Identify the five steps in the revenue recognition process.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The revenue recognition process is as follows:

  1. Identify the contract with customers.
  2. Identify the separate performance obligations in the contract.
  3. Determine the transaction price.
  4. Allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations.
  5. Recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Revenues

The term revenue refers to the accumulated amount of sales recorded by a company in the book of accounts for which the underlying good is transferred, or services are performed.

02

Identify the Contract with Customers

Acontractis an agreement between two or more parties that creates enforceable rights or obligations. Contracts can be written, oral, or implied from customary business practice revenue is recognized only when a valid contract exists.

03

Identify the separate performance obligations in the contract

Aperformance obligationpromises to provide a product or service to a customer. This promise may be explicit, implicit, or possibly based on customary business practice. To determine whether a performance obligation exists, the company must provide a distinct product or service to the customer.

04

Determine the transaction price

Thetransaction price is the amount of consideration that a company expects to receive from a customer in exchange fortransferring goods and services. The transaction price in a contract is often easily determined because the customer agrees to pay a fixed amount to the company over a short period.

05

Allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations

Companies often have to allocate the transaction price to more than one performance obligation in a contract. The best measure of fair value is what the company could sell the good or service for on a standalone basis, referred to as thestandalone selling price.

06

Recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied

A company satisfies itsperformance obligation when the customer obtains control of the good or service. The concept of change in control is the deciding factor in determining when a performance obligation is satisfied.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(Recognition of Profit on Long-Term Contracts) During 2017, Nilsen Company started a construction job with a contract price of \(1,600,000. The job was completed in 2019. The following information is available.

2017 2018 2019

Costs incurred to date \)400,000 \(825,000 \)1,070,000

Estimated costs to complete 600,000 275,000 –0–

Billings to date 300,000 900,000 1,600,000

Collections to date 270,000 810,000 1,425,000

Instructions

(a) Compute the amount of gross profit to be recognized each year, assuming the percentage-of-completion method is used.

(b) Prepare all necessary journal entries for 2018.

(c) Compute the amount of gross profit to be recognized each year, assuming the completed-contract method is used.

Organic Growth Company is presently testing a number of new agricultural seeds that it has recently harvested. To stimulate interest, it has decided to grant to five of its largest customers the unconditional right of return to these products if not fully satisfied. The right of return extends for 4 months. Organic Growth estimates returns of 20%. Organic Growth sells these seeds on account for \(1,500,000 (cost \)750,000) on January 2, 2017. Customers are required to pay the full amount due by March 15, 2017.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the journal entry for Organic Growth at January 2, 2017.

(b) Assume that one customer returns the seeds on March 1, 2017, due to unsatisfactory performance. Prepare the journal entry to record this transaction, assuming this customer purchased \(100,000 of seeds from Organic Growth.

(c) Assume Organic Growth prepares financial statements quarterly. Prepare the necessary entries (if any) to adjust Organic Growth’s financial results for the above transactions on March 31, 2017, assuming remaining expected returns of \)200,000.

Engelhart Implements Inc. sells tractors to area farmers. The price for each tractor includes a GPS positioning service for nine months (which facilitates field settings for planting and harvesting equipment). The GPS service is regularly sold on a standalone basis by Engelhart for a monthly fee. After nine months, the consumer can renew the service on a fee basis. Does Engelhart have one or multiple performance obligations? Explain.

Nate Beggs signs a 1-year contract with BlueBox Video. The terms of the contract are that Nate is required to pay a nonrefundable initiation fee of \(100. No annual membership fee is charged in the first year. After the first year, membership can be renewed by paying an annual membership fee of \)5 per month. BlueBox determines that its customers, on average, renew their annual membership three times after the first year before terminating their membership. What amount of revenue should BlueBox recognize in its first year?

When must multiple performance obligations in a revenue arrangement be accounted for separately?

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