美國財務會計準則60與97號公報對壽險公司財務報表之影響

會計與財務報導之功能在於幫助企業主管透過財務資訊，分析歸納以作成各項經營管理決策。缺乏良好財會管理的企業，往往無法永續經營。而壽險業因為營運方式複雜，影響社會安定層面廣大，在各國均為受高度監理的特殊行業。由於我國尚無專屬保險會計原則，監理單位與壽險公司經營者無法根據保險公司之財務報表真實反映其經營成果，從而有效達到監理目的或防範保險公司所面臨的潛在風險。 先進國家如美國之財務會計準則委員會曾多次提出與美國保險業財務會計準則相關之規範。例如1982年針對保險業提出第60號「保險業會計及報導」，其後陸續發布第97號「保險業長期保險契約與投資已實現利得與損失之會計與報導」、第113號「短期契約與長期契約再保險會計處理與報導原則」公報等。對於保險業會計處理原則之規範可稱相當完備。 本論文依據國內壽險會計處理原則及美國相關財務會計準則公報之原理原則，擷取實際保險公司財務報表，依據不同會計制度下之相關規範，計算出其中差異。實證結果發現，有別於美國會計制度分別是一般公認會計原則(GAAP)及法定會計原則(SAP)；國內壽險業會計制度、會計環境假設不明確，財務會計參酌法定會計（或稱監理會計）的概念，使得財務報表未能呈現壽險公司實際經營成果，因此造成會計制度無法與國際接軌。 本論文認為；現在國內既存新舊保險公司營運方式不同，保險財務複雜度高。國內保險公司引用美國會計準則雖可改善目前缺失，但必須作全面周全考量。顧全業者立場，考慮可能之衝擊，配合監理機關與實務可行性，持續進行，方能獲得最佳成效。Finance and Accounting reports have the function of providing business managers financial information. Through analysis and consolidating of this information the managers may make sound decisions in business operations. A company without sound finance and accounting management usually won’t last for long. Due to its complicated operation methodology, and the great impact to social security, life insurance industry is often under high degree supervisory of government in every country. In Taiwan there is no exclusive insurance accounting principles, as a result, the government supervisory unit and life insurers can’t have a standardized financial reporting to reflect their operation result truly, nor can they effectively achieve supervisory objectives or prevent the potential risks which insurers face. Developed countries such as U. S. has the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (FASB) raises many times related guidelines of US insurance industry’s accounting principles. For example in 1982 the Board raised FAS 60, and FAS 97, FAS 113 in later days. Such guidelines of insurance accounting principles are sufficient for the business operations needs. This paper is developed based on the Taiwan life insurance accounting process principles and US related financial accounting guidelines, taking the financial reports of one insurer as example, to calculate the variance under two different sets of accounting regulations. Our finding is, unlike the US accounting system which is based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (GAAP) and Statutory Accounting Principle, (SAP), Taiwan’s life insurance accounting system, underlying assumptions are not clear enough, as well as the concept of adapting Statutory accounting (or supervisory accounting), makes our financial reports not able to present the real operating results of life insurers. As a result our accounting system fails to align with international practices. This paper suggests that, In Taiwan there are both newly set up insurers and insurers established for long time, while their business models are different, under the complicated insurance. Applying the US accounting principles may improve certain defects, however we must make comprehensive assessment, balance the insurers’ view, consider possible impact, comply with supervisory unit, and feasibility of practice, then implement consistently to obtain the best effects