What is a potential pitfall of cash basis accounting for a community association?

• A. It often does provide a true picture of the association's financial condition.
• B. It exactly matches revenues and expenses.
• C. It does not provide a true picture of the association's financial condition.
• D. It is GAAP-compliant.

Answer: (C)

Cash basis accounting records revenues when cash is received and expenses when cash is paid. For a community association, thisTiming creates a mismatch between money coming in and money owed, so the financial statements don’t reflect what is actually owed or earned. Outstanding assessments that haven’t been collected aren’t counted as revenue yet, and unpaid bills aren’t recognized as expenses until payment, which can make the association’s assets, liabilities, and overall financial position look healthier or different than it truly is. This is why cash basis often does not provide a true picture of the association’s financial condition. GAAP uses accrual accounting, so cash basis is not GAAP-compliant.