When is it inappropriate to recognize an expenditure in the current fiscal period for debt service principal and interest payments due early in the subsequent fiscal period?

Prepare for the CPFO Accounting Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Set yourself up for success!

The correct choice highlights that it is inappropriate to recognize an expenditure in the current fiscal period for debt service principal and interest payments due early in the subsequent fiscal period in various scenarios. The reasoning behind this can be rooted in the principles of accounting, specifically the timing of expenditure recognition and the matching principle.

Firstly, if the early transfer of resources is discretionary, this means that the payment is not a legal or contractual obligation for the current period, thus making it inappropriate to recognize the expenditure in the current fiscal year's financial statements. Rather, such expenditures should be reflected in the period they are actually due.

Additionally, if the debt service payments are made from the general fund, recognizing them in the current fiscal period might not align with the fund accounting principles that dictate how these transactions should be recorded, especially considering that funds are often used for specific purposes tied to the current fiscal period.

Moreover, when payments are due between 30 and 60 days after the close of the fiscal year, this falls under the category of deferred outflows. Such payments are anticipated but do not require recognition in the current period financials until the payment is actually due. This adheres to the generally accepted accounting principles which require expenses to be recognized in the period they are incurred, aligning with

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy