New Revenue Recognition Standard: Manufacturing, Distribution, and Retail Industry Changes

By Zac Blanco, CPA, CFE, Partner

New Revenue Recognition Standard: Manufacturing, Distribution, and Retail Industry Changes

With the new revenue recognition standard (ASU 2014-09) becoming effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, it is important for companies to begin understanding the new standard’s key changes, effects on financial reporting, internal process changes, and key elements of their specific industry that will be effected.

If you read our article last year, you’ll remember that the core principal of the new revenue recognition standard is to “recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.” In applying this core principal, companies must apply the following five step process:

Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

Step 3: Determine the transaction price

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract

Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) you satisfy the performance obligation


What does this mean for the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industry? Below are a few examples of key areas in the industry where companies may see changes in the recognition of revenue.

  1. Discounts, rebates, and other incentives:

    1. Current guidance – accounted for as a reduction of revenue, as an expense, or as a separate deliverable.
    2. New guidance – treated as variable consideration which is included in the transaction price at the company’s best estimate and is included in revenue to the extent it is highly probably that there will be no significant reversal of the cumulative amount of revenue when any pricing uncertainty is resolved.
  2. Contract manufacturing arrangements:

    1. Current guidance – treated as product sales and recognized as revenue when the manufactured goods are delivered to the customer.
    2. New guidance – if a company determines that it satisfies a performance obligation to manufacture goods over time, then it recognizes revenue over time (i.e. – as the manufacturing takes place) as opposed to recognizing revenue at a point in time (i.e. – upon delivery)
  3. Warranties:

    1. Current guidance – If the warranty only covers compliance of the product with agreed-upon specifications then it is accounted for as a cost accrual.
    2. New guidance – If a customer can purchase the warranty separately or receives a service over and above guaranteeing compliance with agreed-upon specification then the company accounts for this as a separate performance obligation and allocates the transactions price to the product and the warranty. The warranty revenue would be recognized over the warranty period while the product revenue would be recognized at the point of sale.
  4. Returns:

    1. Current guidance states that companies adjust revenue for expected returns. The new guidance is very similar to this in that the Company still adjusts revenue for expected returns and recognizes a refund liability.

Questions on this topic? Contact your Keiter representative or 804.747.0000 | Email

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About the Author


Zac Blanco

Zac Blanco, CPA, CFE, Partner

Zac is a Business Assurance & Advisory Services Partner at Keiter.  He partners with his clients to help their businesses reach their financial goals. Zac dedicates his time to serving clients in the emerging technology, growth companies, start-ups, property development/rental management companies, construction, manufacturing and distribution industries. He is a member of Keiter’s Retail, Manufacturing, and Distribution, Healthcare and Medical Services, as well as the Emerging Growth and Technology industry teams.

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The information contained within this article is provided for informational purposes only and is current as of the date published. Online readers are advised not to act upon this information without seeking the service of a professional accountant, as this article is not a substitute for obtaining accounting, tax, or financial advice from a professional accountant.

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