The company would record this warranty liability of $120 ($1,200 × 10%) to Warranty Liability and Warranty Expense accounts. Since this condition does not meet the requirement of likelihood, it should not be journalized or financially represented within the financial statements. Rather, it is disclosed in the notes only with any available details, financial or otherwise. The measurement requirement refers to the company’s ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss.

Finally, how a loss contingency is measured varies between the two options as well. Under US GAAP, the low end why and how auditors assess internal controls of the range would be accrued, and the range disclosed. Since this warranty expense allocation will probably be carried on for many years, adjustments in the estimated warranty expenses can be made to reflect actual experiences. Also, sales for 2020, 2021, 2022, and all subsequent years will need to reflect the same types of journal entries for their sales.

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This situation commonly arises when a business is the defendant in a lawsuit, or has guaranteed the payment of a debt incurred by a third party. These events are uncertain as they might happen in the future, but they are triggered by a certain action that has already taken place. The ability to estimate the amount of the loss means being able to reasonably estimate the most likely amount for settlement if the event were to occur.

Even though a reasonable estimate is the company’s best guess, it should not be a frivolous number. For a financial figure to be reasonably estimated, it could be based on past experience or industry standards (see Figure 12.9). Contingencies can have a variety of effects on the financial statements, depending on the type of contingency and its likelihood of occurrence. The most common effect is an increase in liabilities, which may result in a decrease in net income. In some cases, such as environmental liability, the effect may be a charge to income in the period when the contingency is incurred. Another way to establish the warranty liability could be an estimation of honored warranties as a percentage of sales.

Specific examples cited are “guarantees of indebtedness of others” and “guarantees to repurchase receivables that have been sold or otherwise assigned.” Although each involves its own peculiar problems, the basic accounting practices are consistent with those shown above. If it is adjusted, the amount should be treated as a reduction or increase of the current year’s expense. The accountant is faced with projecting what will be known on the determination date and allowing for it in the statements. However, when the end of the fiscal year falls between the two dates (as seen below), the accounting practice becomes more difficult. Once you have viewed this piece of content, to ensure you can access the content most relevant to you, please confirm your territory.

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Since the company’s inventory of supply parts (an asset) went down by $2,800, the reduction is reflected with a credit entry to repair parts inventory. A contingency occurs when a current situation has an outcome that is unknown or uncertain and will not be resolved until a future point in time. A contingent liability can produce a future debt or negative obligation for the company. Some examples of contingent liabilities include pending litigation (legal action), warranties, customer insurance claims, and bankruptcy.

Assume that Sierra Sports is sued by one of the customers who purchased the faulty soccer goals. A settlement of responsibility in the case has been reached, but the actual damages have not been determined and cannot be reasonably estimated. This is considered probable but inestimable, because the lawsuit is very likely to occur (given a settlement is agreed upon) but the actual damages are unknown. No journal entry or financial adjustment in the financial statements will occur. Instead, Sierra Sports will include a note describing any details available about the lawsuit.

Disclosure Rules

This guide will also shed light on the crucial timing and method for the effective recognition of loss contingencies in business. Loss contingencies may need to be recorded when a business expects losses from a lawsuit, environmental remediation activities, and product warranty claims. Of these events, environmental remediation activities can constitute the largest possible loss. Warranties arise from products or services sold to customers that cover certain defects (see Figure 12.8).

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1. Unlike loss contingencies, gain contingencies should not be accrued as doing so would result in recognizing revenue before it is realized.
2. There are six categories of contingencies in accordance with the uncertainties about confirmation and amount.
3. Even though a reasonable estimate is the company’s best guess, it should not be a frivolous number.
4. Not only does the contingent liability meet the probability requirement, it also meets the measurement requirement.

In this situation, no journal entry or note disclosure in financial statements is necessary. Let’s expand our discussion and add a brief example of the calculation and application of warranty expenses. The accounting for contingencies depends on the likelihood of the event occurring and its potential financial impact. For example, if a legal dispute is considered probable and the amount in dispute can be reasonably estimated, then a liability would be recorded on the balance sheet.

It is expected that the final settlement will result in cash payments of $5,000,000 in 20×1 and $2,500,000 in 20×2 and 20×3. First, there must be an assessment of the likelihood that the determination date will reveal that there was a material effect. If both dates fall within a fiscal year, the accountant faces no serious problem in incorporating the event how to report farm rents on a schedule e and its effects in the statements.

FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 requires any obscure, confusing or misleading contingent liabilities to be disclosed until the offending quality is no longer present. When deciding upon the appropriate accounting for a contingency, the basic concept is that you should only record a loss that is probable, and for which the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If the best estimate of the amount of the loss is within a range, accrue whichever amount appears to be a better estimate than the other estimates in the range. If there is no “better estimate” in the range, accrue a loss for the minimum amount in the range. When an organisation does not adequately anticipate or report loss contingencies, it could mean severe financial and reputational harm. This helps underline the importance of proper loss contingency understanding and management.

Liquidity and solvency are measures of a company’s ability to pay debts as they come due. Liquidity measures evaluate a company’s ability to pay current debts as they come due, while solvency measures evaluate the ability to pay debts long term. One common liquidity measure is the current ratio, and a higher ratio is preferred over a lower one.

According to the FASB, if there is a probable liability determination before the preparation of financial statements has occurred, there is a likelihood of occurrence, and the liability must be disclosed and recognized. This financial recognition and disclosure are recognized in the current financial statements. The income statement and balance sheet are typically impacted by contingent liabilities. Gain contingencies exist when there is a future possibility of acquisition of an asset or reduction of a liability. Typical gain contingencies include tax loss carryforwards, probable favorable outcome in pending litigation, and possible refunds from the government in tax disputes. Unlike loss contingencies, gain contingencies should not be accrued as doing so would result in recognizing revenue before it is realized.

Nevertheless, generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, only require contingencies to be recorded as unspecified expenses. As an example of a contingency, Armadillo Industries has been notified by the local zoning commission that it must remediate abandoned property on which chemicals had been stored in the past. Armadillo has hired a consulting firm to estimate the cost of remediation, which has been documented at $10 million. Since the amount of the loss has been reasonably estimated and it is probable that the loss will occur, the company can record the $10 million as a contingent loss.

Firstly, it must be probable that a liability has been incurred at the date the financials are issued. To deny them valid information about an event that affects the future of the company would be contrary to the objectives of financial accounting. This more extensive disclosure is desirable because many financial statements users use them for forecasting.