FASB Codification Structure Overview
FASB Codification Structure Overview
KEY POINT
Entities that are applying GAAP for the first time may need to access the original standards
to determine relevant transition guidance.
V. How is it organized?
A. The codification is organized in a tiered/menu structure.
B. Information is organized into nine areas, ranging from industry
specific to general financial statement matters.
C. Within each area are topics, subtopics, sections, subsections and
paragraphs, where details of the technical content reside.
D. At the topic, subtopic and section levels, the codification material
correlates to IFRS.
KEY POINT
• The codification topical organization is expected to ease the convergence of
U.S. GAAP and IFRS standards.
Areas (9 Categories)
Topics (XXX)
Subtopics (YY)
Sections (ZZ)
Subsections
Paragraphs (>>)
1) Presentation Topic.
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Portions of FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, copyright © by Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06856, are reproduced by permission.
Portions of FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, copyright © by Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06856, are reproduced by permission.
Portions of FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, copyright © by Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06856, are reproduced by permission.
Portions of FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, copyright © by Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06856, are reproduced by permission.
Portions of FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, copyright © by Financial Accounting Foundation, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06856, are reproduced by permission.
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KEY POINT
Users must be aware that the Overall Subtopic is not a summary, but instead represents the
scope for the Overall Subtopic and the baseline for the other Subtopics, which may include
different scope inclusions or exclusions.
KEY POINT
• To provide consistency, the Codification segregates industry Topics into Subtopics that mirror
the general Topic structure. This provides multiple ways to access the content—by industry
Topic or by general Topic.
EXAMPLE
• The Subtopic classification number is the classification
number of the related Topic.
1. Agriculture—Receivables is 905-310.
2. Agriculture—Inventory is 905-330
Topics
Area
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Topics
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Subtopics
Area
Topics
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Area
Topics
Subtopics
Area
Subtopics
Topics
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IV. Sections
A. Sections represent the nature of the content in a Subtopic such as
Scope, Recognition, Measurement, Subsequent Measurement,
Derecognition, Disclosure, etc.
B. Every Subtopic uses the same Sections, unless there is no content
for a particular Section.
KEY POINT
• Similar to Topics, Sections correlate very closely with Sections of
individual International Accounting Standards.
KEY POINT
• “S” indicates that it is an SEC Rule.
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10 Objectives
1. XXX-YY-00 Status
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions This Section includes references to the post-
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary Codification standards that affect the Subtopic. It is
25 Recognition
comparable to the status section currently contained
30 Initial Measurement
35 Subsequent Measurement
in the FASB Statements (and other standards) in
40 De-recognition Original Pronouncements.
45 Other Presentation Matters
50 Disclosure
10 Objectives
• This Section provides a general overview and
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions background regarding the Subtopic.
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary
• It does not provide historical background of the
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
standard setter, due process, or similar items.
35 Subsequent Measurement • It may contain certain material generally considered
40 De-recognition
useful to a user to understand the typical situations
45 Other Presentation Matters
50 Disclosure
required by the standard.
55 Implementation Guidance and
Illustrations
• This material comes primarily from the Introduction
60 Relationships section of the standard or, in some cases, the Basis
65 Transition and Open Effective
Date Information
for Conclusions.
70 Links to Grandfathered • This Section does not summarize the requirements of
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
the Subtopic.
30 Initial Measurement
35 Subsequent Measurement
40 De-recognition
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
10 Objectives
a. This Section outlines the items (for example, the
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions entities, transactions, instruments, or events) to
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary which the guidance in the Subtopic does or does
25 Recognition
not apply. It does not contain actual accounting or
30 Initial Measurement
35 Subsequent Measurement
reporting guidance (for example, subsequent
40 De-recognition measurement).
45 Other Presentation Matters
b. The FASB concluded that unless otherwise
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
10 Objectives
a. This Section contains all the glossary terms used
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions in the Subtopic.
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary
b. In some cases, the terms originated from the
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
Glossary of the original standard.
35 Subsequent Measurement c. In other cases, the term was embedded in the
40 De-recognition
text of the original standard.
45 Other Presentation Matters
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
30 Initial Measurement
35 Subsequent Measurement
40 De-recognition
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
10 Objectives
a. This Section addresses the criteria and amounts
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions used to measure a particular item at date of
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary recognition.
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
b. In many cases, this Section may be empty
35 Subsequent Measurement because the initial standards did not include
40 De-recognition initial measurement.
45 Other Presentation Matters
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
10 Objectives
a. This Section relates almost exclusively to assets,
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions liabilities, and equity.
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary
b. It addresses the criteria and amounts used to
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
measure a particular asset, liability, or equity item
35 Subsequent Measurement subsequent to the date of recognition (for
40 De-recognition example, impairment, fair value changes,
45 Other Presentation Matters
depreciation, amortization, and similar items).
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material KEY POINT
75 XBRL Definitions
Income statement accounts do not generally have this section.
10 Objectives
a. This Section relates almost exclusively to assets,
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions liabilities, and equity.
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary
b. It addresses the criteria, the basis to be relieved
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
(for example, the method to determine the
35 Subsequent Measurement amount), and the timing to be used when
40 De-recognition derecognizing a particular asset, liability, or equity
45 Other Presentation Matters
item for purposes of determining gain or loss, if
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material KEY POINT
75 XBRL Definitions
Income statement accounts do not generally have this section.
30 Initial Measurement
b. Specific cash flow requirements
35 Subsequent Measurement c. Specific effect on earnings per share.
40 De-recognition
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
25 Recognition
b. It does not include general disclosure
30 Initial Measurement requirements that may reside in the Notes to
35 Subsequent Measurement
Financial Statement Topic and other general
40 De-recognition
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material EXAMPLE
75 XBRL Definitions The Receivables Subtopic contains a link to the general financial instrument
disclosure requirements that relate to receivables.
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions a. This Section contains implementation guidance and
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary illustrations, which are an integral part of the standards.
25 Recognition The Codification separates implementation guidance
30 Initial Measurement
and illustrations from the main body of the standards,
35 Subsequent Measurement
40 De-recognition
but provides references and links in both directions.
45 Other Presentation Matters b. This Section provides guidance relating to the standards
50 Disclosure
in simplified and generalized situations. Applying the
55 Implementation Guidance and
Illustrations standards to actual situations requires judgment and the
60 Relationships implementation guidance and illustrations are intended
65 Transition and Open Effective
Date Information
to aid in making those judgments.
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material KEY POINT
75 XBRL Definitions
• The implementation guidance and illustrations assume that all items addressed are
material to the entity.
• Because the implementation guidance and illustrations cannot address all possible
variations, users must consider carefully the facts and circumstances in actual situations
when applying the provisions of the Subtopic
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Working with the Codification
10 Objectives
a. This Section includes references to other Subtopics
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions that may contain guidance related to the Subtopic.
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary The references point to content in another Topic that
25 Recognition is either the object of the other Topic or in which the
30 Initial Measurement
material otherwise relates to the particular Topic.
35 Subsequent Measurement
40 De-recognition EXAMPLE
45 Other Presentation Matters
50 Disclosure
The Income Taxes Topic may have discussions of LIFO reserves as the object of an
55 Implementation Guidance and
illustration or example. In this case, the Relationships Section of the Inventory Topic
Illustrations would refer to the LIFO material in the relevant Income Taxes Subtopic
60 Relationships
65 Transition and Open Effective b. The relationships provide simple references to the
Date Information
70 Links to Grandfathered
relevant content, but do not include a complete
Material description of the relationship. In addition, the
75 XBRL Definitions
Section does not contain requirements.
KEY POINT
While the goal is to include as many relevant relationships as possible, users should not
assume that the lists are exhaustive.
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Working with the Codification
60 Relationships
31, 2008.
65 Transition and Open Effective • As a result, transition and open effective date guidance for dates prior to
Date Information
December 31, 2008 is not in the Codification (despite the fact that the
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material effective date may not have occurred yet) because of its imminent removal
75 XBRL Definitions
as authoritative content.
• As such, there is no transition or effective date information in the
Codification for such guidance.
• Users can search the original standards.
© 2009 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Working with the Codification
10 Objectives
a. This Section contains descriptions, references,
15 Scope and Scope Exceptions and transition periods for post-December 31, 2008,
20 Topical Definitions—Glossary grandfathered standards.
25 Recognition
30 Initial Measurement
b. For all pre-December 31, 2008, grandfathered
35 Subsequent Measurement literature, we will include a notice indicating that
40 De-recognition the Codification represents standards as of
45 Other Presentation Matters
December 31, 2008, and there is no transition or
50 Disclosure
30 Initial Measurement
35 Subsequent Measurement
40 De-recognition
50 Disclosure
60 Relationships
70 Links to Grandfathered
Material
75 XBRL Definitions
SEC
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Working with the Codification
KEY POINT
• “S” indicates that it is an SEC Rule.
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F. Subsections
Subsections are a further segregation of a Section and, except for the
General Section, occur in a limited number of cases.
1. Each Section has at least one General Subsection.
2. A Section may contain additional Subsections as a means of
filtering content related to multiple Sections of the same Subtopic.
3. Unlike a Section, a Subsection is not numbered. A Subsection
differs from a paragraph heading because the Codification
research system provides a feature to combine all Subsection
content for a Topic.
KEY POINT
• This allows a user to combine all content related to acquisition, development, and
construction arrangements.
G. Paragraph groups
Paragraph groups represent a series of related paragraphs under
the same paragraph heading.
1. The Topic structure allows paragraph groups to be
subordinated to other paragraph groups because of
dependencies.
2. Paragraph groups are presented in a hierarchy.
3. Within the Codification, one or more ">" symbols precede each
paragraph group heading. The number of ">" symbols
identifies the hierarchy among paragraph groups. For example,
the following illustrates the hierarchy of the paragraph group
headings:
a. > Statement of Financial Position Classification of Income
Tax Accounts
b. > > Deferred Tax Accounts
c. > > > Deferred Tax Accounts Related to an Asset or
Liability.
H. Paragraphs
Paragraphs contain multipart numbers. The first part represents the
Section and the second part represents the sequential paragraph
number. Paragraph numbers restart at the beginning of each
Section.
1. To ensure accurate links, paragraph numbers will not change
over time. The content of a paragraph may be amended, but
the paragraph number will remain constant.
2. New paragraphs will be added using a letter extension.
EXAMPLE
A new paragraph inserted between paragraphs 50-5 and 50-6 would be 50-5A.
I. Classification codes
The FASB developed a hybrid classification system specifically for
the Codification.
• The following is the structure of the classification system:
XXX-YY-ZZ-PP where:
1. XXX = Topic
2. YY = Subtopic
3. ZZ = Section
4. PP = Paragraph
In the case of SEC content, an "S" precedes the Section number.
XXX-YY-SZZ-PP where:
1. XXX = Topic
2. YY = Subtopic
3. SZZ = SEC Section
4. PP = Paragraph
EXAMPLE
The classification codes for Leases are as follows:
•840 = Leases (Topic)
• 840-10 = Overall (Subtopic)
• 840-10-15 = Scope (Section)
• 840-10-50 = Disclosure (Section)
• 840-20 = Operating Leases (Subtopic)
• 840-20-15 = Scope (Section)
• 840-20-50 = Disclosure (Section)
• 840-30 = Capital Leases (Subtopic)
• 840-30-15 = Scope (Section)
• 840-30-50 = Disclosure (Section)
Leases
Topic 840
Operating Capital
Overall Leases Leases
Subtopics 840:10
840:20 840:30
Subsections
Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors
Note: This is for illustration only and does not include all Topics, Subtopics, Sections and Subsections
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Area Topic
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Subtopic
Area Topic
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KEY POINT
Your result will not look like this if you
use the browser’s print function.
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GAAP standard
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• On the bottom right, we see the screen breaks down the results By Area. To the
right of each area, we see a number in parentheses. This indicates the number times
the result “Multiple element arrangement” comes up for each area.
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GAAP standard
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GAAP standard
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• The resulting report provides the sources “By Standard”, showing that the
Codification has brought forward the guidance contained in EITF 00-21.
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GAAP standard
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By clicking on the hot link, you will see definitions of each of the standard types:
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Once we select EITF, a drop down box appears listing all the EITF’s in numeric sequence.
We can now select EITF 00-21.
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EXAMPLE
In the online Codification Research System, users can combine all Disclosure
Sections for a Topic without the need to access each individual Subtopic.
KEY POINT
Unlike the Join Section feature, the Combine Subsection feature combines the Subsections
based on the Subsection title.
Leases
Topic 840
Operating Capital
Overall Leases Leases
Subtopics 840:10
840:20 840:30
Subsections
Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors Lessors
Note: This is for illustration only and does not include all Topics, Subtopics, Sections and Subsections
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KEY POINT
• You must select a Topic AND a Section.
• No subtopic is selected
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Working with/Using the Codification
The Topic drop down menu provides a choice of all the ASC Topic areas:
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Once the Topic and Section are selected, click on the “Get Sections” button to generate a report
containing results for your search.
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XII. Glossary
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Bottom Line:
I. Project Updates