Which of the following is the third step of the 5 step process costing procedure?

Contract arrangements typically include myriad criteria that may affect the application of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard. In this edition of On the Radar, we step through revenue recognition methods and highlight some of the judgment calls you may need to make along the way.

On the Radar briefly summarizes emerging issues and trends related to the accounting and financial reporting topics addressed in our Roadmaps.

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Trending Topics

Revenue recognition methods

The core principle of the revenue standard is to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. Significant judgments frequently need to be made when an entity evaluates the appropriate recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. These judgments are often required throughout the revenue standard’s five-step process that an entity applies to determine when, and how much, revenue should be recognized.

Application of the five steps illustrated above requires a critical assessment of the specific facts and circumstances of an entity’s arrangement with its customer. Some of the more challenging and judgmental aspects of applying the revenue standard are highlighted below.

Entities often have difficulty determining the appropriate judgments to apply in the identification of performance obligations and the assessment of whether an entity is a principal or an agent, as described below. Not surprisingly, these are two topics of the revenue standard on which entities commonly seek the SEC staff’s views in prefiling submissions. In addition, these topics are frequently discussed in SEC staff speeches at the annual AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments.

On the Radar: Revenue Recognition

Applying the revenue standard

Financial statement disclosures

The disclosure requirements under the revenue standard are significant and more comprehensive than those under legacy revenue guidance. Entities are required to disclose both quantitative and qualitative information that enables users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

The illustration below gives an overview of the annual revenue disclosure requirements for public entities. Nonpublic entities can elect not to provide certain disclosures, and the disclosure requirements for interim periods are significantly reduced in scope from the illustration below.

SEC comment letters

Revenue remains a hot topic of SEC comment letters. Key themes of SEC comment letters related to revenue recognition include the following:

The SEC also continues to focus on non-GAAP metrics, including adjustments that change the accounting policy or the method of recognition of an accounting measure that may be misleading and, therefore, impermissible. For example, a non-GAAP performance measure that reflects revenue recognized over the service period under GAAP on an accelerated basis as if the registrant earned revenue when it billed its customers is likely to be prohibited because it is an individually tailored accounting principle and does not reflect the registrant’s required GAAP recognition method. However, in certain circumstances, the SEC may not object when a registrant presents the amount of revenue billed to a customer—that is, “billings” or “bookings” (with appropriate characterization) as an operational metric—because such measures are not considered non-GAAP measures. For more information, see Deloitte’s Roadmap Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Metrics.

On the horizon

After the FASB issues a major new accounting standard, it begins a post-implementation review (PIR) process to evaluate whether the standard is achieving its objective by providing users of financial statements with relevant information that justifies the costs of providing it. This process enables the Board to solicit and consider stakeholder input and FASB staff research. At its July 28, 2021, meeting, the FASB discussed feedback received to date on the revenue standard. In a handout prepared for the meeting, the FASB staff noted that stakeholder feedback on the revenue standard was positive overall, particularly from users of financial statements since the standard results in more useful and transparent information, improved disclosures, and comparability across entities and industries. The staff further observed that while many preparers noted significant one-time costs associated with implementation of the standard, they also highlighted that the standard has been beneficial in the long run. As the PIR process for the revenue standard continues, the Board and its staff may identify areas of improvement that could result in future standard setting.

FASB Post-Implementation Review

Continue your revenue recognition learnings

See Deloitte’s Roadmap Revenue Recognition for a more comprehensive discussion of accounting and financial reporting considerations related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers under ASC 606.

Revenue recognition focus areas – watch the videos

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The Roadmap series contains comprehensive, easy-to-understand accounting guides on selected topics of broad interest to the financial reporting community.

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Get in touch

Sandie Kim

Audit & Assurance | TMT

Sandie is a senior consultation partner in the Professional Practice Group of Deloitte & Touche LLP's National Office. She provides consultations to clients and audit practitioners on complex financia... More

Chris Chiriatti

ARA Leadership

Chris is a managing director in Deloitte’s National Office – Accounting and Reporting Services Group. Chris’ primary areas of expertise are revenue recognition, leasing, accounting for cloud computing... More

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