Full Disclosure | Financial Accounting (2024)

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the full disclosure principle

As one of the principles in GAAP, the full disclosure principle definition requires that all situations, circ*mstances, and events that are relevant to financial statement users have to be disclosed. In other words, all of a company’s financial records and transactions have to be available for viewing.

Financial statements normally provide information about a company’s past performance. However, pending lawsuits, incomplete transactions, or other conditions may have imminent and significant effects on the company’s financial status. The full disclosure principle requires that financial statements include disclosure of such information. Accordingly, financial statements use footnotes to convey this information and to describe any policies the company uses to record and report business transactions.

General Electric’s 2019 Annual Report

For instance, the following footnotes are excerpts from the General Electric annual report (including the Form 10-K to the SEC) for the year ended December 31, 2019:

NOTE 13. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
PENSION BENEFITS AND RETIREE HEALTH AND LIFE BENEFITS.
We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans that we present in three categories, principal pension plans, other pension plans and principal retiree benefit plans. Smaller pension plans with pension assets or obligations less than $50 million and other retiree benefit plans are not presented. https://www.ge.com/investor-relations/sites/default/files/GE_AR19_AnnualReport.pdf, page 89

NOTE 23. COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES, PRODUCT WARRANTIES AND OTHER LOSS CONTINGENCIES
SEC investigation. In late November 2017, staff of the Boston office of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) notified us that they are conducting an investigation of GE’s revenue recognition practices…We are providing documents and other information requested by the SEC staff, and we are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Staff from the DOJ are also investigating these matters, and we are providing them with requested documents and information as well.[1]

The SEC has the right to penalize violations of the full disclosure rule. For example, in June 2002, an audit of WorldCom revealed that it had overstated its assets by over $11 billion. The SEC fined WorldCom $750 million, the largest penalty assessed to that date. Even so, investors lost over $2 billion due to the stock devaluation that followed the financial fraud.

Practice Question

Full Disclosure | Financial Accounting (2024)

FAQs

Full Disclosure | Financial Accounting? ›

The full disclosure principle: This principle states that companies should disclose all information that is relevant to their financial statements. This includes information about their assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses.

What does full disclosure mean accounting? ›

Full disclosure principle refers to the concept that suggests that a business should report all the necessary information in their financial statements, so that the users who are able to read the financial information are in a better position to make important decisions regarding the company.

What does disclosure mean in accounting? ›

What Are Disclosures in Financial Statements? Disclosures come at the end of a financial statement, sharing non-financial information to provide context for the financials. This information helps investors, lenders, and others make the best possible decisions.

What is the full disclosure rule? ›

Full disclosure is the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) requirement that publicly traded companies release and provide for the free exchange of all material facts that are relevant to their ongoing business operations.

What does it mean to give full disclosure? ›

As a general rule in a business transaction, for example, in a real estate transaction, full disclosure refers to the obligation which requires both parties to disclose the whole truth regarding any significant aspect of a business transaction.

Does GAAP require full disclosure? ›

As one of the principles in GAAP, the full disclosure principle definition requires that all situations, circ*mstances, and events that are relevant to financial statement users have to be disclosed. In other words, all of a company's financial records and transactions have to be available for viewing.

What is the full disclosure process? ›

This is a process that is designed to allow the partner to understand and have revealed to her the full extent of the secrecy and for the addict to live in transparency and honesty.

What is full financial disclosure? ›

What is financial disclosure? The process of financial disclosure on divorce & separation is where you will give full details of your personal financial position, resources, and future needs. This will normally be exchanged between you and your partner.

What is materiality and full disclosure? ›

Full disclosure: Information considered potentially important and relevant must be revealed, regardless of whether it is detrimental to the company. Materiality: Like full disclosure, this convention urges companies to lay all their cards on the table.

What is the purpose of an accounting of disclosures? ›

HIPAA Disclosure Accounting or Accounting of Disclosures (AOD) is the action or process of keeping records of disclosures of PHI for purposes other than Treatment, Payment, or Healthcare Operations. You are required by law to provide patients a list of all the disclosures of their PHI that you have made outside of TPO.

What is the golden rule of full disclosure? ›

The golden rule is that full disclosure should be made. The statutory regime for duties and disclosure responsibilities in a criminal investigation commenced after April 2005, the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

How to use full disclosure? ›

This was a document that purported to require full disclosure. He has also introduced a system of full disclosure. It is essential that they make full disclosure of all documentation and evidence to allow the sport to move on,' she said. Our clients expect full disclosure.

What is the standard of full disclosure? ›

Explaining the Full Disclosure Principle

The principle urges the disclosure of information that can have a material impact on the company's financial results or financial position. The principle helps foster transparency in financial markets and limits the opportunities for potentially fraudulent activities.

What is full disclosure in accounting? ›

The full disclosure principle: This principle states that companies should disclose all information that is relevant to their financial statements. This includes information about their assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses.

Why is disclosure important in accounting? ›

It helps investors make informed decisions and choose stocks or bonds that may suit their investment needs and investment portfolio. Such information disclosures are issued via a disclosure statement, containing all relevant information about the corporation, positive or negative.

What are the different types of disclosures in accounting? ›

Types of disclosures include, accounting changes, accounting errors, asset retirement, insurance contract modifications, and noteworthy events.

What is a fully disclosed account? ›

Fully Disclosed Accounts means trading accounts opened in the name of the Client's or the Client's end customer in respect of transactions, both at MFS and at the exchange.

What does it mean when it says account disclosure? ›

In the banking industry, it's a statement provided by a financial institution—to either a consumer or commercial account holder —that outlines all pertinent information. Disclosures are commonly provided to account holders during the establishment of a new account or loan.

What is transparency vs full disclosure? ›

Full disclosure is when we share everything we know with our stakeholders. Transparency, however, is focused on what our stakeholders need to know. It requires us to understand them and, most importantly, make a few judgment calls on what works best for the particular context.

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