FAR CPA Lessons 124-139 Flashcards
What are the three key elements of a liability?
- A present obligation to transfer assets or provide services
- It is unavoidable
- Is the result of a part transaction or event
Define Current Liabilities
Must meet both criteria:
- Due within 1 year of the balance sheet.
- An obligation to be met by the transfer of a current asset or the creation of another current liability
- accounts payable
- wages payable
- income taxes payable
- utilities payable
- accrued payables
- some notes payable
- many others.
Define Noncurrent Liabilities
All Liabilities that do not meet the criteria necessary for classification as a current liability
- bonds payable
- some notes payable
- lease liabilities
- pension liabilities.
What is a definite liability?
Definite liabilities actually exist at the balance sheet date and do not depend on any future event
What is a contingent liability?
Contingent liabilities have some uncertainty at the balance sheet date. Their existence is contingent on an event that may or may not occur after the balance sheet.
- lawsuits
- warranties
- guarantees
How are the values for current liabilities reported?
At the amount due or the nominal amount
How are the values for noncurrent liabilities reported?
At the present value of all future payments (principal and interest), discounted at the prevailing rate of interest for similar debt on the date of issuance.
Is deferred income tax a current or noncurrent liability?
Noncurrent
Accounts Payable
- Represent the amount a business owes to suppliers or other entities that provided goods or services to the company
- Typically for a short duration, usually 30 days
- Recognized at the time of purchase or at the time services are received
What is the entry to accrue a liability?
Debit expense and credit accrued liability
Property Taxes
Property taxes are levied by state and local governments based on the assessed valuation of property as of a given date. The tax becomes a lien against the property on the date specified by law and thus legally the liability comes into existence on that date
Accounting for property taxes
- Entities accrues the expense over time
- When the invoice arrives the difference between the estimated annual amount and the actual annual amount is treated as an increase or decrease to the monthly property tax expense
Sales Tax
Firms collect sales taxes from their customers and periodically submit them to the state or local government. Between collection and submission of the tax, the firm has a liability to the government.
Journal Entries for sales tax
AP/Cash - Debit total amount
Sale/Revenue - Credit Net of sales tax
Sales tax payable - credit tax amount
What are the two sources of definite payroll liabilities?
- Employer Costs (Gross salary, benefits, employer portion of taxes etc)
- Employee Costs withheld from paycheck (Tax withholdings, employee portion of benefits) personal expenses etc
Appropriate FICA rates
6.5% on the first $110,000 of salary per year
What are the payroll taxes that only the employer pays?
- FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act)
2. SUTA (State Unemployment Taxes)
Appropriate Medicate rates
1.5% with no limit
Appropriate FUTA rates
6% on the first $7,000 reduced by up to 5.5% for contributions to SUTA
Appropriate SUTA rates
5.5% on first $7,000
Formula for bonus - after tax and bonus
B = BR(OI - T - B)
B = Bonus BR = Bonus Rate OI = Operating income T = Tax
Formula for bonus - after tax before bonus
B = BR(OI - T) B = Bonus BR = Bonus Rate OI = Operating income T = Tax
Identify how asset retirement obligations are measured.
The Asset Retirement Obligation (ASO) is recognized as the time the cost becomes estimable
Debit - Asset Account
Credit - ARO Account
Fair value - The amount the firm would expect to pay today to cover future costs
Present value - the probability-weighted estimates of future cash flows are discounted using credit-adjusted risk-free rate.
Explain how asset retirement obligations are accreted over time.
The annual accretion expense and corresponding increase in ARO is found by multiplying the interest rate used in capitalizing the initial amount by the beginning balance in the ARO. The annual expense is considered an operating expense, not interest expense. Thus, the ARO gradually increases over time (to the final amount expected to be paid) while the net book value of the asset declines through the depreciation or depletion process. Only the initial fair value (present value) is capitalized to the asset and is subject to depreciation or depletion.
Identify when to accrue an environmental obligation.
An environmental obligation stems from a legal action in violation of one of various Environmental Protection Acts
An environmental liability must be accrued when the liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Frequently the company would accrue an environmental liability when it has been named the potentially responsible party (PRP) for the environmental remediation.
Define Contingency
An existing condition (at the balance sheet date) involving uncertainty as to a possible loss that will be resolved when a future event occurs or fails to occur.
Define probably
Based on professional judgment, the probability of occurrence is considered very high or a near certainty.
Define reasonably possible
Based on professional judgment, the probability of occurrence is neither very high nor remote. In other words, when probability of occurrence is considered along a spectrum of possibilities, the probability of occurrence is not at either end of the spectrum, but is in the large middle section of the spectrum.
Define remote
Based on professional judgment, the probability of occurrence is considered to be very low, or as the title implies, remote.
When are gain contingencies recorded?
Gain contingencies are not accrued but rather are recorded when the actual gain takes place.
When are loss contingencies recorded?
AAP requires that if a contingent loss is both probable and estimable, then an estimated loss and estimated liability is recognized—actually recorded in the accounts in the amount estimated.
- the defendant in a lawsuit, or
- provides product warranty, or
- provides rebates or premiums on the product.
How to account for a Loss Contingency if it is Probable and Cannot be Reasonably Estimated
the loss contingency should be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements.
How to account for a Loss Contingency if it is Reasonably Possible
regardless of whether the loss can be reasonably estimated, the loss contingency is disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements.
How to account for a Loss Contingency if it is Remote
whether the loss can be reasonably estimated or not, the loss contingency can be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements. Footnote disclosure is permitted but not required.
How are contingencies treated when they are acquired from an acquisition?
- If the contingency is contractual (warranty etc) the contingency liability is recognized by the acquiring firm at fair value
- If the contingency is not contractual it must have more than 50% probability of becoming definite or it is not recognized
- As new information is obtained after acquisition, the contingency is reported at the greater of acquisition date fair value and the amount that would be recognized under normal contingency rules (changes are gains & losses)
Accounting for probable gain contingencies
The gain is disclosed in the footnotes (Not recognized) whether the gain can be reasonably estimated or not
Accounting for reasonably possible gain contingencies
The gain is disclosed in the footnotes whether the gain can be reasonably estimated or not
Accounting for remote gain contingencies
regardless of whether the gain can be reasonably estimated, footnote disclosure of the gain contingency is not recommended.
Accounting for Guarantees
The guarantor is required to disclose:
- The nature of the guarantee, terms, how it came into existence, and the triggering event
- The maximum future payable amount
- The carrying amount of the liability
- Description of recourse provisions or available collateral to recover the amounts paid
*Only record the liability if probably and estimable
Accounting for warranties, rebates and premiums
Accrue an estimated liability based on historical payments and disclose information regarding the liability
Define provision under international accounting standards.
a liability that is uncertain in terms of timing and amount but is not of uncertain existence.
-recognized if the entity has a present obligation as a result of an obligating event that will result in an outflow that is more likely than not.
Define contingent liability under international accounting standards.
an unrecognized contingent obligation
-If the outflow of benefits is not more likely than not but reasonably possible, then the entity discloses the possible obligation and refers to it as a contingent liability.
Describe the similarities and differences in reporting between U.S. and international accounting standards.
Accrued contingent obligation reported on the balance sheet
US GAAP - Contingent liability IFRS - Provision
Contingent obligation disclosed in the footnotes
US GAAP - Contingent liability IFRS - Contingent liability
Threshold for accrual of the contingent obligation US GAAP - Probable IFRS - More likely than not > 50%
- IFRS in an estimated range you must record the mid point - under US GAAP record the lowest amount
- IFRS requires discounting if there is a material difference between the expected amount paid and its present value - US GAAP does not typically allow this
Define “more likely than not” under international accounting standards
In IFRS, more likely than not is interpreted to mean more than 50%.
Examples of accruals
- Utilities payable
- Wages payable
Examples of provisions
- Income taxes payable
- Property taxes payable
- Compensated absences liabilities