ADT 2014 Annual Report Download - page 141

FORM 10-K
Separate Return Method applies the accounting guidance for income taxes to the standalone financial statements
as if the Company was a separate taxpayer and a standalone enterprise for the periods prior to the Separation. The
deferred tax balances reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 26, 2014 and
September 27, 2013 have been recorded on a consolidated return basis. The calculation of income taxes for the
Company requires a considerable amount of judgment and use of both estimates and allocations. Prior to the
Separation, the Company primarily operated within a Tyco U.S. consolidated group and within a standalone
Canadian entity. In certain instances, tax losses or credits generated by Tyco’s other businesses continue to be
available to the Company in periods after the Separation.
In determining taxable income for the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements, the
Company must make certain estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the calculation of
certain tax liabilities and the determination of the recoverability of certain of the deferred tax assets, which arise
from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenue and expense.
In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, the Company considers all available
positive and negative evidence including its past operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in the most
recent years and its forecast of future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, the Company
develops assumptions including the amount of future pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary
differences and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require
significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates
the Company is using to manage its underlying businesses.
The Company does not have any significant valuation allowances against its net deferred tax assets.
Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future.
Management records the effect of a tax rate or law change on the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities in
the period of enactment. Future tax rate or law changes could have a material effect on the Company’s results of
operations, financial condition or cash flows.
In addition, the calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the
application of complex tax regulations in the United States and Canada. The Company recognizes potential
liabilities and records tax liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the U.S. and other tax jurisdictions based on
its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These tax liabilities are reflected net
of related tax loss carryforwards. The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and
circumstances; however, due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result
in a payment that is materially different from the Company’s current estimate of the tax liabilities. If the
Company’s estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, an additional charge to
expense would result. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be less than the recorded amounts, the
reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when the Company
determines the liabilities are no longer necessary.
Concentration of Credit Risks—Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risks are principally accounts receivables. The Company’s concentration of credit risk
with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the significant size of its customer base.
Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt and derivative financial instruments. Due to their short-
term nature, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents, including the money market mutual funds, accounts
receivable and accounts payable approximated book value as of September 26, 2014 and September 27, 2013.
Cash Equivalents—Included in cash and cash equivalents are available-for-sale securities, representing cash
invested in money market mutual funds of nil and $124 million, as of September 26, 2014 and September 27,
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