GL - Intercompany Accounting
After reading this article the learner should be able to understand the meaning of intercompany and different types of intercompany transactions that can occur. Understand why intercompany transactions are addressed when preparing consolidated financial statements, differentiate between upstream and downstream intercompany transactions, and understand the concept of intercompany reconciliations.
What are intercompany transactions?
An intercompany transaction occurs when one unit of an entity is involved in a transaction with another unit of the same entity. Most economic transactions involve two unrelated entities, although transactions may occur between units of one entity (intercompany transactions). An intercompany transaction is a transaction that occurs between two units of the same entity. An intercompany transaction occurs when one unit of an entity transacts with another unit of the same entity. It is a transaction between two associated companies that file a consolidated tax return or financial statement.
Why intercompany transactions occur?
While these transactions can occur for a variety of reasons, they often occur as a result of the normal business relationships that exist between the units of the entity. These units may be the parent and a subsidiary, two subsidiaries, two divisions, or two departments of one entity.
It is common for vertically integrated organizations to transfer inventory among the units of the consolidated entity. On the other hand, a plant asset may be transferred between organizational units to take advantage of changes in demand across product lines. Intercompany transactions may involve such items as the declaration and payment of dividends, the purchase and sale of assets such as inventory or plant assets, and borrowing and lending.
Accounting Treatment for Intercompany Transactions:
An intercompany transaction is recognized in the financial records of both units of the entity as if it were an arms-length transaction with an unrelated party. From the consolidated entity’s perspective, the transaction is initially unrealized because unrelated parties are not involved; therefore, the intercompany transaction needs to be interpreted differently than it was by either of the participating units. The difference in interpretation generally results in the elimination of certain account balances from the consolidated financial statements.
The purpose of consolidated statements is to present, primarily for the benefit of the shareholders and creditors of the parent company, the results of operations and the financial position of a parent company and its subsidiaries essentially as if the group were a single company with one or more branches or divisions. Regardless of the type of transaction, the occurrence of an intercompany transaction, if not removed (eliminated) from the consolidated financial statements, will often result in a misrepresentation of the consolidated entity’s financial position.
- These transactions can occur for a variety of reasons and normally occur as a result of the normal business relationships between the units of the entity.
- An intercompany transaction is recognized in the financial records of both units of the entity as if it were an arms-length transaction with an unrelated party.
- These transactions might or might not be cash-settled.
- From the consolidated entity’s perspective, the transaction is initially unrealized because unrelated parties are not involved; therefore, the intercompany transaction needs to be eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Types of Intercompany Transactions:
Transactions between units of an entity can take several forms and can occur between any units of the entity. Transactions flowing from the parent to the subsidiary are commonly called downstream transactions, transactions from the subsidiary to the parent are commonly called upstream transactions, and transactions between subsidiaries are commonly called lateral transactions. Hence intercompany transactions can be classified as:
- Downstream Intercompany Transactions
- Upstream Intercompany Transactions
- Lateral Intercompany Transactions
Impact of Intercompany Transactions:
Interpreting the impact of intercompany transactions on the financial records of the units involved begins with understanding how the transactions are initially recognized on each unit’s financial records. Intercompany transactions need an effective system to manage them appropriately as it could be a complex affair for globalized companies. Some complexities are streamlining intercompany trading with unlimited trading partners, local statutory compliance with intercompany invoices for each of the trading partners, intercompany reconciliation, and transaction-level balancing for sub-ledger applications and intercompany eliminations at period close.
It is also important to understand how each intercompany transaction impacts the income statement and balance sheet of the units involved in the period of the intercompany transaction as well as in subsequent periods.
Intercompany V/s Intracompany Transactions:
Intercompany Transactions are between two or more related internal legal entities with common control, i.e. in the same enterprise. Intracompany transactions are between two or more entities within the same legal entity. Hence intercompany is cross legal entities and intracompany is across various units belonging to the same legal entity. Rules for intracompany processing can be determined by the organization based on internal procedures and guidelines, however, for intercompany transactions, companies need to follow the GAAP and the law.
Intercompany Reconciliations:
Intercompany reconciliations are required to ensure that balances owed to and from companies (legal entities) in the same group are in agreement so that when group accounts are prepared the intercompany balances all cancel out on consolidation. As organizations use multi-currency and different accounting systems, balances at business units or subsidiary companies may not match with each other and the yearend process can be delayed. Too many reconciling differences may require investigation or resolution before the balances are acceptable to management and/or auditors.
Some of the factors that give rise to intercompany differences are:
- Individual companies may book items to intercompany balances and not confirm with the other group company if they have recorded the other leg of the transaction.
- Wrong posting to/from intercompany accounts, may post balances due from other members of the group to sundry debtors or creditors
- Currency rate differences due to recording transactions on different dates may translate at different values when accounts are consolidated
- Summarization by aggregating amounts and posting them as a single journal when the counterparty posts amount individually
- Counterparties may be incorrectly identified by each other so that although the net positions are correctly stated overall the actual balance details do not eliminate
Related Links
You May Also Like
-
After reading this article the learner should be able to understand the meaning of intercompany and different types of intercompany transactions that can occur. Understand why intercompany transactions are addressed when preparing consolidated financial statements, differentiate between upstream and downstream intercompany transactions, and understand the concept of intercompany reconciliations.
-
Different Types of Organizational Structures
Modern business organizations run multiple product and service lines, operate globally, leverage large number of registered legal entities, and operate through complex matrix relationships. To stay competitive in the current global business environment, they must often develop highly diverse and complex organizational structures that cross international borders.
-
Concept of Representative Office
A representative office is the easiest option for a company planning to start its operations in a foreign country. The company need not incorporate a separate legal entity nor trigger corporate income tax, as long as the activities are limited in nature.
-
Introduction to Legal Entities Concept
Modern business organizations operate globally and leverage a large number of registered legal entities, and operate through complex matrix relationships. To stay competitive in the current global business environment, they must often develop highly diverse and complex organizational structures that cross international borders. Learn more about Legal Entities and their importance for businesses.
-
An allocation is a process of shifting overhead costs to cost objects, using a rational basis of allotment. Understand what is the meaning of allocation in the accounting context and how defining mass allocations simplifies the process of allocating overheads to various accounting segments. Explore types of allocations and see some practical examples of mass allocations in real business situations.
-
The sole trader organization (also called proprietorship) is the oldest form of organization and the most common form of organization for small businesses even today. In a proprietorship the enterprise is owned and controlled only by one person. This form is one of the most popular forms because of the advantages it offers. It is the simplest and easiest to form.
-
GL - Recurring Journal Entries
A “Recurring Journal” is a journal that needs to be repeated and processed periodically. Recurring Entries are business transactions that are repeated regularly, such as fixed rent or insurance to be paid every month. Learn the various methods that can be used to generate recurring journals. See some examples and explore the generic process to create recurring journals in any automated system.
-
GL - Accrued / Unbilled Revenue
Accrued revenues (also called accrued assets) are revenues already earned but not yet paid by the customer or posted to the general ledger. Understand what we mean by the terms accrued revenue, accrued assets, and unbilled revenue. Explore the business conditions that require recognition of accrued revenue in the books of accounts and some industries where this practice is prevalent.
-
Learn the typical accounting cycle that takes place in an automated accounting system. We will understand the perquisites for commencing the accounting cycle and the series of steps required to record transactions and convert them into financial reports. This accounting cycle is the standard repetitive process that is undertaken to record and report accounting.
-
Business Metrics for Management Reporting
Business metric is a quantifiable measure of an organization's behavior, activities, and performance used to access the status of the targeted business process. Traditionally many metrics were finance based, inwardly focusing on the performance of the organization. Businesses can use various metrics available to monitor, evaluate, and improve their performance across any of the focus areas like sales, sourcing, IT or operations.
