Historically, there has been diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. Entities have classified transfers between cash and restricted cash as operating, investing or financing activities, or as a combination of those activities, in the statement of cash flows. Also, some entities presented direct cash receipts into, and direct cash payments made from, a bank account that holds restricted cash as cash inflows and cash outflows, while others disclose those cash flows as noncash investing or financing activities.
To address this diversity in practice, in Novrember 2016 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown in the statement of cash flows.
The ASU was effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The ASU should be applied using a retrospective transition method for each period presented.
