construction contractors

ASC 340-910 was the construction-contractor branch of the "Other Assets and Deferred Costs" topic, addressing precontract and other deferred costs incurred by construction contractors. Every substantive paragraph (05-1, 15-1, and 50-1) was superseded by ASU 2014-09 (the revenue recognition standard), so the subtopic is now an empty shell with no operative guidance. Costs to obtain and fulfill a contract with a customer are now accounted for under ASC 340-40.

ASC 360-910 was the construction-contractor-specific guidance on property, plant, and equipment, but every substantive paragraph (05-1, 15-1, 25-1, and 35-1) was superseded by Maintenance Update No. 2019-01. The subtopic is now an empty shell containing no operative recognition, measurement, or scope guidance. Contractors therefore apply the general PP&E guidance in ASC 360-10 (and, for contract accounting, ASC 606 and ASC 340-40).

ASC 405-910 formerly provided liability guidance (offsetting/presentation and disclosure of advances, billings, and related contractor obligations) for construction contractors. Every paragraph in the subtopic — Sections 05, 15, 45, and 50 — was superseded by ASU 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers). As a result, the subtopic contains no operative guidance; contract liabilities of construction contractors are now addressed under ASC 606 (and contract costs under ASC 340-40).

ASC 910-20 governs how construction contractors account for contract costs, focusing on charging equipment and small tool costs to specific contracts. Equipment cost is allocated to contracts on a reasonable basis (time, hours of use, or mileage) using a "use rate" that considers equipment cost less salvage/rental, probable life, average idle time, and operating costs. It also requires disclosure of unapproved change orders and claims included in contract costs and of progress payments netted against contract costs.