Reporting Year: 2024
BARS Alerts
| Change Date | |
|---|---|
| Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) guidance | |
| Annual update completed, see changes in table below |
Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2024
Chart of Account
| Topic | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| BARS Account Exports | BARS codes 333.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 333.XX - Changed the above prescribed title to Federal Indirect awards |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS codes 334.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 334.XX - Changed the above prescribed title to State Grants, Awards, and Other Contributions |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 334.01.21 | Current year change - BARS code 334.01.21 - Retired code |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 388.30 | Current year change - BARS code 388.30 - Use this code for corrections of significant/material errors due to mathematical mistake, mistake in the application of accounting principles or oversight/misuse of facts that existed at the time the financial statements were issued. Cash basis governments should use this code when material amounts are refunded to the government (or fund) that are from prior year financial activity. |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 388.40 | Current year Change - BARS code 388.40 - Use this code to report movement of funds that impact the reporting entity. |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 524.20 | Current year change - BARS code 524.20 - Updated description for better clarification on when to use the code |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 558.50 | Current year change - BARS code 558.50 - Updates description for better clarification on when to use the code |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 524.60 | Current year change - BARS code 524.60 - Updates description for better clarification on when to use the code |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 588.30 | Current year change - BARS code 588.30 - Use this code for corrections of significant/material errors due to mathematical mistake, mistake in the application of accounting principles or oversight/misuse of facts that existed at the time the financial statements were issued. Cash basis governments should use this code when material amounts are refunded to the government (or fund) that are from prior year financial activity. |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 588.40 | Current year change - BARS code 588.40 - Use this code to report movement of funds that impact the reporting entity. |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS code 591.XX | Current year change - BARS code 591.XX - Updated the description to reference principal payments of interfund loans |
| BARS Account Exports | BARS Account Exports | Current year change - Updated the Codes to Funds matrix, applicable for FY2024 BARS accounts. |
| Optional - General Ledger Accounts | 1.2 | Current year change - Added liability code 263.13 Self-insurance and risk pool claims liabilities Created excel file for governments to download, includes GL account numbers and descriptions. *GL Accounts are optional use* |
Accounting
| Topic | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Accounting and Fund Types | 3.1.1 | Current year change - -Removed Accounting Principles, as they are now located at 3.1.10. -Updating of codification references -Minor clarifications |
| Accounting Principles | 3.1.10 | Current year change - This topic has been included with Fund Principles in prior manuals. Changes include: |
| Special Assessments | 3.2.7 | Current year change - Reorganized and cleaned up the BARS page Provided clarification for the accounting of operating and capital special assessments |
| Capital Asset Management System Requirements | 3.3.9 | Current year change - Clean-up and clarifications done in this section. Updated information related to federal awards. |
| Capital Asset Accounting | 3.3.10 | Current year change - Clarification added regarding allocating costs to projects. |
| Controls Over Capital Assets | 3.3.11 | Current year change - General clean-up and clarifications in this section. |
| Leases | 3.4.1 | Current year change - Clarified accounting for variable payments and rate increases. Added guidance for prepaid leases. |
| Pensions | 3.4.2 | Current year change - Annual updates and added guidance for defined benefit plans vs. defined contribution plans, qualifying vs. non-qualifying trusts, and accounting for tax revenue for pensions |
| Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans | 3.4.7 | Current year change - Added the guidance regarding working advances from DSHS. |
| LOCAL Program Financing | 3.4.11 | Current year change - Added the accounting and reporting for the LOCAL Program. |
| Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) | 3.4.17 | Current year change - Updated measurement dates table |
| Subscription Based Information Technology Arrangement (SBITA) | 3.4.21 | Current year change - Clarified accounting for variable payments and rate increases. Added guidance for prepaid subscriptions. |
| Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships (PPP) | 3.4.22 | Current year change - Clarified accounting for variable payments and rate increases. |
| Compensated Absences | 3.4.23 | Current year change - New accounting section for compensated absences calculation due to GASB Statement 101- Compensated Absences. |
| Classification of Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources | 3.5.1 | Current year change - Clarified deferred inflows - unavailable revenue category, removing nonexchange transactions to accurately reflect GASB Codification 1600.106. Any revenue transaction may be classified in this category if it not received in the governments availability period. Note: this change would only impact significant/material unpaid receivables not collected in the availability period. |
| Working Advances from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) | 3.6.10 | Current year change - Guidance moved to Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans sections due to reporting requirements of Working Advances |
| Federal Awards - Accounting | 3.7.1 | Current year change - Added information on revisions to the Uniform Guidance and clarification of definitions. |
| Unemployment and Deferred Compensation | 3.8.1 | Current year change - Minor clarifications to unemployment compensation, including accounting for claims expenses if the government does not set aside resources to pay future claims. |
| Voucher Certification and Approval | 3.8.5 | Current year change - Incorporated RCW reference and clarified the voucher certification and approval section. |
| Voter Registration and Election Cost Allocation | 3.8.12 | Current year change - Removed the allocation methods and linked to the Secretary of State's Election Cost Allocation and Reimbursement website. |
| Reimbursements | 3.9.4 | Current year change - Updating GASB references, adding clarifying language to 3.9.4.60 on what is a reimbursement from external parties. |
| Overhead Cost Allocation | 3.9.5 | Current year change - Removal of non-prescriptive guidance. Additional clarification and clean-up. |
| Bonds and Revenue Warrants | 3.4.3 | Retired page- Due to changes in RCWs this section is no longer applicable, therefore this section has been retired. |
Reporting
| Topic | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Liabilities (Schedule 09) | 4.8.3 | Current year change - Clarified the 263.12 Claims and Judgments code definition and added new code 263.13 for self-insurance and risk pool claims liabilities. |
| Risk Management (Schedule 21) | 4.8.9 | Current year change - Important - review updated section before completing the annual filing schedule. Clarified the definition of self-insurance and self-insurance programs. When this definition applies to the reimbursable method for unemployment and Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) – Voluntary Plans. |
| Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA/Schedule 16) | 4.14.5 | Current year change - Annual update to the SEFA including information about Uniform Guidance updates. |
| Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Current year change - General clarification to align with GASB reporting requirements. |
| Note X – Accounting and Reporting Changes | Note X – Accounting and Reporting Changes | Current year change - This note has been removed as it has been replaced by another due to the implementation of GASB 100. |
| Note X - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections | Note X - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections | Current year change - New note disclosure for Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. |
| Note X - Certain Risk Disclosures | Note X - Certain Risk Disclosures | Current year change - Certain Risk Disclosure note instructions provided for early implementation of GASB 102. |
| Note X – Changes in Long-Term Liabilities | Note X – Changes in Long-Term Liabilities | Current year change - Updated for GASB 101 compensated absences can be netted and do not need to be included in the liquidity statement. |
| Note X – COVID-19 Pandemic | Note X – COVID-19 Pandemic | Current year change - Removing the COVID-19 Pandemic specific note and allowing governments to use the existing notes for any further disclosures for the pandemic. |
| Note X – Pensions – State Sponsored (DRS) Plans | Note X – Pensions – State Sponsored (DRS) Plans | Current year change - Annual pension updates. |
| Note X – Prior Period Adjustments | Note X – Prior Period Adjustments | Current year change - This note has been removed as it has been replaced by another due to the implementation of GASB 100. |
Online Filing
| Topic | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Pension and OPEB Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Fiscal year 2024 Pension Calculation Worksheet template is available for download. |
| Schedule 01 Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Schedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated. To access the reporting templates please see BARS Reporting Templates pages. |
| Pension and OPEB Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Fiscal year 2024 Pension Calculation Worksheet template is available for download. To access the pension template please see the BARS Reporting Templates page. |
| Schedule 01 Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Schedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated. |