Sap Vs. Gaap Accounting

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is the authoritative accounting principles for the private sector. Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) are accounting regulations issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

  1. Facts

    • Insurance firms are required to file their financial statements to state regulatory bodies using SAP. Private sector companies releasing financial information to outside stakeholders use GAAP.

    Functions

    • SAP uses more conservative accounting principles when insurance firms prepare their balance sheet. Two examples are the non-inclusion of certain assets and the inability to amortize expenses over time.

    Considerations

    • Accountants must reconcile their SAP-prepared balance to traditional GAAP-style balance sheets prior to filing corporate taxes. This reconciliation can be timely and present extra costs to insurance firms.

    Effects

    • Insurance companies face many more regulations than other private sector companies because they must comply with two separate groups of accounting standards, SAP and GAAP.

    Theories/Speculation

    • With the credit crisis that began in 2007, insurance companies have been under close scrutiny for lax application of accounting principles. A study by the New York University School of Business has created a proposal that includes a complete review of accounting principles, rewriting certain rules to insure that companies maintain high levels of liquidity.

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