Gain Contingency
Gain contingencies, or the possible occurrences of a gain on a claim or obligation that involves the entity, are reported when realized (earned). If a specific event that can cause the gain occurs, and the gain is realized, then the gain is disclosed . If the gain is probable and quantifiable, the gain is not accrued for financial reporting purposes, but it can be disclosed in the notes to financial statements. If the gain is not probable or its amount cannot be reasonably estimated, but its effect could materially affect financial statements, a note disclosing the nature of the gain is also disclosed in the notes. Care should be taken that misleading language is not used regarding the potential for the gain to be realized. The disclosure of gain contingencies is affected by the materiality concept and the conservatism constraint.
Renovation
Renovation plans and projects can increase the value of a building and eventually bring about a gain. However these gains should only be accrued when the gain is realized.
Materiality
Materiality is a concept or convention within auditing and accounting that relates to the importance/significance of an amount, transaction, or discrepancy. For example, an auditor expresses an opinion on whether financial statements are prepared, in all material aspects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Professional judgment is required to determine what is material and what isn't. Generally, if the omission or misstatement of information can influence the economic decision of financial statement users, the missing or incorrect information is considered material. Thus, if a gain contingency, that remains unrealized, affects the economic decision of statement users, it should be disclosed in the notes.
Conservatism
Most accounting principles follow the conservative constraint, which encourages the immediate disclosure of losses and expenses on the income statement. This constraint also encourages the omission of revenues and gains until those gains are realized. Thus, for a gain contingency, only a realized gain is accrued for and disclosed on the income statement. A material gain contingency that is both probable and reasonably estimated can be disclosed in the notes to financial statements.