SFFAS 1
Page 11 - SFFAS 1 FASAB Handbook, Version 22 (12/23)
38a. In addition to entity and non-entity FBWT that is recognized on the balance sheet, a federal
entity may also administer fiduciary FBWT on behalf of non-federal entities or individuals.
Fiduciary FBWT is not recognized on the balance sheet, but is subject to separate
disclosure requirements for fiduciary FBWT, see SFFAS 31, Accounting for Fiduciary
Activities.
39. Federal entities should explain any discrepancies between fund balance with Treasury in
their general ledger accounts and the balance in the Treasury’s accounts and explain the
causes of the discrepancies in footnotes to financial statements. (Discrepancies due to time
lag should be reconciled and discrepancies due to error should be corrected when financial
reports are prepared.) Agencies also should provide information on unused funds in expired
appropriations that are returned to Treasury at the end of a fiscal year.
Accounts Receivable
40. Accounts receivable arise from claims to cash or other assets. The accounting standard for
accounts receivable is set forth below.
41. Recognition of receivables.
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A receivable should be recognized when a federal entity
establishes a claim to cash or other assets against other entities, either based on legal
provisions, such as a payment due date, (e.g., taxes not received by the date they are due),
or goods or services provided. If the exact amount is unknown, a reasonable estimate
should be made. [See SFFAS 7, paragraph 53 for more.]
42. Separate reporting. Receivables from federal entities are intragovernmental receivables,
and should be reported separately from receivables from nonfederal entities.
43. Entity vs. Non-entity receivables. Receivables should be distinguished between entity
receivables and non-entity receivables. Entity receivables are amounts that a federal entity
claims for payment from other federal or nonfederal entities and that the federal entity is
authorized by law to include in its obligational authority or to offset its expenditures and
liabilities upon collection.
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Non-entity receivables are amounts that the entity collects on
3
The word recognition used in this document bears the same meaning as used by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) in its conceptual statements. It means the process of formally recording or incorporating an item into the
financial statements of an entity as an asset, liability, revenue, expense, or the like. A recognized item is depicted in
both words and numbers, with the amount included in the statement totals. Recognition comprehends both initial
recognition of an item and recognition of subsequent changes in or removal of a previously recognized item. FASB
Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 5, par. 6.
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An entity may have receivables that, once collected, can be used as offsets to the entity’s budget authority and
outlays only when authorized by Congress. Before receiving the authorization, however, those receivables are
non-entity receivables.