GAAP: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Full Guide

Let’s say there were a credit of $4,000 and a debit of $6,000 in
the Accounts Payable account. Since Accounts Payable increases on
the credit side, one would expect a normal balance on the credit
side. However, the difference between the two figures in this case
would be a debit balance of $2,000, which is an abnormal balance. This situation could possibly occur with an overpayment to a
supplier or an error in recording. While valuing assets, it should be assumed the business will continue to operate.

• Historical Cost Principle – requires companies to record the purchase of goods, services, or capital assets at the price they paid for them.
• This section
  discusses the effects of these assumptions on the accounting process.
• Both systems have different principles, rules, and guidelines, but they have many similarities.
• The principle has determined that costs cannot effectively be allocated based on an individual month’s sales; instead, it treats the expense as a period cost.
• Once an accounting standard has been written for US GAAP, the FASB often offers clarification on how the standard should be applied.

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the most widely used set of accounting principles, with adoption in 167 jurisdictions. The United States uses a separate set of accounting principles, known as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Companies may need to provide an estimation of projected gift card revenue and usage during a period based on past experience or industry standards. If the company determines that a portion of all of the issued gift cards will never be used, they may write this off to income. In some states, if a gift card remains unused, in part or in full, the unused portion of the card is transferred to the state government.

Normal Balance of an Account

Going Concern Concept – states that companies need to be treated as if they are going to continue to exist. This means that we must assume the company isn’t going to be dissolved or declare bankruptcy unless we have evidence to the contrary. Thus, we should assume that there will be another accounting period in the future.

The economic activity of a business is normally recorded and reported in money terms. Money
measurement is the use of a monetary unit such as the dollar instead of physical or other units of
measurement. Using a particular monetary unit provides accountants with a common unit of
measurement to report economic activity. Without a monetary unit, it would be impossible to add such
items as buildings, equipment, and inventory on a balance sheet. The major underlying assumptions or concepts of accounting are (1) business entity, (2) going
concern (continuity), (3) money measurement, (4) stable dollar, and (5) periodicity. This section
discusses the effects of these assumptions on the accounting process.

Without regulatory standards, companies would be free to present financial information in whichever format best suits their needs. With the ability to portray a company’s fiscal standing in a favorable light, investors could be easily misled. That is, revenue in Country A means the same thing in Country B. The IASB documents these standards in the International Financial Reporting Standards – usually referred to as IFRS.

So, if management concludes that they won’t be able to remain in the business, the accounting standards do not allow going concern assumptions. So, in this case, financial statements have to be prepared on a different basis, like a break-up basis. These rules or standards allow lenders, investors, and others to make comparisons between companies’ financial statements.

• Because of the
  time period assumption, we need to be sure to recognize revenues
  and expenses in the proper period.
• The GASB was established in 1984 as a policy board charged with creating GAAP for state and local government organizations.
• Most financial institutions will require annual GAAP-compliant financial statements as a part of their debt covenants when issuing business loans.
• On the other hand, if an entity is liquidating, it should use liquidation values
  to report assets.

In response, the federal government, along with professional accounting groups, set out to create standards for the ethical and accurate reporting of financial information. Rather, particular businesses follow industry-specific irs issues revised instructions on 1065 parter tax basis capital reporting best practices designed to reflect the nuances and complexities of different business areas. For example, banks operate using different accounting and financial reporting methods than those used by retail businesses.

Fundamental Accounting Concepts and Constraints

When every company follows the same framework and rules, investors, creditors, and other financial statement users will have an easier time understanding the reports and making decisions based on them. The main purpose of accounting principles is to establish a framework for how financial accounting is recorded and reported on financial statements. Accounting principles are guidelines that companies and other agencies must abide by when reposting their financial data and results. These guidelines and rules must be followed by accountants to ensure that financial data is standardised across borders.

Periodicity Assumption

These
disclosures are usually recorded in footnotes on the statements, or
in addenda to the statements. Some companies that operate on a global scale may be able to
report their financial statements using IFRS. The SEC regulates the
financial reporting of companies selling their shares in the United
States, whether US GAAP or IFRS are used. The basics of accounting
discussed in this chapter are the same under either set of
guidelines.

List of Key Accounting Assumptions

It is essential for financial data to be reliable as it acts as a key guide for decision-makers and keeps stakeholders informed. When a publicly-traded company in the United States issues its financial statements, the financial statements have been audited by a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) approved auditor. Revenue and expense recognition timing is critical to transparent financial presentation. Even though GAAP is required only for public companies, to display their financial position most accurately, private companies should manage their financial accounting using its rules.

You will learn more about the expanded accounting equation and use it to analyze transactions in Define and Describe the Expanded Accounting Equation and Its Relationship to Analyzing Transactions. For example, Lynn Sanders purchases two cars; one is used for personal use only, and the other is used for business use only. According to the separate entity concept, Lynn may record the purchase of the car used by the company in the company’s accounting records, but not the car for personal use. Once an accounting standard has been written for US GAAP, the FASB often offers clarification on how the standard should be applied. When the FASB creates accounting standards and any subsequent clarifications or guidance, it only has to consider the effects of those standards, clarifications, or guidance on US-based companies.

This electronic database contains the official accounting standards (the equivalent of many thousands of printed pages) which apply to the financial reporting of U.S companies and not-for-profit organizations. There also does not have to be a correlation between when cash
is collected and when revenue is recognized. Even though the
customer has not yet paid cash, there is a reasonable expectation
that the customer will pay in the future.

Comparability is enhanced by requiring the use of generally accepted accounting principles. When accountants record business transactions for an entity, they assume it is a going concern. The
going-concern (continuity) assumption states that an entity will continue to operate indefinitely
unless strong evidence exists that the entity will terminate. The termination of an entity occurs when a
company ceases business operations and sells its assets. If liquidation appears likely, the going-concern assumption is no longer valid.

According to this principle, the accounting data should be definite, verifiable, and free from the personal bias of the accountant. A principle is objective to the extent that the accounting information is not influenced by personal bias or judgment of those who provide it. Both systems have different principles, rules, and guidelines, but they have many similarities. Financial accounting statement users have coinciding and conflicting needs for information of various types. Management of the company is primarily responsible for assessing the company’s going concern status, and auditors need to assess if it’s appropriate for the management to use this assumption.