We understand that the Boards are currently contemplating whether to re-expose the Proposed ASU [Accounting Standards Update] upon completion of their redeliberations. We commend the board members and staff for the significant progress made to date to improve the proposed standard. We have followed the Boards’ redeliberations and believe that the concepts have improved considerably as a result of the Board’s extensive outreach. However, we believe the nature, complexity and extent of the proposed changes to the original Proposed ASU relative to existing standards and the Exposure Draft warrants a full re-exposure of the revised document for a period of 60 days or longer.
Except for the broadest of principles, virtually every aspect of the proposed model has undergone significant modification, including:
Elimination of price interdependence for contract combination
Removal of contract segmentation
Significant changes to proposed guidance for identifying separate performance obligations
Fundamental changes to concepts used to determine transaction price, including time-value, collectability and variable consideration
Re-introduced residual method of allocating transaction price for highly variable performance obligations
Revised allocation method for subsequent changes to transaction price
Significant fundamental changes to continuous transfer revenue recognition model
Significant changes to the onerous test that impact unit of account, scope and measurement
Changed guidance for costs of obtaining a contract (i.e., changed from expense as incurred to capitalize direct and incremental)
Expanded potential amortization period for contract acquisition and fulfillment costs
Changes to proposed impairment model for deferred acquisition costs and capitalized fulfillment costs
Significant fundamental changes to the accounting for product warranties, licenses and right to use intangible assets.
As we have indicated previously, we believe that the first priority of the Boards should be to the quality of the final standards. Revenue recognition is the one area that affects all business enterprises regardless of size and complexity and revenue is generally the primary focus of user and investor financial analysis. It is therefore far too important of a subject to be relegated to a Staff Draft process.
We believe the Board’s commitment to quality has been demonstrated through the extensive outreach conducted to date. We further believe that the Board should maintain this commitment to quality by following the thorough due process approach contemplated in its Rules of Procedure. By doing so, we believe that the Boards will demonstrate their continued commitment to quality. CCR would be pleased to provide assistance to the Boards in expediting the review of the revised exposure draft.