GASB 96 - Initial Measurement
The article explains that under GASB 96, the initial measurement of Subscription Liability is the present value of future payments—including fixed, certain variable, penalties, and other reasonably certain payments—discounted using the vendor's implicit rate or the government's incremental borrowing rate, while the Subscription Asset is calculated by adding payments made at or before commencement and capitalizable initial implementation costs to the Subscription Liability, then subtracting any incentives received from the SBITA vendor.
GASB 96 - Initial Measurement
This article covers how to determine the Subscription Liability and Subscription Asset amounts.
To determine what the Subscription Liability and Subscription Asset amounts organizations must first identify the required information for the calculations. The Subscription Liability is the present value of future payments.
To begin, first identify what qualifies as a Payment:
Payments
- Fixed Payments
- Variable payments that depend on an index or rate, measured using the index or rate as of the commencement of the term
- Variable payments that are fixed in substance
- Payments for penalties for terminating the SBITA if the government expects to execute an option to terminate or a fiscal funding or cancellation clause
- Subscription contract incentives receivable from the SBITA vendor
- Other Payments to the SBITA vendor associated with the SBITA contract that are reasonably certain of being required
Next, identify the discount rate:
Discount Rate
- The rate the SBITA vendor charges the government, which may be implicit
- If not implicit or readily determined, use the government�s estimated incremental borrowing rate
Subscription Liability
To determine the Subscription Liability, use the discount rate to determine the present value of future lease payments.�
Subscription Asset
To determine the Subscription Asset, begin with the Subscription Liability.�
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Subscription Liability
Payments made at or before commencement
Capitalizable Initial Implementation Costs
Incentives Received from SBITA Vendor
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Subscription Asset
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