Aicpa Aag Cir
Aicpa Aag Cir
Aicpa Aag Cir
Document 1 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008
Document 2 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Notice to Readers
Notice to Readers
This Audit and Accounting Guide presents recommendations of the Common Interest Realty Associations
Task Force on the application of generally accepted auditing standards to audits of financial statements of
common interest realty associations. This guide also presents the task force's recommendations on and
descriptions of financial accounting and reporting principles and practice for common interest realty
associations. The AICPA Accounting Standards Executive Committee has found this guide to be consistent
with existing standards and principles covered by Rules 202, Compliance With Standards, and 203,
Accounting Principles (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 202 and 203, respectively), of the
AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. AICPA members should be prepared to justify departures from the
accounting guidance in this guide, as discussed in paragraph .07 of AU section 411, The Meaning of
Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AICPA, Professional
fn *
Standards, vol. 1)
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Auditing guidance included in an AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide is interpretive pursuant to AU section
150, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1). Interpretive
publications are recommendations on the application of Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs) in
specific circumstances, including engagements for entities in specialized industries. An interpretive
publication is issued under the authority of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board (ASB) after all members
have been provided an opportunity to consider and comment on whether the proposed interpretive
publication is consistent with the SASs. The members of the ASB have found this guide to be consistent
with existing SASs.
The auditor should be aware of and consider interpretive publications applicable to his or her audit. If an
auditor does not apply the auditing guidance included in an applicable interpretive publication, the auditor
should be prepared to explain how he or she complied with the SAS provisions addressed by such auditing
guidance.
This AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, which also contains review and compilation guidance, is an
interpretive publication pursuant to AR section 50, Standards for Accounting and Review Services (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2). Interpretive publications include recommendations on the application of
Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) in specific circumstances, including
engagements for entities in specialized industries. Interpretive publications are issued under the authority of
the AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC). The members of the ARSC have found
this guide to be consistent with the existing SSARS.
An accountant should be aware of and consider interpretive publications applicable to his or her compilation
or review. If the accountant does not apply the guidance included in an applicable AICPA Audit and
Accounting Guide, the accountant should be prepared to explain how he or she complied with the SSARS
provisions addressed by such guidance.
This AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, which also contains attestation guidance, is an interpretive
publication pursuant to AT section 50, SSAE Hierarchy (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1). Interpretive
publications include recommendations on the application of Statements on Standards for Attestation
Engagements (SSAEs) in specific circumstances, including engagements for entities in specialized
industries. Interpretive publications are issued under the authority of the AICPA ASB. The members of the
ASB have found this guide to be consistent with the existing SSAEs.
A practitioner should be aware of and consider interpretive publications applicable to his or her attestation
engagement. If the practitioner does not apply the guidance included in an applicable AICPA Audit and
Accounting Guide, the practitioner should be prepared to explain how he or she complied with the SSAE
provisions addressed by such guidance.
TM
FASB Accounting Standards Codification
On January 15, 2008, the FASB launched the 1-year verification phase of the FASB Accounting Standards
CodificationTM (codification). After the verification period, during which constituents are encouraged to
provide feedback on whether the codification content accurately reflects existing U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) for nongovernmental entities, the FASB is expected to formally approve the
codification as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP, other than guidance issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). The codification includes all accounting standards issued by a standard-
setter within levels A-D of the current U.S. GAAP hierarchy, including FASB, AICPA, Emerging Issues Task
Force (EITF), and related literature. The codification does not change GAAP; instead it reorganizes the
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thousands of U.S. GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90 accounting topics, and displays all topics using a
consistent structure. The SEC guidance will follow a similar topical structure in separate SEC sections.
This edition of the guide has not been conformed to the new codification. AICPA Audit and Accounting
Guides, as well as other AICPA literature, will be conformed to reflect the codification after the verification
phase and upon formal approval by the FASB.
AU section 120, Defining Professional Requirements in Statements on Auditing Standards, and AT section
20, Defining Professional Requirements in Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1), which were issued in December 2005, set forth the meaning of certain
terms used in SASs and SSAEs, respectively, issued by the ASB in describing the professional
requirements imposed on auditors and practitioners. The specific terms used to define professional
requirements in these sections are not intended to apply to interpretive publications issued under the
authority of the ASB because interpretive publications are not auditing or attestation standards. It is the
ASB's intention to make conforming changes to the interpretive publications over the next several years to
remove any language that would imply a professional requirement where none exists.
In December 2007, the ARSC issued AR section 20, Defining Professional Requirements in Statements on
Standards for Accounting and Review Services, (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2), which sets forth
the meaning of certain terms used in SSARSs issued by the ARSC in describing the professional
requirements imposed on accountants performing a compilation or review of a nonissuer. The specific terms
used to define professional requirements in this section are not intended to apply to interpretive publications
issued under the authority of the ARSC because interpretive publications are not SSARSs. It is the ARSC's
intention to make conforming changes to the interpretive publications to remove any language that would
imply a professional requirement where none exists.
AU section 120, AT section 20, and AR section 20, which were effective upon issuance, define the
terminology that the ASB and ARSC will use going forward to describe the degree of responsibility that the
requirements impose on the auditor, practitioner, or accountant in engagements performed for nonissuers.
SASs, SSAEs, and SSARSs will use the words must or is required to indicate an unconditional requirement,
with which the auditor, practitioner, or accountant is required to comply. SASs, SSAEs, and SSARSs will
use the word should to indicate a presumptively mandatory requirement. The auditor, practitioner, or
accountant is required to comply with a presumptively mandatory requirement in all cases in which the
circumstances exist to which the presumptively mandatory requirement applies; however, in rare
circumstances, the auditor, practitioner, or accountant may depart from a presumptively mandatory
requirement provided he or she documents the justification for the departure and how the alternative
procedures performed in the circumstances were sufficient to achieve the objectives of the presumptively
mandatory requirement. If a SAS, SSAE, or SSARS provides that a procedure or action is one that the
auditor, practitioner, and accountant should consider, the consideration of the procedure or action is
presumptively required, whereas carrying out the procedure or action is not.
This guide has been updated as applicable for AU section 120, AT section 20, and AR section 20. Refer to
the Schedule of Changes (appendix F) for additional information.
Recognition
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AICPA Staff
Doug Bowman Michael Glynn
Technical Manager Technical Manager
Audit and Attest Standards Audit and Attest Standards
The AICPA gratefully acknowledges those who reviewed and otherwise contributed to the development of
this guide: Gayle L. Cagianut, Steve Feldman, Jules C. Frankel, Mitchell H. Frumkin, Monte Kane, Gary
Porter, and Clifford J. Treese.
This guide has been modified by the AICPA staff to include certain changes necessary due to the issuance
of authoritative pronouncements since the guide was originally issued. Relevant accounting and auditing
guidance contained in official pronouncements issued through May 1, 2008, has been considered in the
development of this edition of the guide. This includes relevant guidance issued up to and including the
following:
. FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133
. Revised FASB Statements issued through May 1, 2008, including FASB Statement No.
141(R), Business Combinations
. FASB Technical Bulletin 01-1, Effective Date for Certain Financial Institutions of Certain
Provisions of Statement 140 Related to the Isolation of Transferred Financial Assets
. Statement of Position (SOP) 07-1, Clarification of the Scope of the Audit and
Accounting Guide Investment Companies and Accounting by Parent Companies and
Equity Method Investors for Investments in Investment Companies (AICPA, Technical
Practice Aids,ACC sec. 10,930)
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. Practice Bulletin No. 15, Accounting by the Issuer of Surplus Notes (AICPA, Technical
Practice Aids,PB sec. 12,150)
. SAS No. 114, The Auditor's Communication With Those Charged With Governance
(AICPA, Professional Standards,AU sec. 380)
. SSAE No. 14, SSAE Hierarchy (AICPA, Professional Standards,AT sec. 50)
. SSARS No. 17, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review
Services-2008 (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2)
Users of this guide should consider pronouncements issued subsequent to those listed previously to
determine their effect on entities covered by this guide. In determining the applicability of a pronouncement,
its effective date should also be considered.
The changes made to this edition of the guide are identified in the Schedule of Changes (appendix F). The
changes do not include all those that might be considered necessary if the guide were subjected to a
comprehensive review and revision.
In March 2006, the ASB issued SAS Nos. 104-111 (the "risk assessment standards"). Collectively, the risk
assessment standards establish standards and provide guidance concerning the auditor's assessment of
the risks of material misstatement (whether caused by fraud or error) in a nonissuer financial statement
audit; design and performance of tailored audit procedures to address assessed risks; audit risk and
materiality; planning and supervision; and audit evidence. The most significant changes to existing practice
that the auditor will be required to perform are as follows:
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. Obtain a more in-depth understanding of the audited entity and its environment,
including its internal control
. Perform a more rigorous assessment of the risks of where and how the financial
statements could be materially misstated (defaulting to a maximum control risk is not
acceptable)
. Provide a linkage between the auditor's assessed risks and the nature, timing, and
extent of audit procedures performed in response to those risks
The statements are effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December
15, 2006. Early adoption is permitted. See appendix E in this guide for a more detailed comparison between
the risk assessment standards and the existing standards. This guide has been conformed to the new risk
assessment standards.
For additional guidance on the risk assessment standards, please refer to the AICPA Audit Guide Assessing
and Responding to Risk in a Financial Statement Audit (product no. 012456) and the AICPA Audit Risk Alert
Understanding the New Auditing Standards Related to Risk Assessment (product no. 022526).
As previously stated, this guide has been conformed, as applicable, to the standards found in AU section
120, AT section 20, and AR section 20, which were effective upon issuance (December 2005, except for AR
section 20, which was issued in December 2007). These new standards define the terminology that the ASB
and ARSC will use going forward to describe the degree of responsibility that the requirements impose on
the auditor, practitioner, or accountant in engagements performed for nonissuers. Refer to the Schedule of
Changes, appendix F, for additional information.
Footnotes
fn * On May 9, 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 162, The Hierarchy of
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for
selecting the principles used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (the GAAP hierarchy). The FASB
concluded that the GAAP hierarchy should reside in the accounting literature established by the FASB rather than in the
auditing literature established by the AICPA (for non-Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] registrants) or the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (for SEC registrants).
FASB Statement No. 162 carries forward the GAAP hierarchy as set forth in the AICPA's AU section 411, The Meaning of
Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), subject
to certain modifications that the FASB does not expect to result in changes to current practice. The modifications include,
among other changes, the expansion of category (a) accounting principles to include, with one exception, all sources of
accounting principles that are issued after being subject to the FASB's due process (including, but not limited to, FASB Staff
Positions and FASB Statement No. 133 implementation issues, which are currently not addressed in AU section 411).
Although certain consensus positions of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) have been issued after being
subjected to the FASB's due process, the FASB decided to carry forward the categorization of EITF consensuses as
presented in AU section 411, which is category (c).
FASB Statement No. 162 does not carry forward the exception permitted in Rule 203, Accounting Principles (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 203), of the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct that allows departures from the
GAAP hierarchy if the member can demonstrate that, due to unusual circumstances, the financial statements would otherwise
have been misleading. Therefore, an entity cannot represent that its financial statements are presented in accordance with
GAAP if its selection of accounting principles departs from the GAAP hierarchy set forth in FASB Statement No. 162, and that
departure has a material effect on its financial statements.
FASB Statement No. 162 is effective 60 days following the approval by the SEC of the conforming amendments included in
PCAOB Release No. 2008-001 adopted by the PCAOB on January 29, 2008. Among other significant provisions, the
conforming amendments remove the GAAP hierarchy from the PCAOB's interim auditing standards. The PCAOB and the
FASB coordinated efforts so that the effective date of FASB Statement No. 162 would coincide with that of the PCAOB's
conforming amendments removing the GAAP hierarchy from its interim auditing standards.
In response to the FASB's release of the exposure draft of FASB Statement No. 162 in April 2005, the AICPA issued an
exposure draft of a proposed SAS, Amendment to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 69, The Meaning of Present Fairly in
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Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, for Nongovernmental Entities for Nongovernmental Entities, in
May 2005, which deletes the GAAP hierarchy for nongovernmental entities from SAS No. 69. The AICPA anticipates that the
effective date of this proposed SAS will coincide with that of FASB Statement No. 162. For more information, please visit the
FASB Web site at www.fasb.org and the PCAOB Web site at www.pcaob.org.
Document 3 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Preface
Preface
. to assist management, which has the primary responsibility for the financial statements,
in applying generally accepted accounting principles; and
This guide also describes conditions and procedures unique to the industry and illustrates the form and
content of the financial statements of CIRAs as well as informative disclosures relating to such statements.
Limitations
This guide does not discuss the application of all generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and all
generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) that are relevant to the preparation and audit of financial
statements of CIRAs. This guide is directed primarily to those aspects of the preparation and audit of
financial statements that are unique to CIRAs or are considered particularly significant to them.
This Audit and Accounting Guide provides guidance on the following matters:
. Financial reporting of common property and facilities. This guide provides guidance for
the reporting of assets, other than common real property, maintained or owned by a
CIRA. This guide describes practice for the reporting of common real property
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maintained or owned by a CIRA. The effect of the manner in which the assets were
acquired and depreciation policies are also discussed.
. Major repairs and replacements. Because a CIRA's primary function is to maintain and
replace common property, some CIRAs' legal documents and some state statutes
require them to accumulate funds for future major repairs and replacements.
Disclosure of such designated funds and supplementary disclosures of anticipated
major repairs and replacements are discussed.
. Method of accounting. Under GAAP, CIRAs report their financial activities using the
accrual basis of accounting. Alternatively, the cash basis of accounting may be used if
the results of applying that basis do not differ substantially from the results using the
accrual basis. This guide discusses the various methods.
. Budgets. CIRAs are generally required by their governing documents to base members'
assessments on annual budgets. This guide discusses the development of budgets
and their implementation in the operations of CIRAs.
. Income taxes. The IRS considers most CIRAs to be taxable entities that are required to
file federal income tax returns. Guidelines for determining the tax filing alternatives for
CIRAs are discussed in this guide.
Effective Date
The provisions of this guide, as originally issued in 1991, should be applied to financial statements for
periods beginning on or after September 15, 1991. Earlier application is encouraged. The effects of
reporting accounting changes caused by implementing this guide should be reported retroactively.
This guide presents auditing guidance to help the auditor plan, conduct, and report the results of an audit in
accordance with GAAS. In citing the professional standards, references are made to AICPA Professional
Standards. Additionally, when referencing professional standards, this guide cites section numbers and not
the original statement number, as appropriate. For example, Statement on Auditing Standards No. 54,
Illegal Acts by Clients, is referred to as AU section 317.
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This guide also presents compilation and review guidance to help the accountant understand and apply the
performance and communication requirements set forth in the Statements on Standards for Accounting and
Review Guidance (SSARs) included in AICPA Professional Standards. In citing the professional standards,
references are made to AICPA Professional Standards. Additionally, when referencing professional
standards, this guide cites section numbers and not the original statement number, as appropriate. For
example, SSARS No. 14, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information is referred to as AR section 120.
Document 4 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 1 Industry Background and Unique Characteristics
1.01 Although housing cooperatives have been around since the 1920s, and planned unit developments
(PUDs) since the 1840s, it was not until new forms of real estate ownership, such as condominiums and
time-shares emerged in the 1960s that the terms used to describe them became common. Collectively,
these forms of real estate ownership are defined as common interest communities (CICs). A key feature of
CICs is the existence of an association of owners, referred to in this guide as a common interest realty
association (CIRA), which is responsible for providing certain services and maintaining certain property that
all the owners share or own in common. Homeowners' associations (HOAs) and condominium associations
are two examples of CIRAs.
. Ownership of an undivided interest in the common property, with all owners bound by
covenant, restriction, or contract through an association of owners
. Automatic membership in a CIRA that has been established under state laws and that
performs maintenance and other service activities for the owners
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Condominiums
1.03 The term condominium indicates a legal form of ownership in which each owner has title to a defined
fn 1
interior space within a building or combination of buildings and an undivided ownership interest in
common property within a development, such as the grounds, recreational facilities, and exteriors of
buildings shared in common with all other owners. A condominium association generally owns no real
property, but it is responsible for maintaining the common property and providing necessary services. In
certain jurisdictions, condominiums may be established as condominium trusts; such entities may own the
real estate and all the improvements. If they do, the accounting and reporting for condominium trusts are the
same as for cooperatives.
1.04 A PUD is a form of land development in which various residential and nonresidential structures are
clustered to allow optimal use of the property and to provide certain open spaces and amenities not
otherwise available in traditional forms of subdivision developments. In many PUDs, tracts of land are set
aside for all owners to use for active or passive recreational purposes, parking areas, and streets.
1.05 To become an owner in a PUD, one buys a lot and improvements on the lot. The title to common
property is held by a CIRA, generally an HOA, which has obtained it at no cost to the association. The CIRA
assesses owners for funds needed to maintain common property and provide necessary services.
Cooperatives
1.06 The term cooperative refers to a form of ownership in which a corporation owns the real estate,
including all of the improvements, and is responsible for its maintenance, debt service, repairs, and so forth.
The owners do not own any of the real estate, but they own shares of stock of the corporation. Their
ownership interests permit them only to lease from the cooperative, to occupy their individual units, or to sell
their shares. Members are assessed carrying charges for units they occupy or lease. The corporation
functions in the same way as other CIRAs in maintaining real estate and providing services.
Time-Share Developments
1.07 A time-share is a form of ownership in which each owner has a time-share interest, commonly referred
to as interval use, that represents a right to use a unit in a time-share development for a specified number of
weeks during a year. Such interests may be in a form of (a) fee simple ownership, evidenced by a deed that
specifies the amount of time the deedholder is entitled to use the unit, or (b) a lease giving the owner the
right to use a unit for a predetermined lease term. These types of entities may also be referred to as
fractional ownership associations.
Regulatory Framework
1.08 CIRAs derive their authority for all matters, including financial matters, from specific statutes and legal
documents. CIRAs operate under the following:
. Specific state statutes, such as state horizontal property acts or state condominium acts
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. Bylaws
1.09 Most CIRAs are subject to state corporate or not-for-profit corporate statutes, unless they are
specifically excluded. HOAs normally are incorporated to permit them to hold title to common property and
to limit their liability. Depending on the nature of the state statute, not all condominium associations are
incorporated.
1.10 CIRAs that are corporations are also subject to corporate statutes that prescribe broad provisions
within which corporations function, including, for example, provisions for annual reporting requirements,
participation by members, and protection of assets.
1.11 Generally, no unique state statutes are necessary to create cooperatives or HOAs. However, specific
state enabling statutes are necessary to create the condominium form of ownership. By 1969, all states had
adopted some form of condominium or horizontal property statute. Some of these are simple enabling
statutes that briefly describe the format for creating condominiums, whereas others prescribe operational
and developmental procedures for condominium developers, managers, and boards of directors. A specific
state statute for CIRAs generally supersedes conflicting provisions of general statutes and possibly
supersedes the documents of a CIRA that are subject to it. Such statutes are frequently revised.
1.12 In an effort to provide guidance for statutory models at the state level, the National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) promulgated the federal Uniform Common Interest
Ownership Act in 1982 (amended in 1994). It combined, in a single comprehensive law, prior uniform laws in
this area of real estate ownership (the Uniform Condominium Act [1980], the Uniform Planned Community
Act [1980]), and the Model Real Estate Cooperative Act [1981]). A related uniform act promulgated around
this same time was the Uniform Real Estate Time-Share Act (1982). As background information, the
NCCUSL is a body of lawyers, professors, legal scholars, and other professionals who work toward the
standardization of laws across the various U.S. states. The NCCUSL does not have any legislative power;
uniform acts become laws only to the extent that they are enacted into law by state legislatures. State
legislatures do not have to enact the precise language of a uniform act and often enact laws with at least
fn *
some modifications.
1.13 To establish the rules under which CIRAs exist and function, HOAs use declarations of covenants on
the land, and condominium associations use condominium declarations or master deeds. Declarations of
CC&Rs and declarations of condominium or master deeds are the fundamental governing documents of
CIRAs. Typically, they state the owners' rights and restrictions on the use of common property as well as
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1.14 Membership agreements and proprietary leases are unique to cooperatives. A membership agreement
or subscription agreement is executed between a member and a cooperative and establishes the terms of
ownership, including restrictions on resales. A proprietary lease or occupancy agreement is also executed
between an owner and a cooperative and establishes the terms of occupancy of a particular unit. These
documents create certain ownership rights and obligations.
Articles of Incorporation
1.15 Articles of incorporation may or may not be used by a CIRA, depending on its state's statutes. Articles
of incorporation often are not required in states with statutes directed to CIRAs. They are used only to
provide a broad framework within which a CIRA's corporate structure functions.
1.16 Cooperative corporations own the real estate and may or may not have covenants to restrict its use.
Cooperatives are governed through the articles of incorporation, the fundamental legal document, and other
documents providing for the use of leasehold space, apartments, and homes.
Bylaws
1.17 Bylaws are organizational documents used to establish the specific operating procedures of CIRAs for
such matters as meetings, voting procedures, leadership positions, duties and responsibilities of specific
officers, and committees. The declaration and the articles of incorporation always take precedence over the
bylaws.
1.18 The policies, procedures, and resolutions of a CIRA's board of directors are established to carry out the
association's responsibilities as prescribed in the declaration or articles of incorporation and the bylaws, and
they set forth internal operating practices for handling financial and other matters.
1.19 The board of directors adopts rules, regulations, and policies that deal mostly with restrictions on the
use of property and on the behavior of unit owners. Financial matters occasionally are prescribed in the
rules and regulations, particularly those concerning delinquent assessments.
1.20 The operations of CIRAs are regulated by the individual states and not by the federal government.
Federal regulations, court cases, revenue rulings, and federal legislation, however, apply to the income tax
treatment of CIRAs, as discussed in chapter 6. In addition, various federal and quasi-federal lending and
lending-related organizations, such as the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, the FreddieMac and the FannieMae, have regulations to guide developers and others in establishing
CIRAs as well as in the sales and financing of units. The legal documents of CIRAs may contain language
to serve the needs and regulations of such organizations. Although compliance with such regulations may
not be mandatory, many believe that CIRAs should seek to comply with them, if practical, to facilitate sales
and resales, because not doing so may restrict available sources of funds and secondary financing.
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1.21 The establishment of a CIRA as a legal entity and the transfer of control of the CIRA from the declarant
(developer or converter), who established the CIRA, to unit owners may involve competing interests and
potential problems. The establishment of a CIRA and transfer of control are discussed in the legal
documents of most CIRAs. Before the declarant can sell units or shares, the declarant must file legal
documents that create the CIRA and specify its nature, form, powers, and duties. The legal documents
provide for the election of a board of directors and state its duties, responsibilities, and authority.
1.22 All CIRAs are governed substantially the same way regardless of their legal form. A board of directors
of individual unit owners usually is elected from among all owners to serve as a governing body. A CIRA's
board of directors is responsible for guiding the CIRA's administration; setting its policies; establishing
budgets and assessments; managing its finances; approving the financial statements; and directing
consultants, contractors, and staff in carrying out the CIRA's operations.
1.23 The declarant appoints or elects the first board of directors. Directors are replaced and additional
directors are elected from among unit owners through a process specified in the statutes or the documents.
Transfer of control from the declarant to the unit owners, however, may not be gradual if the provisions of
the documents specify that a completely new board should be elected from unit owners when a stated
percentage of units has been sold or at a specific subsequent date.
1.24 Whatever the transfer procedure may be, there is normally a period when the declarant controls both
the CIRA and the development company. That situation may create a potential conflict with the unit owners'
interests, such as in the allocation of expenses between the periods before and after control shifts from the
development company to the unit owners.
1.25 The legal documents may include provisions limiting the CIRA's operations during the project's
development to prevent the CIRA from acting in a manner that may harm that process. Such limitations may
continue to be imposed until the declarant's majority control of the board of directors has shifted to unit
owners, or until the declarant has completed selling units. Even after majority control on the board of
directors has shifted, the declarant may still be able to influence the CIRA's actions, because the declarant
usually retains the right to vote on behalf of unsold units.
1.26 Among other factors affecting the nature of the entity, an auditor engaged by a CIRA should gain an
understanding of the effects, if any, of the declarant's influence on the CIRA's financial condition during the
initial operating period in which the developer (declarant) generally controls the CIRA's management, policy
setting, and finances. (The initial operating period is discussed further in paragraph 7.38.)
Management of CIRAs
1.27 CIRAs are managed in various ways. For example, while some CIRAs contract with community
association management companies, others hire employees to work directly for the board of directors and
carry out its management responsibilities. Still other CIRAs rely almost exclusively on volunteer
management and occasional contractors and consultants, as needed.
1.28 Management personnel, on staff or by contract, are primarily responsible for the CIRA's financial
administration as well as the physical maintenance of the property or the supervision of contractors that
physically maintain the property.
1.29 In most CIRAs, management personnel or designated volunteers prepare periodic financial reports for
the board of directors. Such reports may or may not be available to unit owners. Most CIRAs, however,
have annual meetings at which financial statements for the preceding year and budgets for the following
year are presented to unit owners. Financial statements may also be provided to others, such as the CIRA's
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insurance agents, lenders on individual unit mortgages, lenders on the CIRA's mortgages in cooperatives,
fn 2
prospective buyers of new or resale units, and local and state regulatory agencies.
1.30 CIRAs often retain legal counsel to assist in enforcing their rules and for other purposes. CIRAs
engage accountants to provide accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services to CIRAs.
. A CIRA's functions are to operate, preserve, maintain, repair, and replace common
property and provide other services. Its activities relate primarily to these functions.
CIRAs generally provide services such as security guards, swimming pool lifeguards,
snow removal, and rubbish removal.
. A CIRA's members pay dues and other assessments to the association for the
operation of common property with collection enforceable through lien rights on their
ownership interest. Members expect to receive benefits in the form of maintenance
and replacement of the common property, among other governance activities
performed by the CIRA.
. A CIRA's members have defined ownership interests that they can transfer to buyers of
their shares or units and are entitled to share in the distribution of resources in the
event of liquidation.
1.32 The rapid growth of CIRAs has created a corresponding growth in the demand for financial information
to satisfy the needs of users of the financial statements of such entities.
1.33 The primary users of the financial information of a CIRA are unit owners, whose periodic payments of
assessments or carrying charges enable the CIRA to perform its functions. They are primarily interested in
information that indicates whether assessments are used for their designated budgetary purposes, and
information helpful in determining the adequacy of funds accumulated for future major repairs and
replacements. Adequate financial reporting may assist owners in assessing the extent to which the CIRA is
meeting its responsibilities to maintain the common property.
1.34 Members of a CIRA's board of directors need timely, comprehensive financial information to make
financial decisions. Information on operating expenses and capital expenditures is a vital tool for identifying
unusual trends and fluctuations in operating costs and, ultimately, in determining the assessments or
carrying charges that a CIRA should collect from its members.
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1.35 An understanding of a CIRA's financial condition is helpful to potential buyers in assessing their
possible investments. A CIRA's financial statements revealing that the CIRA has a deficit in operating funds
or that it has not obtained funds needed for property replacements or major repairs may alert a prospective
buyer to seek other investment opportunities or to modify the offer. In contrast, financial information
indicating that a CIRA is fiscally sound may help owners sell their units and enhance the value of individual
units.
1.36 Other parties that may be interested in a CIRA's financial statements include the following:
. Lenders that hold the financing on the property during the development period
. Trade vendors
. Insurers
. State agencies
1.37 Financial information about amounts due from unit owners and about a CIRA's policies for
accumulating funds to meet future major repair and replacement costs on common property is a major
concern of lenders, as well as of unit owners and prospective unit owners.
Footnotes
fn 1The ownership of a defined interior space in a condominium is referred to as a unit in subsequent discussions in this
guide.
fn *
A drafting committee of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws has issued a discussion draft,
dated October 2005, proposing amendments to the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act. The committee will consider a
number of topics, including owner access to budget and financial records of the association, the establishment and funding of
reserve accounts, and issues to improve the usefulness of the act. See the University of Pennsylvania Law School Web site at
www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/ucioa/2005AMDraftComments.htm for more information.
fn 2 In January 2005, Auditing Interpretation No. 15, "Auditor Reports on Regulatory Accounting or Presentation When the
Regulated Entity Distributes the Financial Statements to Parties Other Than the Regulatory Agency Either Voluntarily or Upon
Specific Request," of AU section 623, Special Reports (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1, AU sec. 9623 par. .96-.98),
was issued. The interpretation provides guidance as to what report the auditor should use if the financial statements and
report are intended for use by parties other than those within the entity and one or more regulatory agencies to whose
jurisdiction the entity is subject or the financial statements and report are distributed by the entity to parties other than the
regulatory agencies to whose jurisdiction the entity is subject, either voluntarily or upon specific request.
Document 5 of 19
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Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 2 Reporting on Common Property
2.01 Common property of a CIRA includes all real property to which title or other evidence of ownership is
held (a) by individual members in common or (b) by the common interest realty association (CIRA) directly,
as indicated by a CIRA's declaration or covenants. (Paragraphs 1.01-.08 of this guide discuss the ways in
which title to, or other evidence of ownership of, common property of various kinds of CIRAs is held.) It also
includes personal property, such as furnishings and recreational and maintenance equipment, that is owned
by the CIRA and used on common real property. Each member of a CIRA has a beneficial or undivided
interest in the property.
2.02 A CIRA can acquire common property in various ways. For example, it may receive the property by
transfer from the developer, it may buy property formerly leased by members or by the CIRA, or it may buy
property on the open market.
2.03 During the development of a common interest realty project, the developer or converter determines
which property, real or personal, will be common property. In a condominium, each unit owner usually holds
legal title to an undivided interest in property constituting common property. In contrast, homeowners'
associations (HOAs) usually have legal title to such property.
2.04 Developers or converters occasionally transfer to CIRAs property not specifically mentioned in the
governing documents. Title to such property is usually conveyed to CIRAs and may be transferred before or
after control of the CIRA is turned over to the unit owners. Such property may include unsold residential
units, furniture and equipment, parcels of land, improvements, and commercial units. A CIRA may obtain
some of those kinds of real or personal property from legal settlements of claims against the developer or
converter.
2.05 CIRAs may use their own funds to pay for additions, improve the property, and replace common
property. Such purchases may be funded by the following:
. Borrowing
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. Grants and similar monies from government programs for CIRAs that are used in low to
moderate income housing
2.06 Members of a CIRA may hold title to their units, subject to long term lease obligations, for example, on
recreational facilities or land. The lessor is often an entity owned by the developer. A CIRA may negotiate
on behalf of its members to buy the property from the lessor. If so, the CIRA generally holds title to the
property. Funds for such purchases may be generated by assessments of members, external financing, or
both. Alternatively, to be released from future lease obligations, members may buy pro rata shares of the
leased facilities. If so, title is held by the members and not by the CIRA. Any portion of leased facilities not
bought by members or the CIRA itself continues to be owned by the lessor.
. Property that is directly associated with the unit. This category includes common
property without which the units could not be occupied and exterior property that is
normally part of a freestanding unit. Examples include exterior walls, roofs, public
hallways, underlying land, sidewalks, driveways, roads, some parking spaces, and
greenbelts.
. Property that is not directly associated with the unit. This property includes community
resource property that is not necessary for the primary use of the unit, although
individual unit owners may benefit from its use. Examples include recreational
facilities, such as swimming pools or clubhouses, managers' apartments, properties
that are primarily used for commercial operations directed at non-unit owners or at unit
owners for which they pay a fee based on usage.
2.08 Cooperatives recognize common real property as assets. Because of their legal structure, cooperatives
have title to all their common property and have the authority to dispose of it and retain the proceeds. Other
CIRAs, such as condominiums and HOAs, have adopted other practices for recognizing common real
property. Paragraphs 2.09-.10 of this guide do not provide recommendations but rather describe the
prevalent industry practices followed by CIRAs other than cooperatives for recognizing common real
property as assets.
2.09 Most CIRAs other than cooperatives, regardless of whether they have title, do not recognize as assets
real property directly associated with the units.
2.10 Most CIRAs other than cooperatives recognize real property not directly associated with the units as
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assets when (a) the CIRA has title or other evidence of ownership of the property and (b) either of the
following conditions are met:
1. The CIRA can dispose of the property, at the discretion of its board of directors, for
cash or claims to cash, with the CIRA retaining the proceeds.
2. The property is used by the CIRA to generate significant cash flows from members on
the basis of usage or from nonmembers.
However, some CIRAs recognize as assets all real property to which they have title or
other evidence of ownership and that is not directly associated with the units, regardless of
whether condition 1 or 2 is met.
Personal Property
2.11 CIRAs should recognize common personal property, such as furnishings, recreational equipment,
maintenance equipment, and work vehicles, that is used by the CIRA in operating, preserving, maintaining,
repairing, and replacing common property and providing other services as assets.
2.12 Common property recognized as assets of a CIRA should be measured at the CIRA's cost to acquire it
if the CIRA acquired the property in a monetary transaction. If the CIRA acquired the property in a
nonmonetary transaction, such as by a nonreciprocal transfer from the developer, and if the property is
recognized as an asset of the CIRA, the CIRA should recognize the property using fair values at the date of
its acquisition. It may be helpful to consider the developer's cost, if it is known, in determining those fair
values. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements,
discussed in the following paragraphs in this chapter, provides guidance on fair value measurements.
2.13 FASB Statement No. 157, issued in September 2006, defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement does not
require any new fair value measurements. Rather, it changes current practice by establishing a single
definition of fair value. FASB Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, issued in February 2007, creates a fair
value option under which an organization may irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent
measure for many financial instruments and certain other items, with changes in fair value recognized in
earnings (or another performance indicator if the business entity does not report earnings) at each
subsequent reporting date as those changes occur. Most financial assets and financial liabilities are eligible
to be recognized using the fair value option, as are firm commitments for financial instruments and certain
nonfinancial contracts. Refer to the FASB Web site at www.fasb.org for the full text of the statements.
2.14 Except for application to certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, FASB Statement No.
157, as amended by FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, is
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim
periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is encouraged, provided that the reporting entity has not
yet issued financial statements for that fiscal year, including any financial statements for an interim period
within that fiscal year. This statement shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in
which this statement is initially applied, except as provided in paragraph 37 of the statement. FSP FAS 157-
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2 delays the effective date of FASB Statement No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities,
except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value at least once a year, to fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2008. Paragraph 12 of FSP 157-2 requires entities that have not fully applied the
provisions of FASB Statement No. 157 to make certain disclosures in their interim and annual financial
statements. FASB Statement No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that
begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins
on or before November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to apply the provisions of FASB Statement
No. 157.
Disclosures
2.15 Paragraphs 32-35 of FASB Statement No. 157 expand the disclosures required for assets and
liabilities measured at fair value. For assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring
basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition or that are measured on a nonrecurring basis in periods
subsequent to initial recognition, the statement requires the reporting entity to disclose certain information
that enables users of its financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. For
recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), the reporting entity is
required to disclose certain information to help users assess the effect of the measurements on earnings (or
changes in net assets) for the period. FASB Statement No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure
requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement
attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. Organizations should report assets and liabilities that are
measured using the fair value option in a manner that separates those reported fair values from the carrying
amounts of similar assets and liabilities measured using another measurement attribute. To accomplish that,
an organization should either (a) report the aggregate carrying amount for both fair value and non-fair-value
items on a single line, with the fair value amount parenthetically disclosed or (b) present separate lines for
the fair value carrying amounts and the non-fair-value carrying amounts. Refer to the FASB Web site at
www.fasb.org for the full text of the statements.
2.16 FASB Statement No. 159 permits all entities to elect the fair value option for many financial instruments
and certain other items, including held-to-maturity securities, at specified election dates. Prior to FASB
Statement No. 159, CIRAs were already required to report available-for-sale securities and trading
securities at fair value, as established by FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities.
2.17 FASB Statement No. 157 affects the definition of fair values used to measure certain nonfinancial
assets and liabilities, including the following types discussed in this chapter:
. Nonmonetary transactions
2.18 In conformity with FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets, common property that is recognized as a long-lived asset (asset group) should be tested for
recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the
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property may not be recoverable. An impairment loss should be recognized only if the carrying amount of a
long-lived asset (asset group) is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-
lived asset (asset group) is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to
result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (asset group). That assessment should be based
fn 1
on the carrying amount of the asset (asset group) at the date it is tested for recoverability. The
impairment loss should be measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived asset
(asset group) exceeds its fair value. FASB Statement No. 157, discussed earlier in this chapter, provides
guidance on fair value measurements.
2.19 When a long-lived asset (asset group) is tested for recoverability, it also may be necessary to review
depreciation estimates and methods as required by FASB Statement No. 154, Accounting Changes and
Error Corrections, or the amortization period as required by FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other
fn 2
Intangible Assets. Any revision to the remaining useful life of a long-lived asset resulting from that review
also should be considered in developing estimates of future cash flows used to test the asset (asset group)
for recoverability. However, any change in the accounting method for the asset resulting from that review
should be made only after applying FASB Statement No. 144.
2.20 Estimates of future cash flows used to test the recoverability of a long-lived asset (asset group) should
include only the future cash flows (cash inflows less associated cash outflows) that are directly associated
with and that are expected to arise as a direct result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset (asset
group). Those estimates should exclude interest charges that will be recognized as an expense when
incurred.
2.21 FASB Statement No. 144 contains additional extensive requirements about the recognition and
measurement of an impairment loss and long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale and other than by sale.
2.22 The growth of common interest communities in coastal areas and other areas susceptible to adverse
weather and geographical conditions has increased the industry's exposure to natural disasters. The AICPA
Technical Question and Answer (TIS) section 5400.05, "Accounting and Disclosures Guidance for Losses
From Natural Disasters-Nongovernmental Entities" (AICPA, Technical Practice Aids), identifies relevant
accounting literature to consider related to the following issues that may arise upon the occurrence of a
natural disaster:
1. Presentation of losses from a natural disaster (of a type that is reasonably expected to
reoccur) in the statement of operations
AICPA Technical Practice Aids provide helpful guidance in understanding and applying
accounting and auditing standards and are considered other accounting literature (as
defined in AU section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles [AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1]). However, they
are not sources of generally accepted accounting principles as described in AU section
411, nor are they sources of authoritative generally accepted auditing standards.
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Disclosure
2.23 The following information about a CIRA's common property should be disclosed in the notes to its
financial statements:
. A description of common property to which the CIRA has title, or other evidence of
ownership, that is not recognized as assets in the CIRA's balance sheet
2.24 FASB Statement No. 144 contains reporting and disclosure requirements concerning impairment
losses and the disposal of long-lived assets.
Depreciation
2.25 Property and equipment recognized as assets by CIRAs should be depreciated based on their
estimated useful lives. The following information should be disclosed:
2.26 CIRAs that use fund accounting should charge expenditures for major repairs or replacements to the
fund or funds established for major repairs or replacements. If an expenditure from the major repairs and
replacement fund relates to common property recognized as an asset, the amount expended should be
reported as a transfer to the operating fund (or property fund, if such a fund is established; chapter 4 of this
guide provides additional guidance about the funds in which assets should be reported). Assets transferred
to the CIRA by the developer and recognized in the balance sheet should be reported as additions to the
operating fund balance (or property fund, if such a fund is established).
2.27 FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities, prohibits the use of the accrue-
in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and interim financial
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reporting. In the FSP, FASB explains that the accrue-in-advance method of accounting results in the
recognition of liabilities that do not meet the definition of a liability in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6,
Elements of Financial Statements, because it causes the recognition of a liability in a period prior to the
occurrence of the transaction or event obligating the entity. The fact that an entity may incur future
maintenance costs to improve the operating efficiency of an asset, comply with regulatory operating
guidelines, or extend the useful life of the asset does not embody a present duty or responsibility of the
entity prior to the obligating transaction or event. FASB distinguishes the recognition of a liability using the
accrue-in-advance method from a liability for an asset retirement obligation in accordance with FASB
Statement No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, by stating that the liability required to be
recorded for an asset retirement obligation is based on a legal obligation for which the event obligating the
entity has occurred.
2.28 Although the FSP specifically addresses the accounting practices used by the airline industry, it states
that the guidance in FSP AUG AIR-1 is applicable to all industries. For required disclosures and other
information, refer to the full text of the FSP on the FASB Web site at www.fasb.org.
Footnotes
fn 1Paragraph 10 of FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, provides that
for purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss "a long-lived asset or assets shall be grouped with other
assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other
assets and liabilities." Paragraph 11 provides that in limited circumstances, "a long-lived asset...may not have identifiable cash
flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and of other asset groups. In those
circumstances, the asset group for the long-lived asset shall include all assets and liabilities of the entity."
fn 2 Paragraphs 19-22 of FASB Statement No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, address the accounting for
changes in estimates, including changes in the method of depreciation, amortization, and depletion. Paragraph 11 of FASB
Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, addresses the determination of the useful life of an intangible asset.
Document 6 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 3 Future Major Repairs and Replacements
3.01 One of a common interest realty association's (CIRA's) primary duties is to maintain and preserve the
common property. Because the costs of maintaining and preserving common property are shared by all
owners, it is the CIRA's duty to exercise careful planning for the funding of future major repairs and
replacements. While CIRAs often fund these costs through contributions over the life of the components,
CIRAs also fund the costs by assessing owners when funds are needed, or by borrowing. If a CIRA chooses
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to fund the costs over extended time periods, it reports assessments in the fund for major repairs and
fn 1
replacements.
3.02 CIRAs may assess its members for future major repairs and replacements, as permitted by statute,
association documents, lenders' requirements, or a decision of the board of directors supported by unit
owners. Inadequate funding for future major repairs and replacements may adversely affect the ability of
owners to sell or refinance their units, because of the concerns of prospective buyers, or because of the
difficulty of obtaining mortgage financing under programs of various federal and quasi-federal lending-
related organizations. In addition, a lack of funding can directly affect the CIRA's property values since the
funds may not be available to provide for the necessary major repairs and replacements.
3.03 Before developing a funding policy for major repairs and replacements of common property, the board
of directors ordinarily should review the governing documents, applicable state statutes as well as consider
their fiduciary responsibility to adequately fund for these costs. The board has the following options, subject
to such documents and statutes, in developing a policy:
a. Funding through periodic assessments over the estimated life of the common property
c. Borrowing
d. Although less common, seeking grants or other kinds of programs from governmental
entities (for example, energy retrofits, and arbor plantings)
e. Although less common, seeking assistance from governmental agencies, for example
if the association is geared to or established for low-moderate income homeowners,
financial programs are sometimes available
3.04 To implement a policy to accumulate funds for major repairs and replacements, a CIRA's board of
directors often needs to educate owners about the benefits of accumulating such funds in advance through
periodic assessments and to understand the benefits of a systematic accumulation of funds, including
a. having assurance that funds for major repairs and replacements will be available when
needed.
d. compliance with the governing documents, statutes, mortgages, bonds, and the like.
3.05 Although this is not common, the documents of some CIRAs authorize their boards of directors to fund
major repairs or replacements by levying special assessments when the money is needed. Often, the
documents require that special assessments be approved by a vote of the unit owners. If a special
assessment is not approved, the CIRA will not be able to fulfill its obligation to replace and repair the
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common property. In addition, because there may be uncertainties about the ability of some owners to pay
large special assessments, the board may consider it preferable to fund in advance through periodic
assessments. Above all, it is important that the boards of directors be aware that the primary goal of an
assessment policy is to meet the fiduciary duties to maintain and preserve the common property.
fn 2
3.06 In developing a plan, the age and condition of the components of the common property are
considered. The possibility that new types of material and equipment may be available may also be
fn 3
considered. The preparer calculates a suggested annual funding amount and, in doing so, may consider
such factors as which components to include, estimated replacement costs, useful lives, inflation, and
interest or other earnings rates. Annual contributions to the replacement fund may be based on studies,
such as engineering studies (more commonly known as a reserve study), developed to determine the timing
fn 4fn 5
and costs for future major repairs and replacements. A study generally includes the following:
. The funding goal (also known as the funding mechanism or plan), which is generally
one of the following:
- Full funding, which is a goal of attaining and maintaining the cumulative cash
balance at or near 100 percent funded
- Baseline funding, which is a goal of keeping the cash balance in the account
above zero
. The fund status, generally measured in cash or as percent funded (percent funded is
defined as the ratio of the actual or projected funds available for future major repairs
and replacements to the fully funded balance, expressed as a percentage)
3.07 Replacement information may also be obtained from contractors, suppliers, technical specialists (for
example, with the widespread use of IT, cable, and fiber optics, typical contractors may not be sufficient),
reserve study specialists or from using tables in technical manuals on useful lives of various components. It
is useful for a CIRA board to reevaluate its funding level each year based upon changes to the common
elements as well as changes to replacement costs and component conditions. The specific components of
common property that a CIRA may decide to include in its funding plan depend on the kind of project, its
construction, and the CIRA's applicable governing documents and state statutes. Such components are
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fn 6
generally limited to those with a useful life of 30 to 40 years or less from the time of the study
preparation depending on the philosophy of the individual performing the reserve study. The components
may include roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, IT equipment, floor coverings, seawalls, air conditioning
systems, heating and hot water equipment, roads, recreational facilities, and furniture and equipment owned
or maintained by the CIRA. Components for which there are maintenance contracts may not be included if
the contracts provide for maintenance and replacement of the components. CIRAs also often include within
their overall budget for future major repairs and replacements a deferred maintenance fund for those
fn 7
components requiring periodic maintenance that does not occur annually. Typically, the deferred
maintenance fund would include such components as painting, staining, and caulking.
Reporting Considerations
3.08 CIRAs that assess owners annually for portions of future major repairs and replacements should report
those assessed amounts separately from amounts assessed for normal operations. If a CIRA uses fund
reporting, amounts assessed for future major repairs and replacements should be reported in the major
repair and replacement fund separately from transactions in the operating fund. Transfers between funds
that are not part of the current-period operating revenues should be presented only in a statement of
changes in fund balances or in a statement of changes in members' equity, if a nonfund reporting approach
is used. See paragraphs 4.27 and 4.33 of this guide for recommended disclosures.
Footnotes
fn 1
The fund is commonly referred to as a reserve fund in the legal documents of CIRAs and in the industry. The term
reserves is not used in this guide because different meanings are attached to it, and misinterpretations could result.
fn 2 Although not used within this chapter, the term generally used within the industry for this plan is called a reserve study.
The general requirements for a study of this type are presented within The National Reserve Study Standards of the
Community Associations Institute, which is referenced in appendix D of this publication.
fn 3
The Community Associations Institute provides qualified preparers with a Reserve Professionals Designation (R.S.) upon
confirmation of both educational background as well as minimum experience levels in the preparation of reserve studies.
There is no requirement in this guide that reserve preparers be engineers; they can be board members, accountants,
contractors, managing agents, and the like.
fn 4The publication National Reserve Study Standards of the Community Associations Institute indicates that reserve studies
include (1) a physical analysis and (2) a financial analysis. In addition, the study provides readers with, among other things, a
description of the service levels offered as well as the types of funding plans available. Contact information for Community
Associations Institute (CAI) appears in appendix D of this publication.
fn 5 A materiality threshold may need to be established.
fn 6Please note that some state statutes may not have a maximum age requirement or it may be different. Refer to those for
further guidance.
fn 7
A comprehensive description of reserve studies can be found in the publication Reserve Funds: How & Why Community
Associations Invest Assets published by the CAI, which is referenced in appendix D of this publication.
Document 7 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 4 Financial Statement Presentation
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4.01 As discussed in chapter 1 of this guide, common interest realty associations (CIRAs) conduct and
report on 2 primary kinds of activities: (a) the CIRA's normal maintenance and service operations, such as
gardening, management, snow removal, minor repairs, and janitorial services, and (b) the CIRA's long term
major repair and replacement requirements, such as roof replacements, street resurfacing, and painting.
CIRAs usually assess their members for both purposes and generally should report such assessments
separately. This guide recommends fund reporting because the AICPA Task Force on Accounting for
Common Interest Realty Associations believes that it is the most informative method of presenting these
fn 1
separate activities. Some CIRAs may also conduct commercial operations or separate business
activities, such as rental operations, in addition to their primary activities. Such activities may be reported on
as one or more additional funds. Total amounts of all fund groups should be reported for each financial
statement presented.
4.02 Nonfund reporting is an alternative to fund reporting. The task force, however, believes that fund
reporting is more informative to users, because financial statements using nonfund reporting often do not
disclose whether assessments have been used for purposes other than those for which they were
designated. For example, if nonfund reporting is used, a user of financial statements may be unable to
determine whether assessments for future major repairs and replacements have been used in current
fn 2
operations. A CIRA may not need to use fund reporting if it does not assess for future major repairs and
replacements or if it has no special assessments, insurance proceeds, or settlement funds that are
designated for specific purposes.
Method of Accounting
4.03 Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires the use of the accrual basis of accounting.
Financial statements presented on an accrual basis are particularly useful for CIRAs, which assess
members based on annual budgets, because they include information about amounts payable and
assessments receivable from members and thus enable users to compare the results of operations to
budgeted amounts.
4.04 If a CIRA prefers to present its financial statements on a cash basis, and the amounts differ materially
from those in statements presented on an accrual basis, the financial statements are not in conformity with
fn 3
GAAP and are considered to be prepared on another comprehensive basis of accounting.
Financial Statements
4.05 Full presentations of financial statements for CIRAs presented in conformity with GAAP should include
the following:
. A balance sheet
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fn 4
. A statement of changes in fund balances
Balance Sheet
4.06 Information about the operating fund should present assets, liabilities, and the fund balance specifically
associated with the CIRA's normal maintenance and service activities. For example, the operating fund
should include information about cash, assessments receivable, prepaid expenses, and trade payables.
Property and equipment, if reported as assets, are generally reported in the operating fund. If the amount of
property and equipment held by a CIRA is significant, the CIRA may account for it in a separate fund.
4.07 The presentation of information about the fund for major repairs and replacements (referred to in the
illustrative financial statements in appendix A as the replacement fund) should include information about
assets, liabilities, and the fund balance specifically associated with the CIRA's long term major repair and
replacement activities. The fund includes all assets that are held, for example, for the major repair and
future replacement of roofs, roads, and furniture (some CIRAs may have a deferred maintenance fund
which is utilized for painting or refinishing of building exteriors as discussed in paragraph 3.07). Those
assets usually consist of cash, marketable securities, and short-term investments. Liabilities in that fund
generally are for work done on contracts for major repairs and replacements. Financial Accounting
Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, discussed in chapter 2 of this guide,
provides guidance on fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities.
4.08 CIRAs may have interfund receivables and payables resulting from either of the following:
a. Obligations of one fund are paid for with the assets of another fund.
b. Amounts assessed for the activities of one fund are collected, but not transferred, by
another fund.
4.09 Illustrations of transactions resulting in obligations of one fund being paid for with the assets of another
fund include the following:
. Roof replacement, which is an expenditure of the replacement fund, paid for by the
operating fund
. Insurance premiums, which are an expenditure of the operating fund, paid for by the
replacement fund
. Interest income, which may be earned by one fund but then allocated by the board of
directors to the operating fund
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The following is an illustration of a transaction in which amounts assessed for the activities
of one fund are collected, but not transferred, by another fund:
A CIRA's budget includes an annual assessment of $ 80,000 for future major repairs
and replacements, which is reported as revenue of the replacement fund. However,
due to an unexpected increase in operating costs, the CIRA's board of directors
transferred only $ 50,000 of the $ 80,000 to the replacement fund. Under these
circumstances, the CIRA's financial statements should reflect $ 30,000 as a receivable
from the operating fund and as a payable to the replacement fund. If the operating
fund is unable to or does not intend to repay that amount or a portion of it to the
replacement fund, a permanent transfer between the funds should be reported for the
portion that will not be repaid. Recording a permanent transfer for amounts previously
recorded as an interfund receivable or payable results in a corresponding reduction of
the existing interfund receivable or payable. Exhibits A-2 and A-3 and note 4 of exhibit
A-5 of appendix A illustrate that presentation.
4.10 CIRAs can generally present unclassified balance sheets. CIRAs having significant commercial
operations, however, should consider presenting classified balance sheets.
4.11 The difference between the assets and the liabilities of each fund group should be presented as the
fund balance of the respective fund group. Changes in those balances should be presented in a statement
of changes in fund balances. Additional analysis of fund balances, although not required, may be presented
in the notes to the financial statements or schedules. Exhibit A-7 of appendix A provides an illustration.
Deferred Revenue
4.12 Deferred revenue may include items such as special assessments designated for specific costs that
have not yet been incurred. Such amounts should be reported as revenues when the corresponding
liabilities and expenses are reported.
4.13 The statement of revenues and expenses should present information about all assessments, other
revenues, and expenses. All CIRA activities, except for replacement fund activities, should be presented in
the operating fund in the statement of revenues and expenses unless the CIRA has other funds such as
deferred maintenance fund or capital improvement fund. Depreciation should be reported as an expense of
the fund in which the asset is reported. Periodic assessments for funding future major repairs and
replacements should be reported in the replacement fund in statements of revenues and expenses in the
periods in which they are assessed, regardless of whether they have been collected or expended.
4.14 Information about revenues should include amounts for regular and special assessments from
members and amounts for such items as assessments charged to the developer, developer contributions
and subsidies, lawsuit settlements, interest income, laundry and vending machine income, or special-use
charges from members and nonmembers. Individual categories of revenues may be combined if not
material. Interest earned should be presented as revenue of the appropriate fund unless the CIRA has a
specific policy to treat it otherwise.
4.15 Special assessments should be reported as revenue, unless they are deferred in accordance with the
guidance in paragraph 4.12 of this guide.
4.16 Because income taxes are generally not related to the excess of revenues over expenses as in
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commercial entities, they may be presented in the same manner as other operating expenses. CIRAs
should follow the guidance in FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes and its related
interpretation, FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of
FASB Statement No. 109, including its related FASB Staff Positions (FSPs).
4.17 The financial statements should include a statement of changes in fund balances, which reconciles
beginning and ending fund balances with results of operations for the period. The statement may be
presented separately or may be combined with the statement of revenues and expenses. Permanent
transfers between funds should be presented as interfund transfers in the statement of changes in fund
balances, not as revenues (see exhibit A-2 of appendix A). For example, if the board of directors transfers
excess operating funds to the replacement fund at the end of an operating year, the interfund transfer
should be shown in the statement of changes in fund balances, not by reclassifying revenues.
4.18 A CIRA should present a statement of cash flows when it presents a balance sheet and statement of
revenues and expenses. The statement may be presented using the direct method or the indirect method.
The direct method begins with the total revenue that provided cash during the period and deducts the costs
and expenses that required the payment of cash during the period. Exhibit A-3 of appendix A illustrates the
direct method using a fund approach. Exhibit A-11 of appendix A illustrates the direct method using a
nonfund approach. The indirect method begins with an excess of revenues over expenses, or of expenses
over revenues, and is adjusted for items not requiring cash. Exhibit A-4 of appendix A illustrates the indirect
method.
4.19 GAAP does not require comparative financial statements. Nonetheless, Accounting Research Bulletin
No. 43, Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins, chapter 2A, "Comparative Financial
Statements," states that "the presentation of comparative financial statements in annual and other reports
enhances the usefulness of such reports and brings out more clearly the nature and trends of current
changes affecting the enterprise." Because of space limitations and to avoid cumbersome or confusing
formats, some CIRAs present total-of-all-funds information for the prior period rather than information by
individual funds. A continuing auditor need not report on the prior period financial statements if only
summarized comparative information of the prior period is presented. Nonetheless, in some circumstances
the client may request the auditor to express an opinion on the prior period as well as the current period. In
those circumstances, the auditor should evaluate whether the information included for the prior period
contains sufficient detail to constitute a fair presentation in conformity with GAAP. Exhibits A-1, A-2, and A-4
of appendix A illustrate comparative financial statements using a multicolumn format for the current period
and a single total-of-all-funds column for the prior period.
Accompanying Information
fn 5
4.20 A CIRA's records usually contain more details than are necessary to present financial statements in
conformity with GAAP. Consequently, the financial statements may include accompanying information that
is not required but may be meaningful to users. Accompanying schedules that compare details of the
CIRA's expenses with budgeted amounts provide users with additional information that is helpful in
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evaluating the performance of the CIRA's board and management team. For example, although CIRAs
budget and account separately for costs of insurance for property, liability, and directors' liability insurance,
expenses may be presented as a single line item in the financial statements. An accompanying schedule
presenting insurance expenses by classification with comparative budget information provides more detailed
information. Further schedules comparing budgeted amounts with actual expenses for all accounts and
reconciling them to the financial statements may be helpful to users.
4.21 Although not required by GAAP, a CIRA's financial statements may be accompanied by a schedule
analyzing the CIRA's program for major repairs and replacements. That schedule may present beginning
balances, additions, expenditures, and ending balances of funds for future major repairs and replacements
by individual categories of common property. Exhibit A-7 of appendix A illustrates that.
Note Disclosures
4.22 In addition to disclosures required by GAAP for other entities, the notes to a CIRA's financial
statements should also include disclosures about
. the CIRA's legal form (corporation or association) and that of the entity for which it
provides services (for example, condominium, homeowner's association, or
cooperative), areas it controls, and the number of units. (In place of the number of
units, cooperative housing corporations may disclose the number of shares and time-
share associations may disclose the number of weeks.)
. the CIRA's income tax filing status and its liability for income taxes.
. the number of units (shares for cooperative housing corporations and weeks for time-
share associations) owned by the developer.
. credits from taxing authorities that will be phased out in future reporting periods.
. assessments that were used for purposes other than those for which they were
designated.
. funding for future major repairs and replacements, as discussed in paragraph 4.27 of
this guide.
4.23 In conformity with AICPA Statement of Position (SOP) 94-6, Disclosure of Certain Significant Risks and
Uncertainties (AICPA, Technical Practice Aids,ACC sec. 10,640), CIRAs should include in their financial
statements disclosures about the nature of their operations and about the use of estimates in the
preparation of financial statements. In addition, if specified disclosure criteria are met, CIRAs should include
in their financial statements disclosures about certain significant estimates and about current vulnerability
due to certain concentrations, such as cash in the same bank which exceeds FDIC limits. FSP 94-6-1,
Terms of Loan Products That May Give Rise to a Concentration of Credit Risk, clarifies the circumstances in
which terms of loan products would give rise to a concentration of credit risk as that term is used in FASB
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Statement No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments. An example may include a loan
whose terms require the borrower to increase the repayment amounts at certain intervals which could affect
a borrower's ability to repay the loan and lead to increased defaults and losses. Judgment is required to
determine whether loan products have terms that give rise to a concentration of credit risk. This FSP
reminds readers to consider other accounting literature in addition to SOP 94-6 including, but not limited to,
FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
of Liabilities, and FASB Statement No. 91, Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with
Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases.
Related Parties
4.24 Some individual board members, officers, developers, or management companies may provide CIRAs
with insurance, maintenance, management, or other services. Such services may require disclosure in
conformity with FASB Statement No. 57, Related Party Disclosures. This statement also defines related
parties.
4.25 The developer or other parties may provide the CIRA with some of its revenues. If 10 percent or more
of a CIRA's revenues are derived from any one source, that fact and the amount of revenue from each
source should be disclosed.
Common Property
4.26Paragraph 2.23 of this guide provides guidance to CIRAs on the disclosure of certain information
concerning common property in the notes to their financial statements.
The following note X illustrates disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of a CIRA, ABC
Homeowners' Association, Inc., given the following facts.
Property
(a) A property that contains a golf course on 200 acres and a restaurant, on 2
acres. This property is used to generate significant cash flows from members
on the basis of usage and from nonmembers.
(b) Other common real property consisting of sidewalks, roads, and greenbelts
on 20 acres; a clubhouse on 2 acres; and partially developed land on 5 acres
that is the future site of a swimming pool expected to be built in 20X9. This
common property
(1) is not used to generate significant cash flows from members on the
basis of usage or from nonmembers.
(2) cannot be sold and the proceeds cannot be retained by the CIRA.
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The disposition and use of some of that property is restricted by the CIRA's governing
documents.
Accounting Policy
The CIRA's policy for recognizing common property as assets in its balance sheet is
to recognize (a) common personal property and (b) real property to which it has title
and that it can dispose of for cash while retaining the proceeds or that is used to
generate significant cash flows from members on the basis of usage or from
nonmembers. Therefore, the CIRA recognizes as assets the golf course (design fees
and land improvements), restaurant, land on which the golf course and restaurant
were built, and the equipment.
Major classifications of property and equipment and their respective lives are
summarized in the following table:
20X7 20X6
On December 31, 20X7 and 20X6, the association held title to common real property
consisting of a golf course on 200 acres of land, sidewalks, roads, and greenbelts on
20 acres of land, a clubhouse on 2 acres of land, a restaurant on 2 acres of land, and
5 acres of partially developed land that is the future site of a swimming pool expected
to be built in 20X9. The association is responsible for preserving and maintaining the
properties and may dispose of them only with the unanimous consent of the unit
owners, with all proceeds from the disposition remitted to the unit owners. In
conformity with industry practice, the association recognizes the following common
property as assets:
(b) Common real property to which it has title and that it can dispose of for cash
while retaining the proceeds or that is used to generate significant cash flows
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Accordingly, the association recognized the acquisition of the restaurant, the golf
course, and the land on which they are built as assets at their fair values on
December 31, 20X4, the date on which they were transferred from the developer.
Other common property, primarily consisting of sidewalks, roadways, and greenbelts;
a clubhouse on 2 acres of land; and 5 acres of partially developed land that is the
future site of a swimming pool expected to be built in 20X9 is not recognized assets.
4.27 A CIRA should disclose information in its financial statements about its funding for future major repairs
and replacements. Disclosures about such funding should include the following:
. A description of the CIRA's funding policy, if any, and compliance with that policy
. A statement that funds, if any, are being accumulated based on estimated future (or
current) costs, that actual expenditures may vary from these estimates, and that the
variations may be material
. Amounts assessed for major repairs and replacements in the current period, if any
. A statement indicating whether a study was conducted to estimate the remaining useful
lives of common property components and the costs of future major repairs and
replacements
CIRAs that fund future major repairs and replacements by special assessments or
borrowings when needs occur should disclose that information.
4.28 If the disclosure about a CIRA's funding for major repairs and replacements required by paragraph
4.27 of this guide is absent or inadequate, the auditor should express a qualified or adverse opinion
because of the departure from GAAP and should provide the information in the report, if practicable, as
provided in paragraph .41 of AU section 508, Reports on Audited Financial Statements (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1).
4.29 Note 4 of exhibit A-5 in appendix A, alternative B, illustrates disclosure about a study that was
conducted by a consultant to estimate expenditures for major repairs and replacements and the
recommendations of which were adopted by the board of directors. The following illustrate disclosures that
may be used in other circumstances:
Disclosure
The disclosure would be the same as that in note 4 of exhibit A-5 of appendix A,
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The board of directors has decided to fund in 20X8 only 50 percent of the amount
recommended by the study. Accordingly, $ 149,000 has been included in the
20X8 budget. For that reason, and because actual expenditures may vary from
estimated future expenditures and the variations may be material, amounts
accumulated in the replacement fund may not be adequate to meet all future
needs for major repairs and replacements. If additional funds are needed, the
association has the right, subject to membership approval, to increase regular
assessments, pass special assessments, or delay major repairs and
replacements until funds are available.
. The board of directors has conducted a study to estimate future expenditures for major
repairs and replacements. Unit owners have decided not to fund those needs
currently.
Disclosure
The funding program was included in the proposed budget for 20X8, which was
presented to unit owners at a general meeting on December 1, 20X7. At that
meeting, a majority of owners voted not to include funding for major repairs and
replacements in the annual budget for 20X8. For that reason, and because actual
expenditures may vary from estimated future expenditures and the variations may
be material, amounts accumulated in the replacement fund may not be adequate
to meet all future needs for major repairs and replacements. When funds are
needed for those purposes, the association has the right, subject to membership
approval, to increase the regular assessments, pass special assessments, or
delay major repairs and replacements until funds are available.
4.30 The following illustrates disclosure in the financial statements of an association that has not conducted
a study to estimate the remaining useful lives and the costs of future major repairs and replacements of the
common property that will be required in the future.
Disclosure
The association has not conducted a study to determine the remaining useful lives of
the components of common property and current estimates of costs of major repairs
and replacements that may be required in the future. The board has also not
developed a plan to fund those needs. When replacement funds are needed to meet
future needs for major repairs and replacements, the association has the right to
increase regular assessments, pass special assessments, or delay major repairs and
replacements until funds are available. The effect on future assessments has not been
determined at this time.
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4.31 Although this is not a requirement of the guide, CIRAs may also consider disclosing the type of funding
plan goal that was used in the reserve study so the readers of the financial statements are able to
understand the implications of the method chosen to make informed and educated decisions. The 3 types of
nonstatutory funding plans are full funding, threshold funding and baseline funding. Depending on the
method used, there could be significant fluctuations in assessment levels. When the threshold method is
used, the CIRA may also consider disclosing the threshold level dollar amount that is being utilized. If
averaging techniques are used, CIRAs may consider disclosing that fact as well. Whatever method is used,
the CIRA may also consider disclosing the fund status or percent funded discussed in chapter 3 of this
guide.
4.32 Another disclosure that also is not a requirement of the guide that may be considered by the CIRA is
the disclosure of the level of service used to perform the reserve study. The National Reserve Study
Standards include 3 levels of service, which are (1) Full, (2) Update, with site-visit and on-site review, and
(3) Update, with no site-visit or off-site review. Disclosure will let the reader know what level of service was
performed because they vary greatly in detail.
. Estimates of current or future costs of future major repairs and replacements of all
existing components, such as roofs, including estimated amounts required, methods
used to determine the costs, the basis for calculations (including assumptions, if any,
about interest and inflation rates), sources used, and the dates of studies, made for
fn 6
this purpose, if any.
. That information materially departs from information required in paragraph 4.33 of this
guide.
. The procedures prescribed in paragraph 7.101 of this guide were not completed.
. The auditor has unresolved doubts about the adherence of the information to the
information required in paragraph 4.33 of this guide.
Footnotes
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fn 1 The discussion of fund reporting does not apply to the financial statements of cooperative housing corporations. However,
a presentation using fund reporting may be more informative to users of the financial statements of cooperative housing
corporations if a separate fund is maintained for future major repairs and replacements. Exhibits A-1-A-4 of appendix A
illustrate the fund reporting approach.
fn 2 Because this guide primarily addresses the fund reporting approach, readers should substitute the term members' equity
for the term fund balance if financial statements using nonfund reporting are presented. Furthermore, the fund for major
repairs and replacements would be presented as an appropriation of retained earnings in such financial statements. Exhibit A-
12 of appendix A illustrates that appropriation.
fn 3AU section 623, Special Reports (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), provides guidance on auditors' reports on
financial statements prepared on a comprehensive basis of accounting other than generally accepted accounting principles.
fn 4 A statement of changes in members' equity if nonfund reporting is used.
fn 5Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) No. 13, Compilation of Specified Elements,
Accounts, or Items of a Financial Statement (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2, AR sec. 110), expands SSARS to apply
when an accountant is engaged to compile or issues a compilation report on one or more specified elements, accounts, or
items of a financial statement thereby allowing practitioners to be more responsive to the needs of their clients and users of
financial statements. An illustrative example of an engagement letter can be found at paragraph .15 of AR section 110.
fn 6 There is no requirement for CIRAs to obtain studies prepared by professional engineers. The estimates may be made by
the board of directors or estimates obtained from licensed contractors, as discussed in paragraph 3.07 of this guide.
Document 8 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 5 Budgets
Chapter 5 - Budgets
5.01 Budget information is not a required part of the basic financial statements. If presented, that information
should be identified as supplementary and clearly marked as not covered by the independent auditor's
report.
5.02 The legal documents creating most common interest realty associations (CIRAs) require that
assessments be based on budgets. The budgets of CIRAs are the monetary expression of their goals and
objectives and emphasize the stewardship responsibility of their boards of directors. According to Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 4, Objectives of Financial
Reporting by Non-Business Organizations, budgets are used to allocate and control the use of resources.
Budgets are also used to obtain resources. For example, budgets are pivotal in establishing levels of dues,
taxes, and fees to be imposed.
5.03 The boards of directors of CIRAs use the budgeting process to determine the required assessments
from owners to fund current services and to provide for future major repairs and replacements and deferred
maintenance needs. Unit owners use budgets to evaluate the performance of boards of directors. Other
users, such as creditors, realtors, and potential buyers, may use budgets to compare CIRAs with other
CIRAs and to monitor the ability of CIRAs to provide acceptable levels of service.
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5.04 A CIRA's board of directors or governing body establishes the budget. The budget's effectiveness
depends on the board's willingness to take prompt corrective action on unfavorable variations from the
budget. In developing the budget, the board establishes standards and levels of service for the CIRA, which
may involve using outside management firms, polling the CIRA's owners through surveys or public hearings,
and relying on the reports and plans of various board committees. The budget process includes the
following:
. Integration of special programs that may overlap the current budget cycle
. Forecasts of operating results for the balance of the current year and for the next fiscal
year
Other major factors that may be considered in the budget process are the level of
deterioration of major common property components, the need for a provision for
contingencies, evaluation of outside contractors responding to bid requests, and
evaluation of applicable building codes and ordinances. Ongoing budget reviews help
refine estimates and spread the budget-preparation workload throughout the year.
5.05 It is useful to present budgets in a format that is consistent with the financial statements of CIRAs and
comparable with prior periods. Budget presentations vary widely and many include descriptions of various
line items and formulas to compute certain expenses, individual fees, or assessment calculations. Although
such additional information is useful, its inclusion in the basic budget documents may confuse readers.
Operations
5.06 A budget's provision for operations includes amounts for the CIRA's routine operating expenses, such
as management fees, utilities, staff payroll, insurance, rubbish removal, routine maintenance of common
property, and certain minor additions to common property.
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5.07 A budget's provision for future major repairs and replacements includes amounts for repairs or
replacements of major components of common property, such as roofs, parking areas, elevators, and
swimming pools, and for painting. Budgeting for future major repairs and replacements involves establishing
amounts of assessments needed to fund anticipated expenditures as well as amounts necessary to fund
major repairs or replacements required during the current period. The noncurrent element of this portion of
the budget would ideally be part of a plan spanning the present and future periods.
Other Expenditures
5.08 Provisions for other expenditures include amounts for significant nonrecurring expenditures or income-
tax-related items that cannot be classified as operating or major repair and replacement activities, for
example, capital additions, nonrecurring major expenditures such as legal fees or construction-related
items, and replacements for which there are no other provisions. Such expenditures may be funded by
CIRAs through special assessments or borrowings.
5.09 CIRAs that present interim financial statements commonly include comparisons with the budget to
determine areas that may warrant management's action. Budget compliance is particularly significant for
CIRAs because users of their financial statements compare budgeted to actual amounts to evaluate the
board's fiscal responsibility. Despite the helpfulness of such comparisons, budget information is not always
presented in the annual reports of CIRAs, although such reports often may be the only financial information
about the operations of CIRAs available to owners and other users.
Document 9 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 6 Income Tax Considerations
6.01 All common interest realty associations (CIRAs) are required to file federal, and possibly state and
local, income tax returns, and they may be required to pay income taxes. The tax life of a CIRA begins on
the earlier of the date of incorporation or the date it begins business operations as a corporation or as an
unincorporated association taxable as a corporation. A review of a CIRA's legal documents usually reveals
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that date.
Methods of Filing
6.02 As a general rule, CIRAs annually file income tax returns using Federal Form 1120 (U.S. Corporation
Income Tax Return) except for cooperative housing corporations, which file Form 1120-C or, if the
association qualifies as a residential homeowners association under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section
528, it may annually elect to file Federal Form 1120-H (U.S. Income Tax Return for Homeowners
Associations). CIRAs that are exempt under IRC section 501 must file Federal Form 990 (Return of
Organizations Exempt from Income Tax). The filing method selected depends on the CIRA's circumstances
and its available income-tax-planning alternatives. Effective for tax years ending on or after December 31,
2007, cooperative housing corporations must file their annual income tax returns using Federal Form 1120-
C (U.S. Income Tax Return for Cooperative Associations) under IRC section 1381.
6.03 CIRAs filing Federal Form 1120 and cooperative housing corporations filing Form 1120-C are taxed, in
general, as regular corporations. However, IRC section 277 (only as it applies to CIRAs filing Form 1120)
requires nonexempt membership organizations, other than cooperative housing corporations that file under
subchapter T of the code, to separate income and expenses into membership and nonmembership
activities. Under IRC section 277, certain CIRAs are generally taxed on both net membership and net
nonmembership income. IRS Revenue Ruling 70-604 (see paragraph 6.10) provides an election, however,
such that net membership income can be excluded from taxation. If the election is made, the excess of
membership assessments over expenditures, if actually or constructively refunded to members or applied to
the following year's assessments, is not taxable income. A CIRA's taxable income on form 1120 is subject to
income taxes at the graduated corporate rates. Under IRC section 1381, cooperatives are generally taxed
on both net patronage and net nonpatronage income. Paragraphs 9.18-.19 of this guide discuss patronage
and nonpatronage income in greater detail.
6.04 The following specific issues may affect a CIRA (other than a housing cooperative) that elects to file as
a regular corporation on Form 1120. IRC section 277(a) provides that a nonexempt membership
organization operated primarily to furnish services or goods to members may deduct expenses attributable
to providing its members with services, insurance, goods, or other items of value only to the extent of
income derived during the year from members or transactions with members. The excess of deductions
over such income in any taxable year is available as an unlimited carryover and is added to deductions for
such amounts paid or incurred in succeeding taxable years for services, insurance, goods, or other items of
value provided to members. Deductions covered by IRC sections 243, 244, and 245, which relate to
dividends received by corporations, are not allowed for organizations to which IRC section 277 applies for
the taxable year.
6.05 CIRAs that qualify as homeowners associations may elect to be taxed under IRC section 528 utilizing
fn
Form 1120-H. Qualifying CIRAs are taxed at a 30 percent flat rate (32 percent for timeshare associations)
2
on income in excess of $ 100, generally from sources other than membership dues, fees, and
assessments. Net operating loss and dividends received deductions are not permitted.
The following benefits are often associated with an election to file under section IRC
section 528:
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. An election to file under section IRC section 528 does not jeopardize the tax treatment
applicable to individual unit owners.
. CIRAs that qualify and elect to file under IRC section 528 need not segregate amounts
collected in advance for replacements and deferred maintenance, because members'
assessments are tax exempt. (Contributions to capital retain their character,
regardless of the election.)
. A CIRA's taxable income in excess of $ 100 is taxed at a flat 30 percent rate (32
percent for time-share associations), preventing its use of the benefits of the lower
income tax brackets associated with regular corporate entities.
. Per use fees paid by members are membership income under IRC section 277 while
they are generally taxable under IRC section 528.
. CIRAs filing under IRC section 528 may not use net operating loss deductions. An
association may not revoke its section 528 elections made in previous years to obtain
fn 3
the tax benefits of a net operating loss carryback.
. A CIRA filing under IRC section 528 is not entitled to use the alternative tax rate
imposed by IRC section 1201(a).
6.06 CIRAs that file Federal Form 990 do so because they are exempt under IRC sections 501(c)(4), 501(c)
(7), or 501(c)(12). Few CIRAs meet the eligibility requirements of IRC section 501(c). For those CIRA's that
are granted exempt status, an annual review of the CIRA's continuing eligibility for exempt status is a good
practice. If a section 501(c) exemption no longer applies, the CIRA is required to file Form 1120 or 1120-H.
6.07 A significant question to be considered is whether a CIRA is entitled to receive an adjusted basis in
property contributed to it by its developer. If property is contributed to a corporate entity under IRC section
351 on formation of the CIRA, the basis of the property in the corporation's hands is determined under IRC
section 362.
6.08 IRC section 362 also applies to property acquired by a corporation as paid-in surplus or as a capital
contribution under IRC section 118. A CIRA may receive a basis in property that is at least equal to the
contributor's basis in the property before the contribution plus the amount of gain, if any, recognized by the
contributor on the exchange.
Developer Settlements
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6.09 Private Letter Ruling 8004028, issued by the IRS in September 1980, indicates that settlement
proceeds received by a CIRA as a result of a class action suit against a developer are not includable in a
CIRA's gross income. Revenue Ruling 81-152 states that, providing certain conditions are met, settlements
represent recoveries of capital that reduce the bases of individual unit owners.
6.10 The following IRS revenue rulings provide guidance on the appropriate treatment of assessments
collected by the CIRA:
Footnotes
fn 1 This chapter should not be considered to be a detailed explanation of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and rulings issued
by the IRS as they apply to common interest realty associations (CIRAs). Its purpose is to inform auditors about several areas
of federal income taxation they need to know to audit the tax provision and to be aware of noncompliance with tax laws.
fn 2 The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (PL 105-34) extended IRC section 528 taxation rules to timeshare associations.
fn 3The IRS, however, has ruled that a CIRA may revoke its section 528 election if a professional tax adviser had provided
inadequate advice on the benefits of the election.
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Document 10 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 7 Audit Considerations
7.01Paragraph .01 of AU section 150, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (AICPA, Professional
Standards, vol. 1), states that an independent auditor plans, conducts, and reports the results of an audit in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS). Auditing standards provide a measure of
audit quality and the objectives to be achieved in an audit. This chapter includes guidance on the application
of the standards of fieldwork and, more specifically, on the risk assessment process (which includes, among
other things, obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control). This
chapter also provides guidance on other general auditing considerations related to common interest realty
associations (CIRAs).
7.02 GAAS applies to audits of the financial statements of CIRAs in the same manner as they do to audits of
other financial statements for other businesses. This section is not intended to mandate auditing procedures
to be applied in every audit of a CIRA. Nor is the discussion of management's responsibility for internal
control intended to prescribe the types of controls to be implemented in all circumstances.
7.03 The objective of an audit of the financial statements of a CIRA is to express an opinion on whether its
financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, and in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) or an other comprehensive basis of accounting. To accomplish that objective,
the independent auditor's responsibility is to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance (a
high, but not absolute, level of assurance) that material misstatements, whether caused by errors or fraud,
are detected. This section addresses general planning considerations and other auditing considerations
relevant to CIRAs. Auditors are reminded that CIRA engagements may also involve a third party for those
CIRAs that contract with association management companies, as discussed in chapter 1.
Audit Planning
7.04 The first standard of field work states the auditor must adequately plan the work and must properly
supervise any assistants. AU section 311, Planning and Supervision (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol.
1), establishes requirements and provides guidance on the considerations and activities applicable to
planning and supervision of an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS, including appointment of the
independent auditor; preliminary engagement activities; establishing an understanding with the client;
preparing a detailed, written audit plan; determining the extent of involvement of professionals with
specialized skills; and communicating with those charged with governance and management. Audit planning
also involves developing an overall audit strategy for the expected conduct, organization, and staffing of the
audit. The nature, timing, and extent of planning vary with the size and complexity of the entity, and with the
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auditor's experience with, and understanding of, the entity and its environment, including its internal control.
7.05Paragraph .03 of AU section 311 states that the auditor must plan the audit so that it is responsive to
the assessment of the risks of material misstatement based on the auditor's understanding of the entity and
its environment, including its internal control. Planning is not a discrete phase of the audit, but rather an
iterative process that begins with engagement acceptance and continues throughout the audit as the auditor
performs audit procedures and accumulates sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the audit
opinion.
7.06Paragraph .08 of AU section 311 states the auditor should establish an understanding with the entity
regarding the services to be performed for each engagement. This understanding should be documented
through a written communication with the CIRA in the form of an engagement letter. Footnote 4 in
paragraph .08 of AU section 311 provides guidance regarding with whom the auditor establishes such an
understanding. The understanding should include
Included in the list of specific matters identified in paragraph .09 of AU section 311 that
should be communicated in the form of an engagement letter regarding an audit of the
financial statements is the notification that management is responsible for adjusting the
financial statements to correct material misstatements. Paragraph .10 of AU section 311
names other matters that the understanding may include. A letter establishing such an
understanding with respect to audit services is illustrated in exhibit B-1 of appendix B.
Independence
7.07Paragraph .11 of AU section 311 states at the beginning of an audit engagement, in addition to
performing other procedures, auditors should evaluate their compliance with ethical requirements, including
independence. A member of the AICPA who is engaged to audit a CIRA in accordance with GAAS must be
independent. ET section 101, Independence (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2), its interpretations, and
the Ethics Rulings under it set forth the requirements relevant to the auditor when making a judgment about
fn 1
whether he or she is independent. A member may also seek advice from the AICPA's Professional
Ethics Division on the application of interpretations and rulings to specific situations. Ethics Ruling No. 31,
"Performance of Services for Common Interest Realty Associations (CIRAs), Including Cooperatives,
Condominium Associations, Planned Unit Developments, Homeowners Associations, and Timeshare
Developments" of ET section 191, Ethics Rulings on Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 191 par. .061-.062), sets forth additional guidance relevant to
auditors of CIRAs that are also members of the CIRA.
7.08 Ethics Interpretation 101-3, "Performance of Nonattest Services" under Ethics Rule 101 (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 101 par. .05), sets forth requirements that apply when nonattest
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services are provided to attest clients. December 2003 revisions to the interpretation clarified existing
guidance with respect to bookkeeping and internal audit services; placed further restrictions on services the
auditor may perform with regard to valuation, appraisal, and actuarial services; and information systems
design and development, and strengthened the general requirements of Ethics Interpretation 101-3 by
requiring that an AICPA member document his or her understanding with the client regarding the services to
be performed. These revisions as well as subsequent revisions adopted in January 2005 also reinforce the
long-standing AICPA position that the member's attest client must designate an individual who possesses
suitable skill, knowledge or experience or both, to oversee nonattest services provided by the member,
including making all management decisions related to the services. The Professional Ethics Division
maintains online resources to assist practitioners in understanding and applying the provisions of this
interpretation at
www.aicpa.org/Professional+Resources/Professional+Ethics+Code+of+Professional+Conduct/Professional+Eth
7.09AU section 380, The Auditor's Communication with Those Charged with Governance (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1), provides a framework for effective two-way communication between the
auditor and those charged with governance, and identifies certain specific matters that the auditor must
communicate to those charged with governance. For purposes of AU section 380, those charged with
governance means the person(s) with responsibility for overseeing the strategic direction of the entity and
obligations related to the accountability of the entity. This includes overseeing the financial reporting
process. For entities that have a board of directors, as CIRAs typically do, the term those charged with
governance encompasses the term board of directors used elsewhere in GAAS.
7.10 Note that AU section 380 does not establish requirements regarding the auditor's communication with
an entity's management or owners unless they are also charged with a governance role. In some cases, all
of those charged with governance are also involved in managing the entity. Matters communicated in
accordance with AU section 380 to person(s) with management responsibilities need not be communicated
again with those same person(s) in their governance role. Paragraph .22 of AU section 380 provides that,
when all of those charged with governance are involved in managing the entity, the auditor should consider
whether communication with person(s) with financial reporting responsibilities adequately informs all of
those with whom the auditor would otherwise communicate in their governance capacity. Paragraph .18 of
AU section 380 presents matters the auditor may consider in determining whether communication with
subgroups of those charged with governance adequately fulfills the auditor's responsibility under this
professional standard.
7.11 As provided in paragraph .49 of AU section 380, matters that may contribute to effective 2-way
communication include discussion of the purpose of communications, the form in which communications will
be made, the person(s) on the audit team and among those charged with governance who will communicate
regarding particular matters, the auditor's expectation that the communication will be 2-way, the process for
taking action and reporting back on matters communicated by the auditor, and the process for taking action
and reporting back on matters communicated by those charged with governance. The communication
process will vary with the circumstances, including the size and governance structure of the entity, how
those charged with governance operate, and the auditor's view of the significance of the matters to be
communicated. The importance of effective 2-way communication is evidenced by the statement in
paragraph .62 of AU section 380 that if, in the auditor's judgment, the 2-way communication between the
auditor and those charged with governance is not adequate, there is a risk the auditor may not have
obtained all the audit evidence required to form an opinion on the financial statements.
7.12Paragraph .23 of AU section 380 identifies the following matters that the auditor should communicate
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Audit Risk
7.13AU section 312, Audit Risk and Materiality in Conducting an Audit (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol.
1), states that audit risk is a function of the risk that the financial statements prepared by management are
materially misstated and the risk that the auditor will not detect such material misstatement. The auditor
should consider audit risk in relation to the relevant assertions related to individual account balances,
classes of transactions, and disclosures and at the overall financial statement level.
7.14 At the account balance, class of transactions, relevant assertion, or disclosure level, audit risk consists
of (a) the risks of material misstatement (consisting of inherent risk and control risk) and (b) the detection
risk. Paragraph .23 of AU section 312 states that auditors should assess the risk of material misstatement at
the relevant assertion level as a basis to design and perform further audit procedures (tests of controls or
substantive procedures). It is not acceptable to simply deem risk to be "at the maximum." This assessment
may be in qualitative terms such as high, medium, and low, or in quantitative terms such as percentages.
7.15 In considering audit risk at the overall financial statement level, the auditor should consider risks of
material misstatement that relate pervasively to the financial statements taken as a whole and potentially
affect many relevant assertions. Risks of this nature often relate to the entity's control environment and are
not necessarily identifiable with specific relevant assertions at the class of transactions, account balance, or
disclosure level. Such risks may be especially relevant to the auditor's consideration of the risks of material
misstatement arising from fraud, for example, through management override of internal control.
Planning Materiality
7.16 Audit risk and materiality, among other matters, need to be considered together in designing the
nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures and in evaluating the results of those procedures. The
auditor's consideration of materiality is a matter of professional judgment and is influenced by the auditor's
perception of the needs of users of financial statements. Materiality judgments are made in light of
surrounding circumstances and necessarily involve both quantitative and qualitative considerations.
7.17 In accordance with paragraph .27 of AU section 312, the auditor should determine a materiality level
for the financial statements taken as a whole when establishing the overall audit strategy for the audit. The
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auditor often may apply a percentage to a chosen benchmark as a step in determining materiality for the
financial statements taken as a whole. Paragraph .28 of AU section 312 provides additional considerations
for identifying an appropriate benchmark.
Tolerable Misstatement
7.18 The initial determination of materiality is made for the financial statement taken as a whole. However,
the auditor should allow for the possibility that some misstatements of lesser amounts than the materiality
levels could, in the aggregate, result in a material misstatement of the financial statements. To do so, the
auditor should determine one or more levels of tolerable misstatement. Paragraph .34 of AU section 312
defines tolerable misstatement (or tolerable error) as the maximum error in a population (for example, the
class of transactions or account balance) that the auditor is willing to accept. Such levels of tolerable
misstatement are normally lower than the materiality levels.
7.19 As indicated previously, judgments about materiality include both quantitative and qualitative
information. As a result of the interaction of quantitative and qualitative considerations in materiality
judgments, misstatements of relatively small amounts that come to the auditor's attention could have a
material effect on the financial statements. For example, an illegal payment of an otherwise immaterial
amount could be material if there is a reasonable possibility that it could lead to a material contingent liability
or a material loss of revenue.
7.20 Qualitative considerations also influence the auditor in reaching a conclusion about whether
misstatements are material. Paragraph .60 of AU section 312 provides qualitative factors that the auditor
may consider relevant in determining whether misstatements are material.
Related Parties
7.21AU section 334, Related Parties (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), provides guidance in
determining the existence of related-party relationships and transactions with such parties such as those
discussed in chapter 4 of this guide.
7.22AU section 334 states that, in auditing related-party transactions that are identified during the course of
the audit, the auditor should be aware that the substance of a particular transaction could be significantly
different from its form and that financial statements should recognize the substance of particular
transactions rather than merely their legal form. Except for routine transactions, it will generally not be
possible to determine whether a particular transaction would have taken place if the parties had not been
related, or assuming it would have taken place, what the terms and manner of settlement would have been.
Accordingly, it is difficult to substantiate representations that a related-party transaction was consummated
on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm's-length transactions.
7.23Paragraphs .14-.19 of AU section 326, Audit Evidence (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), discuss
the use of assertions in obtaining audit evidence. In representing that the financial statements are fairly
presented in accordance with GAAP, management implicitly or explicitly makes assertions regarding the
recognition, measurement, and disclosure of information in the financial statements and related disclosures.
Assertions used by the auditor fall into the following categories.
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Categories of Assertions
Description of Assertions
Classes of
Account Balances at
Transactions and Presentation and
the End of the
Events During the Disclosure
Period
Period
Transactions and events
Disclosed events and
that have been recorded Assets, liabilities, and
Occurrence or Existence transactions have
have occurred and equity interests exist.
occurred.
pertain to the entity.
The entity holds or
controls the rights to Disclosed events and
Rights and Obligations - assets, and liabilities are transactions pertain to
the obligations of the the entity
entity.
All assets, liabilities, and All disclosures that
All transactions and
equity interests that should have been
events that should have
Completeness should have been included in the financial
been recorded have
recorded have been statements have been
been recorded.
recorded. included.
Assets, liabilities, and
equity interests are
Amounts and other data included in the financial
Financial and other
relating to recorded statements at
Accuracy or Valuation and information is disclosed
transactions and events appropriate amounts and
Allocation fairly and at appropriate
have been recorded any resulting valuation or
amounts
appropriately. allocation adjustments
are recorded
appropriately.
Transactions and events
have been recorded in
Cut-off - -
the correct accounting
period.
Financial information is
appropriately presented
Transactions and events
Classification and and described and
have been recorded in -
Understandability information in
the proper accounts.
disclosures is expressed
clearly.
7.24 The auditor should use relevant assertions for classes of transactions, account balances, and
presentation and disclosures in sufficient detail to form a basis for the assessment of risks of material
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misstatement and the design and performance of further audit procedures. The auditor should use relevant
assertions in assessing risks by considering the different types of potential misstatements that may occur,
and then designing further audit procedures that are responsive to the assessed risks.
7.25AU section 314, Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material
Misstatement (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), establishes requirements and provides guidance
about implementing the second standard of field work, as follows:
The auditor must obtain a sufficient understanding of the entity and its environment,
including its internal control, to assess the risks of material misstatement of the
financial statements whether due to error or fraud, and to design the nature, timing,
and extent of further audit procedures.
7.26 Obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control, is a
continuous, dynamic process of gathering, updating, and analyzing information throughout the audit.
Throughout this process, the auditor should also follow the guidance in AU section 316. See paragraphs
7.64-.89 for additional guidance pertaining to AU section 316.
7.27 This section addresses the unique aspects of CIRAs that may be helpful in developing the required
understanding of the entity, its environment, and its internal control.
7.28 As described in AU section 326, audit procedures performed to obtain an understanding of the entity
and its environment, including its internal control, to assess the risks of material misstatement at the
financial statement and relevant assertion levels are referred to as risk assessment
procedures.Paragraph .21 of AU section 326 states that the auditor must perform risk assessment
procedures to provide a satisfactory basis for the assessment of risks at the financial statement and relevant
assertion levels. Risk assessment procedures by themselves do not provide sufficient appropriate audit
evidence on which to base the audit opinion and must be supplemented by further audit procedures in the
form of tests of controls, when relevant or necessary, and substantive procedures.
7.29 In accordance with paragraph .06 of AU section 314, the auditor should perform the following risk
assessment procedures to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal
control:
b. Analytical procedures
See paragraphs .06-.13 of AU section 314 for additional guidance on risk assessment
procedures.
7.30 In obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control, AU section
314 states that there should be discussion among the audit team. In accordance with paragraph .14 of AU
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section 314, the members of the audit team, including the auditor with final responsibility for the audit,
should discuss the susceptibility of the entity's financial statements to material misstatements. This
discussion could be held concurrently with the discussion among the audit team that is specified by AU
section 316 to discuss the susceptibility of the entity's financial statements to fraud.
7.31Paragraph .03 of AU section 314 states that obtaining an understanding of the entity and its
environment is an essential aspect of performing an audit in accordance with GAAS. In accordance with
paragraph .04 of AU section 314, the auditor should use professional judgment to determine the extent of
the understanding required of the entity and its environment, including its internal control. The auditor's
primary consideration is whether the understanding that has been obtained is sufficient (1) to assess risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements and (2) to design and perform further audit procedures
(tests of controls and substantive tests).
7.32 The auditor's understanding of the entity and its environment consists of an understanding of the
following aspects:
c. Objectives and strategies and the related business risks that may result in a material
misstatement of the financial statements
e. Internal control, which includes the selection and application of accounting policies
(see the following section for further discussion)
Refer to appendix A of AU section 314 for examples of matters that the auditor may
consider in obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment relating to
categories (a)-(d) in the previous list. Some examples of matters the auditor may consider
when obtaining and understanding of a CIRA and its environment are discussed in the
paragraphs that follow.
A CIRA's Documents
7.33 The legal and other documents that create a CIRA generally describe the rights and responsibilities of
those charged with governance and of the unit owners, and the CIRA's obligation to maintain the property
and provide for future major repairs and replacements. In the planning phase of the audit, the auditor should
review relevant documents, including bylaws, if any; the declarations for a condominium or homeowner's
association (HOA); or for a cooperative housing corporation, the corporate charter, and master proprietary
lease with the tenant-shareholders.
7.34 CIRAs may also be governed by state statutes or local ordinances, federal regulations, contracts,
mortgage and finance agreements and other similar legally binding arrangements. Paragraph .05 of AU
section 317, Illegal Acts by Clients (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), states the auditor considers
laws and regulations that are generally recognized by auditors to have a direct and material effect on the
determination of financial statement amounts. This paragraph also states that the auditor's responsibility to
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detect and report misstatements resulting from illegal acts having a direct and material effect on the
determination of financial statement amounts is the same as that for errors and fraud as described in AU
section 316. That is, based on an assessment of the risk that errors and fraud may cause the financial
statements to include a material misstatement, the auditor should design the audit to provide reasonable
assurance of detecting errors or fraud that are material to the financial statements. Paragraph .20 of AU
section 316 states that the auditor should inquire of management about whether management has any
knowledge of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity; AU section 317 does not contain such a
requirement.
7.35AU section 317 recognizes that entities may be affected by laws and regulations that relate more to an
entity's operating aspects than to its financial and accounting aspects. The financial statement effect of such
laws and regulations is usually indirect. State statutes and local ordinances that affect CIRAs are generally
operational in nature and therefore have an indirect effect on financial statements. Even when violations of
such laws and regulations can have consequences material to the financial statements, the auditor may not
become aware of the existence of the illegal act unless he or she is informed by the client, or there is
evidence of a governmental agency investigation or enforcement proceeding in the records, documents, or
other information normally inspected in an audit of financial statements. Paragraphs .13-.15 of AU section
317 provide guidance and establish requirements for the auditor's consideration of the financial statement
effect of illegal acts
Minutes
7.36 The board of directors of a CIRA generally meets periodically. Minutes of those meetings are generally
prepared. The minutes usually document such matters as approvals and revisions of budgets and
assessments, authorizations for expenditures for capital improvements, approvals of contracts for services
to be performed, and authorizations for changes in the management company's fees. Auditors should
review available minutes and consider matters that may affect the CIRA's financial statements.
Management of a CIRA
7.37 The board of directors of a CIRA has the authority and responsibility to manage the CIRA. The board
may engage a managing agent to provide various services. The agent normally operates under an
arrangement (the management agreement) with the CIRA. The management agreement defines the
relationship between the CIRA and the managing agent, presents details of the services to be performed,
and states the fees for those services. The management agreement may provide for bookkeeping and
accounting services in addition to bidding and evaluating contracts, collections, resolving disputes and
similar services to be provided by the managing agent to the CIRA. Such services may affect the nature,
timing, and extent of substantive audit procedures to be performed by the auditor of a CIRA. For example, a
managing agent that provides the CIRA with bookkeeping and accounting services would normally meet the
fn 2
definition of a service organization as defined in paragraph .02 of AU section 324, Service Organizations
(AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1). AU section 324 provides guidance on the factors an independent
fn 3
auditor should consider when auditing the financial statements of an entity that uses a service
organization to process certain transactions.
7.38 In obtaining an understanding of the CIRA and its environment, the auditor performing an audit of a
CIRA's first period of operations should determine the date on which the CIRA's operations began. During
the initial operating period, the CIRA's board of directors is generally controlled by the developer (declarant).
The auditor should review documents such as closing statements to evaluate the completeness of the
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recording of initial working capital contributions such as one-time member assessments or escrow deposits,
or both, collected from original unit owners on behalf of the CIRA. The following considerations related to
the initial operating period are common in audits of CIRAs and, along with the auditor's assessment of the
identified risks at the relevant assertion level, help provide a basis for designing and performing further audit
procedures to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence for all relevant assertions:
. Whether the developer (declarant) has fulfilled its obligation to pay assessments on
unsold units or to fund operating deficits or contribute to the replacement fund, or both
. Whether the CIRA has paid for expenses related only to the CIRA and not for any
developer (declarant) expenses, including expenses for the time period prior to date
operations began
. Whether assets received from the developer (declarant) are reported in accordance
with the guidelines for common property in this guide
. Whether contracts and agreements signed by the developer meet statutory or similar
guidelines (some states prohibit developers from entering into contracts of longer than
a certain number of years)
. Whether the transition period during which control was transferred from the developer
to the CIRA was done in compliance with the declarations or other governing
documents or statutory requirements
Budgets
7.39 Budgets are an important tool for a CIRA's management and those charged with governance in
executing their respective administrative and fiduciary duties on behalf of the CIRA. For example, budgets
often serve as the bases for assessments from unit owners. Other users of a CIRA's budget may include
unit owners, prospective unit owners, auditors, and lenders. The auditor should consider the CIRA's
budgeting procedures in obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal
control and assessing the risks of material misstatement. See paragraph 7.90 in this guide for further
discussion of an auditor's responsibilities for budgets included in auditor-submitted documents and for
budgets included in client-prepared documents that also contain audited financial statements.
fn 4
7.40AU section 314 states that the auditor should obtain an understanding of the five components of internal
control sufficient to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements whether due to
error or fraud, and to design the nature, timing, and extent of further audit procedures. The auditor should
obtain a sufficient understanding by performing risk assessment procedures to
In obtaining this understanding, the auditor considers how an entity's use of IT and manual
procedures may affect controls relevant to the audit.
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7.42 Obtaining an understanding of controls is different from testing the operating effectiveness of controls.
The objective of obtaining an understanding of controls is to evaluate the design of controls and determine
whether they have been implemented for the purpose of assessing the risks of material misstatement. In
contrast, the objective of testing the operating effectiveness of controls is to determine whether the controls,
as designed, prevent or detect a material misstatement.
7.43Paragraph .41 of AU section 314 defines internal control as a process-effected by those charged with
governance, management, and other personnel-designed to provide reasonable assurance about the
achievement of the entity's objectives with regard to reliability of financial reporting, effectiveness and
efficiency of operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Internal control consists of the
following 5 interrelated components:
a. Control environment
b. Risk assessment
c. Control activities
e. Monitoring
Refer to paragraphs .40-.101 of AU section 314 for a detailed discussion of the internal
control components.
7.44Paragraph .70 of AU section 314 states that auditors should obtain sufficient knowledge of the control
environment to understand the attitudes, awareness, and actions of those charged with governance
concerning the entity's internal control and its importance in achieving reliable financial reporting.
Paragraph .74 of AU section 314 states that the auditor should consider the collective effect on the control
environment of strengths and weaknesses in various control elements. For example, the auditor might
consider the following in obtaining an understanding of a CIRA's control environment:
. The role and qualifications of those charged with governance, the managing agent, if
any, and the role of site staff employed by the CIRA, if an.
. The extent of the involvement in the operations of the CIRA by those charged with
governance
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. The existence, limits, and conditions of fidelity insurance for both the CIRA and
management
. The existence, limits, and conditions of catastrophic insurance policies for property
owned by the CIRA
7.45Paragraph .83 of AU section 314 discusses obtaining sufficient knowledge of the information system,
including the related business processes relevant to financial reporting. To understand a CIRA's information
system relevant to financial reporting, the auditor should identify the individuals responsible for the
accounting system, records, and internal control over financial reporting. That responsibility may be divided
among
d. the group (or subgroup) of those charged with governance or a member of that group.
7.46Paragraph .89 of AU section 314 defines control activities as the policies and procedures that help
ensure that management directives are carried out. They help ensure that necessary actions are taken to
address risks to the achievement of the entity's objectives. Control activities, whether automated or manual,
have various objectives and are applied at various organizational and functional levels. The auditor may
identify control activities in obtaining the understanding of the information system relevant to financial
reporting objectives discussed in paragraph 7.45. The auditor should obtain an understanding of those
control activities relevant to the audit. Paragraph .90 of AU section 314 states that the auditor should obtain
an understanding of the process of reconciling detail to the general ledger for significant accounts. Also,
control activities are relevant to the audit if the auditor is required to evaluate them as discussed in
paragraphs .115-.117 of AU section 314 which relate to significant risks and risks for which substantive
procedures alone do not provide sufficient appropriate audit evidence. The auditor might also consider the
following in understanding a CIRA's control activities:
. The policies instituted by those charged with governance to insure proper authorization
of transactions and activities
. Independent control over the bidding process for significant contracts, such as
insurance
. The policy for comparing actual results with budgeted amounts and investigating
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significant variances
. Payment procedures, such as a requirement for board approval before invoices are
paid
. Existence of a conflict of interest or ethics policy(ies), or both, for association staff and
board members
. the extent to which the board of directors monitors and controls the managing agent's
activities related to the CIRA.
. the manner in which the managing agent is compensated, such as the use of a fixed
fee or otherwise.
. the extent, if any, to which the managing agent commingles operating funds, deferred
maintenance funds, and replacement funds with other associations under
management.
. whether the CIRA maintains separate records for transactions initiated by the managing
agent, if any.
. whether the CIRA controls funds separately from funds controlled by the managing
agent.
. the control program used by the agent with respect to its client, the association.
. existence of a conflict of interest or ethics policy(ies), or both, for the managing agent.
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7.48AU section 325 establishes requirements and provides guidance in identifying and reporting conditions
that relate to an entity's internal control observed during an audit of financial statements. In an audit of the
financial statements of a nonissuer, paragraph .04 of AU section 325 states that the auditor is not required
to perform procedures to identify deficiencies in internal control, or to express an opinion on the
effectiveness of the entity's internal control. However, during the course of an audit, the auditor may become
aware of control deficiencies while obtaining an understanding of the entity's internal control, assessing the
risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to error or fraud, performing further audit
procedures to respond to assessed risk, communicating with management or others (for example, internal
auditors or governmental authorities), or otherwise. The auditor's awareness of control deficiencies varies
with each audit and is influenced by the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures performed, as well as
other factors.
7.49 The auditor must evaluate identified control deficiencies and determine whether these deficiencies,
individually or in combination, are significant deficiencies or material weaknesses as defined in AU section
325. The significance of a control deficiency depends on the potential for a misstatement, not on whether a
misstatement actually has occurred. Accordingly, the absence of identified misstatements does not provide
evidence that identified control deficiencies are not significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. When
evaluating whether control deficiencies, individually or in combination, are significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses, the auditor should consider the likelihood and magnitude of misstatement. Refer to AU section
325 for further guidance on evaluating control deficiencies and to paragraph 7.102 of this guide for guidance
related to communicating internal control related matters identified in an audit.
7.50 As previously stated, risk assessment procedures allow the auditor to gather the information necessary
to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control. This knowledge
provides a basis for assessing the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements. These risk
assessments are then used to design further audit procedures, such as tests of controls, substantive tests,
or both. This section provides guidance on assessing the risks of material misstatement and how to design
further audit procedures that effectively respond to those risks.
7.51Paragraph .102 of AU section 314 states that the auditor should identify and assess the risks of material
misstatement at the financial statement level and at the relevant assertion level related to classes of
transactions, account balances, and disclosures. For this purpose, the auditor should
a. identify risks throughout the process of obtaining an understanding of the entity and its
environment, including relevant controls that relate to the risks, and considering the
classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosures in the financial statements.
b. relate the identified risks to what can go wrong at the relevant assertion level.
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c. consider whether the risks are of a magnitude that could result in a material
misstatement of the financial statements.
d. consider the likelihood that the risks could result in a material misstatement of the
financial statements.
7.52 The auditor should use information gathered by performing risk assessment procedures, including the
audit evidence obtained in evaluating the design of controls and determining whether they have been
implemented, as audit evidence to support the risk assessment. The auditor should use the assessment of
the risks of material misstatement at the relevant assertion level as the basis to determine the nature,
timing, and extent of further audit procedures to be performed.
7.53 In assessing the risks of material misstatement, the auditor should determine which of the identified
risks are, in the auditor's judgment, risks that require special audit consideration (such risks are defined as
significant risks). One or more significant risks normally arise on most audits. In exercising this judgment,
the auditor should consider inherent risk to determine whether the nature of the risk, the likely magnitude of
the potential misstatement including the possibility that the risk may give rise to multiple misstatements, and
the likelihood of the risk occurring are such that they require special audit consideration. Refer to
paragraphs .45 and .53 of AU section 318, Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks
and Evaluating the Audit Evidence Obtained (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), for further audit
procedures pertaining to significant risks.
7.54AU section 318 establishes requirements and provides guidance about implementing the third standard
of field work, as follows:
The auditor must obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing audit
procedures to afford a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the financial
statements under audit.
7.55 To reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level, the auditor (1) should determine overall responses to
address the assessed risks of material misstatement at the financial statement level and (2) should design
and perform further audit procedures whose nature, timing, and extent are responsive to the assessed risks
of material misstatement at the relevant assertion level. The purpose is to provide a clear linkage between
the nature, timing, and extent of the auditor's further audit procedures and the assessed risks. The overall
responses and the nature, timing, and extent of the further audit procedures to be performed are matters for
the professional judgment of the auditor and should be based on the auditor's assessment of the risks of
material misstatement.
Overall Responses
7.56 The auditor's overall responses to address the assessed risks of material misstatement at the financial
statement level may include emphasizing to the audit team the need to maintain professional skepticism in
gathering and evaluating audit evidence, assigning more experienced staff or those with specialized skills or
using specialists, providing more supervision, or incorporating additional elements of unpredictability in the
selection of further audit procedures to be performed. Additionally, the auditor may make general changes
to the nature, timing, or extent of further audit procedures as an overall response, for example, performing
substantive procedures at period end instead of at an interim date.
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7.57 Further audit procedures provide important audit evidence to support an audit opinion. These
procedures consist of tests of controls and substantive tests. The nature, timing, and extent of the further
audit procedures to be performed by the auditor should be based on the auditor's assessment of risks of
material misstatement at the relevant assertion level.
7.58 In some cases, an auditor may determine that performing only substantive procedures is appropriate.
However, the auditor often will determine that a combined audit approach using both tests of the operating
effectiveness of controls and substantive procedures is an effective audit approach.
7.59 The auditor should perform tests of controls when the auditor's risk assessment includes an
expectation of the operating effectiveness of controls or when substantive procedures alone do not provide
sufficient appropriate audit evidence at the relevant assertion level.
7.60 Regardless of the assessed risk of material misstatement, the auditor should design and perform
substantive procedures for all relevant assertions related to each material class of transactions, account
balance, and disclosure.
7.61 The auditor's substantive procedures should include the following audit procedures related to the
financial statement reporting process:
. Examining material journal entries and other adjustments made during the course of
preparing the financial statements
The nature and extent of the auditor's examination of journal entries and other adjustments
depend on the nature and complexity of the entity's financial reporting system and the
associated risks of material misstatement.
Evaluating Misstatements
7.62 Based on the results of substantive procedures, the auditor may identify misstatements in accounts or
notes to the financial statements. Paragraph .42 of AU section 312 states that auditors must accumulate all
known and likely misstatements identified during the audit, other than those that the auditor believes are
trivial and communicate them to the appropriate level of management. AU section 312 further states that
auditors must consider the effects, both individually and in the aggregate, of misstatements (known and
likely) that are not corrected by the entity. This consideration includes, among other things, the effect of
misstatements related to prior periods.
7.63 For detailed guidance on evaluating audit findings and audit evidence, refer to AU section 312 and AU
section 326, respectively.
7.64AU section 316 is the primary source of authoritative guidance about an auditor's responsibilities
concerning the consideration of fraud in a financial statement audit. AU section 316 provides guidance to
auditors in fulfilling their responsibility to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud as
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stated in paragraph .02 of AU section 110, Responsibilities and Functions of the Independent Auditor
(AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1).
7.65 There are two types of misstatements relevant to the auditor's consideration of fraud in a financial
statement audit:
7.66 Three conditions generally are present when fraud occurs. First, the board, management, or other
employees have an incentive or are under pressure, which provides a reason to commit fraud. Second,
circumstances exist-for example, the absence of controls, ineffective controls, or the ability of the board,
management, or other employees to override controls-that provide an opportunity for a fraud to be
perpetrated. Third, those involved are able to rationalize committing a fraudulent act.
7.67Paragraph .13 of AU section 316 states that because of the characteristics of fraud, the auditor's
exercise of professional skepticism is important when considering the risk of material misstatement due to
fraud. Professional skepticism is an attitude that includes a questioning mind and a critical assessment of
audit evidence. The auditor should conduct the engagement with a mindset that recognizes the possibility
that a material misstatement due to fraud could be present, regardless of any past experience with the entity
and regardless of the auditor's belief about management's honesty and integrity. Furthermore, professional
skepticism requires an ongoing questioning of whether the information and evidence obtained suggests that
a material misstatement due to fraud has occurred.
fn 5
7.68 Members of the audit team should discuss the potential for material misstatement due to fraud in
accordance with the requirements of paragraphs .14-.18 of AU section 316. The discussion among the audit
team members about the susceptibility of the entity's financial statements to material misstatement due to
fraud should include a consideration of the known external and internal factors affecting the entity that might
(a) create incentives or pressures for the board, management, and others to commit fraud, (b) provide the
opportunity for fraud to be perpetrated, and (c) indicate a culture or environment that enables management
to rationalize committing fraud. Communication among the audit team members about the risks of material
misstatement due to fraud also should continue throughout the audit.
7.69 The following are examples of potential fraud risk factors specific to or significant for CIRAs. The risk
factors included in the list are only examples and, accordingly, the auditor may wish to consider additional or
different risk factors. Not all of these examples are relevant in all circumstances, and some may be of
greater or lesser significance to CIRAs of different size or with different ownership characteristics or
circumstances. Also, the order of the examples of risk factors provided is not intended to reflect their relative
importance or frequency of occurrence. The factors are classified as those that relate to incentives and
pressures to commit fraud, opportunities that might allow fraud to occur, and attitudes and rationalizations
that might accommodate a fraudulent action.
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5. reserve study preparers are under pressure to report longer useful lives of
components, exclude certain components, and lower replacement costs, so that the
report recommendations do not result in an unacceptable increase in monthly dues to
catch up on reserves.
B.Opportunities.
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with related entities not audited or audited by another firm. Board members live
in the CIRA and have friendships that may improperly enter into
consideration when hiring professionals and contractors.
b. Some CIRAs may not have effective internal control because they are
managed by volunteers who are not aware of the need for and methods of
establishing effective internal controls.
C.Attitudes/Rationalizations.
2. Boards are volunteers and they feel they deserve the perks (such as free landscaping
or interior repairs) due to the time they put in for the association.
3. Managing agents may also feel they deserve the perks (such as free landscaping or
interior repairs).
A.Incentives/Pressures.
1. Adverse relationships between the CIRA and employees with access to cash or other
assets susceptible to theft may motivate those employees to misappropriate those
assets. For example, adverse relationships may be created by management
companies that are often owned by one person or a very small group of people. They
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have a few highly compensated employees, and the rest are lightly compensated
(underpaid). CIRA employees are also typically underpaid. A CIRA that is volunteer-
managed may put an undue work burden on one or more volunteers, who may feel
pressure to reward himself or herself.
2. The CIRAs use similar products and services used by an employee or board member.
Thus, it is easy to include one additional utility bill to the payment or payment for extra
landscaping or office supplies.
3. CIRA staff could inappropriately use association resources for personal use especially
if key staff lived very near the CIRA. For instance, a general manager could use
maintenance staff to repair his or her unit.
1. Some CIRAs serve low and moderate income people who may not have bank
accounts, and therefore pay, bills, including CIRA dues, by cash.
2. Board members do not closely review the checks they sign. Sometimes checks are
signed in advance or signed without backup of invoices. Some management
companies have signatory power or use signature stamps or both.
3. The management contract gives the management company broad powers to spend
and to negotiate contracts and to recommend or select vendors.
5. Management companies also may have their own landscape or repair and
maintenance departments where the same employees can bill two different
associations. Or, due to lack of competitive bidding by use of internal employees there
is an overcharging of time and materials. There can also be duplication of product
invoicing, when the same management company is providing services to multiple
associations.
7.70AU section 314 establishes requirements and provides guidance about how the auditor obtains an
understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control for the purpose of assessing
the risk of material misstatement. In performing that work, information may come to the auditor's attention
that should be considered in identifying risks of material misstatement due to fraud. As part of this work, the
auditor should perform the following procedures to obtain information that is used (as described in
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paragraphs .35-.42 of AU section 316) to identify the risks of material misstatement due to fraud:
a. Make inquiries of the board, management, and others within the entity to obtain their
views about the risks of fraud and how they are addressed (see paragraphs .20-.27 of
AU section 316)
c. Consider whether one or more fraud risk factors exist (see paragraphs .31-.33 of AU
section 316 and the appendix to AU section 316)
d. Consider other information that may be helpful in the identification of risks of material
misstatement due to fraud (see paragraph .34 of AU section 316)
7.71 In planning the audit, the auditor also should perform analytical procedures relating to revenue with the
objective of identifying unusual or unexpected relationships involving revenue accounts that may indicate a
material misstatement due to fraudulent financial reporting. For example, in the CIRA industry an auditor
may want to examine changes in laundry income by comparing it with prior year or budget amounts or both.
In the case of laundry, an analysis of water and gas usage may be used to determine the projected revenue.
7.72 When designing substantive analytical procedures, the auditor also should evaluate the risk of
management override of controls. As part of this process, the auditor should evaluate whether such an
override might have allowed adjustments outside of the normal period-end financial reporting process to
have been made to the financial statements. Such adjustments might have resulted in artificial changes to
the financial statement relationships being analyzed, causing the auditor to draw erroneous conclusions. For
this reason, substantive analytical procedures alone are not well suited to detecting fraud.
7.73Considering Fraud Risk Factors. As indicated in item c, the auditor may identify events or conditions
that indicate incentives or pressures, or both, to perpetrate fraud, opportunities to carry out the fraud, or
attitudes or rationalizations, or both, to justify a fraudulent action. Such events or conditions are referred to
as fraud risk factors. Fraud risk factors do not necessarily indicate the existence of fraud; however, they
often are present in circumstances where fraud exists.
7.74AU section 316 provides fraud risk factor examples that have been written to apply to most enterprises.
Paragraph 7.69 to this chapter contains a list of fraud risk factors specific to the CIRA industry. Remember
that fraud risk factors are only one of several sources of information an auditor considers when identifying
and assessing risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
fn 6
7.75 In identifying risks of material misstatement due to fraud, it is helpful for the auditor to consider the
information that has been gathered in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs .19-.34 of AU
section 316. The auditor's identification of fraud risks may be influenced by characteristics such as the size,
complexity, and ownership attributes of the entity. In addition, the auditor should evaluate whether identified
risks of material misstatement due to fraud can be related to specific financial statement account balances
or classes of transactions and related assertions, or whether they relate more pervasively to the financial
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statements as a whole. Certain accounts, classes of transactions, and assertions that have high inherent
risk because they involve a high degree of management judgment and subjectivity also may present risks of
material misstatement due to fraud because they are susceptible to manipulation by management. The
following are some examples of accounts and classes of transactions related to CIRAs that may present
risks of material misstatement due to fraud because they are susceptible to manipulation by management:
1. Cash
3. Internet access
4. Electronic funds transfer and similar economic transactions over the Internet
7.76 Material misstatements due to fraudulent financial reporting often result from an overstatement of
revenues (for example, through premature revenue recognition or recording fictitious revenues) or an
understatement of revenues (for example, through improperly shifting revenues to a later period). Therefore,
the auditor should ordinarily presume that there is a risk of material misstatement due to fraud relating to
revenue recognition (see paragraph .41 of AU section 316). For example, there is often pressure on the
board of directors not to increase dues, and therefore there is increased pressure to understate expenses or
overstate revenue in order to show a surplus for the year. Some revenue related considerations for CIRAs
include
2. CIRAs that serve as seasonal, rather than year round homes to residents may have
significant prepaid revenue from absentee members.
3. CIRA managers may place a resident in a unit, but still carry the unit on the books as
vacant. The manager could then collect and keep the rent or CIRA assessments.
Cooperatives are more susceptible to this practice than condominiums or HOAs;
however, the opportunity also presents itself in condominiums and HOAs for units
where there has been a bankruptcy stay.
4. resort and second home CIRAs with integrated rental operations provide the manager
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5. not matching special assessments with future expenses. The special assessment is in
year 1 and the association wants to book it in year 1. However, the special
assessment was for a specific purpose-of which the expense has not occurred or has
not occurred in full.
7.77 Even if specific risks of material misstatement due to fraud are not identified by the auditor, there is a
possibility that management override of controls could occur, and accordingly, the auditor should address
that risk (see paragraph .57 of AU section 316) apart from any conclusions regarding the existence of more
specifically identifiable risks. Specifically, the procedures described in paragraphs .58-.67 of AU section 316
should be performed to further address the risk of management override of controls. These procedures
include (1) examining journal entries and other adjustments for evidence of possible material misstatement
due to fraud, (2) reviewing accounting estimates for biases that could result in material misstatement due to
fraud, and (3) evaluating the business rationale for significant unusual transactions.
7.78 Key estimates and related issues in the CIRA industry may include
Wide diversity in practice exists as to how associations develop the reserves for future
major repairs and deferred maintenance. Developers sometimes understate these
estimates to keep maintenance assessments artificially low. There is a tendency to use
prior years' numbers without getting reliable updates. Reserve study specialists and
professional engineers may need to be consulted from time to time. Other limited
procedures applicable to the unaudited supplementary information about future major
repairs and replacements are discussed later in this chapter.
Assessing the Identified Risks After Taking Into Account an Evaluation of the
Entity's Programs and Controls That Address the Risks
7.79Paragraphs .43-.45 of AU section 316 establish requirements and provide guidance concerning an
entity's programs and controls that address identified risks of material misstatement due to fraud. Controls
that may exist at a CIRA include
1. requiring and checking that signature cards are updated when the board members or
managers change.
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7.80 The auditor should consider whether such programs and controls mitigate the identified risks of
material misstatement due to fraud or whether specific control deficiencies exacerbate the risks. After the
auditor has evaluated whether the entity's programs and controls have been suitably designed and placed in
operation, the auditor should assess these risks taking into account that evaluation. This assessment should
be considered when developing the auditor's response to the identified risks of material misstatement due to
fraud.
fn 7
7.81Paragraphs .46-.67 of AU section 316 provide requirements and guidance about an auditor's response
to the results of the assessment of the risks of material misstatement due to fraud. The auditor responds to
risks of material misstatement due to fraud in the following 3 ways:
a. A response that has an overall effect on how the audit is conducted-that is, a response
involving more general considerations apart from the specific procedures otherwise
planned (see paragraph .50 of AU section 316)
b. A response to identified risks involving the nature, timing, and extent of the auditing
procedures to be performed (see paragraphs .51-.56 of AU section 316)
c. A response involving the performance of certain procedures to further address the risk
of material misstatement due to fraud involving management override of controls,
given the unpredictable ways in which such override could occur (see paragraphs .57-
.67 of AU section 316 and paragraph 7.79 in this guide)
7.82Paragraphs .68-.78 of AU section 316 provide requirements and guidance for evaluating audit
evidence. The auditor should evaluate whether analytical procedures that were performed as substantive
tests or in the overall review stage of the audit indicate a previously unrecognized risk of material
misstatement due to fraud. The auditor also should consider whether responses to inquiries throughout the
audit about analytical relationships have been vague or implausible, or have produced evidence that is
inconsistent with other audit evidence accumulated during the audit.
7.83 At or near the completion of fieldwork, the auditor should evaluate whether the accumulated results of
auditing procedures and other observations affect the assessment of the risks of material misstatement due
to fraud made earlier in the audit. As part of this evaluation, the auditor with final responsibility for the audit
should ascertain that there has been appropriate communication with the other audit team members
throughout the audit regarding information or conditions indicative of risks of material misstatement due to
fraud.
7.84 When audit test results identify misstatements in the financial statements, the auditor should consider
whether such misstatements may be indicative of fraud. See paragraphs .75-.78 of AU section 316 for
requirements and guidance about an auditor's response to misstatements that may be the result of fraud. If
the auditor believes that misstatements are or may be the result of fraud, but the effect of the misstatements
is not material to the financial statements, the auditor nevertheless should evaluate the implications,
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especially those dealing with the organizational position of the person(s) involved.
7.85 If the auditor believes that the misstatement is or may be the result of fraud, and either has determined
that the effect could be material to the financial statements or has been unable to evaluate whether the
effect is material, the auditor should
a. attempt to obtain additional audit evidence to determine whether material fraud has
occurred or is likely to have occurred, and, if so, its effect on the financial statements
fn 8
and the auditor's report thereon.
b. consider the implications for other aspects of the audit (see paragraph .76 of AU
section 316).
c. discuss the matter and the approach for further investigation with those charged with
governance and an appropriate level of management that is at least one level above
fn 9
those involved, and with senior management and those charged with governance.
7.86 The auditor's consideration of the risks of material misstatement and the results of audit tests may
indicate such a significant risk of material misstatement due to fraud that the auditor should consider
withdrawing from the engagement and communicating the reasons for withdrawal to those charged with
governance. The auditor may wish to consult with legal counsel when considering withdrawal from an
engagement.
7.87 Whenever the auditor has determined that there is evidence that fraud may exist, that matter should be
brought to the attention of an appropriate level of management. See paragraphs .79-.82 of AU section 316
for further requirements and guidance about communications with management, those charged with
governance, and others.
7.88Paragraph .83 of AU section 316 identifies matters the auditor should document related to the auditor's
consideration of fraud.
Practical Guidance
7.89 The AICPA Practice Aid Fraud Detection in a GAAS Audit-Revised Edition provides a wealth of
information and help on complying with the provisions of AU section 316. Moreover, this practice aid will
assist auditors in understanding the requirements of AU section 316 and whether current audit practices
effectively incorporate these requirements. This practice aid is an other auditing publication as defined in AU
section 150. Other auditing publications have no authoritative status; however, they may help the auditor
understand and apply Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs).
Budgets
7.90 CIRAs may present accompanying information, such as budgets, in an auditor-submitted document
that contains the CIRA's audited financial statements and the auditor's report thereon. AU section 551,
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Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial
statements taken as a whole. The budget information is presented for purposes of
additional analyses and is not a required part of the basic financial statements. Such
information has not been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of
the basic financial statements, and, accordingly, we express no opinion on it.
CIRAs may prepare and publish various documents containing information in addition to
audited financial statements and the auditor's report thereon. Paragraph .04 of AU section
550, Other Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1), states that, at a minimum, the auditor read such other
information and consider whether the information, or the manner of its presentation, are
materially consistent with information, or the manner of its presentation, appearing in the
financial statements. Paragraph .07 of AU section 550 states that if certain other
fn 10
information has been subjected to auditing procedures applied in the audit of the
basic financial statements, the auditor may express an opinion on whether the information
is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to those financial statements taken as a
whole. In those circumstances, the auditor's report on the information should describe
clearly the character of the auditor's work and the degree of responsibility the auditor is
taking. The auditor may report on such information using the guidance provided and
requirements set forth in paragraphs .12 and .14 of AU section 551.
7.91AU section 329, Analytical Procedures (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), provides guidance and
sets forth requirements on the use of analytical procedures. Paragraph .04 of AU section 329 states that
analytical procedures should be applied to some extent for purposes of planning the nature, timing, and
extent of other auditing procedures and as an overall review of the financial information in the final review
stage of all audits. The auditor should compare budgeted amounts with actual amounts as an analytical
procedure in the audit of a CIRA. Paragraph .14 of AU section 318 states that the auditor should obtain
audit evidence about the completeness and accuracy of nonfinancial information if the auditor uses such
information in performing audit procedures. See AU section 318 for additional guidance.
7.92 If an accountant assists a CIRA in preparing its budget, he or she may be required to report on the
budget. AT section 301 sets forth requirements and provides guidance for such engagements. An
accountant plans, conducts, and reports the results of attest engagements in accordance with the 11
attestation standards identified in AT section 50, SSAE Hierarchy (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1).
7.93 This section provides guidance on the more significant auditing procedures that the independent
auditor may consider in the audits of CIRAs. In accordance with paragraph .07 of AU section 318, the
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nature, timing, and extent of these procedures should be based on the auditor's assessment of the risks of
material misstatements at the assertion level. However, regardless of the assessed risks of material
misstatement, the auditor should design and perform substantive procedures for all relevant assertions
related to each material class of transactions, account balance, and disclosure.
Assessment Revenues
7.94 Audit procedures performed to obtain audit evidence about assessment revenues should include
comparing total reported assessments for the period under audit with budgeted amounts and testing
whether amounts assessed to individual owners have been computed in accordance with the CIRA's
documents.
Assessments Receivable
7.95 In designing audit procedures for the relevant assertions, the following specific audit objectives related
to a CIRA's assessments receivable are normally applicable:
. All assessments receivable owed to the CIRA at the balance-sheet date are recorded
Investments
7.96 CIRAs often invest excess funds and reserve funds in savings accounts or other interest-bearing
investments. In auditing investments, common audit objectives related to a CIRA's investments may include
the following:
. Investments exist and the CIRA has legal title to them at the balance-sheet date.
. All investments owned by the CIRA at the balance-sheet date are included in the
investment accounts.
. The values at which investments are carried in the financial statements are appropriate
and are adequately disclosed.
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. Income from investments, including gains and losses on sales and adjustments in
valuation allowances, is appropriately reflected in the financial statements.
. Investments conform to the CIRA's legal requirements and its governing documents.
Contracts
7.97 CIRAs often enter into agreements or contracts with agents or others not directly managed by the
CIRA to provide services, such as operation of recreational facilities or garages, to unit owners. The auditor
may find it necessary to review provisions of such contracts or agreements and consider whether the board
was authorized to enter into the contracts and transactions pursuant to the contracts and whether related
account balances are appropriately recorded and disclosed in the financial statements. The auditor should
also evaluate whether commitments for long term contracts have been disclosed where required by GAAP.
Insurance
7.98 The auditor may consider whether a CIRA's insurance coverage complies with statutory or other
documentary requirements. Although Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 5, Accounting
for Contingencies, does not require the disclosure of noninsured or underinsured risks, it states specifically
that it does not discourage such disclosures.
7.99 CIRAs may be required by state statutes, mortgage documents, or their governing documents to set
aside funds on a systematic basis for future major repairs and replacements. The auditor should review the
CIRA's governing documents and relevant state statutes to determine whether such requirements exist. The
auditor should also review the CIRA's policy for accumulating the required funds.
7.100 If the disclosure about a CIRA's funding for future major repairs and replacements as required by
paragraph 4.27 of this guide is absent or inadequate, the auditor should consider modifying his or her report,
as discussed in AU section 508, Reports on Audited Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards,
vol. 1).
7.101 The auditor should apply certain limited procedures to the required supplementary information
discussed in paragraph 4.33 of this guide. Paragraph .07 of AU section 558, Required Supplementary
Information (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), provides guidance and sets forth requirements
pertaining to required supplementary information. Specifically, procedures that the auditor should consider
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. Compare estimates of the costs of major repairs and replacements with current period
expenditures and with the annual budget, if any.
. Inquire of management about whether the CIRA's property maintenance records, which
reflect each component's replacement history, if any, were considered in determining
the information to be disclosed.
. Inquire of management about whether the age and condition of the components were
considered in determining the information and amounts to be disclosed.
. Inquire of management about whether the study was prepared by the board or a
professional engineer and whether the methods and bases for estimating the amounts
disclosed are documented. Consider whether those methods and bases are
reasonable. If the study was conducted by the board, consider whether the source of
the information used to estimate the useful lives and current or future repair and
replacement costs, for example, bids from contractors or technical manuals on useful
lives of various components are reasonable. Also, the auditor may consider
determining whether or not the preparer has their reserve specialist designation as a
way of confirming that the study was completed in conformance with the National
Reserve Study Standards, which are referenced in chapter 3 of this guide.
7.102 Whenever an auditor expresses an opinion (including a disclaimer of opinion) on the financial
statements of a nonissuer, paragraph .20 of AU section 325 states that the auditor must communicate, in
writing, to management and those charged with governance, control deficiencies identified during the audit
that are considered significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the internal control process. The
communication required by AU section 325 includes significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
identified and communicated to management and those charged with governance in prior audits but not yet
remediated. The written communication is best made by the report release date but should be made no later
than 60 days following the report release date. Nothing precludes the auditor from communicating to
management and those charged with governance other matters that the auditor believes to be of potential
benefit to the entity or that the auditor has been requested to communicate which may include, for example,
control deficiencies that are not significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. The auditor should not
issue a written communication stating that no significant deficiencies were identified during the audit
because of the potential for misinterpretation of the limited degree of assurance provided by such a
communication.
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Representation Letters
7.103Paragraph .05 of AU section 333, Management Representations (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol.
1), states that written representations should be obtained from management for all financial statements and
periods covered by the auditors report. Paragraph .09 of AU section 333 states that the management
representation letter should be signed by those members of management with overall responsibility for
financial and operating matters whom the auditor believes are responsible for and knowledgeable about,
directly or through others in the organization, the matters covered by the representations. Where
governance of a CIRA is the collective responsibility of a governing body, such as a CIRA's board of
directors, and the board of directors performs management functions, the board of directors (or applicable
members thereof) may be considered part of the CIRA's management.
7.104AU section 380 defines management as those persons responsible for achieving the objectives of the
entity and who have the authority to establish policies and make decisions by which those objectives are to
be pursued. Management is also responsible for the financial statements, including designing,
implementing, and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. CIRAs commonly contract
with management companies whose responsibilities may vary and may include preparation of the financial
statements. The auditor should evaluate, based on the guidance provided in AU section 333 and the
definition of management in AU section 380, who should sign the representation letter, which may include a
representative from the board of directors, a member of the CIRA's management on staff, a representative
from the management company (for example, controller, association accountant, or its equivalent), or
others, or some combination thereof.
7.105 Among CIRAs, it is common to have frequent turnover within the board of directors, as the members
are typically volunteers. High turnover may also occur among the CIRA's management on staff and within
the third-party management company, if applicable. Paragraph .10 of AU section 333 states, if current
management was not present during all periods covered by the auditor's report, the auditor should
nevertheless obtain written representations from current management on all such periods. If comparative
financial statements are reported on, the representations obtained at the completion of the most recent audit
should address all periods being reported on.
7.106Paragraph .11 of AU section 380 states that the auditor may want to obtain written representations
from other individuals. For example, the auditor may want to obtain written representations about the
completeness of the minutes of the directors' meetings from the person responsible for keeping such
minutes.
7.107Paragraph .06 of AU section 333 identifies the matters to which specific representations should relate,
including an acknowledgement by management that it has considered the financial statement
misstatements aggregated by the auditor during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period
presented, and has concluded that any uncorrected misstatements are immaterial, both individually and in
the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole. A summary of the uncorrected misstatements
should be included in or attached to the representation letter. The specific written representations obtained
by the auditor will depend on the circumstances of the engagement and the nature and basis of presentation
of the financial statements. The representation letter ordinarily should be tailored to include additional
appropriate representations from management relating to matters specific to the entity's business or
industry.
7.108 The auditor should consider obtaining representations about the following matters in addition to those
described in AU section 333:
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. The CIRA's policy for funding future major repairs and replacements
. The CIRA's policy for disposing of the excess of revenues over expenses, if any
7.109Paragraph .09 of AU section 333 states that the written representations should be addressed to the
auditor. Because the auditor is concerned with events occurring through the date of the report that may
require adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements, the representations should be made as of the
date of the auditor's report. Additionally, paragraph .12 of AU section 560, Subsequent Events (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1), states that the auditor generally should obtain a letter of representations as
to whether any events have occurred subsequent to the date of the financial statements being reported on
by the independent auditor that, in the officer's (or other appropriate person's) opinion, would require
adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements. A representation letter for an audit is illustrated in
exhibit B-4 of appendix B.
Audit Documentation
7.110 Audit documentation is an essential element of audit quality. The form, content, and extent of audit
documentation depends on the circumstances of the particular audit engagement and the audit
methodology and tools used. The auditor must prepare audit documentation in connection with each
engagement in sufficient detail to provide a clear understanding of the work performed (including the nature,
timing, extent, and results of audit procedures performed), the audit evidence obtained and its source, and
the conclusions reached. The quantity, type, and content of audit documentation are matters of the auditor's
professional judgment. AU section 339, Audit Documentation (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1),
provides guidance and sets forth requirements about the content, ownership and confidentiality of audit
documentation.
. provides the principal support for the representation in the auditor's report that the
fn 12
auditor performed the audit in accordance with GAAS.
. provides principal support for the opinion expressed regarding the financial information
or the assertion to the effect that an opinion cannot be expressed.
Other purposes of audit documentation include, among other things, assisting the audit
team to plan and perform the audit, assisting members of the audit team responsible for
supervision to direct and supervise the audit work, retaining a record of matters of
continuing significance to future audits of the same entity, and enabling an experienced
auditor to conduct inspections or peer reviews in accordance with applicable legal,
regulatory, or other requirements.
fn 13
7.112 Examples of audit documentation are audit programs, analyses, memoranda, summaries of (and
correspondence about) significant findings or issues, letters of confirmation and representation, abstracts or
copies of entity documents, and schedules or commentaries prepared or obtained by the auditor. Audit
fn 14
documentation may be in paper form, electronic form, or other media.
7.113Paragraph .10 of AU section 339 states that the auditor should prepare audit documentation that
enables an experienced auditor, having no previous connection to the audit, to understand
. the nature, timing, and extent of auditing procedures performed to comply with GAAS
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. the results of the audit procedures performed and the audit evidence obtained;
. that the accounting records agree or reconcile with the audited financial statements or
other audited information.
In documenting the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures performed, the auditor
should record who performed the work and the date such work was completed.
Additionally, it should be clear from the audit documentation who reviewed specific
elements of the audit work performed and the date of such review. The requirement to
document who reviewed the audit work performed does not imply a need for each specific
working paper to include evidence of review.
7.114 The auditor should complete the assembly of the final audit file on a timely basis, but within 60 days
following the report release date (documentation completion date). Statutes, regulations, or the audit firm's
quality control policies may specify a shorter period of time in which this assembly process should be
completed. After the documentation completion date, the auditor must not delete or discard audit
documentation before the end of the specified retention period (generally not less than 5 years from the
report release date but statutes, regulations, or the firm's quality control policies may specify a longer
retention period). When the auditor finds it necessary to make an addition (including amendments) to audit
documentation after the documentation completion date, the auditor should document the addition in
accordance with paragraph .26 of AU section 339.
7.115Paragraph .23 of AU section 339 states that the auditor's report should not be dated earlier than the
date on which the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the opinion. Among
other things, sufficient appropriate audit evidence includes evidence that the audit documentation has been
reviewed and that the entity's financial statements, including disclosures, have been prepared and that
management has asserted that it has taken responsibility for them. This will ordinarily result in a report date
that is close to the date the auditor grants the entity permission to use the auditor's report in connection with
the financial statements (report release date). Delays in releasing the report may require the auditor to
perform additional procedures to comply with the requirements of AU section 560.
7.116 In addition to the requirements discussed in paragraphs 7.105-.110, AU section 339 establishes
further requirements about the content, ownership, and confidentiality of audit documentation. Moreover,
appendix A to AU section 339 lists the audit documentation requirements contained in other SASs.
Auditor's Report
7.117 Under certain circumstances, such as when the disclosure about funding for future major repairs and
replacements required in paragraph 4.27 of this guide is inadequate, the auditor should consider whether to
modify his or her opinion because of a departure from GAAP.
7.118 The auditor would not modify the report solely because the CIRA or unit owners have decided not to
fund the CIRA's need for major repairs and replacements of common property even though the CIRA has
determined current or future estimates of costs that may be required in the future.
7.119 The auditor may, however, decide to add an emphasis-of-matter paragraph to draw the user's
attention to the note discussing funding for future major repairs and replacements. The following illustrates a
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paragraph that may be added to the standard report if the board of directors decides to only partially adopt
the recommendations of a study:
As more fully explained in note 4 to the financial statements, the board of directors
has elected to only partially adopt the funding recommendations of a study conducted
to determine current estimates of major repairs and replacements required in the
future.
7.120 The following illustrates a paragraph that may be added to the standard report if owners vote not to
fund for future major repairs and replacements:
As more fully explained in note 4 to the financial statements, a majority of the unit
owners voted not to fund the association's future needs for major repairs and
replacements through systematic assessments.
7.121 In June 2004, the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) issued 2 interpretations of AU section 508 that
provide reporting guidance for audits of nonissuers. Auditing Interpretation No. 17, "Clarification in the Audit
Report of the Extent of Testing of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting in Accordance With Generally
Accepted Auditing Standards" (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1, AU sec. 9508 par. .85-.88),
addresses how auditors may expand their independent auditor's report to explain that their consideration of
internal control was to provide the auditor a sufficient understanding to plan the audit and determine the
nature, timing, and extent of tests to be performed, but was not sufficient to express an opinion on the
effectiveness of the internal control. Auditing Interpretation No. 18, "Reference to PCAOB Standards in an
Audit Report on a Nonissuer" (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1, AU sec. 9508 par. .89-.92), provides
guidance on the appropriate referencing of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Auditing
Standards in audit reports when an auditor is engaged to perform the audit in accordance with both GAAS
and PCAOB Auditing Standards. The ASB also has undertaken a project to determine what amendments, if
any, should be made to AU section 508. See the AICPA Web site at
www.aicpa.org/download/auditstd/asb_2008_2010_timetable.pdf for more information on the project
timetable.
7.122Paragraph 4.33 of this guide sets forth requirements for CIRAs to present supplementary information
about estimates of current or future costs of major repairs and replacements of common property that will be
required in the future. AU section 551 states that the auditor should (a) express an opinion on the
information if the auditor has been engaged to examine the information, (b) report on the information using
the guidance in AU section 551, provided such information has been subjected to the auditing procedures
applied in the audit of the basic financial statements, or (c) disclaim an opinion on the information. The
following is an example of a disclaimer that an auditor might use in conjunction with the presentation of such
supplementary information outside the basic financial statements in an auditor-submitted document:
The [identify the supplementary information] on page XX is not a required part of the
basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have applied
certain limited procedures, which consisted principally of inquiries of management
regarding the methods of measurement and presentation of the supplementary
information. However, we did not audit the information and express no opinion on it.
7.123 Because supplementary information generally is not audited and is not a required part of the basic
financial statements, the auditor need not add an explanatory paragraph, notwithstanding the condition
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described in paragraph 7.122, to the report on the audited financial statements to refer to the supplementary
information or to his or her limited procedures, except in the following circumstances:
d. The auditor is unable to remove substantial doubts about whether the supplementary
information conforms to prescribed guidelines.
7.124 The following illustrates a paragraph that may be added to the standard auditor's report if the
unaudited supplementary information required in paragraph 4.33 of this guide is not presented. That
information is required even if a CIRA's governing documents and state statutes do not require the CIRA to
fund systematically for future major repairs and replacements:
As discussed in note 4, the association has not estimated the remaining lives and
replacement costs of the common property and, therefore, has not presented
information on future major repairs and replacements that accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America has determined is necessary to
supplement, although not required to be part of, the basic financial statements.
7.125 The following illustrates an explanatory paragraph that an auditor might use in circumstances in which
the supplementary information materially departs from information required by paragraph 4.33 of this guide:
7.126 The following illustrates an explanatory paragraph that an auditor might use in circumstances in which
the procedures prescribed by paragraph 7.101 of this guide were not completed:
7.127 The following illustrates an explanatory paragraph that an auditor might use in circumstances in which
the auditor has unresolved doubts about the adherence of the information to the information required by
paragraph 4.33 of this guide:
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7.128 Even though the auditor is unable to complete the prescribed procedures, if, on the basis of facts
known to him or her, the auditor concludes that the supplementary information has not been measured or
presented within prescribed guidelines, he or she should suggest appropriate revision; failing that, he or she
should describe the nature of any material departure(s) in the report.
7.129 In conjunction with the audit of the financial statements, the auditor may subject the supplementary
information to certain auditing procedures. If the procedures are sufficient to enable the auditor to express
an opinion on whether the information is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial
statements taken as a whole, the auditor may expand the audit report in accordance with paragraph .07 of
AU section 550. Paragraph .08 of AU section 558 states that the auditor need not present the
supplementary information if it is omitted by the entity. Since the required supplementary information does
not change the standards of financial accounting and reporting used for the preparation of the CIRA's basic
financial statements, the omission of the supplementary information (among other circumstances described
in paragraph .08 of AU section 558) does not affect the auditor's opinion on the fairness of presentation of
such financial statements in conformity with GAAP. However, the auditor should add an explanatory
paragraph to the report on the audited financial statements as described in AU section 558.
Footnotes
fn 1Ethics Ruling No. 31, "Performance of Services for Common Interest Realty Associations (CIRAs), Including Cooperatives,
Condominium Associations, Planned Unit Developments, Homeowners Associations, and Timeshare Developments," of ET
section 191, Ethics Rulings on Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 191
par. .061-.062), states that, with respect to an engagement to perform services for a CIRA, a covered member's independence
would be considered to be impaired if the member is also a member of the CIRA as a result of ownership or lease of real
estate, unless certain conditions are met.
fn 2The AICPA Audit Guide titled Service Organizations: Applying SAS No. 70, as Amended includes illustrative control
objectives as well as three new interpretations that address the responsibilities of service organizations and service auditors
with respect to forward-looking information, subsequent events, and the risk of projecting evaluations of controls to future
periods. The guide also clarifies that the use of a service auditor's report should be restricted to existing customers and is not
meant for potential customers.
fn 3
A member performing an attest engagement must be independent pursuant to Ethics Rule 101, Independence (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2, ET sec. 101 par. .01). Other applicable independence rules or regulations, or both, may also
apply to members and other accountants while performing attest engagements (for example, Securities and Exchange
Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Government Accountability Office, and state licensing boards).
fn 4For additional nonauthoritative guidance pertaining to internal control, refer to the following Technical Questions and
Answers (TIS) sections in AICPA Technical Practice Aids issued in March 2008:
. TIS section 8200.05, "Testing the Operating Effectiveness of Internal Control"
. TIS section 8200.06, "The Meaning of Expectation of the Operating Effectiveness of Controls"
. TIS section 8200.07, "Considering a Substantive Audit Strategy"
. TIS section 8200.08, "Obtaining an Understanding of the Control Environment"
. TIS section 8200.09, "Assessing Inherent Risk"
fn 5 The brainstorming session to discuss the entity's susceptibility to material misstatements due to fraud could be held
concurrently with the brainstorming session required under AU section 314, Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and
Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), to discuss the potential of the risks of
material misstatement.
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fn 6Paragraph .102 of AU section 314 states that the auditor should identify and assess the risk of material misstatement at
the financial statement level and at the relevant assertion level related to classes of transactions, account balances, and
disclosures. This requirement provides a link between the auditor's consideration of fraud and the auditor's assessment of risk
and the auditor's procedures in response to those assessed risks.
fn 7 Paragraph .03 of AU section 318, Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks and Evaluating the Audit
Evidence Obtained (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), states that to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level, the
auditor should determine overall responses to address the assessed risk of material misstatement at the financial statement
level and should design and perform further audit procedures whose nature, timing, and extent are responsive to the assessed
risks of material misstatement at the relevant assertion level. See paragraphs .04-.07 of AU section 318. This requirement
provides a link between the auditor's consideration of fraud and the auditor's assessment of risk and the auditor's procedures
in response to those assessed risks.
fn 8
See AU section 508, Reports on Audited Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), for guidance on
auditors' reports issued in connection with audits of financial statements.
fn 9
If the auditor believes senior management may be involved, discussion of the matter directly with the audit committee, or
other appropriate subgroup of those charged with governance, may be appropriate.
fn 10 This information may include supplementary information required by generally accepted accounting principles.
fn 11 AU section 9330, The Confirmation Process: Auditing Interpretations of Section 330 (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol.
1), clarifies, among other matters, that the use of an electronic confirmation process is not precluded by the examples in AU
section 330, The Confirmation Process (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1). If the auditor is satisfied that the electronic
confirmation process is secure and the confirmation is directly from a third party who is a bona fide authorized respondent,
electronic confirmations may be considered as sufficient, valid confirmation responses. Readers may refer to this section for
examples of validation techniques.
fn 12
However, there is no intention to imply that the auditor would be precluded from supporting his or her report by other
means in addition to audit documentation.
fn 13
See paragraphs .19-.21 of AU section 311, Planning and Supervision (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1), for
guidance regarding preparation of audit programs.
fn 14 A firm of independent auditors has a responsibility to adopt a system of quality control policies and procedures to provide
the firm with reasonable assurance that its personnel comply with applicable professional standards, including generally
accepted auditing standards, and the firm's standards of quality in conducting individual audit engagements. Review of audit
documentation and discussions with engagement team members are among the procedures a firm performs when monitoring
compliance with the quality control policies and procedures that it has established. (Also, see AU section 161, The
Relationship of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards to Quality Control Standards [AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1].)
AU section 161 clarifies the relationship between Statements on Quality Control Standards and engagements performed
under Statements on Auditing Standards.
Document 11 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 8 Review and Compilation Engagements
In February 2008, the Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC), issued Statements on
Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) No. 17, Omnibus Statement on Standards for
Accounting and Review Services-2008 (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2), which amends some of
the guidance for compilation and review engagements. SSARS No. 17 is effective for compilations and
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reviews of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2008, with early application
permitted. This guide will be updated for SSARS No. 17 in the next edition.
Due to the issuance of SSARS No. 17, AR sections 100, 9100, 200, 300, 9300, and 400 (as they existed
prior to being amended by SSARS No. 17) have been moved to AR sections 100A, 9100A, 200A, 300A,
9300A, and 400A, respectively, of Professional Standards until the effective date of SSARS No. 17. This
guide references the "A" sections as appropriate because SSARS No. 17 has not been incorporated in
this edition.
As part of the conforming changes to this guide, updated as of May 1, 2008, the ARSC has rescinded
Statement of Position (SOP) 93-5, Reporting on Required Supplementary Information Accompanying
Compiled or Reviewed Financial Statements of Common Interest Realty Associations. Interpretative
guidance previously included in the SOP has been conformed and moved to chapter 8 of the guide.
8.01 The needs of common interest realty associations (CIRAs) for accounting services may vary
significantly. Factors that management considers in determining its needs for an accountant's services
include the CIRA's
. size;
. total assets;
. scope of operations;
8.02 State laws or regulations, or a CIRA's governing documents, may prescribe whether a CIRA should
have its financial statements compiled, reviewed, or audited. An accountant engaged to compile a CIRA's
financial statements may become aware that the CIRA is required to have a review or an audit, in which
case it is important that the accountant notify management and the association board of directors that a
compilation will not satisfy the applicable legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements. Similarly, an
accountant engaged to review a CIRA's financial statements may become aware that the CIRA is required
to have an audit, in which case notification to management is also important.
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fn 2
a. That the engagement cannot be relied upon to disclose errors, fraud, or illegal
fn 3
acts.
b. That the accountant will inform the appropriate level of management of any material
errors and of any evidence or information that comes to the accountant's attention
during the performance of compilation or review procedures that fraud or an illegal act
fn 4
may have occurred. The accountant need not report any matters regarding illegal
acts that may have occurred that are clearly inconsequential and may reach
agreement in advance with the CIRA on the nature of any such matters to be
communicated.
Engagement letters for reviews and compilations of financial statements of CIRAs are
illustrated in exhibits B-2 and B-3 of appendix B.
8.04 The accountant is not required to make inquiries or perform other procedures to verify, corroborate, or
review information supplied by the CIRA. However, the accountant may have made inquiries or performed
other procedures. The results of such inquiries or procedures, knowledge gained from prior engagements,
or the financial statements on their face may cause the accountant to become aware that information
supplied by the CIRA is incorrect, incomplete, or otherwise unsatisfactory. If any evidence or information
comes to the accountant's attention regarding fraud or an illegal act that may have occurred, the accountant
should request that management consider the effect of the matter on the financial statements. Additionally,
the accountant should consider the effect of the matter on his or her compilation report. In circumstances in
which the accountant believes that the financial statements are materially misstated, the accountant should
obtain additional or revised information. If the CIRA refuses to provide additional or revised information, the
accountant should withdraw from the engagement.
8.05 Before submission, the accountant should read the financial statements and consider whether such
financial statements appear to be appropriate in form and free from obvious material errors. In this context,
the term error refers to mistakes in the compilation of financial statements, including arithmetical or clerical
mistakes, and mistakes in the application of accounting principles, including inadequate disclosure.
8.06Paragraphs .11-.20 of AR section 100A provide guidance and establish reporting requirements
pertaining to compilation engagements for which the accountant might reasonably expect the financial
statements to be used by a third party. Paragraphs .22-.25 of AR section 100A provide guidance and
establish performance and reporting requirements pertaining to compilation engagements for which the
accountant submits financial statements to a client that are not expected to be used by a third party. AR
section 100A also provides guidance and establishes requirements relating to the emphasis of a matter,
departures from generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), restricted use reports, subsequent
discovery of facts existing at the date of the report, independence, and communicating to management and
others.
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8.07AR section 100A provides accountants with guidance and establishes requirements with respect to the
inquiries, analytical procedures, and other procedures to be performed in a review engagement.
Paragraphs .41-.48 of AU section 100A provide general guidance with respect to reporting on reviewed
financial statements. AR section 100A also provides guidance and establishes requirements relating to the
emphasis of a matter, departures from GAAP, restricted use reports, subsequent discovery of facts existing
at the date of the report, independence, and communicating to management and others.
8.08 A review does not contemplate obtaining an understanding of internal control or assessing control risk,
assessing fraud risks, tests of accounting records and of responses to inquiries by obtaining corroborating
evidential matter, performance of procedures designed to detect material misstatements due to fraud or
illegal acts, and certain other procedures ordinarily performed during an audit. Thus, a review does not
provide assurance that the accountant will become aware of all significant matters that would be disclosed
in an audit.
8.09 If any evidence or information comes to the accountant's attention regarding fraud or an illegal act that
may have occurred, the accountant should request that management consider the effect of the matter on
the financial statements. Additionally, the accountant should consider the effect of the matter on his or her
review report. In circumstances in which the accountant believes the financial statements are materially
misstated, the accountant should perform the additional procedures deemed necessary to achieve limited
assurance that there are no material modifications that should be made to the financial statements in order
for the statements to be in conformity with GAAP.
8.10 The accountant should apply analytical procedures to the financial statements to identify and provide a
basis for inquiry about the relationships and individual items that appear to be unusual and that may indicate
fn *
a material misstatement. Analytical procedures should include
8.11 Expectations developed by the accountant in performing analytical procedures in connection with a
review of financial statements ordinarily are less encompassing than those developed in an audit. Also, in a
review, the accountant ordinarily is not required to corroborate management's responses with other
evidence. However, the accountant should consider the reasonableness and consistency of management's
responses in light of the results of other review procedures and the accountant's knowledge of the entity's
business and the industry in which it operates.
8.12 The following are inquiries the accountant should consider making to members of management who
have responsibility for financial and accounting matters when conducting a review of financial statements
(see appendix B of AR section 100A for additional illustrative inquiries):
1. Whether the financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP
consistently applied
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2. The CIRA's accounting principles and practices and the methods followed in applying
them and procedures for recording, classifying, and summarizing transactions, and
accumulating information for disclosure in the financial statements
3. Unusual or complex situations that may have an effect on the financial statements
4. Significant transactions occurring or recognized near the end of the reporting period
6. Questions that have arisen in the course of applying the review procedures
7. Events subsequent to the date of the financial statements that could have a material
effect on the financial statements
8. Their knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving
management or others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial
statements, for example, communications received from employees, former
employees, or others
8.13 Some specific procedures that may be performed on a review engagement of a CIRA include the
following:
. A review of minutes of the meetings of the board of directors and annual meetings of
owners
. A comparison of the actual revenue and expenditures to the current year's budget and
to the prior year's actual revenue and expenditures
. Inquiries about late fees and lien filing procedures for delinquent member assessments
. Inquiries about the CIRA's income tax filing status in prior years
. Inquiries about whether local governments may be imposing property taxes on both the
CIRA and unit owners for the same property
. Inquiries about special bank accounts, if any, not maintained in the general ledger
Representation Letters
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8.14Paragraph .34 of AR section 100A establishes a requirement that, for review engagements, written
representations be obtained from management for all financial statements and periods covered by the
accountant's review report. Paragraph .36 of AR section 100A states that the letter should be signed by
those members of management whom the accountant believes are responsible for and knowledgeable,
fn ?
directly or through others in the organization, about the matters covered in the representation letter. (A
representation letter for a review engagement is illustrated in exhibit B-5 of appendix B.)
8.15 CIRAs commonly contract with management companies whose responsibilities may vary and may
include preparation of the financial statements. The accountant may determine that representations be
obtained from a representative of the board of directors, a member of the CIRA's management on staff, a
representative from the management company (for example, controller, association accountant, or its
equivalent), or others, or some combination thereof.
8.16 Among CIRAs, it is common to have frequent turnover within the board of directors because the
members are typically volunteers. High turnover may also occur among the CIRA's management on staff
and within the third-party management company, if applicable. Paragraph .36 of AR section 100A states that
if current management was not present during all periods covered by the accountant's report, the
accountant should nevertheless obtain written representations from current management on all such
periods. If comparative financial statements are reported on, the representations obtained at the completion
of the most recent review should address all periods being reported on. The specific written representations
obtained by the accountant will depend on the circumstances of the engagement and the nature and basis
of presentation of the financial statements.
8.17 In connection with a review of financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, specific
fn 5
representations should relate to the following matters:
b. Management's belief that the financial statements are fairly presented in conformity
with GAAP
d. Knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving management
or others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements,
including any communications received from employees, former employees, or others
f. Completeness of information
8.18 The representation letter ordinarily should be tailored to include additional appropriate representation
from management relating to matters specific to the CIRA or its industry. The illustrative representation letter
presented in paragraph .89 of AR section 100A contains various representations that may be appropriate in
certain situations.
8.19 The written representations should be addressed to the accountant. Because the accountant is
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concerned with events occurring through the date of the report that may require adjustment to or disclosure
in the financial statements, the representations should be made as of a date no earlier than the date of the
fn ?
accountant's report.
8.20 The accountant should prepare documentation in connection with a review of financial statements, the
form and content of which should be designed to meet the circumstances of the particular engagement.
Documentation is the principal record of the review procedures performed and the conclusions reached by
the accountant in performing the review. However, an accountant would not be precluded from supporting
his or her review report by other means in addition to the review documentation. Such other means might
include written documentation contained in other engagement (for example compilation) files or quality
control files (for example consultation files) and in limited situations, oral explanations. Oral explanations
should be limited to those situations in which the accountant finds it necessary to supplement or clarify
information contained in the documentation. Oral explanations should not be the principal support for the
work performed or the conclusions reached.
8.21 Because of the different circumstances in individual engagements, it is not possible to specify the form
or content of the documentation the accountant should prepare. However, the documentation should include
any findings or issues that in the accountant's judgment are significant, for example, the results of review
procedures that indicate the financial statements could be materially misstated, including actions taken to
address such findings, and the basis for the final conclusions reached.
8.22 The documentation of the inquiry and analytical procedures should include the following:
f. Unusual matters that the accountant considered during the performance of the review
procedures, including their disposition
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8.23 Most CIRAs are required by law, mortgage documents and agreements, or their governing documents
to establish a plan for funding future major repairs and replacements, and information about the funding
should be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements as discussed in paragraph 4.27 of this guide.
For compilation and review reports, excluding compilation reports in which substantially all note disclosures
have been omitted and compilation reports presented in a prescribed form, paragraph .51 of AR section
100A states that the accountant should consider whether modification of the standard report is adequate to
disclose departures from GAAP, including note disclosures, that are material to the financial statements. If
the modification to the standard report is not adequate to indicate the deficiencies in the financial statements
taken as a whole, the accountant should withdraw from the engagement and provide no further services
with respect to those financial statements. Refer to paragraphs .51-.53 of AR section 100A for more
information, including examples of compilation and review reports that disclose departures from GAAP.
8.24 When, during the performance of compilation or review procedures, evidence or information comes to
the accountant's attention that there may be an uncertainty about the entity's ability to continue as a going
concern, or the accountant becomes aware of other material uncertainties such as pending or threatened
litigation, for example, the accountant should consider the adequacy of management's disclosure of the
fn ¦
uncertainty.
8.25 Normally, neither an uncertainty, including an uncertainty about an entity's ability to continue as a going
concern, nor an inconsistency in the application of accounting principles would cause the accountant to
modify the standard report, provided the financial statements appropriately disclose such matters.
Paragraphs .51-.53 of AR section 100A provide guidance and set forth requirements pertaining to the
accountant's responsibilities when he or she determines that management's disclosure of the uncertainty is
not adequate. Disclosure requirements with respect to uncertainties are included in SOP 94-6, Disclosure of
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties (AICPA, Technical Practice Aids,ACC sec. 10,640), FASB
Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, and other authoritative accounting literature.
8.26 If the accountant concludes that management's disclosure of the uncertainty regarding the entity's
ability to continue as a going concern is adequate but further decides to include an emphasis of a matter
paragraph with respect to the uncertainty in the accountant's compilation or review report, Accounting and
Review Services Interpretation No. 29, "Reporting on an Uncertainty, Including an Uncertainty About an
Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern," of AR section 100A (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol.
2, AR sec. 9100A par. .120-.129), provides that the accountant may use the following language:
As discussed in Note X, certain conditions indicate that the company may be unable
to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might be necessary should the company be unable to
continue as a going concern.
8.27 If the accountant determines that the disclosure of other material uncertainties is in accordance with
GAAP but further decides to include an emphasis of a matter paragraph with respect to the uncertainty in an
accountant's compilation or review report, Accounting and Review Services Interpretation No. 29 provides
that the accountant may use the following language:
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company has determined that it is not possible to predict the eventual outcome of the
legal action but has determined that the resolution of the action will not result in an
adverse judgment that would materially affect the financial statements. Accordingly,
the accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the
legal action under FASB Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies.
8.28Paragraph .70 of AR section 100A states that when the basic financial statements are accompanied by
information presented for supplementary analysis purposes, the accountant should clearly indicate the
degree of responsibility, if any, he or she is taking with respect to such information. For purposes of applying
the guidance in paragraph .70 of AR section 100A, required supplementary information is treated the same
as supplementary information or accompanying information that is voluntarily presented.
8.29 When the accountant is engaged to compile the accompanying required supplementary information
described in paragraph 4.33 of this guide, the guidance in paragraphs 8.04-.06 of this guide applies. When
the accountant is engaged to review such required supplemental information, the guidance in paragraphs
8.07-.13 applies.
8.30 When the basic financial statements are accompanied by required supplementary information and the
required supplementary information has been compiled, the accountant's report should, either as part of the
report on the basic financial statements or in a separate report
b. state that the accountant has compiled the accompanying required supplementary
information from information that is the representation of management, without audit
or review; and
c. state that the accountant does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance
on the required supplementary information.
In addition, to clarify the nature of the required supplemental information, the accountant
may include a statement that the required supplementary information is not a required part
of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by GAAP.
8.31 When the basic financial statements are accompanied by required supplementary information and the
required supplementary information has been reviewed, the accountant's report should, either as part of the
report on the basic financial statements or in a separate report
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b. state that the accompanying required supplementary information has been subjected
to the inquiry and analytical procedures applied in the review of the basic financial
statements, and the accountant did not become aware of any material modifications
that should be made to such required supplementary information.
In addition, to clarify the nature of the required supplemental information, the accountant
may include a statement that the required supplementary information is not a required part
of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by GAAP.
8.32 If, on the basis of facts known to him or her, the accountant becomes aware that the required
supplementary information departs materially from prescribed guidelines, the accountant should indicate in
his or her report that the information does not conform to the guidelines and should describe the nature of
any material departure(s). An example of a sentence that might be added to the illustrative paragraph
presented in paragraphs 8.29-.30 follows:
However, we believe that the required supplementary information about future major
repairs and replacements of common property is not in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles because [describe the material departure(s) from
GAAP].
8.33 When the compiled or reviewed financial statements are not accompanied by the required
supplementary information, a paragraph should be added to the compilation or review report indicating that
the required supplementary information has been omitted. The accountant need not present the required
supplementary information in the accountant's report. The following is an example of a paragraph that the
accountant might use in these circumstances:
The Association has not presented [describe the required supplementary information]
that is required by generally accepted accounting principles to supplement, although
not required to be a part of, the basic financial statements.
Footnotes
fn 1AR section 50, Standards for Accounting and Review Services (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2), establishes a
Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) hierarchy that identifies the appropriate authoritative
and nonauthoritative guidance applicable to compilation and review engagements. Refer to AR section 50 for more
information.
fn 2 For purposes of AR section 100A, Compilation of Review of Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2),
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fraud is an intentional act that results in a misstatement in compiled or reviewed financial statements.
fn 3 For purposes of AR section 100A, illegal acts are violations of laws or government regulations, excluding fraud.
fn 4Footnote 14 to paragraph .05 of AR section 100A states that whether an act is, in fact, fraudulent or illegal is a
determination that is normally beyond the accountant's professional competence. An accountant, in reporting on financial
statements, presents himself or herself as one who is proficient in accounting and compilation or review services. The
accountant's training, experience, and understanding of the client and its industry may provide a basis for recognition that
some client acts coming to his or her attention may be fraudulent or illegal. However, the determination as to whether a
particular act is fraudulent or illegal would generally be based on the advice of an informed expert qualified to practice law or
may have to await final determination by a court of law.
fn *For review engagements to which SSARS No. 17 applies, paragraph .31 of AR section 100A is changed to state that, in a
review engagement, the accountant must apply analytical procedures to the financial statements.
fn ?fn ?
For review engagements to which SSARS No. 17 applies, definitions are provided for the terms those charged with
governance and management.Management is defined as the person(s) responsible for achieving the objectives of the entity
and who have the authority to establish policies and make decisions by which those objectives are to be pursued.
Management is responsible for the financial statements, including designing, implementing, and maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting. The term those charged with governance is defined as the person(s) with responsibility for
overseeing the strategic direction of the entity and obligations related to the accountability of the entity, including overseeing
the financial reporting process.
SSARS No. 17 clarifies that governance of some entities is the collective responsibility of a governing body that may be
carried out by a board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, a committee of management, partners, equivalent
persons, or some combination thereof. Those charged with governance are specifically excluded from management, unless
they perform management functions. As such, the CIRA's board of directors (or applicable members thereof), if performing
management functions, may be considered part of the CIRA's management.
fn 5 Specific representations also are applicable to financial statements presented in conformity with a comprehensive basis of
accounting other than generally accepted accounting principles. The specific representations to be obtained should be based
on the nature and basis of presentation of the financial statements being reviewed.
fn
fn ? ? For review engagements to which SSARS No. 17 applies, paragraph .36 of AR 100A is changed to state that
management's representations set forth in the management representation letter should be made as of the date of the
accountant's review report.
fn ¦fn ¦ For compilation and review engagements to which this statement applies, SSARS No.17 provides additional guidance
and sets forth additional requirements with respect to an accountant's consideration of the entity's ability to continue as a
going concern for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 1 year beyond the date of the financial statements being
compiled or reviewed.
Document 12 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Chapter 9 Cooperative Housing Corporations
9.01 This chapter provides guidance on generally accepted auditing standards and financial reporting
principles and practices to audits of and for cooperative housing corporations and supplements the
guidance contained in the other chapters of this guide.
9.02 A cooperative housing corporation (cooperative) is organized to acquire and hold title to property.
Shares of stock or membership interests in the corporation are sold to a tenant-shareholder who is given the
right to occupy a specific dwelling unit as a result of agreements with the corporation. That agreement is
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9.03 The governing documents of a cooperative give tenant-shareholders the right to participate in
governing the cooperative. The board of directors is ordinarily required to inform tenant-shareholders of
important financial and management matters.
9.04 The three basic forms of cooperatives are independent market-rate cooperatives, limited-equity
cooperatives, and leasing cooperatives. Independent market-rate cooperatives are organized as
corporations, the shares of which are sold at market value. Shares are normally bought and sold on the
open market (usually through real estate listings), although they could be sold by the cooperative.
9.05 Bylaws of limited-equity cooperatives restrict the amount of appreciation when shares are sold by
tenant-shareholders. Generally, such cooperatives have the option to repurchase the shares and resell
them with only a small amount of appreciation to prevent the cost of shares in the cooperative from
increasing because of inflation. Such cooperatives may also limit the amounts of dividends paid on the
investments of tenant shareholders. Dividends, also referred to as patronage dividends, are year-end
refunds of rents received from tenant shareholders in excess of actual expenses incurred by the
corporation. If the governing documents so state, it is possible that no dividends are paid.
9.06 Limited-equity cooperatives are usually organized with government financing and are directed towards
low and moderate-income buyers. Financing may be received from state or local housing agencies at
interest rates below market or through various HUD programs.
9.07 Many leasing cooperatives are associated with outside investors. In such an arrangement, it is
common for a cooperative to lease a building from an investor who receives all the tax benefits from owning
the building. In some arrangements, the cooperative receives a fee for managing the building. The
cooperative may buy the building when the lease expires. This form of cooperative is also used by housing
authorities, which retain ownership of the buildings for the sole purpose of keeping units at below-market
purchase prices.
9.08 The financial statements of cooperatives are generally presented like those of commercial entities.
However, a cooperative may present financial statements using fund reporting. Because depreciation is a
noncash item, it is often presented in the income statement as the last line item after all income and
operating expenses have been listed.
. A balance sheet
. A statement of operations
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Balance Sheet
9.10 The balance sheet includes information on all assets and liabilities resulting from the cooperative's
operations and shareholders' equity.
9.11 All property owned by a cooperative is presented on its balance sheets. Cooperatives generally own
the real estate and have the ability to borrow and pledge their assets as collateral. Some cooperatives,
therefore, do not accumulate funds for future major repairs and replacements. The notes to the financial
statements should disclose a cooperative's funding policy, if any, for future major repairs and replacements,
as discussed in chapter 4 of this guide.
9.12 Components of retained earnings or deficit should not be disclosed. Allocating a portion of retained
earnings to an amount equal to accumulated depreciation is an unacceptable practice.
Statement of Operations
9.13 Statements of operations of cooperatives should present information about all revenues and expenses.
Reported revenues should include all charges to tenant-shareholders and other income. If per-share data
are deemed useful, they should be considered for disclosure in the notes to the financial statements.
9.14 A statement of retained earnings (deficit) may be combined with the statement of operations (see
exhibit A-15 of appendix A). If there is activity in paid-in capital, a separate statement of shareholders' equity
should be prepared.
9.15 A cooperative's financial statements should include a statement of cash flows, as do the financial
statements of other common interest realty associations.
9.16 In addition to all the notes normally required by generally accepted accounting principles, the notes
should include the disclosures discussed in chapter 4 of this guide.
9.17 A cooperative's financial statements should include the supplementary information required by
paragraph 4.33 of this guide.
9.18 Cooperatives are generally taxed as regular corporations and, beginning with tax years ending on or
after December 31, 2007, are required to file corporate tax returns on Form 1120-C. Cooperatives are taxed
on the excess of rents and other patronage income over operating expenses incurred and not returned to
tenant-shareholders at the end of the year, and on other net nonpatronage income.
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as a patronage dividend to shareholders. Under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) sections
1381-1388, cooperatives can deduct patronage dividends declared and paid within 8 and a half months after
the end of the fiscal year. Such dividends are required to be paid 20 percent in cash and 80 percent
constructively, with a qualified written notice of allocation, and are not included in gross income by tenant-
shareholders, unless the property is used in a trade or business. If expenditures exceed the amount
collected from tenant-shareholders in a taxable year, the excess is not deductible in that year, but may be
carried back or forward, as applicable, to offset taxable income in previous, subsequent, or both previous
and subsequent years. However, a separate accounting is required for patronage and nonpatronage net
operating losses under IRC Section 172 because patronage losses cannot be offset against nonpatronage
income.
9.20 IRC Section 216 defines the requirements that corporations must meet to be treated as cooperative
housing corporations for tax purposes for that year as follows:
c. No shareholder is entitled to receive distributions that are in excess of the income and
profits of the corporation, except in complete or partial liquidation of the corporation.
d. The corporation derives 80 percent or more of its gross income from tenant-
shareholders in any year.
9.21 Under the IRC, cooperatives are allowed to depreciate the property they lease to tenant-shareholders.
Pursuant to section 216(c) of the IRC, qualified tenant-shareholders in a qualified cooperative housing
corporation are allowed to treat all or a portion of their stock as property subject to the allowance for
depreciation under IRC section 167(a) if both of the following criteria are met:
a. The associated occupancy right or proprietary lease relates to a unit or lease that is
itself depreciable or amortizable.
Tenant-shareholders are allowed to deduct their proportionate shares of interest and real
estate taxes paid or incurred by the cooperative. Those amounts are deductible only to the
extent that tenant-shareholders' payments are current.
9.22 Assessments to fund future major repairs and replacements, which are required under state statutes,
or by HUD or Federal Housing Administration (FHA) regulations and are not available for distributions to
shareholders, are held to be capital contributions. Amounts collected for future major repairs and
replacements in excess of state statute, HUD, or FHA requirements are considered to be surplus funds
available for distribution and are, therefore, includable in the corporation's gross income unless the total
amount assessed is recorded as a capital contribution.
9.23 Tenant-shareholders selling their shares of stock in cooperatives that have legal limitations on their
resale prices may have to forfeit to the corporation proceeds in excess of legal resale prices, if any. If there
are no restrictions on the use of these forfeitures, they are includable in the corporation's gross income.
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9.24 Paragraphs 6.02-.03 of this guide discuss the applicability of subchapter T to cooperative housing
corporations.
Financial Statements
9.25 Financial statements and notes for cooperatives are illustrated in exhibits A-14-A-17 of appendix A.
Auditor's Report
9.26Chapter 7 of this guide provides guidance for auditors for circumstances that may require the report to
be modified.
Document 13 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Appendix A Illustrative Financial Statements
The following exhibits illustrate a fund accounting presentation and a set of nonfund accounting financial
statements for condominium and homeowners' associations, as well as a set of financial statements for a
cooperative housing corporation. The notes to the illustrative financial statements are representative of the
basic kind of disclosure for CIRAs and may not all be necessary for some common interest realty
associations (CIRAs). These illustrations are not intended to represent the only appropriate presentations
and disclosures and may not include all disclosures and presentation items promulgated. A summary of the
exhibits follows:
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which is an amount that the board of directors does not intend for the operating fund to
repay to the replacement fund.
. The illustrative notes in exhibit A-5 include alternative presentations for note 4, which
discloses information about a CIRA's fund for future major repairs and replacements.
Alternative A illustrates disclosure based on a study conducted by the board of
directors. Alternative B is based on a study conducted by an independent consulting
firm. Note 4 also illustrates disclosure for a loan from the replacement fund to the
operating fund as well as a permanent transfer.
. Exhibit A-13 illustrates a schedule of expenditures for major repairs and replacements.
This schedule is not a required part of the basic financial statements; however, if it is
included in an auditor-submitted document, the auditor should refer to AU section 551
for reporting guidance.
. Exhibits A-14-A-17 present financial statements and notes for a cooperative housing
corporation.
Exhibit A-1
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Balance Sheets
20X7 20X6
Operating Replacement
Total Total
Fund Fund
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 110,000 $ 364,000 $ 474,000 $ 298,000
Assessments receivable 28,000 28,000 9,000
Prepaid expenses 7,000 7,000 7,000
Due from operating fund 20,000 20,000
Due to replacement fund (20,000) (20,000)
Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
21,000 _____ 21,000 17,000
of $ 8,000 and $ 5,000
TOTAL ASSETS $ 146,000 $ 384,000 $ 530,000 $ 331,000
LIABILITIES
Account payable $ 20,000 $ 4,000 $ 24,000 $ 6,000
Wages payable 6,000 6,000
Income taxes payable 1,000 1,000 5,000
Prepaid assessments 20,000 _____ 20,000 15,000
46,000 5,000 51,000 26,000
100,000 379,000 479,000 305,000
FUND BALANCES
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$ 146,000 $ 384,000 $ 530,000 $ 331,000
AND FUND BALANCES
Exhibit A-2
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20X7 20X6
Operating Replacement
Total Total
Fund Fund
REVENUES
Member assessments $ 747,000 $ 247,000 $ 994,000 $ 909,000
Interest 49,000 49,000 46,000
Lawsuit settlements 141,000 141,000 91,000
Other 22,000 _____ 22,000 20,000
TOTAL REVENUES 769,000 437,000 1,206,000 1,066,000
EXPENSES
Wages and benefits 294,000 294,000 284,000
Utilities 160,000 160,000 141,000
Roofs 144,000 144,000 160,000
Service and contracts 129,000 129,000 134,000
Exterior siding 94,000 94,000 98,000
Repairs and supplies 92,000 92,000 61,000
Insurance and licenses 50,000 50,000 46,000
Administrative 28,000 28,000 18,000
Income taxes 1,000 11,000 12,000 13,000
Legal fees 10,000 10,000
Recreational equipment 5,000 5,000 2,000
Solar equipment 5,000 5,000
Streets 4,000 4,000 20,000
Tennis courts 12,000
Depreciation 3,000 3,000 3,000
Bad debts 2,000 2,000
Pools and spas _____ _____ _____ 18,000
TOTAL EXPENSES 759,000 273,000 1,032,000 1,010,000
Excess of revenues over expenses 10,000 164,000 174,000 56,000
Beginning fund balances 80,000 225,000 305,000 249,000
Transfer from replacement fund 10,000 (10,000) _____ _____
ENDING FUND
$ 100,000 $ 379,000 $ 479,000 $ 305,000
BALANCES
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Exhibit A-3
Direct Method
20X7 20X6
Operating Replacement
Total Total
Fund Fund
Cash flows from operating activities:
Member assessments collected $ 733,000 $ 247,000 $ 980,000 $ 920,000
Interest received 49,000 49,000 46,000
Lawsuit settlement 141,000 141,000 91,000
Other income received 22,000 22,000 20,000
fn 2 (735,000) (735,000) (673,000)
Cash paid for operating expenditures
Replacement expenditures paid (258,000) (258,000) (310,000)
Income taxes paid (1,000) (15,000) (16,000) (26,000)
Transfers from replacement fund 10,000 (10,000)
Net borrowings from replacement fund 20,000 (20,000) _____ _____
Net cash provided by operating activities 49,000 134,000 183,000 68,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Equipment purchases (7,000) _____ (7,000) (3,000)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 42,000 134,000 176,000 65,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 68,000 230,000 298,000 233,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 110,000 $ 364,000 $ 474,000 $ 298,000
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Exhibit A-4
Indirect Method
20X7 20X6
Operating Replacement
Total Total
Fund Fund
Excess of revenues over expenses $ 10,000 $ 164,000 $ 174,000 $ 56,000
Adjustments to reconcile excess of
operating activities:
Increase (decrease) in interfund balances 20,000 (20,000)
Transfers from replacement fund 10,000 (10,000)
Depreciation 3,000 3,000 3,000
Increase in assessments receivable (19,000) (19,000) (1,000)
Decrease in prepaid expenses 1,000
Increase in accounts payable 14,000 4,000 18,000 2,000
Increase in wages payable 6,000 6,000
Decrease in income taxes payable (4,000) (4,000)
Increase in prepaid assessments 5,000 _____ 5,000 7,000
Total adjustments 39,000 (30,000) 9,000 12,000
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Exhibit A-5
1. Organization
Fund accounting. The association uses fund accounting, which requires that funds, such
as operating funds, deferred maintenance funds, and funds designated for future major
repairs and replacements, be classified separately for accounting and reporting purposes.
Disbursements from the operating fund are generally at the discretion of the board of
directors and property manager. Disbursements from the replacement fund generally may
be made only for designated purposes.
Interest earned. The board's policy is to allocate to each fund interest earned on all cash
accounts net of income taxes.
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3. Owners' Assessments
Monthly assessments to owners were $ 103.54 and $ 94.69 in 20X7 and 20X6. Of those
amounts, $ 25.73 and $ 22.50 were designated to the replacement fund.
The annual budget and assessments of owners are determined by the board of directors
and are approved by the owners. The association retains excess operating funds at the
end of the operating year, if any, for use in future operating periods.
The board of directors conducted a study in November 20X7 to estimate the remaining
useful lives and the replacement costs of the components of common property. The
estimates were obtained from licensed contractors who inspected the property. The table
included in the unaudited supplementary information on Future Major Repairs and
Replacements is based on the study.
The board is funding for major repairs and replacements over the remaining useful lives of
the components based on the study's estimates of current replacement costs and
considering amounts previously accumulated in the replacement fund. Accordingly, the
funding requirement of $ 302,000, based on a full funding plan, has been included in the
20X8 budget.
Funds are being accumulated in the replacement fund based on estimates of future needs
for repairs and replacements of common property components. Actual expenditures may
vary from the estimated future expenditures, and the variations may be material.
Therefore, amounts accumulated in the replacement fund may not be adequate to meet all
future needs for major repairs and replacements. If additional funds are needed, the
association has the right, subject to membership approval, to increase regular
assessments, pass special assessments, or delay major repairs and replacements until
funds are available.
The association used $ 30,000 from the replacement fund for operations during 20X7. The
board intends to repay $ 20,000 of that amount during 20X8 and has, therefore, reflected $
20,000 as an interfund receivable and payable. The board does not intend to repay $
10,000 of the amount and has, therefore, reflected $ 10,000 as a transfer from the
replacement to the operating fund.
The ABC Consulting Company conducted a study in November 20X7 to estimate the
remaining useful lives and the replacement costs of the components of common property.
The estimates were based on future estimated replacement costs. Funding requirements
consider an annual inflation rate of 5 percent and interest of 8 percent, net of taxes, on
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amounts funded for future major repairs and replacements. The table included in the
unaudited supplementary information on Future Major Repairs and Replacements is based
on the study.
The board is funding for major repairs and replacements over the remaining useful lives of
the components based on the study's estimates of future replacement costs and
considering amounts previously accumulated in the replacement fund. Accordingly, the
funding requirement of $ 374,000, based on a threshold funding plan, has been included in
the 20X8 budget.
Funds are being accumulated in the replacement fund based on estimated future costs for
repairs and replacements of common property components. Actual expenditures and
investment income may vary from the estimated amounts, and the variations may be
material. Therefore, amounts accumulated in the replacement fund may not be adequate
to meet all future needs for major repairs and replacements. If additional funds are
needed, the association has the right, subject to membership approval, to increase regular
assessments, pass special assessments, or delay major repairs and replacements until
funds are available.
The association used $ 30,000 from the replacement fund for operations during 20X7. The
board intends to repay $ 20,000 of that amount during 20X7 and has, therefore, reflected $
20,000 as an interfund receivable and payable. The board does not intend to repay $
10,000 of the amount and has, therefore, reflected $ 10,000 as a transfer from the
replacement to the operating fund.
In 20X7, the association filed its income tax return, Form 1120, as a regular corporation.
The association had an excess of expenses for the maintenance of the common property
over membership source income. That excess may be carried over to future periods to
offset future income from membership sources when the association files as a regular
corporation. In 20X6, the association elected to file as a homeowners' association in
accordance with Internal Revenue Code 528, using Form 1120-H. Under that section, the
association excludes from taxation exempt function income, which generally consists of
revenue from uniform assessments to owners. In both years, the association's investment
income and other nonexempt income were subject to tax.
6. Lawsuit Settlements
During 20X1, the association settled a lawsuit against the developer for defective
construction and received a partial settlement of $ 91,000. During 20X7, the association
received another settlement of $ 141,000. Legal fees of $ 10,000 were incurred in
connection with that lawsuit.
The following net amounts have been added to the replacement fund:
20X7 20X6
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7. Assessments Receivable
The association's policy is to retain legal counsel and place liens on the properties of
homeowners whose assessments are 30 days in arrears and therefore considered
delinquent. As of December 31, 20X7, the association had assessments receivable of $
28,000, of which $ 22,000 were delinquent. As of February 12, 20X8, judgments and
settlements of approximately $ 15,000 have been received. It is the opinion of the board of
directors that the association will ultimately prevail against the remaining homeowners
whose assessments are delinquent, and, accordingly, no allowance for uncollectible
accounts is deemed necessary.
Exhibit A-6
fn 3
Schedules of Operating Fund Revenues and Expenses
20X7 20X6
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Exhibit A-7
20X7
Components
Beginning
COMMON AREA Additions to Charges
Fund of Ending
COMPONENT fn 4 to Fund
Fund
Balance Fund
Balance
Roofs $ 96,000 $ 202,000 $ 144,000 $ 154,000
Streets 17,000 44,000 4,000 57,000
Recreation facilities 50,000 10,000 5,000 55,000
Exterior siding 38,000 104,000 94,000 48,000
Pools, spas, solar equipment 8,000 36,000 5,000 39,000
Tennis courts 4,000 10,000 14,000
Furniture and equipment 12,000 12,000
Lawsuit legal fees _____ 10,000 10,000 _____
TOTAL $ 225,000 $ 416,000 $ 262,000 $ 379,000
20X5
Components
Beginning
COMMON AREA Additions to Charges
Fund of Ending
COMPONENT fn 4 to Fund
Fund
Balance Fund
Balance
Roofs $ 102,000 $ 154,000 $ 160,000 $ 96,000
Streets 11,000 26,000 20,000 17,000
Recreation facilities 35,000 17,000 2,000 50,000
Exterior siding 32,000 104,000 98,000 38,000
Pools, spas, solar equipment 13,000 13,000 18,000 8,000
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Exhibit A-8
(Unaudited)
Alternative A. The board of directors conducted a study in November 20X7 to estimate the
remaining useful lives and the replacement costs of the components of common property.
The estimates were obtained from licensed contractors who inspected the property.
The following table is based on the study and presents significant information about the
components of common property.
The following table is based on the study and presents significant information about the
components of common property.
Estimated Estimated
Remaining Current 20X8 Components of
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Exhibit A-9
Balance Sheets
ASSETS
20X7 20X6
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Exhibit A-10
20X7 20X6
REVENUES
Member assessments:
Operations $ 747,000 $ 693,000
Future major repairs and replacements 247,000 216,000
Lawsuit settlements 141,000 91,000
Interest 49,000 46,000
Other charges 22,000 20,000
TOTAL REVENUES 1,206,000 1,066,000
EXPENSES
Wages and benefits 294,000 284,000
fn 5 262,000 310,000
Major repairs and replacements
Utilities 160,000 141,000
Services and contracts 129,000 134,000
Repairs and supplies 92,000 61,000
Insurance and licenses 50,000 46,000
Administrative 28,000 18,000
Depreciation 13,000 13,000
Income taxes 12,000 13,000
Bad debts 2,000 _____
TOTAL EXPENSES 1,042,000 1,020,000
Exhibit A-11
Direct Method
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20X7 20X6
ANALYSIS OF CASH
Cash in bank-operating account $ 110,000 $ 68,000
Cash-designated for future major repairs and replacements 364,000 230,000
20X7 20X6
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Exhibit A-12
20X7
Future
Total
Members' Retained
Major Initial Capital Earnings
fn
Members'
Contributions
Repairs and 6 (Deficit)
Equity
Replacements
MEMBERS' EQUITY-
$ 225,000 $ 265,000 $ 25,000 $ 515,000
BEGINNING OF YEAR
Excess of revenues over
164,000 164,000
expenses
Amounts allocated to major
164,000 (164,000)
fn 7
repairs and replacements
Transfer from future major
to retained earnings
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MEMBERS' EQUITY-
$ 379,000 $ 265,000 $ 35,000 $ 679,000
END OF YEAR
20X6
Future
Members' Total
Retained
Major Earnings
Initial Capital Members'
fn
Contributions
Repairs and 8
(Deficit)
Equity
Replacements
MEMBERS' EQUITY-
$ 195,000 $ 265,000 $ 9,000 $ 469,000
BEGINNING OF YEAR
Excess of revenues over
46,000 46,000
expenses
Amounts allocated to major
30,000 _____ (30,000) _____
fn 9
repairs and replacements
MEMBERS' EQUITY-
$ 225,000 $ 265,000 $ 25,000 $ 515,000
END OF YEAR
Exhibit A-13
Schedules of Expenses
20X7 20X6
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Exhibit A-14
fn 10
ABC Cooperative, Inc.
Balance Sheet
ASSETS
Cash including investment in money market fund of $ 6,850 $ 38,000
Tenant-shareholders' rent receivables 15,000
Prepaid expenses 9,000
Property and equipment
Land $ 640,000
Building 1,720,000
Building improvements: construction in
140,000
progress
Furniture and equipment 90,000
2,590,000
Less: accumulated depreciation 1,620,000
Net property 970,000
Mortgage refinancing costs, less accumulated amortization of
25,000
$ 15,000
TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,057,000
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shares
Additional paid-in-capital 420,000
460,000
Deficit (1,400,000)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit): (940,000)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
$ 1,057,000
DEFICIT
Exhibit A-15
REVENUES
Carrying charges $ 700,000
Commercial rent 89,000
Appliance and air-conditioning charges 45,000
Interest 10,000
Resale fees 3,000
Forfeited security deposits 2,000
TOTAL REVENUES 849,000
EXPENSES
Wages including fringe benefits $ 295,000
Real estate taxes 237,000
Interest 195,000
Utilities 121,000
Repairs and maintenance 53,000
Management fees 24,000
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Insurance 16,000
Legal and accounting 10,000
Security 4,000
Income taxes 2,000
TOTAL EXPENSES BEFORE DEPRECIATION
957,000
AND AMORTIZATION
Deficiency of revenues over expenses before
(108,000)
depreciation
Depreciation 72,000
Deficiency of revenues over expenses (180,000)
Deficit-beginning of year (1,220,000)
Exhibit A-16
Direct Method
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Exhibit A-17
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1. Organization
ABC Cooperative, Inc., a cooperative housing corporation, was incorporated in the state of
New York in April, 20XX. The corporation owns the 18-story building known as ABC
Apartments located at _________________ in New York City and consisting of 175
residential apartments and 10 commercial units.
Property and equipment. Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is
computed on the straight-line basis, based on a 30-year life for the building and a 10-year
life for building improvements, furniture, and equipment.
Mortgage refinancing costs. Mortgage refinancing costs are amortized by the interest
method over the 10-year term of the loan.
3. Revenue
Carrying charges. Carrying charges are based on an annual budget determined by the
board of directors. Tenant-shareholders are billed monthly based on their respective stock
holdings. The corporation retains excess operating funds, if any, at the end of the
operating year, for use in future operating periods.
Commercial rent. The corporation has entered into 5-year lease agreements with 10
commercial tenants providing for annual rentals aggregating $ 92,000 with increases
based on the Consumer Price Index.
The corporation has a mortgage note payable, secured by the land and building, to XYZ
Bank of New York with interest at the rate of 10 percent. The aggregate amount of
required principal payments at December 31, 20X7, is as follows:
20X7 $ 61,000
20X8 62,000
20X9 63,000
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20X0 65,000
20X1 67,000
later years 1,547,000
Total $ 1,865,000
The cooperative pays federal taxes on net income from patronage and nonpatronage
income in accordance with Subchapter T. Income tax expense in 20X7 was $ 2,000.
The corporation's governing documents require that funds be accumulated for future major
repairs and replacements. The corporation has not accumulated those funds. When those
funds are needed, the corporation plans to borrow, increase carrying charges, or delay
fn 11
repairs and replacements until funds are available.
The board of directors conducted a study in November 20X7 to estimate the remaining
useful lives and the replacement costs of the components of common property. The
estimates were obtained from licensed contractors who inspected the property. The table
included in the unaudited supplementary information on Future Major Repairs and
Replacements is based on the study.
Exhibit A-18
(Unaudited)
In November, 20X7, the board of directors conducted a study to estimate the remaining
useful lives and the replacement costs of the components of the building, furniture, and
equipment. The estimates were obtained from licensed contractors who inspected the
property. The following table is based on that study and presents significant information
about the components of the building, furniture, and equipment.
Estimated Estimated
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(Years) Costs
Roof 15 $ 175,000
Exterior 3 30,000
Recreation Facilities 2-5 25,000
Carpeting 5 45,000
Furniture and equipment 2-7 15,000
$ 290,000
Footnotes
fn 1 Paragraphs 4.01-.02 of this guide state that nonfund reporting is permitted, although fund reporting is preferred.
fn 2 As an alternative presentation, this line item can be further detailed as shown in exhibit A-11.
fn 3 Note:Paragraph 7.90 of this guide discusses the auditor's reporting responsibility with respect to such information.
fn 4Includes interest income of $ 49,000, net of income taxes of $ 11,000 and net of a $ 10,000 transfer to the operating fund
in 20X7 and interest income of $ 46,000 net of income taxes of $ 13,000 in 20X6.
Note: These reconciling items may be presented as illustrated here or in separate columns in this schedule.
fn 5 Expenditures for major repairs and replacements may be presented as 1 amount, listed separately in this statement, or
listed in an accompanying schedule as illustrated in exhibit A-13.
fn 6 If this column is used, the following note is added to the financial statements:
Members' initial capital contributions. At the time of closing by initial owners, one month's assessment was contributed to the
association to provide additional working capital.
fn 7 Consisting of assessments for future major repairs and replacements, lawsuit settlements, and interest less income taxes,
net of expenditures for major repairs and replacements. [Note: This amount does not necessarily equal excess of revenues
over expenses.] As an alternative presentation, the components of this amount could be summarized in the notes to the
financial statements and the Future Major Repairs and Replacements column could be omitted.
fn 8If this column is used, the following note is added to the financial statements:
Members' initial capital contributions. At the time of closing by initial owners, one month's assessment was contributed to the
association to provide additional working capital.
fn 9
Consisting of assessments for future major repairs and replacements, lawsuit settlements, and interest less income taxes, net
of expenditures for major repairs and replacements.
fn 10
If separate funds are maintained for future major repairs and replacements or for other purposes, fund reporting may be
more informative to users of the financial statements of cooperative housing corporations and may be used as an alternative
presentation.
fn 11 Many co-ops have no corporate requirement for reserves; some have a requirement as a condition of a loan. Some
states have statutes dealing with reserves, most are vague, but not all. For instance Florida has the opt-out provision for
reserves and Hawaii has specific language and examples that address the calculation of reserve fund status.
Document 14 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Appendix B Illustrative Engagement and Representation Letters
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Exhibit B-1
[Date]
Dear ______________________:
This will confirm our understanding of the arrangement for our audit of the financial
statements of XYZ Condominium Association for the year ending December 31, 20X7.
We will audit the Association's balance sheet at December 31, 20X7, and the related
statements of revenues, expenses, and changes in fund balances and cash flows for the
year then ended, for the purpose of expressing an opinion on them. The financial
statements are the responsibility of the Association's management. Management is
responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial
reporting, making financial records and related information available for audit, and for
identifying and ensuring that the Association complies with the laws and regulations that
apply to its activities. Management also is responsible for adjusting the financial
statements to correct material misstatements and for affirming to us in the representation
letter that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the
current engagement and pertaining to the latest period presented are immaterial, both
individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole.
We will conduct our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable rather than
absolute assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud. Accordingly, a material misstatement may
remain undetected. Also, an audit is not designed to detect error or fraud that is immaterial
to the financial statements. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit
will provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We will not determine whether the reserve balances are adequate to meet future repair
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and replacement costs because such a determination is outside the scope of the
engagement.
The audit includes obtaining an understanding of internal control sufficient to plan the audit
and to determine the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures to be performed. An
audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control or to identify reportable
conditions. However, we are responsible for ensuring that management of the Association
is aware of any reportable conditions which come to our attention. If, for any reason, we
are unable to complete the audit or are unable to form or have not formed an opinion, we
may decline to express an opinion or decline to issue a report as a result of the
engagement.
Our procedures will include tests of documentary evidence supporting the transactions
recorded in the accounts, and direct confirmation of receivables and certain other assets
and liabilities by correspondence with selected owners, creditors, legal counsel, and
banks. At the conclusion of our audit, management will provide us with a letter that
confirms certain written representations made during the audit.
We will review the Association's federal and state income tax returns for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 20X7. These returns, we understand, will be prepared by the
controller.
Furthermore, we will be available during the year to consult with you on the tax effects of
any proposed transactions or contemplated changes in business policies.
Our fee for these services will be at our regular per diem rates, plus travel and other out-
of-pocket costs. Invoices will be rendered every two weeks and are payable on
presentation.
The cost of printing copies of the annual report to be distributed to unit owners and other
expenses we incur on behalf of the Association will be added to our service charges. Our
invoices are payable on submission.
If this letter correctly expresses your understanding, please sign the enclosed copy where
indicated and return it to us.
By ______________________
Date ______________________
Exhibit B-2
fn *
Illustrative Engagement Letter-Review
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[Date]
Dear ______________________:
This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement
and the nature and limitations of the services we will provide.
Our engagement cannot be relied upon to disclose errors, fraud, or illegal acts that may
exist. However, we will inform the appropriate level of management of any material errors,
and of any evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of
our review procedures, that fraud may have occurred. In addition, we will report to you any
evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of our review
procedures regarding illegal acts that may have occurred, unless they are clearly
inconsequential.
As part of our engagement, we will also [list any nonattest services to be provided, if
applicable, such as income tax preparation and bookkeeping services as presented in the
following example]
1. Prepare the federal and state income tax returns for XYZ Homeowners' Association
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20X7.
2. Provide your chief accountant with such consultation on accounting matters as may be
required in adjusting and closing the books of account and in drafting financial
statements for our review (your chief accountant will provide us with a detailed trial
balance and any supporting schedules we require).
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(a) Making all management decisions and performing all management functions;
(e) Establishing and maintaining internal controls, including monitoring ongoing activities.
As part of our review procedures, we will require certain written representations from
management about the financial statements and matters related thereto.
If, for any reason, we are unable to complete our review of your financial statements, we
will not issue a report on such statements as a result of this engagement.
We estimate our fees for these services to be $ ____________ plus out-of-pocket costs.
We will make progress billings during the engagement, payable on receipt.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign the copy of this
letter in the space provided and return it to us.
Sincerely,
Title: ______________________
Date: ______________________
Exhibit B-3
fn ?
Illustrative Engagement Letter-Compilation
[Date]
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Dear ______________________:
This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement
and the nature and limitations of the services we will provide.
We will compile, from information you provide, the annual balance sheets and related
statements of revenues and expenses and changes in fund balances, and cash flows of
XYZ Homeowners' Association for the year 20X7.
We will compile the financial statements and issue an accountant's report thereon in
accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by
the AICPA. A compilation is limited to presenting, in the form of financial statements,
information that is the representation of management. We will not audit or review the
financial statements and, accordingly, will not express an opinion or any other form of
assurance on them.
Our engagement cannot be relied upon to disclose errors, fraud, or illegal acts that may
exist. However, we will inform the appropriate level of management of any material errors,
and of any evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of
our compilation procedures, that fraud may have occurred. In addition, we will report to
you any evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of our
compilation procedures regarding illegal acts that may have occurred, unless they are
clearly inconsequential.
As part of our engagement, we will also [list any nonattest services to be performed, if
applicable, such as income tax preparation and bookkeeping services as presented in the
following example]
1. Prepare the federal and state income tax returns for XYZ Homeowners' Association
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20X7.
2. Assist your bookkeeper in adjusting the books of account so that he or she will be able
to prepare a working trial balance from which the financial statements can be
compiled (your bookkeeper will provide us with a detailed trial balance and any
supporting schedules we require).
(a) Making all management decisions and performing all management functions;
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(e) Establishing and maintaining internal controls, including monitoring ongoing activities.
Material departures from generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) may exist, and
the effects of those departures, if any, on the financial statements may not be disclosed.
[The following sentence is applicable if the CIRA omits substantially all disclosures.] In
addition substantially all disclosures required by GAAP may be omitted. (The accountant
may wish to identify known departures.)
If, for any reason, we are unable to complete the compilation of your financial statements,
we will not issue a report on such statements as a result of this engagement.
We estimate our fees for these services to be ____________ plus out-of-pocket costs. We
will make progress billings during the engagement, payable on receipt.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign the copy of this
fn ?
letter in the space provided and return it to us.
Sincerely,
Title: ______________________
Date: ______________________
Exhibit B-4
fn ¦ ¦
[Date]
We are providing this letter in connection with your audit of the balance sheets and the related statements of
revenues, expenses, and changes in fund balances, and cash flows of XYZ Condominium Association as of
December 31, 19X7 and 19X6 for the years then ended, for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to
whether the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of
operations, and cash flows of XYZ Condominium Association in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. We confirm that we are responsible for the fair
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presentation in the financial statements of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Certain representations in this letter are described as being limited to matters that are material. Items are
considered material, regardless of size, if they involve an omission or misstatement of accounting
information that, in the light of surrounding circumstances, makes it probable that the judgment of a
reasonable person relying on the information would be changed or influenced by the omission or
misstatement.
We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, (as of [date of auditor's report]) the following
representations made to you during your audit:
1. The financial statements referred to previously are fairly presented in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
2. We are responsible for the fair presentation of the information about future major
repairs and replacements in the supplementary information accompanying the
financial statements.
5. There are no material transactions that have not been properly recorded in the
accounting records underlying the financial statements.
8. We have no knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving-
a. Management,
c. Others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
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10. We have no plans or intentions that may materially affect the carrying value or
classification of assets and liabilities.
11. The following have been properly recorded or disclosed in the financial statements:
13. The Association has satisfactory title to all owned assets, and there are no liens or
encumbrances on such assets nor has any asset been pledged, as collateral.
14. We have complied with all aspects of contractual agreements that would have a
material effect on the financial statements in the event of noncompliance.
15. The board of directors is collecting funds for major repairs and replacements in
conformity with the Association's policy to fund for those needs based on a study
conducted in November 19X7. The board of directors believes that the funds will
adequately provide for future major repairs and replacements.
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16. The board of directors has allocated the excess of the Association's revenues over
its expenses during the current year to the fund for future major repairs and
fn 2
replacements.
17. To the best of our knowledge and belief, no events have occurred subsequent to the
balance-sheet date and through the date of this letter that would require adjustment to
or disclosure in the aforementioned financial statements.
_________________
_________________
Exhibit B-5
fn #
[Date of Accountant's Report]
We are providing this letter in connection with your review of the balance sheet and the related statements
of revenues, expenses, and changes in fund balances, and cash flows of XYZ Condominium Association as
of December 31, 20X7, and for the year then ended, for the purpose of expressing limited assurance that
there are no material modifications that should be made to the statements in order for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We confirm that we are responsible for
the fair representation in the financial statements of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows
in conformity with GAAP.
Certain representations in this letter are described as being limited to matters that are material. Items are
considered material, regardless of size, if they involve an omission or misstatement of accounting
information that, in the light of surrounding circumstances, makes it probable that the judgment of a
reasonable person using the information would be changed or influenced by the omission or misstatement.
fn 3
We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, (as of [a date no earlier than the date of review report,
see Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services No. 1, Compilation and Review of
Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2, AR sec. 100 par. .29]) the following
representations made to you during your review.
1. The financial statements referred to previously are fairly presented in conformity with
GAAP.
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3. There are no material transactions that have not been properly recorded in the
accounting records underlying the financial statements.
6. We have no plans or intentions that may materially affect the carrying amounts or
classification of assets and liabilities.
7. There are no material losses (such as from purchase or sales commitments) that have
not been properly accrued or disclosed in the financial statements.
9. The Association has satisfactory title to all owned assets, and there are no liens or
encumbrances on such assets nor has any asset been pledged as collateral, except
as disclosed to you and reported in the financial statements.
10. We have complied with all aspects of contractual agreements that would have a
material effect on the financial statements in the event of noncompliance.
11. The following have been properly recorded or disclosed in the financial statements:
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contingently liable.
12. We are in agreement with the adjusting journal entries you have recommended, and
they have been posted to the Association's accounts.
13. To the best of our knowledge and belief, no events have occurred subsequent to the
balance-sheet date and through the date of this letter that would require adjustment to
or disclosure in the aforementioned financial statements.
14. We have responded fully and truthfully to all inquiries made to us by you during your
review.
15. The board of directors is collecting funds for major repairs and replacements in
conformity with the Association's policy to fund for those needs based on a study
conducted in November 20X7. The board of directors believes that the funds will
adequately provide for future major repairs and replacements.
16. The board of directors has allocated the excess of the Association's revenues over
its expenses during the current year to the fund for future major repairs and
replacements.
Footnotes
fn * On February 13, 2008, the Accounting and Review Services Committee issued Statement on Standards for Accounting
and Review Services (SSARS) No. 17, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services-2008 (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2), which is effective for compilations and reviews of financial statements for periods ending on or
after December 15, 2008; early application is permitted. For review engagements to which this statement applies, refer to
SSARS No. 17 for the changes applicable to engagement letters for review engagements.
fn ?fn ?
Practitioners engaged to compile financial statements not intended for third party use can find an illustrative
engagement letter included in appendix D of AR section 100, Compilation and Review of Financial Statements (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 2). For compilation engagements to which SSARS No. 17 applies, refer to SSARS No. 17 for the
changes applicable to engagement letters for compilation engagements.
fn ?fn ? Some accountants prefer not to obtain an acknowledgment, in which case their letter would omit the paragraph
beginning, "If the foregoing." and the spaces for the acknowledgment. The first paragraph of their letter might begin as follows:
"This letter sets forth our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement."
fn ¦ ¦fn ¦¦
Because the auditor is concerned with events occurring through the date of the report that may require adjustment to or
disclosure in the financial statements, the representations should be made as of, and the representation letter dated the same
as, the date of the auditor's report.
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fn 1In the circumstance discussed in footnote 11 of AU section 333, Management Representations (AICPA, Professional
Standards, vol. 1), this representation might be worded as follows:
We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation, claims, or assessments or unasserted claims or assessments that
are required to be accrued or disclosed in the financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, and we have not consulted a lawyer concerning litigation, claims, or
assessments.
fn 2
The inclusion of other representations that are unique to the engagement or to the entity's business or industry should be
considered by the auditor. In addition, appendix B of AU section 333 contains a list of other representations that may be
appropriate in certain situations.
fn # Because the accountant is concerned with events occurring through the date of the report that may require adjustment to
or disclosure in the financial statements, the representations should be made as of a date no earlier than the date of the
accountant's report.
For review engagements to which SSARS No. 17 applies, management's representations set forth in the management
representation letter should be made as of the date of the accountant's review report.
fn 3
The qualitative discussion of materiality used in this letter is adapted from FASB Statement of Financial Accounting
Concepts No. 2, Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information.
fn 4If management has not consulted a lawyer regarding litigation, claims, and assessments, the representation might be
worded as follows:
We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation, claims, or assessments or unasserted claims or assessments that
are required to be accrued or disclosed in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 5, and we have
not consulted a lawyer concerning litigation, claims, or assessments.
Document 15 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Appendix C Statement of Position 93-5
Notice to Readers
As part of the conforming changes to the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide Common Interest Realty
Associations, updated as of May 1, 2008, the Accounting and Review Services Committee, a senior
technical committee of the AICPA, has rescinded SOP 93-5, Reporting on Required Supplementary
Information Accompanying Compiled or Reviewed Financial Statements of Common Interest Realty
Associations. Interpretative guidance previously included in the SOP has been conformed and moved to
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Document 16 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Appendix D Information Sources
Further information on matters addressed in this guide is available through various publications and services
listed in the table that follows. Many non-government and some government publications and services
involve a charge or membership requirement.
Fax services allow users to follow voice cues and request that selected documents be sent by fax machine.
Some fax services require the user to call from the handset of the fax machine, others allow the user to call
from any phone. Most fax services offer an index document, which lists titles and other information
describing available documents.
Electronic bulletin board services allow users to read, copy, and exchange information electronically. Most
are available using a modem and standard communications software. Some bulletin board services are also
available using one or more Internet protocols.
Recorded announcements allow users to listen to announcements about a variety of recent or scheduled
actions or meetings.
All telephone numbers listed are voice lines, unless otherwise designated as fax (f) or data (d) lines.
Required modem speeds, expressed in bauds per second (bps), are listed for data lines.
Information Sources
General
Organization Other Services Internet Web Site
Information
Member Service
Order Department Center
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(212) 596-6167
Order Department
General
P.O. Box 5116
Information,
Financial including FASB and
401 Merritt 7
Accounting GASB technical www.fasb.org
Standards Board inquiries
Norwalk, CT 06856-
5116
(203) 847-0700
(800) 748-0659
(703) 548-8600
(202) 737-0797
Document 17 of 19
Source:
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This appendix discusses the key provisions of each of the risk assessment related
Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs) and provides a summary of how each of the
SASs differs, if at all, from the previous AICPA generally accepted audit standards.
SAS No. 105 expands the By stating that the purpose of your
scope of the understanding of the entity and its internal
understanding that the control is part of assessing the risks of
auditor must obtain in the material misstatement, SAS No. 105
second standard of field essentially considers this understanding to
work from "internal control" provide audit evidence that ultimately
to "the entity and its supports your opinion on the financial
environment, including its statements.
internal control."
SAS No. 105 emphasizes the link between
The quality and depth of the understanding the entity, assessing risks,
understanding to be and the design of further audit procedures.
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SAS No. 109, Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and
Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement
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Document 18 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Appendix F Schedule of Changes Made to the Text From the
Previous Edition
As of May 1, 2008
This schedule of changes identifies areas in the text and footnotes of this guide that have
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changed since the previous edition. Entries in the table of this appendix reflect current
numbering, lettering (including that in appendix names), and character designations that
resulted from the renumbering or reordering that occurred in the updating of this guide.
The 2008 editions of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guides, including this guide, have
been updated to conform with AU section 120, Defining Professional Requirements in
Statements on Auditing Standards,AT section 20, Defining Professional Requirements in
Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (AICPA, Professional Standards,
vol. 1), and AR section 20, Defining Professional Requirements in Statements on
Standards for Accounting and Review Services (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 2), in
which professional requirements are categorized as either unconditional requirements or
presumptively mandatory requirements, each of which is associated with specific wording
such as must or is required or should. These standards distinguish professional
requirements set forth in the standards from explanatory material contained in the
standards, the latter of which requires only the auditor's, practitioner's, or accountant's
"attention and understanding." Whether the auditor, practitioner, or accountant performs
the suggested procedures or actions in the engagement (as stated in the explanatory
material) depends on the exercise of professional judgment in the circumstances
consistent with the objective of the standard.
Because interpretive publications (including AICPA Audit and Accounting Guides, for
example) are recommendations, the publications cannot establish requirements.
Paragraph .06 of AU section 150, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (AICPA,
Professional Standards, vol. 1), states, "The auditor should be aware of and consider
interpretive publications applicable to his or her audit. If the auditor does not apply the
auditing guidance included in an interpretive publication, the auditor should be prepared to
explain how he or she complied with the SAS provisions addressed by such auditing
guidance."
An interpretive publication, such as this guide, should state the requirement of the
standard and then give recommendations on the application of the requirement in the
specific circumstances. The terms must,is required, or should may be used in an
interpretive publication only when it is clear that the requirement originated in a standard.
Otherwise, the user may be uncertain whether a requirement or a recommendation is
intended. The following conventions were used to conform the AICPA Audit and
Accounting Guides to these standards, which define professional requirements:
. Terms to replace the use of must,should, and is required consist only of those
explanatory material terms included in AU section 120, AT section 20, and AR section
20: could,may, and might, and these variations of those terms: could consider,may
consider, and might consider.
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. If the recommendation is that the auditor consult or familiarize himself or herself with
other sources of information, such as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
regulations, income tax laws, and industry developments including regulatory,
economic, and legislative developments, then the following considerations were used
in developing which terms to use in the guides:
. The guides contain guidance for management, which includes best practices for the
industry. Because the recommendations are best practices, the terms ordinarily
should or generally should are used.
Reference Change
Notice to Readers and Preface Updated.
Paragraph 1.22 Revised for clarification.
Revised to reflect the appropriate use of terms used to define
the professional requirements of auditors, practitioners, and
Paragraph 1.24
accountants in AU section 120, AT section 20, and AR section
20 of AICPA Professional Standards.
Paragraph 1.26 Revised to define professional requirements.
Paragraph 2.12 Revised to reflect the issuance of FASB Statement No. 157.
Former footnote * in paragraph 2.12 Deleted.
Added to reflect the issuance of FASB Statement No. 157;
Paragraphs 2.13-.17 added to reflect the issuance of FASB Statement No. 159;
added to reflect the issuance of FASB FSP FAS 157-2.
Former footnote * in paragraph 2.18 Deleted.
Paragraph 2.18 Revised to reflect the issuance of FASB Statement No. 157.
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Document 19 of 19
Source:
United States/AICPA/AICPA - Audit and Accounting Guides/Industry Guides/Common Interest Realty
Associations [AAG-CIR] - May 2008/Glossary
Glossary
articles of incorporation. A document that creates the CIRA as a corporation under state laws.
assessment. A unit owner's proportionate share of the amount of money necessary to pay for the
operation, administration, maintenance, and management of the common property, and to accumulate funds
for future major repairs and replacements.
association. An organization of unit owners responsible for the operation, administration, and management
of the common property. Generally, a not-for-profit corporation with membership of all owners.
board of directors. Individuals, usually unit owners, elected by members to govern the CIRA. (Also referred
to as board of managers, board of trustees, or board of governors.)
bylaws. The governing rules of a CIRA dealing with routine operational and administrative matters. (Also
referred to as the code of regulations.)
CC and Rs. See declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions and declaration of
condominium.
capital expenditures. Funds expended for improvements or major repairs or replacements of common
property components that extend their useful lives or service periods.
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carrying charges. Charged to tenant-shareholders for operating and capital expenditures based on
proprietary lease agreements, in cooperative housing corporations. (Commonly referred to as rent.)
CIRA. Common Interest Realty Association. An association, also known as a community association,
responsible for the governance of the common interest community (CIC), for which it was established to
serve. CIRAs are generally funded by its members via periodic assessments by the CIRA so that it can
perform its duties, which include management services and maintenance, repair, and replacement of the
common property, among other duties established in the governing documents and by state statute.
commercial unit. A unit in a CIRA, such as a store or office space, used exclusively to produce income.
common elements. See common areas and common property used with condominiums and
cooperatives.
common interest community. Real estate with respect to which a person, by virtue of his or her ownership
in a unit, is obligated to pay for real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, or improvement of
other real estate described in a declaration. The term common interest community (CIC) was first introduced
in the 1994 amendment to the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (the Act) and creates one definition
of those interests governed by the acts. This generic definition is used throughout the Act to refer
collectively to the three particular forms of common interest community: (1) condominiums; (2) cooperatives;
and (3) all other CICs that are not a condominium or a cooperative, such as a planned community.
common property. A CIRA's real or personal property to which title or other evidence of ownership is held
(a) by individual members in common or (b) by the CIRA directly.
condominium. A form of ownership of real property that combines exclusive ownership of a defined space
and an undivided interest in the common elements. (Also referred to as a condo.) A CIRA is not a
condominium unless the undivided interests in the common elements are vested in the unit owners.
cooperative housing corporation. An entity established as a corporation that owns the real estate, usually
a multi-unit dwelling, and all improvements on it and is responsible for its maintenance and payment of debt
service. Ownership in the corporation is evidenced by shares of stock owned by tenant-shareholders who
are entitled to occupy a unit under a proprietary lease. (Also referred to as a coop.) The individual ownership
interests in most cooperatives are structured as personal property interests, but some are structured as real
property interests.
declarant. A person or entity, generally the developer or converter, that legally establishes a CIRA by
preparing and filing the required legal documents. (Also referred to as sponsor for housing cooperatives.)
declaration of condominium. A document that creates the condominium form of ownership and the
association, and defines unit owners' undivided shares in the common property, membership and voting
rights in the association, and covenants and restrictions on the use of units and common property. (Also
referred to as the CC and Rs or master deed.)
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declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Restrictive conditions in the owner's deed that
limit the use of the common area. (See declaration of condominium.)
deed. A legal document that transfers to a unit owner title in a unit and an undivided interest in the common
property.
deferred maintenance. Commonly used in the CIRA industry to refer to repairs and maintenance, which
must be made periodically but not each year, such as painting.
documents. A set of papers creating and describing the CIRA, that may include such items as the
declaration of condominium, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and leases or contracts entered into by the
CIRA.
fiduciary duty. A special relationship of trust and responsibility held by the CIRA's board of directors
towards unit owners.
house rules. Guidelines prescribed by the bylaws or adopted by the board of directors for the use and
operation of common property and for the conduct of unit owners on common property.
initial capital contribution. A term generally used in CIRA offering documents to refer to a one-time
assessment paid by all original owners of units. (Sometimes referred to as working capital.)
major repairs and replacements fund. Money set aside for future major repairs and replacements of the
common property that is separate from money used for operations. (Also referred to as a reserve fund.)
managing agent. A manager engaged by the board of directors to manage and operate the property and
whose responsibilities usually include collecting and disbursing funds and supervising employees.
master association. An association formed for joint management of recreational facilities shared by several
condominium associations.
mixed-use development. The result of land planning that combines space for residential and commercial
use.
noneviction plan. An offering plan for conversion of a rental building to CIRA ownership in which
nonpurchasing tenants need not vacate their units as a result of the conversion.
patronage dividend. Money that may be returned to coop members at the end of a fiscal year as a result of
an excess of income over expenses.
percentage of ownership. The percentage of ownership interest of a unit in the common property used to
determine a unit owner's share of common expenses.
planned community. A real estate development that consists of separate lots with contiguous or
noncontiguous common areas and facilities owned and maintained by a CIRA in which owners have stock
or a membership interest. Sometimes referred to as planned unit developments (PUDs), although the term
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recreation lease. An agreement by which unit owners lease from the developer, or an unrelated third party,
recreational facilities that were developed for use by unit owners but that are not a part of the common
property.
resale fee. A fee that may be charged by a CIRA for administrative expenses associated with the sale of a
unit.
special assessment. An assessment used for expenditures that were not included in the annual budget.
tenant-shareholders. Owners of shares in a cooperative housing corporation who are entitled to occupy
units under proprietary leases.
time-sharing. Use of a unit for a designated period of time (usually expressed in terms of weeks) as a result
of deeded ownership of a unit or a right-to-use evidenced by a long-term lease. Includes a requirement for
participation in a proportionate amount of the costs of maintaining the property.
undivided ownership interest. Ownership in the common property that is inseparable and cannot be
divided or severed.
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