the Federal Cabinet on 21 May 2008 the draft law to modernize the accounting law (BilMoG) decided.
The press release from the Ministry of any changes will one (denoted as usual as a "government bill" but already approved) under
http://www.bmj.de/enid/5528cb413a2e0b0fc05c9f20e01e2852, 1489d6706d635f6964092d0935313835093a0979656172092d0932303038093a096d6f6e7468092d093035093a095f7472636964092d0935313835/Pressestelle/Pressemitteilungen_58.html
The complete Act can be found at http://www
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However, it is hard to read because it is an article of law and will order only the specific amendments in other laws.
are the main changes for training in commercial law and accountancy:
The bill relieves the company of avoidable cost accounting. Medium-sized retail merchants, who only maintain a small business are exempt from the commercial accounting and auditing. For corporations such as AG and GmbH also exemptions and facilities shall be provided in accounting.
regard to the facilitation of the Audit and disclosure requirements that exist for small and medium-sized corporations, the thresholds were changed:
are classified as small corporations in the future such that no more than approx. € 4.8 million in total assets (previously approx. € 4 million), approx. € 9.8 million. Sales revenue (previously approx. € 8 million), or 50 employees have an annual average. criteria must be met by a capital company, at least two in order classified as small be.
- are classified as medium sized corporations in the future such that no more than approx. Balance sheet total € 19.2 million (previously approx. € 16 million), approx. € 38.5 million in revenue (previously approx. € 32 million), or 250 workers have on average.
fact remains that the HGB balance sheet is the basis of tax accounting and the calculation of dividend makes this especially the SMEs, only a calculator - the so-called unit balance - to establish the basis for all these purposes.
- With these measures, the significance of the commercial financial statements is improved:
- Internally generated intangible assets
- Intangible internally generated fixed assets such as patents or know-how in future to be set in the HGB balance sheet. This is especially important for innovative companies that develop and Research intensive - for example, chemical or pharmaceutical industry or the automotive industry, together with their suppliers. In particular, small and "start-up companies benefit from the provision. They can also their development - their potential - in future shows in the trade balance. This allows the company to expand its capital base and improve their ability to obtain additional capital cost on the market. Tax expenditures remain still deductible, they are also not available for profit distribution. This promotes the competitiveness of Germany as a location for innovative companies.
Examples:
(2) A start-up company that deals such as the development of software, the cost of developing the software as a production cost of the software within the internally generated intangible fixed assets disclosed and not, as yet, to be expensed.
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measurement of financial instruments at fair value
financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and derivatives, unless they are acquired for trading purposes, in future assess all the companies at the balance sheet at fair value (fair value). This simplifies and unifies the financial accounting, is international practice and is now enshrined in the HGB accounting law. Thus the significance of the annual increase in Respect to any realizable gains and losses and the unrealized gains, however, inherently associated with a distribution block. For banks, the scope of fair value accounting appropriate and extended cover all financial instruments held for trading.
Example: A bank
buys 10 shares at a price of 100 € share. The shares were purchased with the objective to achieve capital gains and can be sold each trading day again. At the balance sheet date, the shares have a price of 120 € per share. Since the shares are valued at market value, they are in the balance sheet total of 1,200 € (10 pieces x 120 €) must be applied. It is clear to the bank a profit of 200 €. On the basis of the previously existing historical cost basis, the shares would be valued at the cost of 1,000 € (10 pieces x 100 €). The gain of 200 € has been not to collect revenue, as long as it was not realized by a sale of the shares.
- change in the liability valuation
provisions of business for future benefit obligations are valued in the future more realistic. The way in which Provisions are currently being treated accounting law, is in the public debate called again and again as the point of commercial accounting. Especially with pensions leave now in the financial accounting of the companies see the true burden, because the previous valuations were to matching estimates too low. In assessing the provisions should be recorded in future developments (wages, prices and personnel development) more attention than before. In addition, provisions should be discounted in the future. The evaluation of the reserves is so dynamic. The new regulation will lead at least in the pension provisions to increase. This is essential if one wants to arrive at a realistic fair valuation of provisions. To mitigate these effects, the draft provides for the possibility to accumulate the reserve over a period of several years. The tax provisions in this regard will remain unchanged, so it will not come to tax losses.
example The land of a company is contaminated with chemicals. The authorities on the company to remove the contaminated site as soon as the company's Business establishment ceases. This is expected in five years. At the balance sheet date, the cost of the excavator to be used € 100 / h It is expected that the dredging hour in five years costs 120 €. Under the previous law, for the measurement of the provision is - the date following principle - 100 € / hour likely, however, the future of 120 €, because future developments are considered.
- abolish outdated electoral rights
is also the HGB accounting rules from the "baggage" in recent years, free. Outdated accounting possibilities that the companies were given an informative and comparable financial statements in particular conflict but to be restricted or abolished. This is the case for the possibility not recognized for tax purposes, to make provisions for their future maintenance costs.
example
a company he owns the renovated administration and operations building at a distance of ten years. The accumulated amount required to carry out the renovation the company - without having had already concluded agreements on the implementation of the renovation was made with third parties - over a period of ten years in a recognized non-tax expense provision. Such non-tax provisions for expenses recognized in the future can not be formed.