Historical cost accounting: Difference between revisions

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The usual basis of valuation in published financial statements, based on the orginal cost of assets to the reporting entity.
''Financial reporting - measurement.''


Generally favoured because historical cost is an objective measure which can be relatively easily verified, for example by an auditor.   
Historical cost accounting is the usual traditional basis of measurement in published financial statements, based on the orginal cost of assets to the reporting entity.   


The use of historical cost accounting can  however be challenged on conceptual grounds, especially in times of high inflation.
It was generally favoured because historical cost is an objective measure which can be relatively easily verified, for example by an auditor. 
 
The use of historical cost accounting can  however be challenged on conceptual grounds, especially in times of high inflation or volatility in current market values.
 
For this reason, fair value accounting supplements and replaces historical cost accounting for a number of items.  Fair value measurement is based much more closely on current market values.




== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Amortised cost]]
* [[Current cost accounting]]
* [[Current cost accounting]]
* [[Fair value]]
* [[Financial reporting]]
* [[Historical cost]]
* [[Measurement]]
* [[Short termism]]
[[Category:Accounting,_tax_and_regulation]]

Revision as of 12:40, 29 October 2020

Financial reporting - measurement.

Historical cost accounting is the usual traditional basis of measurement in published financial statements, based on the orginal cost of assets to the reporting entity.

It was generally favoured because historical cost is an objective measure which can be relatively easily verified, for example by an auditor.

The use of historical cost accounting can however be challenged on conceptual grounds, especially in times of high inflation or volatility in current market values.

For this reason, fair value accounting supplements and replaces historical cost accounting for a number of items. Fair value measurement is based much more closely on current market values.


See also