Fair Value Accounting vs. Historical Cost Accounting

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Fair Value Accounting vs. Historical Cost Accounting Dane Brown Team Members: Luis Grisales and Lorena Gonzales Carlos Albizu University Currently, although Fair Value Accounting (FVA) method and Historical Value Method (HVM) are acceptable method of accounting practice in the U.S. by both The International Standards Board (IASB) and Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB), fair value accounting is more favorable when compared to historical cost accounting because fair value accounting reflects current situations in the market whereas historical value method is based on the past, fair value accounting also provides users with more current financial information. Because a firm’s choice of accounting method for assets does have a significant impact on its financial statements and management decisions it is important that an appropriate method be applied. FASB have agreed to make fair value accounting the standard method of accounting practice. Under historical cost accounting method, price paid by a company during the purchase of assets is the one that matters; the price reflected on the balance sheet is either the purchase price or a value reduced by obsolescence, depreciation or depletion. This method of accounting is easy to follow since it is based off fixed and certain inputs. While this removes all uncertainty from the initial valuation decision, it creates uncertainty in true future value of assets. However, when a firm based its financial statements on fair value accounting method, the value of the amounts will fluctuate from time to time compared to when historical cost accounting is used. The value of items accounted for using fair value method change at lower rate making them less likely to lose value in a drastic way. Fair value accounting is no more regarded above historical cost accounting, but it should be noted that historical cost accounting
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