# ASC 350-10-15: Intangibles—Goodwill and Other — Overall — 15 Scope and Scope Exceptions Source: FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Basic View [Read online](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#15-scope-and-scope-exceptions) Study and research edition. Verify current requirements with the official source. Summaries, enrichment, and tags are machine-generated study aids. Paragraph html preserves source markup; snippet is abbreviated. Pending content is not necessarily effective. Tables and mathematical or amendment markup are retained as HTML where Markdown would lose structure. Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z to 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z Record version: sha256:f1f6e4b5e7bd0aebb9cf7f0a0f4334887ff1f1ce310b09784b51462193506b89 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. ## ASC 350-10-15: 15 Scope and Scope Exceptions [Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#15-scope-and-scope-exceptions) SEC content: no #### Overall Guidance ##### [350-10-15-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#350-10-15-1) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z to 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z Record version: sha256:c9d36f4b54372c207f65ea04982418c0311d932675e3382b8b74873f1313b6f9 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The Scope Section of the Overall Subtopic establishes the pervasive scope for all Subtopics of the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic. Unless explicitly addressed within specific Subtopics, the following scope guidance applies to all Subtopics of the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic. #### Entities ##### [350-10-15-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#350-10-15-2) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z to 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z Record version: sha256:9eac204beeb8543232baefd80bb00b2b4c582132baf8027defb555390ba8d344 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The guidance in the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic applies to all entities, including business entities, [mutual entities](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/m/#mutual-entity "An entity other than an investor-owned entity that provides dividends, lower costs, or other economic benefits directly and proportionately to its owners, members, or participants. Mutual insurance entities, credit unions, and farm and rural electric cooperatives are examples of mutual entities."), and [not-for-profit entities](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/n/#not-for-profit-entity "An entity that possesses the following characteristics, in varying degrees, that distinguish it from a business entity: Contributions of significant amounts of resources from resource providers who do not expect commensurate or proportionate pecuniary return Operating purposes other than to provide goods or services at a profit Absence of ownership interests like those of business entities. Entities that clearly fall outside this definition include the following: All investor-owned entities Entities that provide dividends, lower costs, or other economic benefits directly and proportionately to their owners, members, or participants, such as mutual insurance entities, credit unions, farm and rural electric cooperatives, and employee benefit plans.") (NFPs). #### Transactions ##### [350-10-15-3](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#350-10-15-3) Pending content: yes Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z to 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z Record version: sha256:32721ac5ed697b5edfe59a957ba9eb6bf7d6a83f02c9630c35bb2816bdc9c338 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The guidance in the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic does not apply to the following transactions and activities: 1. a The accounting at acquisition for [goodwill](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/g/#goodwill "An asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination, acquired in an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity, or recognized by a joint venture upon formation that are not individually identified and separately recognized. For ease of reference, this term also includes the immediate charge recognized by not-for-profit entities in accordance with paragraph 958-805-25-29.") acquired in a business combination (for guidance see Subtopic 805-30) 2. b [Subparagraph not used](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/updates/page-1833002/). 3. c The accounting at acquisition for goodwill acquired in an [acquisition by a not-for-profit entity](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/a/#acquisition-by-a-not-for-profit-entity "A transaction or other event in which a not-for-profit acquirer obtains control of one or more nonprofit activities or businesses and initially recognizes their assets and liabilities in the acquirer's financial statements. When applicable guidance in Topic 805 is applied by a not-for-profit entity, the term business combination has the same meaning as this term has for a for-profit entity. Likewise, a reference to business combinations in guidance that links to Topic 805 has the same meaning as a reference to acquisitions by not-for-profit entities.") (for guidance see Subtopic 958-805) 4. d The accounting at acquisition for [intangible assets](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/i/#intangible-assets "Assets (not including financial assets) that lack physical substance. (The term intangible assets is used to refer to intangible assets other than goodwill.)") (other than goodwill) acquired in a business combination or in an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity (for guidance see Subtopics 805-20 and 958-805) 5. e The accounting upon formation for intangible assets and goodwill recognized by a [joint venture](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/j/#joint-venture "An entity owned and operated by a small group of businesses (the joint venturers) as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. A government may also be a member of the group. The purpose of a joint venture frequently is to share risks and rewards in developing a new market, product, or technology; to combine complementary technological knowledge; or to pool resources in developing production or other facilities. A joint venture also usually provides an arrangement under which each joint venturer may participate, directly or indirectly, in the overall management of the joint venture. Joint venturers thus have an interest or relationship other than as passive investors. An entity that is a subsidiary of one of the joint venturers is not a joint venture. The ownership of a joint venture seldom changes, and its equity interests usually are not traded publicly. A minority public ownership, however, does not preclude an entity from being a joint venture. As distinguished from a corporate joint venture, a joint venture is not limited to corporate entities.") (for guidance see Subtopic 805-60). Transition date:(P) December 16, 2027; (N) December 16, 2028Transition guidance: [818-10-65-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/818/10/#818-10-65-1)The guidance in the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic does not apply to the following transactions and activities: 1. a The accounting at acquisition for [goodwill](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/g/#goodwill "An asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination, acquired in an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity, or recognized by a joint venture upon formation that are not individually identified and separately recognized. For ease of reference, this term also includes the immediate charge recognized by not-for-profit entities in accordance with paragraph 958-805-25-29.") acquired in a business combination (for guidance see Subtopic 805-30) 2. b [Subparagraph not used](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/updates/page-1833002/). 3. c The accounting at acquisition for goodwill acquired in an [acquisition by a not-for-profit entity](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/a/#acquisition-by-a-not-for-profit-entity "A transaction or other event in which a not-for-profit acquirer obtains control of one or more nonprofit activities or businesses and initially recognizes their assets and liabilities in the acquirer's financial statements. When applicable guidance in Topic 805 is applied by a not-for-profit entity, the term business combination has the same meaning as this term has for a for-profit entity. Likewise, a reference to business combinations in guidance that links to Topic 805 has the same meaning as a reference to acquisitions by not-for-profit entities.") (for guidance see Subtopic 958-805) 4. d The accounting at acquisition for [intangible assets](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/i/#intangible-assets "Assets (not including financial assets) that lack physical substance. (The term intangible assets is used to refer to intangible assets other than goodwill.)") (other than goodwill) acquired in a business combination or in an acquisition by a not-for-profit entity (for guidance see Subtopics 805-20 and 958-805) 5. e The accounting upon formation for intangible assets and goodwill recognized by a [joint venture](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/j/#joint-venture "An entity owned and operated by a small group of businesses (the joint venturers) as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. A government may also be a member of the group. The purpose of a joint venture frequently is to share risks and rewards in developing a new market, product, or technology; to combine complementary technological knowledge; or to pool resources in developing production or other facilities. A joint venture also usually provides an arrangement under which each joint venturer may participate, directly or indirectly, in the overall management of the joint venture. Joint venturers thus have an interest or relationship other than as passive investors. An entity that is a subsidiary of one of the joint venturers is not a joint venture. The ownership of a joint venture seldom changes, and its equity interests usually are not traded publicly. A minority public ownership, however, does not preclude an entity from being a joint venture. As distinguished from a corporate joint venture, a joint venture is not limited to corporate entities.") (for guidance see Subtopic 805-60) 6. f The accounting for [environmental credits](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/e/#environmental-credit "(P) December 16, 2027; (N) December 16, 2028818-10-65-1An enforceable right that is acquired, internally generated, granted by a regulatory agency or its designee(s), or received in a nonreciprocal transfer that is not a grant from a regulator or its designee(s) that meets all of the following criteria:Lacks physical substance and is not a financial asset.Is represented to prevent, control, reduce, or remove emissions or other pollution.Is, or previously was, separately transferable in an exchange transaction. If an item is no longer separately transferable in an exchange transaction, an entity must be able to use that item to satisfy an environmental credit obligation to meet this criterion.Is not an income tax credit that may be used to settle an entity’s income tax liability, regardless of whether the entity has a tax liability or intends to use the credit for that purpose.An environmental credit that meets the above criteria may exist in a variety of forms, including (but not limited to) credits, certificates, allowances, and offsets.") (for guidance see Subtopic 818-20). #### Other Considerations ##### [350-10-15-4](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/10/#350-10-15-4) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z to 2026-09-10T00:00:14.438Z Record version: sha256:5235715c9157c1b1b613291007ad726fddd97b7db57dbf4e22b8365666b633fc Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The guidance in the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic does not change the accounting prescribed in the following locations in the Codification: 1. a Research and development costs under Subtopic 730-10 2. b Extractive activities under Topic 932 3. c Entertainment and media, including records and music under Topic 928 4. d Financial services industry under Topic 950 5. e Entertainment and media, including broadcasters under Topic 920 6. f Regulatory operations under paragraphs [980-350-35-1 through 35-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/980/#350-980-35-1) 7. g [Subparagraph not used](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/updates/page-1833002/). 8. h Software under Topic 985 9. i Income taxes under Topic 740 10. j Transfers and servicing under Topic 860. 11. k [Subparagraph not used](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/updates/page-1833002/).