FASB Proposes Delay of FIN 48 for Nonpublic Entities

ON-DEMAND: <a href="Distance_Learning/On-Demand_Webcasts/OD_Budget_Models_and_Process_Challenges_Facing_Institutions_Today.html">Budget Models and Process: Challenges Facing Institutions Today
ON-DEMAND: <a href="Distance_Learning/On-Demand_Webcasts/OD_Hiring_for_a_Global_Campus—Why_a_Textbook_Approach_Will_Not_Work.html">Hiring for a Global Campus—Why a Textbook Approach Will Not Work
ON-DEMAND: <a href="Distance_Learning/On-Demand_Webcasts/OD_Higher_Education_Analytics_and_Data_Driven_Decisions.html">Higher Education Analytics and Data Driven Decisions
ON-DEMAND: <a href="Distance_Learning/On-Demand_Webcasts/OD_Common_Compliance_Pitfalls_with_Study_Abroad_Programs.html">Common Compliance Pitfalls with Study Abroad Programs
ON-DEMAND: <a href="Distance_Learning/On-Demand_Webcasts/OD_Net_Tuition_Revenue_Price_and_Enrollment_How_Can_you_Achieve_Balance.html">Net Tuition Revenue, Price and Enrollment: How Can you Achieve Balance?

January 10, 2008

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) tentatively approved, in November 2007, a deferral for nonpublic entities of Financial Interpretation 48. FIN 48 is an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which increases the relevancy and comparability of financial reporting by clarifying the way companies account for uncertainty in income taxes. It makes recognition and measurement more consistent, while offering clear criteria for subsequently recognizing, derecognizing, and measuring such tax positions for financial statement purposes.

It is important for colleges and universities to note that the one-year deferral is only for nonpublic entities, and “nonpublic” excludes entities with publicly traded conduit debt. This definition of nonpublic likely knocks out many independent higher education institutions from the deferral. However, smaller schools with privately placed conduit debt or no conduit debt should take note of the proposed deferral.

According to chapter 1500, paragraph 1512 of NACUBO’s Federal Tax Guide, nonprofit organizations are considered "conduit borrowers" when a bond issuer lends proceeds to the organization. In addressing conduit debt and borrowers, FSP FAS 126-1 contains the phrase “traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local or regional markets).” This means that an issuer does not have to be part of an organized exchange--it can be engaged in over-the-counter markets--to have its activities considered "publicy traded". In the fall of 2007, a NACUBO webcast provided members an opportunity to learn about the documentation requirements of FIN 48.

NACUBO Contact: Sue Menditto, director, accounting policy