This is a continuation of a distinguished series of handbooks, first published over 79 years ago. The list of contributors reads like a who's-who in accounting. The Accountants' Handbook series has the longest tradition of providing comprehensive coverage of the field to both accounting professionals and professionals in other fields who need or desire to obtain quick, understandable, and thorough exposure to complex accounting-related subjects. Accountants continue to find it difficult to keep abreast of the flood of issuances by FASB and AICPA, as well as the numerous interpretations and bulletins issued to explain them, including the activities of the SEC and EITF. This difficulty will increase as the scope and complexity of accounting principles and the practice that dominates the accounting industry increases.