Private companies that follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are running out of time to implement the new revenue recognition rules. Are your accounting systems and personnel ready for this fundamental shift in financial reporting? The effects will likely be more far-reaching than expected, based on feedback from public companies that implemented the changes in 2018.

What Will Change

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers, ushered in a fundamental change to how companies report one of the most important indicators of their financial performance. Public companies adopted the standard in 2018. Private companies are scheduled to follow it starting in 2019.

Presently, GAAP has complex, detailed and disparate revenue recognition requirements, causing different industries to use different accounting for economically similar transactions. The updated standard replaces most of the industry-specific revenue guidance developed prior to 2014 with a single, principles-based model by which most companies must report the top line in their income statements.

The objective of the new guidance is to remove inconsistencies and weaknesses in existing revenue requirements. It also improves comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets.

The updated standard doesn’t change the underlying economics of a business transaction or when a customer pays for a good or service. Rather, the new rules can change the timing of when a business is able to record the receipts from a customer. Depending on the line of business, this could mean earlier or later recognition of revenues compared to current practices.

How to Recognize Revenue from Contracts

Recognizing revenue under the new guidance requires these steps:

  • Identify the contract and the company’s performance obligations (or promises) under the contract.
  • Determine the transaction price (including the effects of any variable payment or significant financing components).
  • Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
  • Recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligations are satisfied.

ASU 2014-09 is expected to have a major effect on companies that enter into long-term contracts with customers. Examples include construction firms, software and wireless providers, and media companies.

Though some entities won’t notice a significant change on their income statements, virtually everyone will be affected by the standard’s expanded disclosure requirements. The new guidance calls for more disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that’s recognized.

Why Revenue Recognition Is a Priority

As the deadline for implementing the new standard draws near, some private companies still aren’t up-to-speed with the new rules. Too often, smaller companies underestimate the amount of work involved with implementing the standard — or mistakenly presume that the changes apply to only public companies and large private entities.

Even if the changes will have a minimal impact on your company’s bottom line, it’s critical to evaluate controls and policies for estimating revenue before year end. One solid reason to onboard the changes as soon as possible is to forewarn your lenders about changes to the timing of revenue recognition that could affect the company’s loan covenants. In turn, such proactive measures may help persuade lenders to waive loan covenant violations and ensure that access to credit isn’t disrupted.

Human Resources Implications

The standard could also have spillover effects on the human resources department. To the extent that sales commissions and bonuses are based on revenue, the updated standard could affect the timing of when the performance-based compensation payments are made.

For example, if revenue recognition is delayed by the standard, managers and salespeople who must wait longer to receive part of their compensation won’t be happy. Conversely, if revenue recognition is accelerated by the standard, commissions and bonuses tied to revenue recognition must be paid sooner, possibly causing small employers to incur cash flow shortages.

Ready, Set, Implement

Don’t underestimate the scope of change under ASU 2014-09. If your company hasn’t yet started implementing the new revenue recognition guidance, contact your accounting professional as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition and anticipate any adverse side effects.

© 2019