Goodwill Impairment Proposal
FASB has issued a proposal to adjust the timing for when private entities and nonprofits would be required to identify triggering events for goodwill impairment. After initially identified by the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), it was determined that the cost and complexity associated with an interim consideration for an annual reporting outweighed the benefit. Comments are due January 20.
2020 Year in Review
We’re kicking off the year with our annual year in review. This week’s blog focuses on the standards issued in 2020 by the AICPA, FASB and GASB. We’ll give a quick executive summary of what was finalized in 2020 for each standard setter as we kick off a new year of standard setting.
Updates to the CPA Exam
The AICPA has released its new CPA Exam Blueprint which outlines the format and content of the exam. Following a deep review of the topics covered in 2019, the Final Practice Analysis provides insights into the changes to the current exam. This update is much smaller than the expected impact of CPA Evolution which will overhaul the structure of the exam.
Updates to Virtual Currency Guidance
The AICPA has updated their Practice Aid on Accounting for and auditing of digital assets to address more niche Codification topics. The update includes discussion of accounting for broker dealers as well as investment companies. It also provides guidance on determining principal markets for fair value. The Digital Assets Working Group has been great in providing accounting and auditing guidance for entities as this topic is not well addressed in authoritative literature.
GASB Implementation Guidance Update—2021
This week’s blog looks at the recently proposed GASB Implementation Guide for 2021 which provides questions and answers on a variety of topics ranging from derivative instruments and fiduciary activities to leases and nonexchange transactions. Comments are due February 15, 2021.
SLG Client Affiliate IG
The AICPA has rolled out a Toolkit to Assist Firms in identifying affiliates under the new ET Section 1.224.020. In June 2019, the PEEC rolled out a new definition of affiliate for State and Local Governments. However, the new rules were complex so the AICPA has released a decision tree for identifying affiliates as well as a variety of tools that firms can use to determine their compliance with the independence standards.
Proposed SAS – Use of Specialists and External Pricing Sources
The AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board has issued some proposed targeted improvements to guidance on the use of specialists and external pricing sources. The proposal incorporates some PCAOB guidance and provides additional application guidance for AU-C 501, 540 and 620. Comments are due February 4, 2021.
Proposed Targeted Improvements to Leases & Scope of Reference Rate Reform
https://youtu.be/kmSPaQrk_IQ This week's blog includes two proposals from the FASB. The first proposed ASU addresses three implementation issues identified in implementation of ASU 2016-02, Leases. The second proposal addresses the scope of reference rate reform. Both...
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