# ASC 960-20-50: Plan Accounting—Defined Benefit Pension Plans — Accumulated Plan Benefits — 50 Disclosure Source: FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Basic View [Read online](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#50-disclosure) 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): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:fa1f59e337955ca3024d0c009db89748b3fac3e042eac1e6ba6956fa9afb66b7 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. ## ASC 960-20-50: 50 Disclosure [Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#50-disclosure) SEC content: no ##### [960-20-50-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-1) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:db55549bc76c20aca39194df90be1a7bbd371cc5e29b86eb5cd196ca2201c675 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. See paragraph [960-20-45-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-45-2) for required information regarding the [actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/a/#actuarial-present-value-of-accumulated-plan-benefits "The amount as of a benefit information date that results from applying actuarial assumptions to the benefit amounts determined pursuant to paragraphs 960-20-25-3960-20-25-4960-20-25-5 (that is, the accumulated plan benefits), with the actuarial assumptions being used to adjust those amounts to reflect the time value of money (through discounts for interest) and the probability of payment (by means of decrements such as for death, disability, withdrawal, or retirement) between the benefit information date and the expected date of payment.") and the year-to-year changes therein that, if not presented in the basic financial statements, shall be disclosed in the notes to financial statements. #### Actuarial Present Value of Accumulated Plan Benefits ##### [960-20-50-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-2) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:718eb6a4fa25512b2fbac2bd8caee7d65e8fec24bec8e3761c9d0c70ddeddaa6 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. Present employees' accumulated contributions as of the [benefit information date](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/b/#benefit-information-date "The date as of which the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits is presented.") (including interest, if any) shall be disclosed. If interest has been credited on employees' contributions, the rate(s) shall be disclosed. #### Changes in the Actuarial Present Value of Accumulated Plan Benefits ##### [960-20-50-3](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-3) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:0482edc20ed3dfadd87819d595e5f71865e2211aabf843e5d9d972f92c17432d Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The effects of certain factors affecting the change in the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits from the preceding to the current benefit information date shall be identified. Minimum disclosure shall include the significant effects of factors such as the following: 1. a Plan amendments 2. b Changes in the nature of the plan (for example, a plan spinoff or a merger with another plan) 3. c Changes in actuarial assumptions. Plans that measure the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits by insurance entity rates pursuant to the alternative approach described in paragraph [960-20-35-1A](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-35-1A) shall, if practicable, disclose the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions reflected in changes in those insurance rates. ##### [960-20-50-4](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-4) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:2ce84d4c069c647c14f815031655530065262da861b34c10ba4e42c1d03cf763 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The significant effects of other factors may also be identified, including, for example, the following: 1. a [Benefits](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/b/#benefits "The monetary or in-kind benefits or benefit coverage to which participants may be entitled under a pension plan or a health and welfare plan (which can include active, terminated, and retired employees or their dependents or beneficiaries). Examples of benefits may include, but are not limited to, health care benefits, life insurance, legal, educational, and advisory services, pension benefits, disability benefits, death benefits, and benefits due to termination of employment.") accumulated (Actuarial experience gains or losses may be included with the effects of additional benefits accumulated rather than being separately disclosed; if the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions discussed in (c) of the preceding paragraph cannot be separately disclosed, those effects shall be included in benefits accumulated.) 2. b The increase (for interest) as a result of the decrease in the discount period 3. c Benefits paid. ##### [960-20-50-5](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-5) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:de76ef80f6b773bfbf7790324358d66d1d17b00bfdb425cd3b7a4156080ac373 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. Disclosure of the effects of all significant factors affecting the year-to-year change in the [benefit information](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/b/#benefit-information "The actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits.") is encouraged. ##### [960-20-50-6](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-6) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:6fe481a1b7236891918e7ea3f97212ba95b786fc32d674b80aca54360ee0e4f3 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. If presented, benefits paid shall not include benefit payments made by an insurance entity in accordance with a contract that is excluded from [plan assets](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/p/#plan-assets "Assets—usually stocks, bonds, and other investments—that have been segregated and restricted, usually in a trust, to provide for pension benefits. The amount of plan assets includes amounts contributed by the employer, and by employees for a contributory plan, and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. Plan assets ordinarily cannot be withdrawn by the employer except under certain circumstances when a plan has assets in excess of obligations and the employer has taken certain steps to satisfy existing obligations. Assets not segregated in a trust or otherwise effectively restricted so that they cannot be used by the employer for other purposes are not plan assets even though it may be intended that such assets be used to provide pensions. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those nonbenefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. Amounts accrued by the employer but not yet paid to the plan are not plan assets. Securities of the employer held by the plan are includable in plan assets provided they are transferable."). However, amounts paid by the plan to an insurance entity pursuant to such a contract (including purchasing annuities with amounts allocated from existing investments with the insurance entity) shall be included in benefits paid. Due to the use of different actuarial assumptions, the amount paid by the plan to an insurance entity may be different from the previous measure of the actuarial present value of the related [accumulated plan benefits](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/a/#accumulated-plan-benefits "Future benefit payments that are attributable under the provisions of a pension plan to employees' service rendered to the benefit information date. Accumulated plan benefits comprise benefits expected to be paid to any of the following: Retired or terminated employees or their beneficiaries Beneficiaries of deceased employees Present employees or their beneficiaries."). That difference is an actuarial experience gain or loss (see paragraph [960-20-50-4](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-4)). ##### [960-20-50-7](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-7) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:54c273f4781e6b64b0fe7684f0a02244211fdd6f9f30f5053e7feaf6cd4eaf3e Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. If the minimum required disclosure is presented in other than a statement format, the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits as of the preceding benefit information date shall also be presented. #### Additional Financial Statement Disclosures ##### [960-20-50-8](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-8) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:e2516104b62e5472101030c126ff5bd138561059bc42ecd36e376d9ea0b95f41 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. Disclosure of the plan's accounting policies shall include a description of the method and significant assumptions used to determine the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits, such as the following: 1. a Assumed rates of return 2. b Inflation rates 3. c Retirement ages. ##### [960-20-50-9](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-9) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:e7baec21c8671341ac9825e0cd8bdb35f3b19df17df9fd0cd439e089ba7d82e2 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. Any significant changes of method or assumptions between benefit information dates shall be described. ##### [960-20-50-10](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-10) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:d4285aee68b93d8f69018b6200b7f39e88132cd03f487b8461990c3f8de66f17 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. If the method of considering administrative expenses as an adjustment of the assumed rates of return is used as described in paragraph [960-20-35-1(c)](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-35-1), the adjustment shall be separately disclosed (see paragraph [960-20-50-8](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-8)). ##### [960-20-50-11](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/960/20/#960-20-50-11) Pending content: no Source downloaded (UTC): 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z to 2026-09-10T02:22:59.930Z Record version: sha256:e3a031d3b54044b37c447ae363a017b284be21ababca76d2974825a13e1e4124 Snapshot version: sha256:15aea8165dff9f5ae47d9484f8470588b13b307f56e1d50801bf4d85ec190e3f Effective as of: not established by retrieval timestamps. The usefulness of plan financial statements would be enhanced by disclosure of the estimated effect on the benefit information, or on the difference between the [net asset information](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/n/#net-asset-information "Information regarding the net assets available for benefits.") and the benefit information, of a given variation in the assumptions to which that information is most sensitive. Plans are encouraged to experiment with such disclosure.