FASB: 2019 - What You Need to Know & A Review of 2018 Updates

We are pleased to release MaloneBailey's January 2019 issue of The Crunch. This special edition of The Crunch highlights FASB updates that are going into effect in 2019 as well as a review of the FASB updates that went into effect in 2018.

Please note that the updates provided in this newsletter are not a comprehensive list. We encourage you to visit the SEC , FASB and IRS websites for more information as well as a complete list of updated rules, regulations and proposals.

We invite you to contact us should you have any questions about the information provided in this issue. We invite you to visit our website to review archived versions of this newsletter containing past accounting, regulatory and tax updates.

The MaloneBailey Team

www.malonebailey.com

What's the Crunch?

Featured Podcast

How Millennials Are Changing the Workplace

Accounting and Regulatory Updates

FASB: What You Need to Know for 2019

Leases

Leases (Topic 842)
Lases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors
Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements
Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842
Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases

Derivatives & Hedging

Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting
Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

Other Topics

Liabilities —Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20): Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products
Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business
Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets
Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853): Determining the Customer of the Operation Services
Investments—Debt Securities (Topic 320 and Regulated Operations (Topic 980): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 117 and SEC Release No. 33-9273

Tax Updates

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: An Increase in Federal Payments for R&D Activity

Extra Crunch

The CPA Journal: Improving the Advancement and Retention of Women CPAs

About MaloneBailey, LLP

Featured Podcast

Our featured podcast highlights an important movement affecting organizations in all industries: how millennials are changing the workplace. There are plenty of articles out there talking about millennials, the good and the bad, and how they are living their lives differently from generations before them. From buying houses and starting families later in life to new views on true work-life balance, this generation is all about changing things for the (mostly) better.

Tune in to hear from Raven Fournier, Lead Recruiter at MaloneBailey, who addresses questions like:

Why is there so much buzz around the term 'millennial'?
What does a millennial value?
What are some of the changes organizations are making to employ millennials?

For this podcast and many more, please visit the Resources section of the MaloneBailey website.

FASB: What You Need to Know for 2019

Leases (Topic 842)

Summary - Among other things, in the amendments in ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date:

-A lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and

-A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Effective for Public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019, for a calendar year entity). Nonpublic business entities should apply the amendments for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (i.e., January 1, 2020, for a calendar year entity), and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application is permitted for all public business entities and all nonpublic business entities upon issuance.

Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach.

For more information, click here .

Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors

Summary - The new guidance mitigates transition complexity by requiring entities other than public business entities, including not-for-profit organizations and certain employee benefit plans, to implement the credit losses standard issued in 2016, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This aligns the implementation date for their annual financial statements with the implementation date for their interim financial statements. The guidance also clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of the credit losses standard, but rather, should be accounted for in accordance with the leases standard.

The effective date and transition requirements are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in the credit losses standard, as amended by the new ASU.

An entity that has not yet adopted Topic 842 should apply ASU No. 2018-20 to all new and existing leases when the entity first applies Topic 842 and should apply the same transition method elected for Topic 842. An entity that has adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of ASU No. 2018-20 should adopt ASU No. 2018-20 to all new and existing leases at the original effective date of Topic 842 for that entity as determined in paragraph 842-10-65-1(a) through (b). Alternatively, an entity that has adopted Topic 842 may adopt ASU No. 2018-20 to all new and existing leases either:

In the first reporting period ending after the issuance of ASU No. 2018-20, or
In the first reporting period beginning after the issuance of ASU No. 2018-20.

An entity that has adopted Topic 842 before the issuance ASU No. 2018-20 should apply ASU No. 2018-20 to all new and existing leases either:

Retrospectively to all prior periods beginning with the fiscal years in which Topic 842 was initially applied, or
Prospectively.

For more information, click here .

Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements - FASB ASU No. 2018-11

Summary - These amendments provide entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which it adopts the new leases standard will continue to be in accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases).

The amendments also provide lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate nonlease components from the associated lease component and, instead, to account for those components as a single component if the nonlease components otherwise would be accounted for under the new revenue guidance (Topic 606) and certain criteria are met: If the nonlease component or components associated with the lease component are the predominant component of the combined component, an entity is required to account for the combined component in accordance with Topic 606. Otherwise, the entity must account for the combined component as an operating lease in accordance with Topic 842.

For entities that have not adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of ASU No. 2018-11, the effective date and transition requirements for the amendments related to separating components of a contract are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in ASU No. 2016-02. For entities that have adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of ASU No. 2018-11, the transition and effective date of the amendments related to separating components of a contract in ASU No. 2018-11 are as follows:

1. The practical expedient may be elected either in the first reporting period following the issuance of this Update or at the original effective date of Topic 842 for that entity.

2. The practical expedient may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively.

All entities, including early adopters, that elect the practical expedient related to separating components of a contract in ASU No. 2018-11 must apply the expedient, by class of underlying asset, to all existing lease transactions that qualify for the expedient at the date elected.

For more information, click here .

Leases (Topic 842):Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842

Summary - The amendments in ASU 2018-01:

• Provide an optional transition practical expedient for the adoption of ASU 2016-02 that, if elected, would not require an organization to reconsider their accounting for existing land easements that are not currently accounted for under the old leases standard; and

• Clarify that new or modified land easements should be evaluated under ASU 2016-02, once an entity has adopted the new standard.

Effective with ASU 2016-02, as amended .

For more information, click here .

Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases

Summary - These amendments affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments in ASU 2016-02 including those regarding residual value guarantees, rate implicit in the lease, lessee reassessment of lease classification, lessor reassessment of lease term and purchase option, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, investment tax credits, lease term and purchase option, transition guidance for amounts previously recognized in business combinations, certain transition adjustments, transition guidance for leases previously classified as capital leases under Topic 840, transition guidance for modifications to leases previously classified as direct financing or sales-type leases under Topic 840, transition guidance for sale and leaseback transactions, impairment of net investment in the lease, unguaranteed residual asset, effect of initial direct costs on rate implicit in the lease, and failed sale and leaseback transactions.

For entities that early adopted Topic 842, the amendments are effective upon issuance of ASU 2018-10, and the transition requirements are the same as those in Topic 842.

For entities that have not adopted Topic 842, the effective date and transition requirements will be the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 842.

For more information, click here .

Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting

Summary - In the United States, eligible benchmark interest rates under Topic 815 are interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST), the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) swap rate, and the Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate based on the Fed Funds Effective Rate. When the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, in August 2017, it introduced the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal Swap Rate as the fourth permissible U.S. benchmark rate.

The new ASU adds the OIS rate based on SOFR as a U.S. benchmark interest rate to facilitate the LIBOR to SOFR transition and provide sufficient lead time for entities to prepare for changes to interest rate risk hedging strategies for both risk management and hedge accounting purposes.

The amendments will be effective concurrently with ASU 2017-12. For public companies that already have adopted ASU 2017-12, the new amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other companies and organizations that already have adopted ASU 2017-12, the new amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period upon issuance of this ASU if a company or organization already has adopted ASU 2017-12.

For more information, click here .

Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

Summary - These amendments refine and expand hedge accounting for both financial (e.g., interest rate) and commodity risks. Its provisions create more transparency around how economic results are presented, both on the face of the financial statements and in the footnotes. It also makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance.

Effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15,

2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.

For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020.

Early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, is permitted. If an entity early adopts in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period (i.e., the initial application date).

For more information, click here .

Codification Improvements

Summary - These amendments represent changes to clarify, correct errors in, or make minor improvements to the Codification, eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications in current guidance. The amendments in this ASU include those made to: Subtopic 220-10, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Overall; Subtopic 470-50, Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments; Subtopic 480-10, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity-Overall; Subtopic 718-740, Compensation-Stock Compensation-Income Taxes; Subtopic 805-740, Business Combinations-Income Taxes; Subtopic 815-10, Derivatives and Hedging-Overall; Subtopic 820-10, Fair Value Measurement-Overall; Subtopic 940-405, Financial Services-Brokers and Dealers-Liabilities; and Subtopic 962-325, Plan Accounting-Defined Contribution Pension Plans-Investments-Other.

The transition and effective date guidance is based on the facts and circumstances of each amendment. Some of the amendments do not require transition guidance and will be effective upon issuance. However, many of the amendments do have transition guidance with effective dates for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, for public business entities.

There are some conforming amendments that have been made to recently issued guidance that is not yet effective that may require application of the transition and effective date guidance in the original ASU.

For more information, click here .

Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting

Summary - These amendments expand the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. The ASU supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees.

'For public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. For all other companies, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than a company’s adoption date of Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

For more information, click here .

Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Summary - These amendments provide financial statement preparers with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within AOCI to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded.

The ASU requires financial statement preparers to disclose:

A description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI;
Whether they elect to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; and
Information about the other income tax effects that are reclassified.

The amendments affect any organization that is required to apply the provisions of Topic 220, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income, and has items of other comprehensive income for which the related tax effects are presented in other comprehensive income as required by GAAP.

Effective for all organizations for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Organizations should apply the proposed amendments either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized.

For more information, click here .

Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception

Summary - These amendments simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features.

The amendments require companies to disregard the down round feature when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to its own stock, for purposes of determining liability or equity classification. Companies that provide earnings per share (EPS) data will adjust their basic EPS calculation for the effect of the feature when triggered (i.e., when the exercise price of the related equity-linked financial instrument is adjusted downward because of the down round feature) and will also recognize the effect of the trigger within equity.

The amendments also address navigational concerns within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification® related to an indefinite deferral available to private companies with mandatorily redeemable financial instruments and certain noncontrolling interests, one that created significant “pending content” in the Codification. The FASB decided to reclassify the indefinite deferral as a scope exception, which does not have an accounting effect.

Effective for a public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020.

Earlier adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or have not been made available for issuance.

For more information, click here .

Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities

Summary - The amendments shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity.

Effective for a public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020.

For more information, click here .

Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960); Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962); Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust Reporting

Summary - Among other things, the amendments require a plan’s interest in that master trust and any change in that interest to be presented in separate line items in the statement of net assets available for benefits and in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits, respectively.

The amendments also remove the requirement to disclose the percentage interest in the master trust for plans with divided interests and require that all plans disclose the dollar amount of their interest in each of those general types of investments.

The amendments require all plans to disclose: (a) their master trust’s other asset and liability balances; and (b) the dollar amount of the plan’s interest in each of those balances.

Lastly, the amendments eliminate redundant investment disclosures (e.g., those required by Topics 815 and 820) relating to 401(h) account assets.

Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to each period for which financial statements are presented.

For more information, click here .

FASB: A Review of 2018 Updates

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)

Summary - The amendments in ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance, and creates a Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:

-Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

-Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

-Step 3: Determine the transaction price.

-Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

-Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

See the effective date information, as amended, under ASU 2015-14.

For more information, click here .

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date

Summary - The amendments in ASU 2015-14 defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year.

The amendments in ASU 2015-14 defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. Public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

All other entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. All other entities may apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 earlier as of an annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. All other entities also may apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 earlier as of an annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning one year after the annual reporting period in which the entity first applies the guidance in ASU 2014-09.

For more information, click here .

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)

Summary - The amendments are intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations by amending certain existing illustrative examples and adding additional illustrative examples to assist in the application of the guidance.

The effective date and transition of these amendments is the same as the effective date and transition of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Public entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2014-09 for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods therein (i.e., January 1, 2018, for a calendar year entity). Private entities must apply the amendments one year later.

For more information, click here .

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing

Summary - The amendments add further guidance on identifying performance obligations and also to improve the operability and understandability of the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606.

'The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 606. Public entities should apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods therein (i.e., January 1, 2018, for a calendar year entity). Early application for public entities is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The effective date for nonpublic entities is deferred by one year.

For more information, click here .

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients

Summary - The amendments, among other things: (1) clarify the objective of the collectibility criterion for applying paragraph 606-10-25-7; (2) permit an entity to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price; (3) specify that the measurement date for noncash consideration is contract inception; (4) provide a practical expedient that permits an entity to reflect the aggregate effect of all modifications that occur before the beginning of the earliest period presented when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations; (5) clarify that a completed contract for purposes of transition is a contract for which all (or substantially all) of the revenue was recognized under legacy GAAP before the date of initial application, and (6) clarify that an entity that retrospectively applies the guidance in Topic 606 to each prior reporting period is not required to disclose the effect of the accounting change for the period of adoption.

The effective date of these amendments are at the same date that Topic 606 is effective. Topic 606 is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods therein (i.e., January 1, 2018, for a calendar year entity). Topic 606 is effective for nonpublic entities one year later.

For more information, click here .

Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Summary - T he amendments in ASU 2016-20 affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2014-09 including Loan Guarantee Fees, Contract Costs, Provisions for Losses on Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts, Disclosure of Remaining Performance Obligations, Disclosure of Prior Period Performance Obligations, Contract Modifications, Contract Asset vs. Receivable, Refund Liabilitiy, Advertising Costs, Fixed Odds Wagering Contracts in the Casino Industry, and Costs Capitalized for Advisors to Private Funds and Public Funds.

For more information, click here .

Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting

Summary - The amendments rescinds SEC paragraphs pursuant to two SEC Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) meeting. Specifically, registrants should not rely on the following SEC Staff Observer comments upon adoption of Topic 606:

1. Revenue and Expense Recognition for Freight Services in Process, which is codified in paragraph 605-20-S99-2

2. Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, which is codified in paragraph 605-45-S99-1

3. Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (including Reseller of the Vendor’s Products), which is codified in paragraph 605-50-S99-1

4. Accounting for Gas-Balancing Arrangements (i.e., use of the “entitlements method”), which is codified in paragraph 932-10-S99-5.

Effective upon adoption of ASU 2014-0 9.

For more information, click here .

Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to the Staff Announcement at the July 20, 2017 EITF Meeting and Rescission of Prior SEC Staff Announcements and Observer Comments

Summary - The amendments in ASU No. 2017-13 amends the early adoption date option for certain companies related to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 and ASU No. 2016-02. Both of the below entities may still adopt using the public company adoption guidance in the related ASUs, as amended.

The SEC staff stated the SEC would not object to a public business entity that otherwise would not meet the definition of a public business entity except for a requirement to include or the inclusion of its financial statements or financial information in another entity’s filing with the SEC adopting ASC Topic 606 for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019.

The SEC staff stated the SEC would not object to a public business entity that otherwise would not meet the definition of a public business entity except for a requirement to include or the inclusion of its financial statements or financial information in another entity’s filing with the SEC adopting ASC Topic 842 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020.

Effective with ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2016-02, both as amended.

For more information, click here .

Financial Instruments─Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Summary - The amendments in ASU 2016-01, among other things:

Requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.
Requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes.
Requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables).
Eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost.

Effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and employee benefit plans, the new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.

The new guidance permits early adoption of the own credit provision. In addition, the new guidance permits early adoption of the provision that exempts private companies and not-for-profit organizations from having to disclose fair value information about financial instruments measured at amortized cost.

For more information, click here .

Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, that clarifies the guidance in ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10)

Summary - These amendments clarify the guidance in ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10), on the following issues, among other things:

Issue 1: Equity Securities without a Readily Determinable Fair Value— Discontinuation
Issue 2: Equity Securities without a Readily Determinable Fair Value— Adjustments
Issue 3: Forward Contracts and Purchased Options
Issue 4: Presentation Requirements for Certain Fair Value Option Liabilities
Issue 5: Fair Value Option Liabilities Denominated in a Foreign Currency
Issue 6: Transition Guidance for Equity Securities without a Readily Determinable Fair Value

For public business entities, ASU 2018-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. Public business entities with fiscal years beginning between December 15, 2017, and June 15, 2018, are not required to adopt ASU 2018-03 until the interim period beginning after June 15, 2018, and public business entities with fiscal years beginning between June 15, 2018, and December 15, 2018, are not required to adopt these amendments before adopting the amendments in ASU 2016-01. For all other entities, the effective date is the same as the effective date in ASU 2016-01.

All entities may early adopt ASU 2018-03 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, as long as they have adopted ASU 2016-01.

For more information, click here .

Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

Summary - These amendments provide cash flow statement classification guidance for:

1. Debt Prepayment or Debt Extinguishment Costs;

2. Settlement of Zero-Coupon Debt Instruments or Other Debt Instruments with Coupon Interest Rates That Are Insignificant in Relation to the Effective Interest Rate of the Borrowing;

3. Contingent Consideration Payments Made after a Business Combination;

4. Proceeds from the Settlement of Insurance Claims;

5. Proceeds from the Settlement of Corporate-Owned Life Insurance Policies, including Bank-Owned

Life Insurance Policies;

6. Distributions Received from Equity Method Investees;

7. Beneficial Interests in Securitization Transactions; and

8. Separately Identifiable Cash Flows and Application of the Predominance Principle.

Effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early application is permitted, including adoption in an interim period.

For more information, click here .

Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash

Summary - These amendments require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. As a result, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments do not provide a definition of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.

Effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented.

For more information, click here .

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

Summary - These amendments require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments eliminate the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory.

The amendments do not include new disclosure requirements; however, existing disclosure requirements might be applicable when accounting for the current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory.

Effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for all entities in the first interim period if an entity issues interim financial statements.

The amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption.

For more information, click here .

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118

Summary - These amendments add the following SEC guidance, among other things, to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act):

-Question 1: If the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act is not completed by the time a company issues its financial statements that include the reporting period in which the Act was enacted, what amounts should a company include in its financial statements for those income tax effects for which the accounting under Topic 740 is incomplete?

- Question 2: If an entity accounts for certain income tax effects of the Act under a measurement period approach, what disclosures should be provided?

Effective upon addition to the FASB Codification.

For more information, click here .

Compensation — Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

Summary - The amendments apply to all entities that offer employees defined benefit pension plans, other postretirement benefit plans, or other types of benefits accounted for under Topic 715, Compensation — Retirement Benefits.

The amendments require that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, that line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed.

The amendments also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable (e.g., as a cost of internally manufactured inventory or a self-constructed asset).

Effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. For other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance.

For more information, click here .

Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting

Summary - The amendments provide guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 718.

Effective for all entities for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual

periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for:

Public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued.
All other entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance.

For more information, click here .

Liabilities —Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20): Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products

Summary - The amendments apply to entities that offer certain prepaid stored value products (e.g., prepaid gift cards issued on a specific payment network and redeemable at network-accepting merchant locations, prepaid telecommunication cards, and traveler’s checks).

Liabilities related to the sale of prepaid stored-value products are financial liabilities. The amendments provide a narrow scope exception to the guidance in Subtopic 405-20 to require that breakage for those liabilities be accounted for consistent with the breakage guidance in Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Neither current U.S. GAAP nor the pending guidance in Topic 606 contains specific guidance for the derecognition of prepaid stored-value product liabilities.

The amendments are effective for public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Earlier application is permitted, including adoption in an interim period.

The amendments should be applied either: (a) using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is effective; or (b) retrospectively to each period presented.

For more information, click here .

Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business

Summary - These amendments clarify the definition of a business. The amendments affect all companies and other reporting organizations that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business.

The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The amendments are intended to help companies and other organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.

'Effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. For all other companies and organizations, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted under certain circumstances. The amendments should be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the period of adoption.

For more information, click here .

Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets

Summary - The amendments clarify that a financial asset is within the scope of Subtopic 610-20 if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset. The amendments also define the term in substance nonfinancial asset.

The amendments clarify that nonfinancial assets within the scope of Subtopic 610-20 may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counterparty. For example, a parent may transfer control of nonfinancial assets by transferring ownership interests in a consolidated subsidiary. A contract that includes the transfer of ownership interests in one or more consolidated subsidiaries is within the scope of Subtopic 610-20 if substantially all of the fair value of the assets that are promised to the counterparty in a contract is concentrated in nonfinancial assets.

The amendments clarify that an entity should identify each distinct nonfinancial asset or in substance nonfinancial asset promised to a counterparty and derecognize each asset when a counterparty obtains control of it.

See the effective date information, as amended, under ASU 2015-14.

For more information, click here .

Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853): Determining the Customer of the Operation Services

Summary - The amendments clarify that the grantor in a service concession arrangement is the customer of the operation services in all cases for those arrangements.

Example: A public-sector entity grantor (government) enters into an arrangement with an operating entity under which the operating entity will provide operation services (which include operation and general maintenance of the infrastructure) for a toll road that will be used by third-party users (drivers). ASU 2017-10 clarifies that the grantor (government), rather than the third-party drivers, is the customer of the operation services in all cases for service concession arrangements within the scope of Topic 853.

Effective for a public business entity, a not-for-profit entity that has issued, or is a conduit bond obligor for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market and an employee benefit plan that files or furnishes financial statements with or to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.

Earlier adoption is permitted for all entities, including within an interim period, subject to specific transition requirements depending on whether an entity adopted Topic 606 before or after the issuance of the Update.

For more information, click here .

Investments—Debt Securities (Topic 320 and Regulated Operations (Topic 980): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 117 and SEC Release No. 33-9273

Summary - These amendments supersede previous SEC guidance in the Codification in SAB Topic 5.M, Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Equity Securities and special balance sheet requirements in Regulation S-X Rule 3A-05 for Public Utility Holding Companies.

Effective upon addition to the FASB Codification.

For more information, click here .

Tax Updates

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: An Increase in Federal Payments for R&D Activity

Summary - Tax reform not only introduced the reduced 21% flat tax rate for C corporation, but also increased the Research Tax Credit by 14%. DST Advisory Group has shared with us an article with us on the changes. To learn more, please click here .

To be eligible for the R&D tax credit, you do not have to be in a “high tech” business; instead, conducting activities such as designing, developing or improving a “business component” allows you to utilize this tax incentive.

Should you have any questions on the R&D tax credit, please contact Nicole Zhao .

Extra Crunch

The CPA Journal: Improving the Advancement and Retention of Women CPAs

Summary - In its annual state of the profession edition, The CPA Journal , a leading accounting trade publication, featured an article authored by MaloneBailey Audit Partners, George Qin and Steven Vertucci, on the topic of improving the advancement and retention of women CPAs.

Flexibility and public accounting don’t always go hand in hand, but joining the two in a thoughtful, constructive, and effective way is advantageous to women. Balancing demanding work schedules with the desire to raise a family gives rise to a common challenge in the accounting world: the retention of women.

Check out our article in on this very topic and some of the best practices we share. Click here to read the full article.

About MaloneBailey, LLP

Should you be interested in a complimentary estimate for audit, consulting and tax services, please contact Caroline Rosen at [email protected] or 713.343.4286.

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