ACC410B

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School

National University College *

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Course

401B

Subject

Accounting

Date

Apr 3, 2024

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docx

Pages

7

Uploaded by SargentExploration15217 on coursehero.com

Impact of Contingent Liabilities on Financial Reporting and Decision-Making Professor: March 24, 2024
Enterprises function within an ever-evolving landscape where unforeseen circumstances can affect financial information. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) require companies to disclose contingent liabilities and potential future obligations that can significantly affect their financial position to represent their financial standing accurately (Palmer,2024). As per FASB codification 450-20-05- 2 alongside Subtopics 450-10- and 450-30, general guidance is offered regarding gain and loss contingencies. Stakeholders, including investors and creditors, must be informed about these potential liabilities, as they can influence the Company's risk exposure, cash flow, and overall financial resilience. The current study delves into contingent liabilities, explores the accounting principles, discusses the classification, and examines their impact on decision-making processes. What is a Contingent Liability? Contingent liabilities refer to prospective financial obligations or losses that rely on the result of an unpredictable event. US GAAP from FASB (2023) codification outlined in ASC 450- 20-20 that contingency is a current condition, situation, or scenario with uncertainty about an entity's potential gain (gain contingency) or loss (loss contingency). The resolution of these uncertainties depends on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more future events. Moreover, according to FASB Statement No. 5, a contingency is "a current condition, circumstance, or series of events characterized by uncertainty regarding potential profit or loss for a company, which will be resolved upon the happening or non-happening of one or more future events." Instances comprise obligations stemming from legal action, notes receivable with discounted values, disagreements over income tax, potential penalties resulting from prior activities, warranty and debts guaranteed by the Company. In contingent liability scenarios, the Company typically lacks certainty regarding the existence and extent of the liability. For more examples of contingent liability, please see the images below. (Srivastav, 2024)
Principles of Contingent Liability Anderson Austin (2024) stated in a review published in the Wall Street Journal that, according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), contingent liabilities are recorded based on three accounting principles: full disclosure, prudence, and materiality. Principle of prudence: It mandates that a company refrain from recording anticipated gains but must account for expected losses. This safeguards against overstating income/assets and understating expenses/liabilities. Principle material states that any items with financial value must be recorded in the accounting books. Items have financial value if their presence or absence impacts the business. Principle Disclosure: It aims to provide users of financial statements with a comprehensive understanding of the Company's financial position and operating results, enabling them to make informed decisions. Classification of Contingent liability GAAP and IFS recognize three categories of contingent liabilities: probable, possible, and remote. However, evaluating a contingent liability in monetary terms can prove difficult, as it is a liability that could arise contingent upon the outcome of a future event, a probability subject to individual judgment. Given the inherent ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding the amount to allocate for such expenses. It is important to ask two (4) four essential questions before accounting for any potential unforeseen obligation: If the contingent loss is probable and can be estimated, legal counsel determines the probable standard, which should be greater than 50% (IFRS) or 80% (GAAP). If the contingency meets the 80% occurrence, GAAP requires that the contingency be recorded in the income and balance statements. The journal entries will be debit liability-related expenses and accrue credit liability (Ross,2023). The entity must disclose this note on the financial statements if the contingent loss is probable or possible and cannot be estimated. The disclosure lets the reader know that there are potential liabilities, but the estimated value is unknown. If the contingent loss is remote, it is unlikely to occur in Occur. It should not be disclosed.
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