What types of interfund transactions exist within governmental accounting?

In governmental accounting, interfund transactions are categorized as reciprocal and non-reciprocal activities.

Reciprocal activities involve exchanges where both parties provide something of value. For instance, in interfund loans, funds are borrowed from one fund to another, with a repayment obligation. Similarly, interfund services entail one fund providing services to another, such as administrative support, where payment is expected in return.

Non-reciprocal activities, on the other hand, do not involve a reciprocal exchange. A typical example here would be interfund transfers, where funds are simply moved from one fund to another without an expectation of repayment or service exchange. This might include transfers intended for specific purposes or just general fund support.

Thus, categorizing interfund transactions into reciprocal and non-reciprocal activities accurately captures the nature of the interactions between different funds within a governmental accounting context. This understanding is crucial for accurately reflecting the financial position and activities of specific funds in financial statements.