construction-type contracts

ASC 235-910 was the construction-contractor industry supplement to ASC 235 on notes to financial statements, which required disclosure of the accounting policies used for construction-type contracts. Every paragraph in the subtopic (05-1, 15-1, 50-1 and 50-2) was superseded by Maintenance Update No. 2019-01, so the subtopic now contains no operative guidance. Contractors instead look to the general accounting policy disclosure requirements of ASC 235-10 and to the revenue disclosures in ASC 606.

ASC 605-910 was the construction-contractor revenue guidance nested in the legacy revenue recognition topic (ASC 605). Every substantive paragraph in Sections 05, 15, 25, and 50 was superseded by ASU 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers), leaving the subtopic as an empty shell. Construction contractors now apply ASC 606 for revenue and ASC 340-40 for contract costs.

ASC 910-10 is the Overall subtopic of the Contractors—Construction Topic, providing incremental industry-specific guidance for entities that perform construction-type contracts (work built or improved on tangible property to a customer's specifications, usually at the customer's job site under a unique, bid or negotiated contract). Most of its former revenue guidance was superseded by ASU 2014-09, so revenue recognition now follows Topic 606; what remains addresses small-tool depreciation, classification of retainages, proportionate gross presentation for construction joint ventures, and industry disclosures. Entities in scope must also comply with all other applicable GAAP not addressed here (910-10-15-1).

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.