The FASB issued ASU 2020-03 Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments in order to improve guidance and correct unintended application. Included in this ASU are clarifications for seven issues/areas of improvement. The primary amendments are summarized as the following:
- Clarification that all entities that elect the fair value option are required to provide the fair value option disclosures in paragraphs 825-10-50-24 through 50-32
- Clarification in Topic 820 that nonfinancial items accounted for as derivatives can apply the portfolio exception in Topic 820
- Clarification that the disclosure requirements in Topic 320 apply to the disclosure requirements in Topic 942 for depository and lending institutions.
- A cross-reference is added to Line-of-Credit and Revolving-Debt Arrangements Guidance in Subtopic 470-50 which describe fees/costs related to exchanges or modifications of debt instruments
- A cross-reference is added to subtopic 820-10 to reference the net asset value practical expedient
- Clarification that the contractual term of a net investment in a lease determined in accordance with Topic 842 should be the contractual term used to measure expected credit loses under Topic 326
- Clarification in Subtopic 860-20 that when an entity regains control of financial assets sold, an allowance for credit losses should be recorded in accordance with Topic 326
For issues #1, #2, #4, and #5, these amendments are effective immediately for public business entities and for all other entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early application permitted. For issue #3 the effective date is the same as the effective date for ASU 2019-04, which would apply for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Issues #6 and #7 amend guidance in ASU 2016-13, which is effective for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer during 2020. All other entities will adopt the amendments to ASU 2016-13 during 2023. Early adoption is still permitted.
The full text of ASU 2020-03 is available here.
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