Summary of Statement No. 73
Statement No. 73
Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions and Related Assets That Are Not within the Scope of GASB Statement 68, and Amendments to Certain Provisions of GASB Statements 67 and 68
(Issued 06/15)
The objective of this Statement is to improve the usefulness of information about pensions included in the general purpose external financial reports of state and local governments for making decisions and assessing accountability. This Statement results from a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of existing standards of accounting and financial reporting for all postemployment benefits with regard to providing decision-useful information, supporting assessments of accountability and interperiod equity, and creating additional transparency.
This Statement establishes requirements for defined benefit pensions that are not within the scope of Statement No. 68, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions, as well as for the assets accumulated for purposes of providing those pensions. In addition, it establishes requirements for defined contribution pensions that are not within the scope of Statement 68. It also amends certain provisions of Statement No. 67, Financial Reporting for Pension Plans, and Statement 68 for pension plans and pensions that are within their respective scopes.
The requirements of this Statement extend the approach to accounting and financial reporting established in Statement 68 to all pensions, with modifications as necessary to reflect that for accounting and financial reporting purposes, any assets accumulated for pensions that are provided through pension plans that are not administered through trusts that meet the criteria specified in Statement 68 should not be considered pension plan assets. It also requires that information similar to that required by Statement 68 be included in notes to financial statements and required supplementary information by all similarly situated employers and nonemployer contributing entities.
This Statement also clarifies the application of certain provisions of Statements 67 and 68 with regard to the following issues:
- Information that is required to be presented as notes to the 10-year schedules of required supplementary information about investment-related factors that significantly affect trends in the amounts reported
- Accounting and financial reporting for separately financed specific liabilities of individual employers and nonemployer contributing entities for defined benefit pensions
- Timing of employer recognition of revenue for the support of nonemployer contributing entities not in a special funding situation.
The requirements of this Statement that address accounting and financial reporting by employers and governmental nonemployer contributing entities for pensions that are not within the scope of Statement 68 are effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2016, and the requirements of this Statement that address financial reporting for assets accumulated for purposes of providing those pensions are effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2015. The requirements of this Statement for pension plans that are within the scope of Statement 67 or for pensions that are within the scope of Statement 68 are effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2015. Earlier application is encouraged.
How the Changes in This Statement Will Improve Financial Reporting
The requirements of this Statement will improve financial reporting by establishing a single framework for the presentation of information about pensions, which will enhance the comparability of pension-related information reported by employers and nonemployer contributing entities.
Unless otherwise specified, pronouncements of the GASB apply to financial reports of all state and local governmental entities, including general purpose governments; public benefit corporations and authorities; public employee retirement systems; and public utilities, hospitals and other healthcare providers, and colleges and universities. Paragraphs 7–9 discuss the applicability of this Statement.