scope exceptions

ASC 305-10 is the Overall subtopic of the Cash and Cash Equivalents topic, but its substantive content has been removed — the scope, overview, and implementation guidance paragraphs were superseded by Maintenance Update 2017-21 and ASU 2012-04. As a result, 305-10 today functions largely as a placeholder heading; the operative guidance on cash and cash equivalents lives elsewhere, principally in ASC 230 (definition and presentation of cash equivalents, restricted cash) and ASC 210 (balance sheet classification).

This Subtopic (codified as 958-320) governs how not-for-profit entities account for investments in debt securities and sets disclosure rules for most NFP investments. The core rule is simple and different from the business-entity model: all debt securities held by an NFP are carried at fair value in the statement of financial position, with no held-to-maturity, trading, or available-for-sale classification. Purchased securities are initially measured at acquisition cost (excluding brokerage and other transaction fees); contributed securities and those received in agency transactions are initially measured at fair value.

ASC 350-10 is the Overall subtopic that sets the scope and structure for the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic. It governs the subsequent measurement, presentation, and disclosure of goodwill and other intangible assets (through Subtopics 350-20, 350-30, 350-40, 350-50, and 350-60), but expressly excludes accounting at acquisition for goodwill and intangibles acquired in a business combination, an NFP acquisition, or recognized by a joint venture upon formation. It also directs that derecognition of nonfinancial assets within the Topic follow Subtopic 610-20 or Topic 606, as applicable.

ASC 720-15 governs the accounting for start-up activities — including one-time activities to open a new facility, introduce a new product or service, conduct business in a new territory or with a new class of customer, initiate a new process in an existing facility, or organize a new entity (organization costs). The single core rule is that costs of start-up activities, including organization costs, must be expensed as incurred (720-15-25-1). The Subtopic defines start-up activities by their nature rather than by the time period in which they occur, and carves out numerous costs governed by other GAAP.

ASC 815-10 is the Overall subtopic of the derivatives and hedging Topic: it defines what a derivative instrument is, sets the scope (including a long list of scope exceptions), and requires that derivatives be recognized as assets or liabilities on the statement of financial position and measured at fair value. A contract is a derivative only if it has (1) one or more underlyings and one or more notional amounts or payment provisions, (2) no or a smaller-than-usual initial net investment, and (3) the ability to be settled net (815-10-15-83). If conditions are met, an entity may elect to designate a derivative as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or hedge of foreign currency exposure (including a net investment in a foreign operation).

ASC 915-10 formerly set out the "Overall" guidance for development stage entities — entities devoting substantially all efforts to establishing a new business that had no principal operations or no significant revenue. All of its substantive content (scope, background, and the transition paragraph) was superseded by ASU 2014-10, which eliminated the incremental reporting requirements for development stage entities; the transition guidance in 915-10-65-1 was itself superseded on 06/23/2016 after the transition period ended. The subtopic is now an empty shell with no operative U.S. GAAP requirements.