Statement of Cash Flows (Issued 11/87)

Summary

This Statement establishes standards for cash flow reporting. It supersedes APB Opinion No. 19, Reporting Changes in Financial Position, and requires a statement of cash flows as part of a full set of financial statements for all business enterprises in place of a statement of changes in financial position.

This Statement requires that a statement of cash flows classify cash receipts and payments according to whether they stem from operating, investing, or financing activities and provides definitions of each category.

This Statement encourages enterprises to report cash flows from operating activities directly by showing major classes of operating cash receipts and payments (the direct method). Enterprises that choose not to show operating cash receipts and payments are required to report the same amount of net cash flow from operating activities indirectly by adjusting net income to reconcile it to net cash flow from operating activities (the indirect or reconciliation method) by removing the effects of (a) all deferrals of past operating cash receipts and payments and all accruals of expected future operating cash receipts and payments and (b) all items that are included in net income that do not affect operating cash receipts and payments. If the direct method is used, a reconciliation of net income and net cash flow from operating activities is required to be provided in a separate schedule.

This Statement requires that a statement of cash flows report the reporting currency equivalent of foreign currency cash flows, using the current exchange rate at the time of the cash flows. The effect of exchange rate changes on cash held in foreign currencies is reported as a separate item in the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of cash and cash equivalents.

This Statement requires that information about investing and financing activities not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period be provided separately.

This Statement is effective for annual financial statements for fiscal years ending after July 15, 1988. Restatement of financial statements for earlier years provided for comparative purposes is encouraged but not required.