Defining Materiality in Accounting
In the world of accounting and auditing, there is a concept called materiality. The term materiality essentially means an amount that if erroneously omitted or included impacts the financials of a company to the point where they don’t tell the truth. One very basic example would be if a $1 million revenue small business made a mistake recording their accounts […]
How the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act Impacted Accounting in 2023
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ report “Advancing Rural Health Equity,” the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) maintained telehealth options due to the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) order for 151 more days beyond the original expiration of the Covid-19 PHE. Medicare recipients will benefit from the extension of telehealth services. This […]
Understanding Operating and Capital Leases
The first thing to define is what a lease itself is. It’s an agreement or contract where one party, the lessor, allows another individual or business, the lessee, to use their asset in return for payments or different assets. The next step is to define the following types of leases. The two types covered in […]
Understanding Mark-to-Market
The term mark-to-market is an important phrase in corporate finance that has many nuances and industry-specific uses. Mark-to-market is a corporate finance term that provides businesses with a way to evaluate a holding’s fair value for both assets and liabilities. Since values can change over time, this gives a rational assessment of a business’ present […]
Evaluating Net Operating Loss Considerations
When it comes to determining if a business is eligible to claim a net operating loss (NOL), it depends on the financial situation. If a business’ taxable income is less than its allowable deductions in a set tax period, usually a year, then the business can utilize the NOL deduction on future tax obligations. Since […]
How to Account for Capital Assets
When it comes to accounting for capital assets, specifically depreciating capital assets, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) provides guidance to state and local governments for accounting processes. The GASB is responsible for the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the private sector (corporate and business accounting), and it works to promote clear, consistent, transparent, […]
Purchase Acquisition Accounting
Purchase acquisition accounting is the commonly accepted method to document the acquisition of another business on the balance sheet of the acquiring company. The business’ assets that are being acquired are documented on the acquiring firm’s books at fair market value. The fair market value – defined as what assets would go for on the […]
Understanding Modified Accrual Accounting
According to the Federal Register, there were about 90,000 local and state government entities throughout the country in 2022. This number is comprised of towns, counties, cities, special districts, and independent school districts. One of the commonalities these organizations share is their use of modified accrual accounting. Understanding the Differences Between Cash and Accrual Accounting […]
How to Look at Liquidity through an Accounting Lens
Liquidity refers to a business’s ability to convert its short-term assets or securities into cash quickly to meet its short-term financial obligations or pay bills due within the next 12 months. Naturally, cash is the most liquid. This is different than solvency, which refers to the ability of a business to satisfy its long-term bills. […]
How Blockchain Could Impact Accounting and Auditing
Blockchain has the promise to revolutionize the way businesses and their accountants keep track of their financial records. When it comes to audit evidence, blockchain may be able to give organizations more efficient ways to bring financial data into universal conformity; help businesses present relevant financial data in an open manner; and interpret and select […]