Chapter 4 Intermediate Accounting: FASB Codification
CE4-2 What distinguishes an item that is "unusual in nature" from an item that is considered "extraordinary"?
***Accounting Standards Update 2015-01 Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items*** 45-2 Extraordinary items are events and transactions that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of their occurrence. Thus, both of the following criteria shall be met to classify an event or transaction as an extraordinary item: a. Unusual nature. The underlying event or transaction should possess a high degree of abnormality and be of a type clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the entity, taking into account the environment in which the entity operates (see paragraph 225-20-55-1). b. Infrequency of occurrence. The underlying event or transaction should be of a type that would not reasonably be expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into account the environment in which the entity operates (see paragraph 225-20-55-2). Thus, "unusual nature" is one of the criterion that determines whether an item meets the definition of an extraordinary item.
CE4-1 Access the glossary ("Master Glossary") to answer the following. (a) What is a change in accounting estimate? (b) How is a change in accounting principle distinguished from a "change in accounting estimate effected by a change in accounting principle"? (c) What is the formal definition of comprehensive income?
According to the Glossary: (a) A change in accounting estimate is a change that has the effect of adjusting the carrying amount of an existing asset or liability or altering the subsequent accounting for existing or future assets or liabilities. Changes in accounting estimates result from new information. Examples of items for which estimates are necessary are uncollectible receivables, inventory obsolescence, service lives and salvage value of depreciable assets, and warranty obligations. A change in accounting estimate is a necessary consequence of the assessment, in conjunction with the periodic presentation of financial statements, of the present status and expected future benefits and obligations associated with assets and liabilities. (b) A change in accounting principle reflects a change from one generally accepted accounting principle to another generally accepted accounting principle when there are two or more generally accepted accounting principles that apply or when the accounting principle formerly used is no longer generally accepted. A change in the method of applying an accounting principle also is considered a change in accounting principle. A "Change in Accounting Estimate Effected by a Change in Accounting Principle" is a change in accounting estimate that is inseparable from the effect of a related change in accounting principle. An example of a change in estimate effected by a change in principle is a change in the method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for long-lived, nonfinancial assets. (c) Comprehensive Income is defined as the change in equity (net assets) of a business during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from nonowner sources. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
CE4-3 Enyart Company experienced a catastrophic loss in the second quarter of the year. The loss meets the criteria for extraordinary item reporting, but Enyart's controller is unsure whether this item should be reported as extraordinary in the second quarter interim report. Advise the controller.
This Update eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items, required that an entity separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. Presently, an event or transaction is presumed to be an ordinary and usual activity of the reporting entity unless evidence clearly supports its classification as an extraordinary item. Paragraph 225-20-45-2 contains the following criteria that must both be met for extraordinary classification: 1. Unusual nature. The underlying event or transaction should possess a high degree of abnormality and be of a type clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the entity, taking into account the environment in which the entity operates. 2. Infrequency of occurrence. The underlying event or transaction should be of a type that would not reasonably be expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into account the environment in which the entity operates. If an event or transaction meets the criteria for extraordinary classification, an entity is required to segregate the extraordinary item from the results of ordinary operations and show the item separately in the income statement, net of tax, after income from continuing operations. The entity also is required to disclose applicable income taxes and either present or disclose earnings-per-share data applicable to the extraordinary item. The Board heard from stakeholders that the concept of extraordinary items causes uncertainty because it is unclear when an item should be considered both unusual and infrequent. Additionally, some stakeholders said that although users find information about unusual or infrequent events and transactions useful, they do not find the extraordinary item classification and presentation necessary to identify those events and transactions. Other stakeholders noted that it is extremely rare in current practice for a transaction or event to meet the requirements to be presented as an extraordinary item. Eliminating the concept of extraordinary items will save time and reduce costs for preparers because they will not have to assess whether a particular event or transaction event is extraordinary (even if they ultimately would conclude it is not). This also alleviates uncertainty for preparers, auditors, and regulators because auditors and regulators no longer will need to evaluate whether a preparer treated an unusual and/or infrequent item appropriately. The Board concluded that the amendments in this Update will not result in a loss of information because although the amendments will eliminate the requirements in Subtopic 225-20 for reporting entities to consider whether an underlying event or transaction is extraordinary, the presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring. This Update will align more closely GAAP income statement presentation guidance with IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, which prohibits the presentation and disclosure of extraordinary items.
CE4-4 What guidance does the SEC provide for public companies with respect to the reporting of the "effect of preferred stock dividends and accretion of carrying amount of preferred stock on earnings per share"?
CE4-4 Entering "effect of preferred stock" in the search window yields the following link (FASB ASC 260-10-S55): 260 Earnings per Share > 10 Overall > S55 Implementation Guidance and Illustrations. General Effect of Preferred Stock Dividends and Accretion of Carrying Amount of Preferred Stock on Earnings Per Share S55-1 See paragraph 225-10-S99-5, SAB . . . views on this topic. Following that link yields the following guidance: Income or Loss Applicable to Common Stock S99-5: The following is the text of SAB Topic 6.B, Accounting Series Release 280—General Revision Of Regulation S-X: Income Or Loss Applicable To Common Stock. Facts: A registrant has various classes of preferred stock. Dividends on those preferred stocks and accretions of their carrying amounts cause income applicable to common stock to be less than reported net income. Question: In ASR 280, the Commission stated that although it had determined not to mandate presentation of income or loss applicable to common stock in all cases, it believes that disclosure of that amount is of value in certain situations. In what situations should the amount be reported, where should it be reported, and how should it be computed? Interpretive Response: Income or loss applicable to common stock should be reported on the face of the income statement (FN1) when it is materially different in quantitative terms from reported net income or loss (FN2) or when it is indicative of significant trends or other qualitative considerations. The amount to be reported should be computed for each period as net income or loss less: (a) dividends on preferred stock, including undeclared or unpaid dividends if cumulative; and (b) periodic increases in the carrying amounts of instruments reported as redeemable preferred stock (as discussed in Topic 3.C) or increasing rate preferred stock (as discussed in Topic 5.Q). (FN1) If a registrant elects to follow the encouraged disclosure discussed in paragraph 23 of Statement 130, and displays the components of other comprehensive income and the total for comprehensive income using a one-statement approach, the registrant must continue to follow the guidance set forth in the SAB Topic. One approach may be to provide a separate reconciliation of net income to income available to common stock below comprehensive income reported on a statement of income and comprehensive income. (FN2) The assessment of materiality is the responsibility of each registrant. However, absent concerns about trends or other qualitative considerations, the staff generally will not insist on the reporting of income or loss applicable to common stock if the amount differs from net income or loss by less than ten percent.
