The AICPA is asking the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) for special breaks for private companies as they implement the new revenue recognition standard, which goes into effect for private companies in 2019. The AICPA is asking for practical expedients for private companies to estimate performance obligations in a customer contract, as well as for the FASB to reconsider the definition of a “contract” for private company accounting purposes.
Here’s more on why private companies are struggling to adopt the standard and why they need to get serious about implementation.
Request for reprieve
With less than a year before private companies following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) have to comply with Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section in January asked the FASB for relief.
“We believe that the magnitude and significance of the new revenue standard warrants robust consideration of recognition and measurement differences for private companies as well as disclosure differences for certain conduit debt obligors,” the AICPA letter reads.
The standard converges the rules for recognizing revenue under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) with new accounting rules published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Public companies must begin employing the standard with their Securities and Exchange Commission filings in the first quarter of 2018.
The FASB published the revenue standard in May 2014. It calls for a single, five-step method by which most companies worldwide must recognize revenue. The implementation process will vary from industry to industry, often depending on the complexity of customer transactions.
For example, retailers that engage in relatively simple customer sales don’t expect to see significant changes in how or when they record revenues. But some big-box stores have said they expect to see changes because the treatment of unused gift card balances will differ under the new accounting. Other industries — such as software, telecommunications and media — use specialized, long-term contracts, and many companies in those industries expect to make major changes to how they record revenues.
Sticking points
Which aspects of the new standard are causing private companies trouble? The AICPA’s letter asked that private companies be allowed to employ less restrictive interpretations for five aspects of the new standard, including:
The AICPA acknowledged that these requests are last minute. But, as the AICPA examined the standard’s details, they realized more clarity was needed from the FASB.
“My mom always said, ‘If you don’t ask, the answer’s always no,’” said Michael Westervelt, chair of the Private Companies Practice Section’s committee on technical issues.
Stay tuned
The FASB doesn’t normally provide detailed, public responses to individual comment letters. As the FASB reviews the AICPA’s letter, it’s important for private companies following GAAP to move forward with the implementation process — in case the FASB doesn’t grant the requests.
Adopting the changes under the new revenue recognition standard will require significant effort, including analyzing customer contracts, designing and installing new financial reporting systems, and upgrading financial reporting controls to deter fraud. The shift from rules-based accounting to more principles-based guidance also is expected to be a significant cultural shift for U.S. companies. Contact your CPA for assistance and to discuss the latest developments from the FASB.