Allocating Discounts

In step four of the revenue model, entities are required to allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract. The transaction price is generally allocated according to the relative standalone selling price method and an example of applying this method is available in Standalone Selling Prices. The standard includes two exceptions to the relative standalone selling price method: allocating discounts and allocating variable consideration.

This article explores the process of allocating discounts, how to correctly allocate discounts to the transaction price, and diversity in thought. For an in-depth discussion of the second exception, please see Allocating Variable Consideration.

How To

In many transactions, goods or services are bundled together and sold at a lower price than the respective standalone selling prices of the items. These discounts can be a variable amount based on the customer meeting specific requirements or a fixed amount that the customer receives for entering into the contract.

Variable Discounts

In the March 2015 Transition Resource Group (TRG) meeting, the group established that variable discounts are primarily subject to the guidance on allocating variable consideration. The staff’s view is that ASC 606-10-32-41 establishes a hierarchy for allocating variable consideration such that any form of variable consideration, including variable discounts, is subject to the guidance on allocating variable consideration. If, under the variable consideration guidance, the variable discount does not meet the criteria necessary to be allocated to a specific performance obligation in the contract, then the discount is subject to the guidance on allocating discounts. A comprehensive discussion of the guidance on allocating variable consideration is available in Allocating Variable Consideration.

Fixed Discounts

Generally, discounts are allocated to all the performance obligations in the contract using the relative standalone selling price method unless there is observable evidence that the discount relates to only one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations. The discount should be allocated to one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations if the following criteria are met:

• All goods or services are regularly sold separately or as part of bundles on a stand-alone basis.
• The entity also regularly sells the separately sold good, service, or bundle at a discount.
• The normal discount of the separately sold good, service, or bundle is substantially the same as the overall discount offered in the contract.

Discounts should be allocated to the transaction price before applying the residual approach. The following examples provide an illustration of how to allocate discounts to the transaction price.

Diversity in Thought

While accounting for discounts appears to be a straightforward process, a few issues could potentially lead to diversity in practice.

Issue 1

In transactions that involve a large number of goods or services, there can be multiple combinations of those goods or services that are regularly sold as bundles at a discount. Conflicting viewpoints have been addressed as to whether the discount can be applied to specific performance obligations in these situations.

View A

When multiple combinations of goods or services are possible in a contract, the discount should be allocated to all of the performance obligations. When multiple bundles are regularly sold at a discount, the discount in the transaction could stem from more than one of these bundles and therefore should be allocated evenly across all performance obligations.

View B

When multiple combinations of goods or services are possible in a contract, the discount should be allocated to one or more, but not all of the performance obligations if any of the bundles regularly provide a similar discount. The discount offered in the transaction should only be allocated to the bundle that is regularly sold at a similar discount.

It seems that the guidance is written to ensure that the discount is applied to the products that are regularly sold as bundles at a similar discount. With this purpose in mind, an analysis should be performed extensively enough to determine if the discount offered in the transaction is representative of any discounts that the company regularly offers to its customers in a bundle, including a combination of discounts that are offered in separate bundles. If it is, the discount should be allocated to those specific performance obligations; otherwise it should be allocated to all of the performance obligations.

Issue 2

The standard requires that a bundle of goods or services be “regularly sold” on a stand-alone basis. The term “regularly sold” is ambiguous and will require management to exercise judgment to determine what meets that definition. Companies will need to establish an internal policy with clear guidelines on how they determine what constitutes a good or service being “regularly sold” on a stand-alone basis. This policy will need to be applied consistently for each bundle. Additional clarification of what constitutes “regularly sold” will become available as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) comments on the procedures of other companies.

Conclusion

Discounts are generally allocated to all performance obligations according to relative standalone selling prices. The revenue standard also provides three criteria to determine if the discount may be allocated to one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations. If the three criteria are met, the discount may be allocated to specific performance obligations rather than to all the performance obligations.

Resources Consulted

• ASC 606-10-32-36 to 32-38
• EY, Financial Reporting Developments: "Revenue from contracts with customers." August 2017. Section 6.4.
• FASB TRG Memo 31: "Variable Discounts." 30 March 2015.
• KMPG, “Revenue Recognition.” December 2021. Section 6.5.
• PWC, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers.” August 2022. Section 5.4.