The entity does not control the voucher before it is transferred to the customer
because it does not exist until it is purchased by the customer. The entity does
not prepay or firmly commit to purchase vouchers before obtaining customers
for those vouchers (in contrast to the facts in Example 47 in Topic 606).
Furthermore, the entity does not contract with the customer for a meal and
then obtain a voucher from a restaurant to fulfill its meal obligation to the
customer.
Excerpt from Subtopic 606-10
>>> Example 48—Arranging for the Provision of Goods or Services (Entity
Is an Agent)
55-330
An entity sells vouchers that entitle customers to future meals at
specified restaurants, and the sales price of the voucher provides the customer
with a significant discount when compared with the normal selling prices of the
meals (for example, a customer pays $100 for a voucher that entitles the
customer to a meal at a restaurant that would otherwise cost $200). The entity
does not purchase or commit itself to purchase vouchers in advance of the sale
of a voucher to a customer; instead, it purchases vouchers only as they are
requested by the customers. The entity sells the vouchers through its website,
and the vouchers are nonrefundable.
55-331
The entity and the restaurants jointly determine the prices at which the
vouchers will be sold to customers. Under the terms of its contracts with the
restaurants, the entity is entitled to 30 percent of the voucher price when it
sells the voucher.
55-332
The entity also assists the customers in resolving complaints about the
meals and has a buyer satisfaction program. However, the restaurant is
responsible for fulfilling obligations associated with the voucher, including
remedies to a customer for dissatisfaction with the service.
55-333
To determine whether the entity is a principal or an agent, the entity
identifies the specified good or service to be provided to the customer and
assesses whether it controls the specified good or service before that good or
service is transferred to the customer.

Revenue recognition
555
9. Principal vs. agent
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55-333A
A customer obtains a voucher for the restaurant that it selects. The
entity does not engage the restaurants to provide meals to customers on the
entity’s behalf as described in the indicator in paragraph 606-10-55-39(a).
Therefore, the entity observes that the specified good or service to be provided
to the customer is the right to a meal (in the form of a voucher) at a specified
restaurant or restaurants, which the customer purchases and then can use
itself or transfer to another person. The entity also observes that no other
goods or services (other than the vouchers) are promised to the customers.


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- Fall '09
- Accounting, Revenue, KPMG International Cooperative, KPMG LLP