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Going concern

Also called going-concern doubt, going-concern paragraph.

The assumption that a company will keep operating. “Going-concern doubt” means management or the auditor doubts it can for about the next year.

Financial statements are prepared on the presumption that the company will continue as a going concern. Each annual and interim period, management must evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about that within one year after the statements are issued. Source 1

The auditor makes its own evaluation, over a period of up to one year beyond the date of the financial statements, and adds an explanatory paragraph to its report if substantial doubt remains. Source 2

It isn't a prediction. The auditing standard says auditors aren't responsible for predicting future events, and a report without the paragraph isn't an assurance either. See Going-concern language. Source 2

Where it comes up

Sources

  1. FASB: ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements, Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) (opens in a new tab)
  2. PCAOB: AS 2415: Consideration of an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (opens in a new tab)

All glossary terms