Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)'

This thesis presents a new methodology based on directly measuring user behavior and making decisions based on experimental results. I have built and tested a tool which will enable researchers to use the methodology to determine whether particular financial statement presentations are more beneficial than others. The tool records user movement on a computer screen with mouse tracking, which allows researchers to track user behavior in greater detail than ever before. The methodology was tested on a subject pool of non-professional financial analysts and junior professionals, who were presented with a company’s financial data in the current GAAP and a new proposed FASB presentation format. The results show that this methodology could be useful in differentiating between present GAAP and proposed alternatives.

The financial crisis facing the United States savings and loan industry has been steadily escalating over the last decade. During this time, accounting treatments concerning various thrift institution transactions have also attracted a great deal of attention. The specialized accounting treatments used in the thrift industry, known as regulatory accounting practices (RAP) have been blamed as one of the culprits hindering the regulators' ability to detect serious financial problems within many institutions. Accordingly, RAP was phased out, and all federally insured savings and loan associations began preparing their financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as of January 1, 1989. The purpose of this dissertation is to compare the relative predictive values of the two historical cost based accounting conventions (RAP and GAAP) available to the savings and loar? industry during the 1980's. For purposes of this dissertation, predictive value is defined as the usefulness in assessing future financial health and viability. The sample consisted of all the institutions reporting to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas between 1984 and 1989. Year-end thrift financial report data, obtained from Sheshunoff Information Services, Inc. (Austin, Texas) was used to calculate several financial ratios. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas provided a comprehensive listing of all institutions that failed between January 1, 1985 and March 31, 1989. The null hypothesis tested in this study was: no significant differences existed between the predictive values of RAP and GAAP financial statements. Using a dichotomous dependent variable (failed/not failed) and independent variables from prior research, several multinomial logistic models were developed to test the null hypothesis. All models developed failed to reject the null hypothesis.

The topic of the diploma thesis „Reporting of intangible assets in accordance with Czech Accounting Standards, IFRS and US GAAP“ is a determination and presentation of intangible assets under Czech Accounting Standards and two predominant accounting frameworks in use – International Accounting Financial Standards and US Generally Acepted Accounting Principles. The analytical part of thesis is focused on impacts in a particular entity which arise from different accounting treatment.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att få en djupare insikt om hur en frikoppling mellan redovisning och beskattning skulle kunna se ut. Genom att undersöka hur revisionsbolagen ställer sig till SamRoBs förslag om en frikoppling, SOU 2008:80, och vilka konsekvenser ett avskaffande av det materiella sambandet kan medföra för K2-företagen vill vi skapa en djupare förståelse i diskussionen om en total frikoppling av det materiella sambandet för K2-företagen.

Uppsatsens undersökning utgår från en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och har en analytisk ansats. Data består av primär- och sekundärdata som kritiskt granskas för att bedöma undersökningens giltighet och tillförlitlighet.

För att skapa förståelse kring sambandet mellan redovisning och beskattning presenteras relevanta begrepp och teorier. Vidare redogörs för innehållet i utredningen SOU 2008:80.

Empirin presenterar respondenternas åsikter och synpunkter om utredningens, SOU 2008:80, förslag om en frikoppling mellan redovisning och beskattning. Respondenterna avser tre anställda från tre av de största revisionsbolagen i Sverige.

För K2 företag innebär en frikoppling i praktiken en samordning. Om SamRoBs förslag anpassas till K2 reglerna kommer det nya regelverket i längden innebära en förenkling för K2 företagen. I stora drag kommer inte revisorernas arbete att förändras även om dagens revisorer kan tycka att arbetsbördan blir tyngre.

The purpose of the thesis is to gain a deeper insight into a decoupling between accounting and taxation. By a study on the audit firms’ attitude concerning SamRoBs proposal on decoupling and what affects K2 companies may be facing are we intending to create a deeper understanding in the discussion of a total decoupling of the material relationship for K2 companies.

The study is based on a qualitative research and has an analytical approach. The data consists of primary and secondary data that is critically reviewed to assess the validity and reliability of the study.

In order to create understanding of the relationship between accounting and taxation relevant concepts and theories are presented. The contents of SOU 2008:80 will also be described.

The empirical data presents the respondents´ views and comments on the proposal, SOU 2008:80, for a decoupling between accounting and taxation. Respondents interviewed were three employees from three of the largest audit firms in Sweden.

The true meaning of decoupling for K2 companies in practice is coordination. If SamRoBs proposal is adapted to the K2 regulation a new framework will appear and in the long run involve a simplification for K2 companies. Broadly, the work of the auditing firms will not mean considerable changes even though current auditors may think the workload will increase.

This diploma thesis deals with revenue recognition in acconrdance to International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS and american Generally Accepted Accounting Principles US GAAP. Furthermore, it is focused on convergence project, called Revenue Recognition Project. This will result to standard Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Expected issue period is the end of 2011. The goal of this thesis is to analyze and assess the current situation in chosen accounting systems.

This master‘s thesis aims to select significant differences in financial accounting methodologies used in the Czech Republic, the International Accounting Standards and US GAAP. Differences are highlighted by data from the accounting environment of the company TRANS-TECHNIK, spol. s.r.o. The first part defines the different conceptual frameworks in Czech accounting, continental and Anglo-Saxon. The analytical part focuses on the differences in the way of the capturing of selected accounting items featured in the accounting systems, including conditions prevailing in the company.

This thesis deals with accounting issue regarding the rules for accounting and reporting. The fundamental part is a characteristic of generally accepted accounting principles, their forming and importance in the international financial scale. The aim of the thesis is to describe the process and conditions of the development of these principles and illustrate the impact of breaching of selected fundamental assumptions on the financial statements.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have reaffirmed their commitment to accomplishing the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (US GAAP), following their March 2010 progress report. Among the standards subject to this convergence project, is IAS 23 - Borrowing Costs. Taken at face value, the convergence of IAS 23 (IFRS) and SFAS 34 (US GAAP), and looking at convergence in general, the idea is productive and beneficial. It will lead to more comparative information as it eliminates the differences. The downside, however, could very easily be that convergence might just be taking place for the sake of convergence, and that the end result might not necessarily lead to more comparative and cost effective information. When specifically considering the convergence of the two borrowing costs standards (SFAS 34 and IAS 23), it is clear that differences remain even after their convergence, and therefore it does not promote comparability. The revision of IAS 23 might actually have been more costly and less beneficial, rather than the other way around. The first article in this dissertation claims that the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs is more costly than not, and that the IASB did not adequately consider the cost implications in their decision to change IAS 23, as well as that the benefits obtained from the capitalisation of borrowing costs are not that noticeable in practice. Participants in this study also seemed to agree that the application of IAS 23 is fairly difficult. Delving deeper into the technical aspects of IAS 23, a number of questions also arise relating to its application. This appears to be substantiated by the findings in the second article where instances were identified where the opinions of the participants relating to, for instance, what would be regarded as a 'substantial period of time', were divided. Differences relating to the above above viii may lead to one person capitalising borrowing costs, while another in the same situation would not. On the upside, a few instances were identified where participants were not as divided in their views. Therefore, although there appear to be some uncertainties within IAS 23, there are fewer than one would have expected. In summary, the revised IAS 23, in other words, the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs on qualifying assets, was viewed by participants as being more costly and difficult to apply than not and they felt that some technical uncertainties do exist within IAS 23. Recommendations have been made in this dissertation based on the useful information obtained.
Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this thesis is to create a comprehensive view of financial reporting of lease contracts from lessee's and lessor's point of view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). The thesis is divided into four parts. The first part is devoted to basic characteristics of the lease and its reporting according to the currently applicable standards - IAS 17 and ASC 840. Content of the next part is Convergence of Accounting Standards. Second half of the thesis focuses on the Exposure Draft and Comment Letters.

Bakgrund: Bokföringslagen (1999:1078) och Årsredovisningslagen (1995:1554) är de två primära lagarna som finns inom området redovisning och revision. Dessa lagar är vad som kallas för ramlagar varför det förekommer hänvisningar i lagen till god redovisningssed. År 1976 myntades begreppet god redovisningssed (prop. 1975:104) sedan dess har god redovisningssed utvecklats med anledning av ett flertal myndigheter och organisationer. Uppsatsen fokuserar på tillgångsvärdering i relation till god redovisningssed. Vad som är intressant för uppsatsen är i de fall förenligheten med god redovisningssed blivit ifrågasatt av Skatteverket samt de fall det konstaterats att god redovisningssed inte förelegat och på vilket sett det påverkar revisorns ansvar. Syfte: Syftet är att belysa spänningen som uppstår mellan parterna i rättsprocesser vid skilda meningar om årsredovisningens förenlighet med god redovisningssed avseende tillgångsvärdering samt att belysa det ansvar revisorn bär när det görs gällande att god redovisningssed inte förelegat. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att bidra med att klargöra vad som ansetts utgöra god redovisningssed vid tillgångsvärderingen och vilka ståndpunkter som varit mest centrala i perspektivet av prejudikatinstanser. Metod: Uppsatsen har genomförts med en kvalitativ metod. Vad som varit relevant är den text som återfinns i de rättsfall som utgör empirin däri det går att utläsa parternas tolkning, domstolens resonemang och avgörande varför dokument utgjort datakällan. Då rättsfall varit aktuella har även den traditionella rättskälleläran beaktats i syfte att kunna förstå de tolkningar som skett av domstolarna. Slutsats: Slutsatserna som presenteras i uppsatsen baseras på vad som framkommit av den använda analysmodellen i förhållande till respektive rättsfall. På så vis ges en skriftlig förklaring på vad som anses utgöra god redovisningssed vid tillgångsvärdering under vissa förutsättningar och omständigheter. Därtill beskrivs också vilket ansvar en revisor bär i fråga om felaktigheter vid utförandet av en revision. Bland samhälleliga och etiska aspekter lyfts ett resonemang kring redovisnings- och revisionsbranschen kopplat till förtroende.
Background:The Accounting Act (1999:1078) and the Annual Accounts Act (1995:1554) are the two primary laws that exist in accounting and auditing. These laws are what are called framework laws, which is why there are references in the law to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In 1976, the concept GAAP was coined (prop. 1975: 104) since then, GAAP has been developed due to several authorities and organizations. The thesis focuses on asset valuation in relation to GAAP. What is interesting for the thesis is in cases where the compatibility with GAAP has been questioned by the Swedish Tax Agency and in cases where it has been established that GAAP did not exist and in what way it affects the auditor's responsibility. Purpose: The purpose is to shed light on the tension that arises between the parties in legal proceedings in different opinions about the annual report's compatibility with good accounting practice regarding asset valuation and to highlight the auditor's responsibility when it is claimed that GAAP did not exist. Furthermore, the thesis aims to help clarify what is considered as GAAP in asset valuation and which positions have been most central in the perspective of the judicial body. Method: The thesis has been carried out with a qualitative method. What has been relevant is the text that is found in the legal cases that constitute the empirical data in which it is possible to read the parties' interpretation, the court's reasoning and deciding therefore documents have been the data source. As lawsuits have been relevant, the traditional doctrine of legal sources has also been relevant to understand the interpretations made by the courts. Conclusion: The conclusions presented in the essay are based on what has emerged from the analysis model used in relation to the respective legal case. In this way, a written explanation is given of what is considered as GAAP in asset valuation under certain conditions and circumstances. In addition, it also describes the responsibility an auditor bears in relation to errors in performing an audit. Among societal and ethical aspects, a reasoning about the accounting and auditing industry linked to trust is highlighted.

År 2014 anmäldes 12 800 fall av bokföringsbrott. För att ett bokföringsbrott ska föreligga behöver brottsbalkens åsidosättande- och effektrekvisit uppfyllas. Åsidosättanderekvisitet uppfylls om bokföringsskyldigheten åsidosätts. I bokföringslagen står det föreskrivet att bokföringsskyldighet ska fullgöras på ett sätt som stämmer överens med god redovisningssed.Den statliga myndigheten Bokföringsnämnden har ett lagstadgat huvudansvar för utvecklandet av god redovisningssed. År 2004 beslutade Bokföringsnämnden att ändra inriktning av normgivningen för onoterade företag. I och med beslutet påbörjades arbetet med K-projektet med syftet att varje företagskategori ska ha ett heltäckande regelverk för upprättande av årsbokslut respektive årsredovisning. Den kategori som företag ska tillämpa baseras på de krav och val som innefattas av bokföringslagen. År 2014 blev det tvingande för onoterade företag att tillämpa ett K-regelverk.Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka möjligheten till bokföringsbrott om ett företag väljer att redovisa utanför det tillämpade K-regelverket och istället använder sig av en regel i ett annat K-regelverk, så kallad ”cherry-picking”. För att uppnå denna kvalitativa studies syfte har en deduktiv ansats använts för att genomföra en kartläggning av K-regelverkens relation till svensk lagstiftning, vilket har bidragit till en tydlig grund för studiens typfall. Typfallen har kompletterats med en intervju med en strategisk ekorevisor från Ekobrottsmyndigheten.Denna studies resultat visar att en avvikelse från K-regelverken kan anses vara synonymt med en avvikelse från god redovisningssed. I och med detta kan en avvikelse från K-regelverken anses vara ett åsidosättande av bokföringsskyldigheten. För att ett bokföringsbrott ska föreligga behöver det även påvisas att effektrekvisitet är uppfyllt. Ett uppfyllande av effektrekvisitet innebär att företagets räkenskaper inte går att bedöma i huvudsak. I de fall ett företag har valt att lämna information i not om avvikelse från K-regelverk kan det vara svårt att väcka åtal. Studiens resultat visar även att bestämmelserna i K-regelverken verkar ha företräde framför de redovisningsalternativ som årsredovisningslagen möjliggör.En koppling mellan god redovisningssed och K-regelverken har identifierats i denna studie men relationen mellan K-regelverken och lagen är inte helt säkerställd. Trots detta kan studiens resultat påvisa att det ar möjligt för företag att vid ”cherry-pickning” mellan K2 och K3 dömas för bokföringsbrott.
In 2014 there were 12,800 cases of accounting frauds reported in Sweden. According to Penal Code (Brottsbalken), classification of an accounting fraud needs to fulfill two requisites. The first requisite addresses the disregard of accounting obligation. The Accounting Act (Bokföringslagen) prescribes that the accounting obligation must be fulfilled in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (god redovisningssed).The Swedish Accounting Standards Board (Bokföringsnämnden) is a government authority that has a statutory responsibility for the development of generally accepted accounting principles. In 2004, the board changed its focus of the development of the accounting norms for unlisted companies. With this decision, they began to work on the K-project with the purpose of establishing a comprehensive framework of regulations for the companies’ annual accounts and annual reports. The regulations were divided into different categories based on the companies’ size which were constructed on the requirements and choices encompassed by the Accounting Act. The K-regulations (K-regelverken) became mandatory for unlisted companies in 2014.The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of accounting fraud if a company chooses to deviate from the applied K-regulation and instead use a rule from another K-regulation, what this study calls "cherry-picking". Therefore, this qualitative study utilizes a deductive approach and conducts a survey of K-regulations and their relation to Swedish legislation, which has contributed to a clear basis for the hypothetical cases in this study. The cases in this study have been supplemented by an interview with a strategic economic crime accountant from the Swedish Economic Crime Authority (Ekobrottsmyndigheten).The results of this study show that a deviation from the K-regulations can be considered synonymous with a deviation from the generally accepted accounting principles. With regards to this, a deviation from the K-regulations is seen as a disregard of the accounting obligation. In order to confirm an accounting fraud based on this, the second of the two requisites of Penal Code also needs to be fulfilled, the requisite of effect. The effect requisite is fulfilled when the essence of the accounts cannot be established. It may involve a certain difficulty to prosecute a company which has deviated from the K-regulation but included information in their accounts through their notes. The result of this study also shows that the provisions of the K-regulations takes precedence over the accounting options that the Annual Accounts Act (Årsredovisningslagen) offers.A link between generally accepted accounting principles and K-regulations has been identified in this study, but the relationship between K-regulations and the law is not fully specified. Despite this results of this study demonstrate the underlying risk that companies with applies "cherry-picking" between K2 and K3, may be convicted of accounting fraud.This study is hereinafter written in Swedish.

I aktiebolagslagen finns ett antal skyddsregler för att säkerställa att ett bolags bundna eget kapital stannar kvar i bolaget. Enligt reglerna om tvångslikvidation är styrelse och aktieägare skyldiga att genast upprätta en kontrollbalansräkning vid misstanke om att aktiekapitalet håller på att förbrukas. En kontrollbalansräkning upprättas med utgångspunkt i en ordinarie årsredovisning, med ett antal justeringar. Bland annat får tillgångar tas upp till ett högre värde än i den ordinarie redovisningen under förutsättning att de värderingsprinciperna är förenliga med god redovisningssed. Vad som utgör god redovisningssed framgår inte av lagtexten. Myndigheten BFN har en lagstadgad uppgift att utveckla god redovisningssed, men ingen föreskriftsrätt. Enligt BFNs uttalanden och allmänna råd är blandning av K-regelverken inte tillåten, vilket begränsar företagen i deras möjlighet att påvisa fortlevnadsförmåga i kontrollbalansräkningen. Studiens syfte är att undersöka möjligheten att, med god redovisningssed som grund, blanda regelverken K2 och K3 för att kunna visa ett företags fortlevnadsförmåga i en kontrollbalansräkning.För att uppfylla studiens syfte tillämpas ett hermeneutiskt synsätt. Relevanta lagtexter, propositioner, rättsfall, brevsvar från BFN, RedR2 samt regelverken K2 och K3 analyseras för att få fram innebörden av begreppet god redovisningssed.De omständigheter som föranleder upprättande av kontrollbalansräkning är helt andra än de som råder vid ordinarie redovisning. Vår slutsats är därför att det finns olika former av god redovisningssed beroende på den situation som företaget befinner sig i. Med detta som utgångspunkt anser vi att cherry-picking vid upprättande av kontrollbalansräkning bör vara tillåtet.
There are a number of safeguards to ensure that a company’s equity remains in the company. These are included in the Swedish Companies Act. According to the rules for compulsory liquidation, directors and shareholders must immediately establish a balance sheet for liquidation purposes when the share capital is suspected to be consumed. A balance sheet for liquidation purposes is drawn up on the basis of a regular annual report, with permissions for a number of adjustments. One of these allowed adjustments include that assets can be valued to a higher worth, provided that the valuation principles are in accordance with the term “god redovisningssed”, which can be translated into Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The term “god redovisningssed” is not clearly defined in the wordings of the law. The Swedish Accounting Standards Board, also known as the agency BFN, has the statutory responsibility to develop and clarify what is meant by “god redovisningssed”. BFN, however, does not have any regulatory powers. According to BFNs statements and general advice a mixture of their own regulations, “K-regelverken”, is not allowed. This limitation hinders companies in their ambition to show the ability of future survival. This study aims to examine the possibility of mixing the regulations of K2 and K3 in order to prove a company’s ability of going concern.To fulfill the purpose of this study, a hermeneutic approach is applied. Relevant laws, bills, court cases etc. are analyzed to derive the meaning behind the term “god redovisningssed”.The circumstances that warrant the establishment of a balance sheet for liquidation purposes are vastly different from those prevailing at ordinary accounting. Our conclusion is, therefore, that there are different forms of “god redovisningssed”, depending on the company’s situation. Given this reasoning, it is our belief that cherry-picking when preparing a balance sheet for liquidation purposes should be allowed.This paper is written in Swedish.

The Diploma Thesis deals with an intangible assets reporting in different accounting systems. The purpose of the Diploma Thesis is a comparison of intangible assets in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Czech and Slovak accounting rules. It presents the impact of the found problematic scopes on the relevance of data reporting in the concrete companies. It points out the necessity of harmonization of national accounting legislations.

Principbaserade standarder ger vag vägledning om hur standarder ska följas och de lämnarstort utrymme för tolkning och bedömning. I inkomstskattelagens 14 kap. 2 § uttrycks det attresultatet ska beräknas enligt bokföringsmässiga grunder samt att beskattningstidpunkten skafastställas i enlighet med god redovisningssed. Skatterättens legalitetsprincip uttrycker iregeringsformen att det måste finnas stöd i lag för att ett brott ska ha begåtts och inget straffkan annars påvisas. Det uttrycks därmed att ingen skatt får tas ut om det inte finns lagliggrund. Då företag ska fastställa beskattningstidpunkten i enlighet med god redovisningssed,kan det ge upphov till redovisningsmässiga skillnader. God redovisningssed som begrepp, ärsvårtolkat och kräver kompletterande normgivning för att skapa dess innebörd.Problematiken som återfinns då principbaserade normer påverkar ett företags beskattningtydliggörs främst då ett materiellt samband råder mellan redovisning och beskattning. Ettmateriellt samband innebär att redovisningsregler görs gällande även vid beräkning av detskattemässiga resultatet. Det materiella sambandet återfinns i inkomstskattelagen dåhänvisning görs till god redovisningssed. Enligt bokföringslagen är det Bokföringsnämndensansvar att utveckla god redovisningssed. Bokföringsnämnden har därför tagit framallomfattande regelverk som ska ge vägledning åt företag som upprättar redovisning efter godredovisningssed. K-regelverken ska gälla för företag i olika kategorier, beroende på dessstorlek. Studien undersöker de två vanligaste regelverken, K2 och K3.Syftet med studien är att undersöka om principbaserade normer är förenliga medlegalitetsprincipen. För att besvara studiens syfte genomförs en komparativ innehållsanalys avBokföringsnämndens K-regelverk, K2 och K3. Vi ämnar avgöra till vilken grad normernaskaraktär i K2 och K3 bör anses vara regel- respektive principbaserade samt dess förenlighetmed legalitetsprincipen och regeringsformen. Vid inledningen av denna studie kunde interelevant och tillräcklig forskning hittas inom området, varpå studien syftar till att bidra medkunskap. Vi vill även uppmärksamma problematiken då skatterätten hänvisar tillredovisningens god redovisningssed när tidpunkten för redovisning av intäkter och kostnaderska ske.Genom en modell har vi tydliggjort vår analys avseende normernas karaktär i K2 och K3.Modellen innefattar två dimensioner, dels till vilken grad normerna anses regel- respektiveprincipbaserade och dels till vilken grad normerna bör anses förenliga medlegalitetsprincipen. För att besvara studiens syfte har vi undersökt följande normer somåterfinns i båda regelverken: grundläggande principer, definitioner av tillgångar, skulder,intäkter och kostnader, materiella anläggningstillgångar, immateriella anläggningstillgångar,varulager, avsättningar och periodiseringar. Studiens slutsats är att principbaserade normer tillstörre grad bör anses som icke förenliga med legalitetsprincipen då de tillåter att analogislutkan tillämpas i redovisningen. Principbaserade normer i redovisningen skapar storttolkningsutrymme, vilket kan medföra att likartade företag upplever skillnader iredovisningen och följaktligen även skattemässiga skillnader. Således ska normerna i K3 inteanses vara förenliga med legalitetsprincipen och därmed anses grundlagsstridiga.
Principal-based standards give few guidelines of how the standards should be followed andthey give room for interpretations. The income tax act expresses that the income statementshould be calculated through accrual basis and the taxation time should be determined bygenerally accepted accounting principles. On the other hand, the tax law expresses a principleof legality in the governmental law that states that there has to exist a legal support for a crimeto be committed and no penalty can otherwise be addressed. When generally acceptedaccounting principles should determine the time of taxation it generates accountingdifferences. The term of generally accepted accounting principles is difficult to interpret andrequires additional standards to create its meaning.The problem that exists when principle-based standards affect a company’s taxation, clarifieswhen there is a material relationship between accounting and taxation. A material relationshipmeans that the accounting rules are applicable even for the taxable income. The material linkexists when the income tax act refers to generally accepted accounting principles, when thetaxation time should be determined. The Swedish Accounting Standards Board has thereforeestablished comprehensive framework’s that aims to guide companies when accountaccording to generally accepted accounting principles. The K-regulations shall apply forcompanies in different categories depending on their sizes. The study examines the two mostcommon frameworks, K2 and K3.The purpose of this study is to examine if principle-based standards are consistent with theprinciple of legality. To achieve the purpose of this study, a comparative content analysis ofthe The Swedish Accounting Standards Boards K-regulations, K2 and K3, is conducted. Wewish to evaluate to what extent the standards characteristics are rule- or principle-based and toevaluate the extent of the standards consistency with the principle of legality and thegovernmental law. In the beginning of this study we did not find enough relevant literature inthe field of study and we therefore want to contribute with knowledge. We also want toobserve the problems that the tax law contributes when it refers to the term of generallyaccepted accounting principles.We have clarified our analysis of the standards in K2 and K3 in a model. The modelincorporates two dimensions, partly to what extent the standards should be considered as ruleorprinciple-based and partly to what extent the standards should be considered consistentwith the principle of legality. To achieve the purpose of this study we examined standards thatoccur in both frameworks: fundamental principles, definition of assets, liabilities, incomesand costs, tangible fixed assets, intangible fixed assets, inventories, provisions and accruals. The conclusion of the study is that principle-based standards in a large extent should beconsider non consistent with the principle of legality due to that an analogy is permitted inaccounting. Principle-based standards create room for interpretation, which leads todifferences between similar companies both in accounting and in taxation. The standards inK3 should accordingly not be considered consistent with the principle of legality.This study is further on written in Swedish.

Bakgrund: År 1992 trädde en ny kommunallag i kraft vilket innebar flera förändringar av den kommunala redovisningen. År 1997 kom en kommunal redovisningslag och begreppet god redovisningssed fördes in i kommuners redovisning. Seden kantas av särregler som balanskravet och blandmodellen som är politiska beslut och inte är redovisningstekniskt motiverade. Kommunallagens krav på ekonomisk balans trädde i kraft år 2000 och är en av hörnstenarna i kommuners krav på en god ekonomisk hushållning. Balanskravet innebär att kommuner ska visa ett positivt resultat. Sedan balanskravet trädde i kraft har kommuners intresse riktats mot balanskravet i stället för mot det mer långsiktiga kravet på en god ekonomisk hushållning. För att kommuner ska nå upp till balanskravet infördes år 2000 en modell för beräkning av kommunens pensionsskulder benämnd blandmodellen.

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur kommuner hanterar kravet på en god ekonomisk hushållning i skenet av den dolda pensionsskulden. Beskriva balanskravet och blandmodellen gentemot kravet på att redovisningen ska visa en korrekt bild av kommunens verkliga ekonomiska ställning och resultat, den rättvisande bilden. Samt belysa redovisningens roll och användning i en kommun.

Genomförande: Uppsatsen är genomförd med en kombination av en kvalitativ och en kvantitativ ansats. Studiens kvalitativa del bygger på besöksintervjuer hos fyra utvalda kommuner medan studiens kvantitativa del bygger på ett frågeformulär som skickades ut till 30 kommuner varav 18 svarade. Inom ramen för undersökningen har både primärdata och sekundärdata använts. Primärdata har inhämtas från besöksintervjuer, utskickade frågeformulär och expertiskunskap inom redovisningsområdet. Sekundärdata har bestått av litteratur, artiklar, tidskrifter, utredningar och årsredovisningar.

Resultat: Studien visar att begreppet god ekonomisk hushållning har haft en positiv effekt på kommuners ekonomi och där balanskravet ses som det mest centrala. Stor osäkerhet råder dock om vilka mål och policies kommuner ska sätta upp för vad som utgör god ekonomisk hushållning. Blandmodellen är ett politiskt beslut som sätter vedertagna redovisningsprinciper ur spel och går emot några av redovisningens kvalitativa egenskaper. Undersökningens respondenter sätter gärna likhetstecken mellan rättvisande bild och god redovisningssed men det skiljer sig mellan undersökningens fyra orter hur begreppen tolkas. Studien visar också att kommuner anser sig vara skuldfria när de har en ansvarsförbindelse för pensioner som i ett flertal fall uppgår till betydande belopp. Kommuner måste ta ansvar för sina pensionsåtaganden genom att fondera medel och inte skjuta över kostnader på nästa generation.

Background: In 1992, the new Local Government Act took effect, which implied several changes for municipal accounting. A municipal accounting law came in 1997, and the concept of generally accepted accounting principles entered into municipal accounting. This practice is marked by special rules such as the “balanced budget requirement” (balanskrav) and the “mixed model” of accounting (blandmodellen), which are political decisions not motivated by accounting. The Local Government Act’s requirement for financial balance took effect in 2000 and is one of the cornerstones in the municipalities’ requirements for good financial management. The balanced budget requirement means that municipalities should show that income exceeds costs. Since the balanced budget requirement took effect, the municipalities have focused their interest on it, instead of on the more long-term requirement for good financial management. In order for municipalities to fulfil the balanced budget requirement, the mixed model, which calculates the municipality’s pension liabilities, was introduced in 2000.

Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to (1) examine how municipalities manage the requirement for good financial management despite hidden pension liabilities, (2) to describe the balanced budget requirement and mixed model in relation to the requirement that accounting records should show an accurate view of the municipality’s true financial position and income/expenditures, the true and fair view, and (3) to illustrate the role and use of accounting in a municipality.

Methods: This essay was carried out through a combination of a qualitative and a quantitative approach. The study’s qualitative component is based on interviews in four selected municipalities, whereas the quantitative component is based on a questionnaire that was sent to 30 municipalities, of which 18 submitted answers. Both primary and secondary data have been used within the framework of the study. The primary data were collected from interviews, mailed questionnaires, and expert knowledge in the accounting field. Secondary data consisted of literature, articles, journals, studies, and annual reports.

Results: The study shows that the concept of good financial management has had a positive effect on the finances of municipalities, and the balanced budget requirement is viewed as the core. There is great uncertainty, however, as to which goals and policies the municipalities should set up to constitute good financial management. The mixed model is a political decision that eliminates generally accepted accounting principles and goes against some of the qualitative properties of accounting. The study’s respondents gladly equate the true and fair view with generally accepted accounting principles, but there are differences in interpretation of the concepts in the four selected municipalities. The study also shows that the municipalities consider themselves free from debt when they have contingent liabilities for pensions, which in several cases total significant amounts. The municipalities must take responsibility for their pension commitments by reserving funds for them, and not shift the costs to the next generation.

The title of this thesis is: Explanatory Power of Financial Statements Prepared in conditions of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Generally Ac-cepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). This thesis compares the differences between Czech accounting legislation, International Financial Reporting Standards, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP), regarding financial state-ments. The work is divided into a theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part of the work mainly describes the requirements for individual financial statements com-piled according to Czech accounting standards as well as IFRS and US GAAP. Then it defines the main differences in the statements compiled by various accounting sys-tems. The aim of the practical part is to apply theoretical knowledgeon practical examples in a company called Moravské kovárny, a. s. (=Moravian smithy, joint-stock company). First, the procedure for preparation of financial statements in accordance with CAS in society is described in detail, and subsequently, problematic parts are selected, where there is a fundamental difference in reporting compared to IFRS and US GAAP, and a transition to statements corresponding to the requirements of these accounting systems is implemented on them. Using a practical application, it is possible to track specific examples, how individual accounting operations affect profits and the structure of balance sheet items.

This master thesis applies to the revenues from the sale of goods and their recognition in accordance with the Czech accounting standards, IAS and US GAAP. Particular chapters contain analysis of chosen problems of merchandise (goods) {--} its definition and pricing, problems of cost and income from the sale. The biggest part of the thesis is deals with the recognition of revenues from the sale of goods. At first were characterised and analysed individual methods of revenues recording, which were usefully completed with a concrete case applied to Czech accounting standards, IAS and US GAAP, with addition of the impact on the trading income of the company.

碩士
國立中興大學
會計學系
87
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has established FASB Statement No.93, 116, 117 and 124 for not-for-profit organizations (NPOs). These statements have been intended to assist NPOs in preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, there are no comparable GAAP for NPOs in Taiwan. As pursuing profit is not the operating objective of NPOs and the nature and environment of NPOs are different from those of business enterprises, accordingly, whether NPOs should follow all of the current GAAP for business enterprises would be a huge controversy. The Department of Economy has entrusted Accounting Research and Development Foundation with the accounting issues of nonprofit proprietaries for economic affairs. The conclusions of the Foundation would be the pioneer of GAAP of NPOs in Taiwan, and they could be the benchmark for regulatory authorities of other-type nonprofit proprietaries to establish accounting principles. The primary purpose of this study is to discuss the GAAP of NPOs in America, and the accounting principles and accounting issues that stem form these accounting principles of nonprofit Proprietaries for economic affairs. The results of this study also suitable for other kinds of nonprofit proprietaries. This study can be divided into two main parts. The first part discusses the characteristics, types and financial reporting of NPOs, and compares the differences between NPOs and business enterprises. The generally accepted accounting standards of contributions, investment, depreciation of long-lived assets and split-interest agreements that are applied to NPOs in America are discussed in this study, too. In addition, the first part also focuses on how to report financial information in statement of financial position, statement of activities, and statement of cash flows. The second part discusses the accounting issues of nonprofit proprietaries for economic affairs in Taiwan. In order to solve these accounting issues, this study provides some suggestions by integrating the opinions of some economic affairs nonprofit proprietaries and the propositions of Accounting Research and Development Foundation. This study also provides some comments on the draft of a proposed statement of accounting processing principles for nonprofit proprietaries for economic affairs, which is proposed by the Accounting Research and Development Foundation. Finally, this study draws conclusions on some important accounting issues.