...One Global GAAP: IFRS vs. US GAAP Acct 522 Current Topics in Financial Reporting Zhipeng Cao CIN: 300443421 Introduction The most influential accounting reporting criteria today is the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by and U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). These two different accounting standards have various emphases. In short, IFRS states principles and it leaves the decision-making in everyday questions for accountants, while US GAAP consists of very detailed measures. Under the globalization environment, many companies are operating under a global scale; however, each country has its own accounting standard which makes the translation more difficulty. So the demand for the convergence of the two most important standards comes out. (Accounting Reporting Criteria, 2009, March 23). In this paper, I will put more emphasis on the comparison of the detail differences between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). I will also pay attention to the convergence of the two accounting principles. Body 1 In this part, I will mainly discuss the difference between IFRS vs. US GAAP; the table below shows the brief summary of the major differences between IFRS vs. US GAAP. I would like to discuss some of them. General approach The most significant difference between IFRS and U.S. GAAP exist in the general approach. IFRS mostly provides the basic accounting...
Words: 2150 - Pages: 9
...organization is reporting under the IFRS standard while their branch in the United States is using US-GAAP. While the differences do not outweigh the similarities, GAAP and IFRS standards have caused some concerns in financial reporting. These concerns have led to the evaluation of these two reporting standards and the discussion on whether to move IFRS worldwide. This paper will outline a few of the differences between GAAP and IFRS as well as review the discussion of standardized reporting using IFRS. Introduction Historically, accounting and reporting standards in the United States have been set by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accounts) as laid out by the regulations set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was developed by the AICPA as a council for establishing standards for reporting for all United States companies. Under FASB, GAAP was reorganized into approximately 90 accounting standards offering concise methods to follow for financial reporting. This not only allowed for ease of access when reading US financials statements, but also allowed for comparison of documentation for investments, credits, and other financial decisions. On the other hand, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) were developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) based in London. Currently, about 120 nations require the use of IFRS for financial reporting by public companies...
Words: 3687 - Pages: 15
...INVENTORY COSTING CONVERGENCE UNDER GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS ABSTRACT Accounting principles in the United States are converging toward international standards. If convergence continues, and there are proponents and detractors, then the U.S. system of accounting, called Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), will eventually be replaced by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Convergence has profound implications for publicly traded companies and their many stakeholders such as investors, lenders, government agencies, and employees. A key issue facing accounting standard-setters is the treatment of inventory costing, an area in which GAAP and IFRS differ. This study addresses three research questions: What is the past and current usage of different inventory costing methods?, How important is inventory on corporate financial reports?, and What will be the impact on corporate financial reporting, specifically regarding inventory costing, if IFRS replaces GAAP? Findings show that a change from GAAP to IFRS will have a major impact on inventory costing and, as a result,...
Words: 7313 - Pages: 30
...------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Grading Summary | These are the automatically computed results of your exam. Grades for essay questions, and comments from your instructor, are in the "Details" section below. | Date Taken: | 1/29/2012 | Time Spent: | 2 h , 45 min , 16 secs | Points Received: | 129 / 150 (86%) | | Question Type: | # Of Questions: | # Correct: | Essay | 7 | N/A | | | Grade Details | 1. | Question : | (TCO D) A classmate is considering dropping his accounting class because he cannot understand the rules of debits and credits. Explain the rules of debits and credits in a way that will help him understand them. Cite examples for each of the major sections of the balance sheet (assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity) and the income statement (revenues and expenses). | | | Student Answer: | | Debits and Credits are pretty simple. Everyone knows the famous saying " what goes up most come down." It's the same theory in that if you have a debit or credit, you will have the a debit or credit on the other end. Think as debit as when you use your debit card, you have money withdrawing from your personal checking; therefore you have money leaving the account. Credit is basically how the lenders give you money to use; therefore you have money coming in to your account. | | Instructor Explanation: | Accounting is based on the double-entry system. This system records the dual effect of...
Words: 2720 - Pages: 11
...IFRS vs. GAAP: What are the differences, how does it affect net income reporting and what difficulties may exist in mandating IFRS in the U.S. Introduction I propose to write a paper on some of the major differences which still remain between IFRS and US GAAP. Although the FASB and IASB along with the SEC have been working to converge the two accounting systems, many differences still exist. In particular I plan to show the effects on the reported net income of companies and highlight the difficulties of mandating the use of IFRS in the U.S. Resources abound on this topic, some include: Hughes S, Sander J. A U.S. Manager's Guide to Differences Between IFRS and U.S. GAAP. Management Accounting Quarterly [serial online]. Summer2007 2007;8(4):1-8. Available from: Business Source Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 7, 2014 SMITH L. IFRS and U.S. GAAP: Some Key Differences Accountants Should Know. Management Accounting Quarterly [serial online]. Fall2012 2012;14(1):19-26. Available from: Business Source Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 7, 2014. de Mesa Graziano, C., & Heffes, E. M. (2008). IFRS Section: Definition of Fair Value, One of the Differences Between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Financial Executive, 24(10), 14 Romeo, G., & Bao, D. (2012). TEACHING INVENTORY USING U.S. GAAP AND IFRS: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE. Journal For Global Business Education, 1225-34. Siegel J., & Shim J. (2010) Accounting Handbook, Barron’s Educational Services,...
Words: 988 - Pages: 4
...Effectively Communicating with Clients By J. David Strother, CFP®, AIFA®, financial advisor at DSF Wealth Management, LLC Of all the elements a CPA or financial advisor needs to consider in order to operate a successful wealth management practice, an effective client communication strategy ranks at the top of the list. Regular communication is critical to the long-term success of your firm, but it has to be done right. The fact is that the vast majority of advisors want to sell, but very few know how to effectively communicate with their clients to successfully conclude the process. In order to strengthen your relationships with current clients and continue to bring in new ones, communication needs to be a priority of your firm’s day-to-day operations. It is very difficult to execute effective communication over longer periods of time unless it's part of your business model, part of the DNA of your firm. In my experience, advisors who establish effective communication principles within their practices will see immediate results, while those who do not come off as erratic and anecdotal. Communication is not an event, it is a process that is lived day by day. Why Effective Communication is Important Communication has the potential to become the ultimate differentiator in prospecting efforts and then in client retention. In our industry, there is a lot of competition for affluent clients and the frequency and quality of your communication can make all of the difference when it...
Words: 2508 - Pages: 11
...GAAP and IFRS Convergence Kenneth DeWitte Strayer University 1. Describe IFRS and GAAP and what convergence means. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the accounting framework used by the European Union, Japan, Canada, and other world economic leaders. The IFRS is based on the tenets of understandability, reliability, and comparability. It is based off the International Accounting Standards (IAS) and had the opportunity to be built from accounting ideas and principles used across the world. In recent years it also has had the chance to look at the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and modify the rules to enhance clarity and consistency, intentionally setting itself apart from U.S. GAAP. United States GAAP is an aggregate of rules that show how to account for transactions and also present the transactions with reliability, consistency, and full disclosure. This amounts to a level of clarity that even someone not very knowledgeable about business can make a confident decision when investing. These rules were brought together by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). It is more specific than the IFRS requiring less interpretation and more consistent action taken by all businesses, leading to comparability through financial statements. The convergence of these two accounting frameworks is a must for both foreign and domestic businesses. There are some problems between the two systems coexisting. This has led to...
Words: 1121 - Pages: 5
...International Financial Reporting Standards vs. Generally Accepted Accounting Principals Over the last decade, the world has become increasingly connected. Businesses are embracing opportunities abroad and gathering investors from a progressively growing international market. Globalization has given rise to a number of questions regarding multicultural business practice. It has also created a need for universal financial reporting that is consistent and useful to all of its users, international and domestic alike. Due to this growing concern, the International Accounting Standards Board was established and has created a code of standards to facilitate such financial reporting. IFRS is an acronym for International Financial Reporting Standards. IFRS are a set of accounting standards that will establish a uniform financial statement accounting standard across the world (AICPA, “What is IFRS”). These standards will create a consistency among financial statements, and will allow external uses better comparability from one entity to another, regardless of the entity’s country of origin. IFRS was developed by the International Accounting Standards Board, IASB, a London based organization established in 2001. The AICPA was a founder member of this board, and, while not in direct affiliation thereof, has established a website to educate individuals and businesses on IFRS (AICPA, “What is the IASB”). The cost of the United States converting to IFRS is under scrutiny, many believe the benefits...
Words: 1106 - Pages: 5
...IFRS vs U.S. GAAP Victoria Harris American Public University Acct 610 There are two sets of accounting standards that are used worldwide. One is the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). There is a huge desire for there to one set of accounting standards worldwide with the increase of companies performing business in many different countries and global expansion. The International Financial Reporting Standards are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. These set of accounting standards are international in more than 110 countries and the state how certain transactions and other events should be reported in the preparation of financial statements. This set of standards’ purpose is to make international comparisons easier. This is not an easy task, though, because there is already set rules in every country. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles are another set of accounting standards that is adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are the rules followed by companies in the United States when compiling financial statements. These set of standards was originally developed by auditors and regulated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) historically. The SEC is now considering changing the standards for the United States and going with the International Financial Reporting Standards in order to create a more constant...
Words: 1532 - Pages: 7
...Running Head: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GAAP AND IFRS 1 Differences Between GAAP and IFRS Accounting Practices Sharon Woodards Liberty University Intermediate Accounting II 302 Professor Ashley Harper November 7, 2014 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GAAP AND IFRS 2 Both the IFRS ( International Financial Reporting Standards ) and the GAAP ( Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ) are a set of accounting rules that companies either can or must follow when preparing their financial statements. Set by policy boards, the United States enforces the use of GAAP as the set of rules of processes and standards that its companies must use for reporting and recording of their financial statements. At the same, other parts of the words use the IFRS as their set of rules for companies to follow. This IFRS set of rules were developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Due to this, the world has been talking about combining the two standards into one globalized set of accounting standards that will comprise of both standards. The object of this would be to have the world recognize one set of globalized set of accounting practices. There are some differences that the US should be aware of before the convergence between the two ever takes place. Some of the major differences between GAAP and IFRS revolve around grants to employees, vesting, modifications, tax withholding, inventory differences, revenues and...
Words: 2308 - Pages: 10
...Apple case questions: 1. Explain GAAP, non-GAAP numbers and their impact on financial statements GAAP vs. IFRS affects financial statements in many different areas and must be adjusted accordingly. Revenue Recognition, extraordinary items, receivables, inventory, long-lived assets, and debt and equity would all have to be altered when switching between the two. For example, LIFO inventory valuation is not permitted under IFRS. Because of this, a company would have to recalculate under the FIFO method as well as adjust COGS and tax expenses. 2. Which method best reflects the economic reality? For investors, IFRS may present more approachable and comprehensive financial statements making them easier to analyze and understand. However when IFRS is applied, balance sheet differences in inventory, PPE, goodwill and other areas may pose shareholders in a better or worse position depending on what you are looking at. 3. Should Apple lobby for their non-GAAP numbers to be sanctioned by FASB? Yes; the impact of subscription accounting and deferred revenue under GAAP skews the company’s numbers to reflect a small portion of the company’s sales and net income making it a less accurate predictor of overall performance. Any company would obviously highlight on the method that shows the most favorable performance. 4. Does it matter if the revenue recognition rule for smartphones changes? Yes; the deferred revenues from the use of subscription accounting are adding...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...Disclosure requirements for a change in principle. T 7. Indirect effect of an accounting change. T 8. Retrospective application impracticality. F 9. Reporting changes in accounting estimates. T 10. Change in principle vs. change in estimate. F 11. Accounting for change in depreciation method. F 12. Accounting for change in reporting entities. T 13. Example of a change in reporting entities. F 14. Accounting error vs. change in estimate. T 15. Accounting for corrections of errors. T 16. New principle created by FASB standard. T 17. Correcting entries for noncounterbalancing errors. F 18. Definition of counterbalancing errors. T 19. Accounting for counterbalancing errors. F *20. Changing from equity method. Multiple Choice—Conceptual Answer No. Description b 21. Accounting changes and consistency concept. b 22. Identify changes in accounting principle. c 23. Identify a non-retrospective change. d 24. Identify a change in accounting principle. a 25. Entry to record a change in depreciation methods. c 26. Disclosures required for a change in depreciation methods. c 27. Change from percentage-of-completion to completed-contracts. d 28. Disclosures required for a change from LIFO to FIFO. b 29. Change from FIFO to LIFO. c 30. Change in accounting estimate. a 31. Change in accounting estimate. b 32. Identify a change in accounting estimate. b 33. Change in accounting estimate. c 34. Identify a change in accounting estimate. ...
Words: 10941 - Pages: 44
...NINJA CPA REVIEW® NINJA Notes 2015 Financial Accounting & Reporting Table of Contents The N.I.N.J.A. Framework I. IFRS 8 II. Accounting Changes 19 III. Financial Reporting 20 IV. Bonds & Debt Restructure 38 V. Consolidations 47 VI. Deferred Taxes 50 VII. Derivatives, Hedging, & Translation 52 VIII. Fixed Assets 56 IX. Governmental Accounting 62 X. Personal Financial Statements, Segments, & Interim Reporting 73 XI. Partnership Accounting 76 XII. Inventory 79 XIII. Investments 85 XIV. Leases 87 XV. Current Assets & Liabilities 91 XVI. Not-For-Profit Accounting 93 XVII. Pensions 99 XVIII. Statement of Cash Flows 101 XIX. Stockholders’ Equity 103 2 The N.I.N.J.A. Framework NAIL THE CONCEPTS Watch your CPA Review videos first – before working any assigned homework questions. The CPA Review industry says to watch a section of CPA Review video and then work the accompanying MCQs. This perspective stems from the old-school approach to the paper and pencil exam where you had to sit in a live classroom and learn from an instructor on weekends. Today, there is a smarter way to study. You don’t have to go to a weekend live course. You can fire up the laptop on a Tuesday morning and knock out two hours of material before you even brush your teeth. If you work MCQs in week one over your week one topic, guess what? You will work them again in week 5 or 6 when you review because you will forget what you learned. If you watch a...
Words: 11984 - Pages: 48
...NINJA CPA REVIEW® NINJA Notes 2015 Financial Accounting & Reporting (Updated as of July 2015) Table of Contents The N.I.N.J.A. Framework I. IFRS 8 II. Accounting Changes 19 III. Financial Reporting 20 IV. Bonds & Debt Restructure 39 V. Consolidations 48 VI. Deferred Taxes 51 VII. Derivatives, Hedging, & Translation 53 VIII. Fixed Assets 57 IX. Governmental Accounting 63 X. Personal Financial Statements, Segments, & Interim Reporting 74 XI. Partnership Accounting 77 XII. Inventory 80 XIII. Investments 86 XIV. Leases 88 XV. Current Assets & Liabilities 92 XVI. Not-For-Profit Accounting 94 XVII. Pensions 100 XVIII. Statement of Cash Flows 102 XIX. Stockholders’ Equity 104 2 The N.I.N.J.A. Framework NAIL THE CONCEPTS Watch your CPA Review videos first – before working any assigned homework questions. The CPA Review industry says to watch a section of CPA Review video and then work the accompanying MCQs. This perspective stems from the old-school approach to the paper and pencil exam where you had to sit in a live classroom and learn from an instructor on weekends. Today, there is a smarter way to study. You don’t have to go to a weekend live course. You can fire up the laptop on a Tuesday morning and knock out two hours of material before you even brush your teeth. If you work MCQs in week one over your week one topic, guess what? You will work them again in week 5 or 6 when you review because you will forget what you learned. If you watch a video in week one and score...
Words: 12439 - Pages: 50
...partners. Legally distinct from its owners Double Taxation – corporate income is taxed and shareholders taxed of dividends Elect board of directors Assumptions and Principles Entity assumption – a business is a separate economic unit Continutiy (going-concern) assumption – entity will continue to exist indefinitely Historical cost principle – assets recorded at purchase price Stable monetary unit assumption – stable Interntional Financial Reporting Standards(IFRS) Many countries have own versions of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) Reports had to be restated to convert accounting data from one country to another IFRS developed and are used by most countries in the world US still follows on GAAP US GAAP overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) SEC tentaviley set date for U.S adoption of IFRS in 2015 Will make it easier to compare financial statements across the world. Most common accounting practices similar under both U.S GAAP and...
Words: 3535 - Pages: 15
