FASB 1995/1996 statement of financial accounting concepts

This report contains the full text of five of the six statements of financial accounting concepts.

The existing concepts are intended to serve the public interest by setting the objectives, qualitative characteristics, and other concepts that guide selection of economic events to be recognized and measured for financial reporting and their display in financial statements.

Unlike a statement of financial accounting standards, a statement of financial accounting concepts does not establish generally accepted accounting principles. Major topics covered include: objectives of financial reporting by business enterprises, qualitative characteristics of accounting information; objectives of financial reporting by nonbusiness organizations; recognition and measurement in financial statements of business enterprises; elements of financial statements.