2-1 Short Paper Footnotes

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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317

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Accounting

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Feb 20, 2024

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Ashley Robinson ACC317 Intermediate Accounting I Instructor Caruso 2-1 Short Paper: Footnotes
Key Elements Information typically included in footnotes is the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Common Notes (Major Disclosures). Footnotes can contain important information pertaining to accounting methodologies used for recording and reporting transactions. Major Disclosures are mentioned below. For example, additional notes needed on contingencies and commitments are not uncommon in addition to inventory and revenue explanatory notes. Companies know what information they need to include in their financial statement footnotes because it is specified by GAAP under the full disclosure principle. This principle states that companies should disclose information that can have a material impact on a company’s financial results or financial position. In Chapter 23, it mentions that it is important for companies to stay up to date with the latest SEC rules and guidance regarding disclosures. By doing so, companies will always be updated and informed about what needs to be included in their footnotes. Purpose Footnotes are used as additional information and are considered explanatory notes to the financial statements that help add supplementary information. Footnotes, also known as Notes, are “the means of amplifying or explaining the items presented in the main body of the statements,” (Soomo 2020). They help give a complete picture of a company’s financial statements by explaining in more depth what the financial statements convey. They report the details and additional information that is left out of the main financial statements. It is imperative that these notes are transparent and as accurate as possible.
Statement Components Statement components that footnotes are typically prepared for are as follows, also known as major disclosures. Inventory Property, plant, and equipment Creditor claims Equity holders’ claims Contingencies and Commitments Fair Values Revenue Deferred taxes, pensions, leases Changes in accounting principles Special transactions and events Subsequent Events Segment Reporting Interim Reporting Financial statements need supplemental information to explain numbers because it helps further explain the statements. A separate explanatory note can help explain as opposed to clouding the information reported on the financial statements. Applications of Footnotes: 3 Companies: Tesla Inc, Walmart Inc, and Alphabet, Inc. Companies utilize footnotes in whatever way is most logical for their company. First there are forms that must be used, 10-K and 10-Q. 10-K forms were utilized by both Tesla Inc and Walmart Inc, two large corporations. 10-K Forms are extremely detailed compared to 10-Q and the financial statements are audited. This form is field annually and provides a comprehensive overview about a company’s financial state. The 10-Q form utilized by Alphabet, Inc, is less detailed than the 10-K and the financial statements are unaudited. This form is filed quarterly and provides ongoing view of the company’s financial position during that year.
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Compare and Contrast: Tesla, Inc; Walmart Inc; Alphabet, Inc. Both Tesla and Walmart Inc, reported the same type of major disclosures in their footnotes. There was a change in accounting principles noted, contingencies and commitments, fair value, leases, and inventory notes, and more. Alphabet Inc’s notes were less detailed and not as extensive as the other companies. The same notes were reported, but not as extensively. There was more detail in Walmart and Tesla’s notes. Considering both companies filed a 10-K form which reports a company’s business state for a year it's expected to see more information on those forms. However, with the 10-Q form, as utilized by Alphabet Inc, the information reported accounts for three months of business operations as opposed to a full year. References Soomo Learning. (2020). Critical business skills for success . https://www.webtexts.com