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Accounting for contingencies

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What is a Contingency? A contingency arises when there is a situation for which the outcome is uncertain, and which should be resolved in the future, possibly creating a loss. This situation commonly arises when a business is the defendant in a lawsuit, or has guaranteed the payment of a debt incurred by a third party.

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Contingent asset definition

Accounting Tools

What is a Contingent Asset? A contingent asset is a possible asset arising from past events and that will be confirmed only by future events not under an entity's control. A year later, the company receives a settlement of $1,000,000.

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Contingent gain definition

Accounting Tools

Related Courses Accountants’ Guidebook What is a Contingent Gain? A contingent gain is a potential increase in assets that has not yet occurred. A contingent gain is not recognized in the financial statements until the transaction has been settled. Related Articles Contingent Liability Contingent Loss

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Contingent consideration definition

Accounting Tools

Related Courses Business Combinations and Consolidations CPA Firm Mergers and Acquisitions Divestitures and Spin-Offs Mergers and Acquisitions What is Contingent Consideration? Contingent consideration is an obligation of the acquiring entity to transfer additional assets or equity interests to the former owners of an acquiree.

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How to account for liabilities

Accounting Tools

Liabilities are a component of the accounting equation , where liabilities plus equity equals the assets appearing on an organization's balance sheet. There may be rare cases where there is a negative liability (essentially an asset or a decline in a liability), in which case there may be a debit balance in a liability account.

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Contingent loss definition

Accounting Tools

Related Courses Accountants’ Guidebook GAAP Guidebook What is a Contingent Loss? A contingent loss is one that may arise depending upon whether an event occurs at some point in the future. The probability of contingent losses should be assessed on a regular basis to see if they have become probable.

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Post balance sheet events definition

Accounting Tools

If events take place before the balance sheet date that trigger a lawsuit, and lawsuit settlement is a post balance sheet event, consider adjusting the amount of any contingent loss already recognized to match the amount of the actual settlement. Examples of situations calling for the adjustment of financial statements are: Lawsuit.