The third step of the new revenue recognition standard is to determine the transaction price, which is the amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled and includes:
The transaction price is generally not adjusted for credit risk. However, the transaction price is constrained because of variable consideration. This means that the standard limits the amount of variable consideration to the amount for which it is probable that a subsequent change in estimated variable consideration will not result in a significant revenue reversal.
This is a change from current accounting for revenue, as accounting for variable consideration is inconsistent across industries. Under current guidance, an organization does not include variable amounts in the transaction until the variability is resolved. The new standards give a single model whereby variable consideration (e.g., rebates, discounts, bonuses, right of return) will be included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. This inclusion of variable consideration may accelerate the recognition of revenue compared to current standards.
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