GASB Issues Implementation Guide for OPEB Reporting Standards

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued a new Implementation Guide that contains questions and answers about the GASB’s new standards on accounting and financial reporting for post-employment benefits other than pensions. Those benefits (primarily retiree health care) are referred to as other post-employment benefits (OPEB).

Implementation Guide No. 2017-3, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions (and Certain Issues Related to OPEB Plan Reporting), provides answers to questions intended to clarify, explain, or elaborate on the requirements of GASB Statement No. 75, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions. Statement 75 replaces the requirements of GASB Statement No. 45. It requires governments to report a liability on the face of the financial statements for the OPEB that they provide.

The document also addresses a limited number of issues related to Statement No. 74, Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans.

The questions and answers contained in the GASB Implementation Guides constitute Category B authoritative guidance under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The guidance is applicable to all state and local governments that follow GAAP when preparing their financial statements.

The guide is available for download at no charge on the GASB website, www.gasb.org. Printed copies will be available through the GASB Store in the coming weeks.