Tentative Board Decisions

Tentative Board decisions are provided for those interested in following the Board’s deliberations. All of the reported decisions are tentative and may be changed at future Board meetings.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016 FASB Board Meeting

Clarifying the definition of a business. The Board decided that early application of the amendments would be allowed for transactions occurring before the issuance date of the forthcoming Accounting Standards Update, only when the interim or annual financial statements of the reporting period that contains the transaction have not been issued or made available for issuance.

Analysis of Benefits and Costs

The Board concluded that all relevant issues have been deliberated and that it has received sufficient information and analysis on the amendments to the guidance to make an informed decision on the issues presented. The Board also concluded that the expected benefits of the amendments justify the costs.

Permission to Ballot

The Board directed the staff to draft a final Accounting Standards Update for vote by written ballot.


Clarifying when a not-for-profit entity that is a general partner should consolidate a for-profit limited partnership (or similar entity). The Board discussed comment letter feedback and affirmed its decision to reinstate the consolidation guidance that previously existed in Subtopic 810-20, Consolidation—Control of Partnerships and Similar Entities, by including it in Subtopic 958-810, Not-for-Profit Entities—Consolidation.

Transition and Transition Disclosures

The Board decided that entities that have already adopted the amendments in Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, will be required to apply the amendments in the final Update retrospectively to all relevant prior periods beginning with the fiscal year in which the amendments in Update 2015-02 initially were adopted. Entities that have not yet adopted Update 2015-02 will be required to apply the same transition method elected for the application of Update 2015-02. The Board additionally affirmed the proposed transition disclosures.

Effective Date

The Board decided that the guidance in the forthcoming final Update will be effective for all not-for-profit entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Board also decided that not-for-profit entities that have not yet adopted the amendments in Update 2015-02 will be required to adopt the amendments in the forthcoming final Update at the same time they adopt the amendments in Update 2015-02. The Board also decided that early adoption will be permitted.

Costs, Benefits, and Complexity

The Board decided that the benefits of the final Update will justify the perceived costs.

Next Steps

The Board directed the staff to draft a final Accounting Standards Update for vote by written ballot.