Question

A contingency was evaluated at year-end. management felt it was probable that this would become an actual liability and the amount could be reasonably estimated. if this was not reported on the balance sheet or in the notes to the financial statements, what is the effect on the financial reporting of the company? the information about the transaction would be inadequately disclosed in the notes. there would be no effect. the liabilities on the balance sheet would be understated. the net income of the company would be understated.

Answer 1

The effect on the financial reporting of the company is that the liabilities on the balance sheet would be understated. This is because at the end of the year, a possible event was calculated. The management felt from the calculation of that event that it is possible that the event could become an actual liability and that the amount could be estimated explainably. So it would become understated if these calculations of probable events cannot be written down in the balance sheet or in the notes of the final statements. It is like a forecasting of possible events that may happen in the future to prevent losses in the company.