Government Discovers Businesses Use Different Accounting Than Them
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government wants to update rules on how companies count the cost of big stuff they buy and use, like machines and materials, to match regular accounting rules. If you’re a business working with federal contracts, these changes could affect how you report costs. You’ve got until March 18, 2025, to share your thoughts before any new rules kick in.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Business-combination asset rule kept
If your company buys another company and you work on Federal contracts, tangible assets that during the most recent cost accounting period generated depreciation or cost-of-money charges allocated to Federal contracts must be capitalized by the buyer at the seller's net book value. The Board proposes to retain this requirement (CAS 404-50(d)(1)) and move it to 9904.418-50(i).
Eliminate CAS 404; rely on GAAP
If you are a business that works on Federal contracts and follow Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), the Board is proposing to remove CAS 404 (subpart 9904.404) so contractors would rely more on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) instead. The Board would keep only the special CAS 404-50(d)(1) rule and move it into 9904.418-50(i).
Eliminate CAS 411; rely on GAAP for materials
If you are a Federal contractor, the Board is proposing to remove CAS 411 (subpart 9904.411) so accounting for acquisition costs of material and inventory costing will rely on GAAP, FAR, or other CAS standards instead. The Board found CAS 411 largely duplicates GAAP and would eliminate it to reduce contractor burden.
Possible end of $5,000 capitalization ceiling
CAS currently prescribes a monetary capitalization ceiling 'not to exceed $5,000' for minimum capitalization thresholds, but GAAP does not set a specific dollar ceiling. The Board is provisionally concluding that reliance on GAAP (plus CAS 401 and disclosure rules) could replace the CAS $5,000 ceiling.
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Key Dates
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