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Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) [a] is the accounting standard adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), [1] and is the default accounting standard used by companies based in the United States.
IFRS 9 began as a joint project between IASB and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), which promulgates accounting standards in the United States. The boards published a joint discussion paper in March 2008 proposing an eventual goal of reporting all financial instruments at fair value, with all changes in fair value reported in net income (FASB) or profit and loss (IASB). [1]
The definition under US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles used in the United States of America): "An asset is a present right of an entity to an economic benefit." [ 7 ] Characteristics
the asset is still held at the end of year 1, when its market value is $120; the company sells the asset in year 2 for $115; At the end year 1 the asset is recorded in the balance sheet at cost of $100. No account is taken of the increase in value from $100 to $120 in year 1. In year 2 the company records a sale of $115.
In 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) implemented SFAS 157 in order to expand disclosures about fair value measurements in financial statements. [3] Fair-value accounting or "Mark-to-Market" is defined by FAS 157 as "a price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date".
A fixed asset, often referred to as a tangible asset or property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), is a long-term asset that holds value over time and can be used to generate income.
In contrast, historical cost accounting, based on the past transactions, is simpler, more stable, and easier to perform, but does not represent current market value. It summarizes past transactions instead. Mark-to-market accounting can become volatile if market prices fluctuate greatly or change unpredictably.
FAS 157 defines a hierarchy of three levels of inputs to obtain the fair value of an asset or liability. These levels are classified as Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3. These levels differ in that Level 1 inputs have active markets, Level 2 inputs use models for similar assets, and Level 3 inputs are unobservable, relying on model assumptions.