Situation 1: A company offers a one-year warranty for the product that it manufactures. A history of warranty claims has been compiled, and the probable amounts of claims related to sales for a given period can be determined. Situation 2: Subsequent to the date of a set of financial statements but prior to the issuance of the financial statements, a company enters into a contract that will probably result in a significant loss to the company. The amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Situation 3: A company has adopted a policy of recording self-insurance for any possible losses resulting from injury to others by the company’s vehicles. The premium for an insurance policy for the same risk from an independent insurance company would have an annual cost of $4,000. During the period covered by the financial statements, there were no accidents involving the company’s vehicles that resulted in injury to others. Discuss the accrual or type of disclosure necessary (if any) and the reason(s) why such disclosure is appropriate for each of the three independent sets of facts above.

Situation 1. Accrual. The one-year warranty has created what is known as contingent liability. Contingent liability is a type of liability that is dependent on the outcome of some specific actions which has happened in the past. The eventual liability may or may not happen. But since the probable claim from the one-year warranty has been determined, it should be disclosed. But if the claim cannot be determined, it shouldn't be disclosed.

Situation 2. Since this contract happened before the issuance of financial statement and the amount of loss from this contract can be reasonably estimated or determined, then it must be disclosed and the likely amount must also be disclosed. This disclosure will be under 'note to the financial statement'.

Situation 3. This is a self insurance and self insurance is not an insurance. There is no contingent liability in this situation. Also, there is no accident, no injury. Hence, this is no disclosure here.