When a material error is discovered in prior financial statements?
Correspondingly, how do you show prior period adjustment on financial statements?
You should account for a prior period adjustment by restating the prior period financial statements. This is done by adjusting the carrying amounts of any impacted assets or liabilities as of the first accounting period presented, with an offset to the beginning retained earnings balance in that same accounting period.
- Correct all prior-period financial statements shown on comparative financial statements.
- Restate the beginning balance of retained earnings for the first period shown on a comparative statement of retained earnings if the error is prior to the first comparative period.
One may also ask, what is a prior period adjustment and how is it reported in the financial statements?
Definition: A prior period adjustment is the correction of an accounting error that occurred in the past and was reported on a prior year's financial statement, net of income taxes. In other words, it's a way to go back and fix past financial statements that were misstated because of a reporting error.
How to report an error correction
- Reflect the cumulative effect of the error on periods prior to those presented in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the first period presented; and.
- Make an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for that period; and.