Problems related to the valuation of provisions for liabilities

Abstract

The issue of reserves, due to the subjectivity of estimating the probability and value of specific events, is one of the most difficult in financial accounting. Due to the implementation of basic accounting principles, it is an important and necessary activity, but it requires extensive knowledge and skills of people responsible for their creation. Determining the amount of provisions is such a subjective category that it is possible, despite the best efforts, that the estimates differ significantly from reality. In addition, reserves are a relatively easy tool used to manipulate the picture of an entity's financial position.
The purpose of the publication is to identification problems related to the procedure of valuation of provisions for liabilities. To illustrate the difficulties and subjectivity in estimating provisions, the article presents examples of the valuation of provisions for: jubilee awards, warranty repairs and restructuring.
The economic practice has led to the development of procedures enabling a fairly accurate and objective calculation of the amount of the provision, e.g. for jubilee awards or warranty repairs. However, in many situations, the process of valuation of this financial category can be individualized and complicated, and the recognition and valuation of provisions is considered one of the more difficult tasks of the financial department.