k)*
Employer provided automobile –
Tax planning
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employer provided automobile – Tax planning (Taxation)
- Consider employee purchasing the car and charging a reasonable per-km allowance (may be more tax effective since the standby charge is based on original cost)
- Consider employee including allowance in income and claiming business portion of actual car expenses if they exceed the allowance
- Consider sale and leaseback for employer-provided cars (leasing may lower tax benefits because otherwise the standby charge is based on original cost)
- Maintain log to justify business vs. personal km
- Lower standby charge by reducing number of days vehicle available for personal use
- Increase business use by visiting clients on the way to and from work
- Case: Ferguson Real Estate, Elcar*
- Reference: ITA 6(1), 8(1)*
Employment –
Taxable benefits
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employment – Taxable benefits (Taxation)
- Board and lodging (unless at remote location)
- Most rent-free and low-rent housing
- Trips of a non-business nature
- Gifts greater than $500 (that are not cash or near-cash)
- Cash and near-cash gifts
- Cost of tools where employee is not required to have tools to work
- Forgiveness of debt
- Employer-paid education costs when primarily for the benefit of employee
- Case: Perkins Packing*
- Reference: ITA 6(1), CRA’s Employers’ Guide – Taxable Benefits and Allowance (publication T4130), chapter 3*
Employment –
Non-taxable benefits
Taxation
Core – Level B
Employment – Non-taxable benefits (Taxation)
- Uniforms and special clothing required to be worn
- Transportation to job site
- Moving expenses reimbursed, excluding housing loss reimbursement
- Recreational facilities at place of work
- Premiums paid under private health services plans
- Professional membership fees when primarily for benefit of the employer
- Case: Perkins Packing*
- Reference: ITA 6(1), CRA’s Employers’ Guide – Taxable Benefits and Allowance (publication T4130), chapter 3*
Impairment of long-lived assets
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Impairment of long-lived assets (ASPE)
- Steps:
- Determine if factors indicating impairment exist
- Group asset with other assets/liabilities to form group at the lowest level that generates cash flow (i.e. cash generating unit)
- Determine if there is impairment by comparing net book value to recoverable amount (i.e. undiscounted future cash flows)
- Calculate impairment by comparing carrying amount to fair value
- Cannot reverse write-downs
- Case: TankCo, Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ASPE 3063.04-.09, .12, .18*
Impairment of assets
Financial Reporting (IFRS)
Core – Level A
Impairment of assets (IFRS)
- An entity is required to assess whether there are any indicators of impairment at the end of each reporting period. If an indication of impairment exists, the asset will need to be tested for impairment.
- To test for impairment, compare the asset’s recoverable amount to the carrying value. The extent to which the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount (if any) is the impairment loss.
- Recoverable amount: Higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use
- Fair value less costs to sell: price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability between market participants, less incremental costs directly attributable to the disposal of the asset (excluding finance cost and income tax expense)
- Value in use: Present value of the future cash flows from the continuing use of the asset and its ultimate disposal
- Impairment can be reversed if the asset subsequently recovers in value, but not to more than the “would be” value had the impairment not been recognized.
Reference: IAS 36
Investments – Equity method
Financial Reporting (IFRS)
Core – Level A
Investments – Equity method (IFRS)
- IAS 28: an entity with significant influence over an investee shall treat the investee as an associate and account for its investment in the associate using the equity method
- Significant influence can be demonstrated by owning (directly or indirectly) 20% or more of the voting power of the investee
- The entity may be able to demonstrate influence, even with less than 20% ownership. Evidence of influence can include:
- Representation on the board of directors
- Participation in policy-making processes
- Material transactions between the entity and its investee
- Provision of essential technical information
- Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognized at cost, and is adjusted for the post-acquisition change in the investor’s share of the investee’s net assets
- Reference: IAS 28*
Accounting for subsidiaries
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Accounting for subsidiaries (ASPE)
An enterprise can make an accounting policy choice to account for its subsidiaries using one of the following methods:
- Cost method
- Equity method
- Consolidation method
** Once a method has been selected, it must be applied consistently (i.e. all subsidiaries must be accounted for using the same method)
Reference: ASPE 1591, ASPE 3051
PPE – Costs
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
PPE – Costs (ASPE)
- PPE costs represent the amount of consideration given up to acquire, construct, develop, or better a PPE and comprise of all costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction, development or betterment, including installing it at the location and in the condition necessary for its intended use
- PPE costs include direct construction or development costs (such as materials and labour) and overhead / carrying costs directly attributable to the construction or development activity
- The cost of each item of PPE acquired as part of a basket purchase (i.e. when a group of assets is acquired for a single amount) is determined by allocating the price paid for the basket to each item on the basis of its relative fair value at the time of acquisition
Reference: ASPE 3061.03, .06, .08
Capital lease criteria – Lessee
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Capital lease criteria – Lessee (ASPE)
- Must meet one of the criteria:
- Transfer of ownership or bargain purchase option at the end of the lease term
- Lease term at least 75% of economic life of asset
- PV of minimum lease payments at least 90% of FV of leased asset
- Discount rate = lower of lessee’s incremental borrowing rate and implicit rate in the lease
- Case: TankCo, King Street Theatre, StillGood Food*
- Reference: ASPE 3065.06*
Capital lease criteria – Lessor
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Capital lease criteria – Lessor (ASPE)
- Capital lease if all of the following exist:
- Credit risk is normal
- Unreimbursable costs are estimable
- Any one of the following criteria are met:
- Transfer of ownership or bargain purchase option at the end of the lease term
- Lease term at least 75% of economic life of asset
- PV of minimum lease payments at least 90% of FV of leased asset
- Discount rate = implicit rate in the lease
Reference: ASPE 3065.07
Types of capital leases – Lessor
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Types of capital leases – Lessor (ASPE)
- Sales-type lease
- Arise when a dealer uses leasing as a way to sell their products
- Record as sale
- Direct financing lease
- At inception, FV of the leased property is equal to its carrying value
- Usually arises when a lessor acts as intermediary between manufacturer and lessee
- Record as lease receivable (payments to be received and guaranteed residual value, if any)
- Difference between lease receivable and carrying value should be recorded as unearned finance income
- Finance income will be recognized each year
Reference: ASPE 3065.29, .30, .37
Compound Financial Instruments
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Compound Financial Instruments (ASPE)
- Financial instruments, or their component parts, should be classified as a liability or equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement on initial recognition and the definitions of a liability and an equity instrument
- Financial instruments that contain both a liability and an equity element, including warrants or options issued with and detachable from a financial liability, should be separated into component parts, as follows:
- The equity component is measured as zero, i.e. the entire proceeds of the issue are allocated to the liability component; or
- The less easily measurable component is allocated the residual amount after deducting from the entire proceeds of the issue the amount determined for the component that is more easily measurable
- The sum of the carrying amounts assigned to the liability and equity components on initial recognition is always equal to the carrying amount that would be ascribed to the instrument as a whole, i.e. no gain or loss can arise from recognizing and presenting the components of the instrument separately
Reference: ASPE 3856.20 - .22
Capital Budgeting –
Buy vs. Lease
Finance
Core – Level B
Capital Budgeting – Buy vs. Lease (Finance)
- Calculate NPV of each option and compare to determine which option is cheapest
- NPV of buy option – consider:
- Cost of asset
- PV of tax shield
- Maintenance costs
- NPV of lease option – consider:
- PV of after tax lease payments
- Other factors to consider:
- Impact on covenants
- Cash flows (leasing lessens the current cash burden)
- Leasing may be easier to come by if company has trouble obtaining financing
- Purchasing the asset might provide more flexibility (ownership of asset)
- Leasing might insulate company from severe declines in asset value
- Possible tax advantages (no capital leases for tax purposes – CRA sees all leases the same so cash payments would be deductible, however no CCA)
Financing Options –
Debt vs. Equity
Finance
Core – Level B
Financing Options – Debt vs. Equity (Finance)
- Debt financing options:
- Loan- consider loan term, and security/collateral required
- Lease
- Government assistance
- Equity financing options:
- Angel investors- can be friends or family looking for a return on investment; generally passive investors
- Venture capitalists- professional investment funds, looking for superior returns (>30%); active participants in management, with a clear exit strategy
- Private equity- tends to participate later in business lifecycle, hence lower risk
- Public markets
Case: Ferguson Real Estate, World Wide Windows, Elcar
Revenue recognition – Completed contract method
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Revenue recognition criteria – Completed contract method (ASPE)
- The completed contract method would only be appropriate when performance consists of the execution of a single act or when the enterprise cannot reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.
- NOTE: There is no equivalent recognition criteria under IFRS.
- Case: TankCo, Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ASPE 3400.18*
Revenue recognition – Percentage of completion method
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Revenue recognition criteria – Percentage-of-completion method (ASPE)
The percentage-of-completion method is appropriate when:
- performance consists of the execution of more than one act, and
- revenue would be recognized proportionately by reference to the performance of each act.
For practical purposes, when services are provided by an indeterminate number of acts over a specific period of time, revenue would be recognized on a straight line basis over the period unless there is evidence that some other method better reflects the pattern of performance.
The amount of work accomplished would be assessed by reference to measures of performance that are reasonably determinable and relate as directly as possible to the activities critical to the completion of the contract.
- Case: TankCo, Ferguson Real Estate*
- Reference: ASPE 3400.17*
Revenue recognition – Effect of uncertainties (returns)
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Revenue recognition – Effect of uncertainties (returns) (ASPE)
Recognition of revenue requires that the revenue is measurable and that ultimate collection is reasonably assured.
- If significant and unpredictable amounts of goods being returned, do not recognize revenue
- If the amount of returns can be reasonably estimated based upon experience, it may be possible to provide for an allowance for a returns expense.
Reference: ASPE 3400.19-.21
Business use of home expenses
Taxation
Core – Level B
Business use of home expenses (Taxation)
A taxpayer can deduct expenses for the business use of a workspace in the home, as long as they meet one of the following conditions:
- The home is the principal place of business.
- They use the space only to earn business income, and the taxpayer uses it on a regular and ongoing basis to meet clients, customers, or patients.
Eligible costs include: heat, home insurance, electricity, property taxes, repairs and maintenance, mortgage interest or rent (if tenant).
- Expenses are pro-rated using a reasonable basis such as the area of the work space divided by the total area of the home.
- Home office expenses are also pro-rated for a short business year.
- Losses cannot be created by home office expenses. Unused expenses are carried forward for use in a later year.
- Do not claim CCA on a principal residence as it may negatively impact the ability to use the principle residence exemption.
- Case: Culinary Crawl, Roxanne Kalpert, Solar Panel Solutions, StillGood Food*
- Reference: ITA 18(12), Income Tax Folio S4-F2-C2, Business Use of Home Expenses*
Inventory measurement – Cost formulas (specific identification)
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Inventory measurement – Cost formulas (specific identification) (ASPE)
- The cost of inventories of items that are not ordinarily interchangeable and goods or services produced and segregated for specific projects shall be assigned by using specific identification of their individual costs.
- Reference: ASPE 3031.22*
Inventory measurement – Allocation of overhead
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Inventory measurement – Allocation of overhead (ASPE)
- The allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion is based on the normal capacity of the production facilities.
- The actual level of production may be used if it approximates normal capacity.
- Unallocated overheads are recognized as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.
Reference: ASPE 3031.14
Intangible assets
Financial Reporting (ASPE)
Core – Level A
Intangible assets (ASPE)
- In order to meet the definition of an intangible asset, assets must meet the identifiability, control, and future economic benefits tests.
- An asset meets the identifiability criterion in the definition of an intangible asset when it:
- is separable, or
- arises from contractual or other legal rights
- An entity controls an asset if the entity has the power to obtain the future economic benefits flowing from the underlying resource and to restrict the access of others to those benefits.
- An intangible asset shall be recognized if, and only if:
- it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity; and
- the cost of the asset can be measured reliably.
- Case: TankCo*
- Reference: ASPE 3064,12, .13, .21*