Alternative Valuation Methodologies for Establishing Opening Balances for Inventory, Operating Materials and Supplies, and Stockpile Materials
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Alternative Valuation Methodologies for Establishing Opening Balances for Inventory, Operating Materials and Supplies, and Stockpile Materials General This policy guidance sets out how components should establish opening balances for Inventory, OM&S, and Stockpile Materials using the methodology described in the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board exposure draft of the proposed Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS), “Opening Balances for Inventory, Operating Materials and Supplies (OM&S) and Stockpile Materials.” All components must establish their opening balances for Inventory, OM&S, and Stockpile Materials in alignment with established Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness milestones. Implementation shall be complete no later than September 30, 2017. The valuation methodologies outlined in this policy must not be used after opening balances are established and documented. Therefore, following the establishment of opening balances, the components must be prepared to account for and comply with the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements in accordance with SFFAS 3, “Accounting for Inventory and Related Property” (e.g., Moving Average Cost, Specific Identification, etc.). Valuation of Opening Balances When the initial amount measurement approach (historical cost) outlined in SFFAS 3 cannot be applied by a component, it is acceptable for deemed cost to be used as a substitute for initial amounts (historical cost) to establish the opening balances for Inventory, OM&S and Stockpile Materials. Deemed cost may be based on any one or a combination of the following allowable valuation methods: 1. Standard (Selling) Price or Fair Value 2. Latest Acquisition Cost Method 3. Replacement Cost 4. Estimated Historical Cost (initial amounts) 5. Actual Historical Cost (initial amounts) All methods used by a component must be identified and reported in its financial statement notes. In addition, components must retain documentation to support deemed cost values (e.g., invoices or contracts to demonstrate latest acquisition cost; catalog price to determine fair value; basis of estimates, etc.). Further, the component shall select the most cost-effective method(s) to apply in arriving at a supportable balance based on deemed cost. Any gains or losses in Inventory, OM&S, and Stockpile Materials allowance accounts must be adjusted to zero when establishing an opening balance using deemed cost. Once established, opening balances are to be considered consistent with SFFAS 3 requirements. Opening balances shall be included in ongoing Inventory balances and valuation calculations Attachment (e.g., the opening balance would be one component of a MAC calculation, along with any newly-purchased Inventory). No distinction of amounts arising from the opening balances is required. The use of deemed cost as described in this document can only be used once by a Component to establish a beginning balance. The alternative valuation methods permitted in this guidance may not be applied to transactions or events that increase the value or quantity of Inventory, OM&S, and Stockpile Materials after opening balances are established. Thus, as noted above, components must be prepared to comply with the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements of SFFAS 3 and the DoD Financial Management Regulation (e.g., Moving Average Cost, Specific Identification, etc.) going forward. Relevant Guidance • SFFAS 3, “Accounting for Inventory and Related Property” • Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts 7, “Measurement of the Elements of Accrual-Basis Financial Statements in Periods After Initial Recording” • DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 4, Chapter 4, “Inventory and Related Property” Definitions Deemed Cost: An amount used as a substitute for initial amounts that otherwise would be required by SFFAS 3 to establish opening balances. Fair Value: The amount at which an asset or liability could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. Inventory: Tangible personal property that is (1) held for sale, (2) in the process of production for sale, or (3) to be consumed in the production of goods for sale or in the provision of services for a fee. Latest Acquisition Cost Method: All like units that are held are valued at the invoice price of the most recent like item purchased, less any discounts, plus any additional costs incurred to bring the item to a form and location suitable for its intended use. Moving Average Cost: An inventory costing method used in conjunction with a perpetual inventory system. A weighted average cost per unit is recomputed after every purchase. Goods sold are costed at the most recent moving average cost. Opening Balances: Account balances that exist at the beginning of the reporting period. Opening balances are based upon the closing balances of the prior period and reflect the effects of transactions and events of prior periods and accounting policies applied in the prior period. Opening balances also include matters requiring disclosure that existed at the beginning of the period, such as contingencies and commitments. 2 Operating Materials and Supplies: Tangible personal property to be consumed in normal operations. Replacement Cost: An amount required for an entity to replace the remaining service potential of an existing asset in a current transaction at the reporting date, including the amount that the entity would receive from disposing of the asset at the end of its useful life. Specific Identification: An inventory costing methodology that directly links specifically identifiable items (e.g., serially managed items) with their associated costs. Standard (Selling) Price: The latest known representative acquisition cost plus authorized cost recovery rate for each item of Inventory and Related Property. This is established annually and is often referred to as selling price. Selling price and fair value may or may not be identical due to the intragovernmental nature of some sales. Stockpile Materials: Strategic and critical materials held due to statutory requirements for use in national defense, conservation or national emergencies. 3 Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board OPENING BALANCES FOR INVENTORY, OPERATING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES (OM&S) AND STOCKPILE MATERIALS Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards Exposure Draft Written comments are requested by July 20, 2015 June 2, 2015 THE FEDERAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD The Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Comptroller General, established the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB or “the Board”) in October 1990. FASAB is responsible for promulgating accounting standards for the United States Government. These standards are recognized as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the federal government. An accounting standard is typically formulated initially as a proposal after considering the financial and budgetary information needs of citizens (including the news media, state and local legislators, analysts from private firms, academe, and elsewhere), Congress, federal executives, federal program managers, and other users of federal financial information. The proposed standards are published in an Exposure Draft for public comment. In some cases, a discussion memorandum, invitation for comment, or preliminary views document may be published before an exposure draft is published on a specific topic. A public hearing is sometimes held to receive oral comments in addition to written comments. The Board considers comments and decides whether to adopt the proposed standard with or without modification. After review by the three officials who sponsor FASAB, the Board publishes adopted standards in a Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards. The Board follows a similar process for Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts, which guide the Board in developing accounting standards and formulating the framework for federal accounting and reporting. Additional background information is available from the FASAB or its website: • “Memorandum of Understanding among the Government Accountability Office, the Department of the Treasury, and the Office of Management and Budget, on Federal Government Accounting Standards and a Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board.” • “Mission Statement: Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board”, exposure drafts, Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards and Concepts, FASAB newsletters, and other items of interest are posted on FASAB’s website at www.fasab.gov. Copyright Information This is a work of the U. S. government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. It may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without further permission from FASAB. However, because this work may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from the copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce this material separately. Contact us: Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board 441 G Street, NW, Suite 6814 Mail stop 6H19 Washington, DC 20548 Telephone 202-512-7350 FAX – 202-512-7366 www.fasab.gov Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board June 2, 2015 TO: ALL WHO USE, PREPARE, AND AUDIT FEDERAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION Your comments on the exposure draft of a proposed Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards, entitled Opening