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Description / Account Currency Amount (FC) Book Rate Spot Rate
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About

Accurate financial reporting demands precision when dealing with foreign currency assets and liabilities. Companies operating internationally must periodically adjust the value of foreign holdings to reflect current exchange rates, a process known as revaluation. This adjustment is critical for compliance with accounting standards such as ASC 830 (US GAAP) and IAS 21 (IFRS). Failure to correctly capture these fluctuations can lead to significant discrepancies in the balance sheet and misstated net income.

The Currency Revaluation Calculator assists controllers and accountants in determining the Unrealized Gain or Loss for multiple ledger items simultaneously. Unlike simple converters, this tool focuses on the delta between the Book Rate (historical rate at entry) and the Spot Rate (current closing rate). It allows for the aggregation of exposure across various currencies, providing a clear view of the FX impact on the financial position before these gains or losses are actually realized through a transaction.

forex accounting revaluation unrealized gain balance sheet fx calculator

Formulas

The core objective is to isolate the difference in value caused solely by exchange rate movements. The calculation compares the value of the asset or liability at the time it was booked versus its value at the reporting date.

First, determine the value in the functional (base) currency at both points in time:

Vbook = Aforeign × Rbook

Vspot = Aforeign × Rspot

Where:

  • Aforeign is the amount in foreign currency.
  • Rbook is the exchange rate at the transaction date.
  • Rspot is the exchange rate at the revaluation date.

The Unrealized Gain or Loss (U) is the difference:

U = Vspot Vbook

For indirect quotes (e.g., converting USD to JPY where USD is base), the division method applies:

AforeignRspot AforeignRbook

Reference Data

Currency PairBase CurrencyQuote CurrencyStandard NotationForex Volatility Impact
EUR/USDEuro €US Dollar $1.0850High liquidity, moderate revaluation risk
GBP/USDBritish Pound £US Dollar $1.2650Sensitive to economic data, requires frequent checks
USD/JPYUS Dollar $Japanese Yen ¥145.20Inverted quote convention, high precision needed
USD/CHFUS Dollar $Swiss Franc Fr0.8900Safe haven currency, lower variance typically
AUD/USDAust. Dollar $US Dollar $0.6550Commodity-linked, high volatility in balance sheets
USD/CADUS Dollar $Canadian Dollar $1.3600Correlated with oil prices, distinct seasonal trends
USD/CNYUS Dollar $Chinese Yuan ¥7.2500Managed float, regulatory considerations for revaluation
USD/INRUS Dollar $Indian Rupee ₹83.50Emerging market risks, higher inflation adjustments
USD/BRLUS Dollar $Brazilian Real R$5.1500High volatility, significant impact on Latin American ops
USD/ZARUS Dollar $S. African Rand R18.75Mining sector exposure, frequent wide swings

Frequently Asked Questions

An unrealized gain or loss occurs when the exchange rate changes while you still hold the asset or liability (accounting paper entry). A realized gain or loss happens only when the transaction is settled (cash actually moves), and the currency is converted.
Standard practice dictates using the Spot Rate (closing rate) on the last day of the reporting period. Central bank reference rates or reliable market mid-market rates are commonly accepted sources.
If your Functional Currency is USD, but the rate is quoted as USD/JPY (how many Yen per Dollar), you must divide the foreign amount by the rate. If the rate is GBP/USD (how many Dollars per Pound), you multiply. This tool assumes a direct multiplication method relative to the base currency unless configured otherwise.
No. This tool serves as a validation check or a sub-ledger calculator for smaller entities or specific adjustments. It helps verify ERP outputs or calculate manual journal entries for revaluation.
Assets and liabilities may move in opposite directions. A strengthening base currency might reduce the value of foreign assets (loss) but also reduce the burden of foreign liabilities (gain). The Net Impact shows the total P&L effect.