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Shareholders, investors, and other stakeholders decide on their relationship with a company based on financial information. Usually, this information comes from financial statements. Companies ensure they provide the necessary disclosures for these users to satisfy their needs. This requirement also falls under the full disclosure principle in accounting.
What is the Full Disclosure Principle?
The full disclosure principle requires companies to provide users with all the necessary information to make crucial decisions. This principle also suggests that this information should satisfy the needs of users who are accustomed to reading financial statements. However, the full disclosure principle does not dictate how much information is satisfactory to meet its needs.
The full disclosure principle allows companies to use their judgement in disclosing information. Therefore, companies can determine the quantity of information necessary to meet users’ needs. On top of that, the full disclosure principle does not require companies to overburden users with excessive information. Hence, companies can omit any disclosures that do not have a material impact on their financial position or performance.
How does the Full Disclosure Principle work?
The full disclosure principle requires companies to disclose information they deem necessary for users’ decisions. However, it also does not entail including all disclosures within the financial statements. If companies do so, they can overburden users with information while downplaying the importance of mandatory disclosures. The full disclosure principle seeks to balance the disclosure requirements between both ends.
The primary objective of the full disclosure principle is to allow users to understand financial statements better. However, it does not focus on all stakeholders. Instead, this principle considers users familiar with reading and comprehending financial statements. The full disclosure principle leaves the judgement on the quantity and quality of information to companies to decide.
What is the importance of the Full Disclosure Principle?
The full disclosure principle is a crucial part of the accounting process. It also impacts financial statements. Essentially, the full disclosure principle focuses on the needs of users. It requires companies to be more transparent in their operations by letting users know about the details. Therefore, the full disclosure principle can promote better relationships between companies and their stakeholders.
Due to some high-profile scandals, the importance of the full disclosure principle has grown. Most of these scandals involve companies concealing crucial information from users. However, the full disclosure principle goes against such practices. This principle can also make financial information easier to understand. On top of that, it can prevent legal problems associated with concealing information.
What are the requirements of the Full Disclosure Principle?
The full disclosure principle includes some requirements on items that companies must disclose. Some of these include the following.
- Audited financial statements.
- Nature of company’s operations.
- Accounting policies and standards used in preparing financial statements.
- Changes in accounting policies and standards during the period.
- Significant events during the period.
- Details of non-monetary transactions.
- Details about inventory.
- Tax rebates during the period.
- Details of loans and interest payments.
- Goodwill impairment.
Conclusion
The full disclosure principle dictates the quantity and quality of information disclosed in the financial statements. This principle requires companies to provide users with the necessary information to make decisions. Although it allows companies to use their judgement for that information, this principle also comes with some requirements.
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