Football Contractors, Inc. has contracted to build a stadium for the City of Washburn. The contract price is $100 million and costs are estimated at $60 million. Costs are not assured, however, because there is a material risk, which Football Contractors has assumed, that ground water problems might slow construction and increase costs by as much as $40 million. In 2004, the first year of the agreement, Football Contractors, Inc. billed $30 million, received a $20 million payment, and incurred $15 million in costs. For 2004 Football Contractors, Inc. should recognize revenue from the City of Washburn transaction in the amount of:
The completed contract method is used when a reliable estimate of the total costs cannot be determined until the contract is finished. Because of the significant uncertainty surrounding the ground water costs, the completed contract method should be used in this transaction, and no revenue should be recognized in 2004 or any later year until the contract is completed or the cost uncertainty is resolved. |