# ASC 715-70-15: Compensation—Retirement Benefits — Defined Contribution Plans — 15 Scope and Scope Exceptions

Source: FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Basic View

[Read online](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/70/#15-scope-and-scope-exceptions)

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## ASC 715-70-15: 15 Scope and Scope Exceptions

[Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/70/#15-scope-and-scope-exceptions)

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#### Overall Guidance

##### [715-70-15-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/70/#715-70-15-1)

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This Subtopic follows the same Scope and Scope Exceptions as outlined in the Overall Subtopic, see Section 715-10-15.

#### Plans with Characteristics of both a Defined Contribution and a Defined Benefit Plan

##### [715-70-15-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/70/#715-70-15-2)

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A pension or other postretirement benefit plan having characteristics of both a defined benefit plan and a [defined contribution plan](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/d/#defined-contribution-plan "A plan that provides an individual account for each participant and provides benefits that are based on all of the following: amounts contributed to the participant's account by the employer or employee; investment experience; and any forfeitures allocated to the account, less any administrative expenses charged to the plan. Defined contribution health and welfare plans—Defined contribution health and welfare plans maintain an individual account for each plan participant. They have terms that specify the means of determining the contributions to participants' accounts, rather than the amount of benefits the participants are to receive. The benefits a plan participant will receive are limited to the amount contributed to the participant's account, investment experience, expenses, and any forfeitures allocated to the participant's account. These plans also include flexible spending arrangements. Defined contribution postretirement plan—A plan that provides postretirement benefits in return for services rendered, provides an individual account for each plan participant, and specifies how contributions to the individual's account are to be determined rather than specifies the amount of benefits the individual is to receive. Under a defined contribution postretirement plan, the benefits a plan participant will receive depend solely on the amount contributed to the plan participant's account, the returns earned on investments of those contributions, and the forfeitures of other plan participants' benefits that may be allocated to that plan participant's account.") requires careful analysis. If the substance of the plan is to provide a defined benefit, as may be the case with some target benefit plans, the accounting requirements shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Subtopic 715-30 or 715-60 applicable to a defined benefit plan and the disclosure requirements shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs [715-20-50-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/20/#715-20-50-1) and [715-20-50-5](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/715/20/#715-20-50-5).