GASB 96 - What is a SBITA?

GASB 96 defines a subscription-based information technology arrangement (SBITA) as a contract that conveys control of the right to use another party's IT software, alone or in combination with tangible capital assets, as specified in the contract for a period of time in an exchange or exchange-like transaction.

Types of SBITAs:  Software as a Service (SaaS), Platforms as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
  • Examples: Canvas, Skyward, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google, Zoom, ERP systems, PeopleSoft, GET Mobile, and LeaseCrunch.

SBITAs include contracts that meet the definition above, even if they are called something different.

Control: To have control, the government must have both:

  • The right to obtain the present service capacity from the use of the underlying IT assets as specified in the contract.
  • The right to determine the nature and manner of use of the underlying IT assets as specified in the contract.

Period of Time: This is the term that the government has a noncancellable right to use the underlying IT assets

Exchange or Exchange-like Transaction: An exchange or exchange-like transaction is one that occurs in an orderly fashion.