UPS 2015 Annual Report Download - page 70

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
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Income Taxes
We make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These
estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of income by legal entity and jurisdiction, tax credits, benefits, and
deductions, and in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition
of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes, as well as the interest and penalties related to these uncertain
tax positions. Significant changes to these estimates may result in an increase or decrease to our tax provision in a subsequent
period.
We assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. If recovery is not likely, we must increase
our provision for taxes by recording a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that we estimate will not ultimately be
recoverable. We believe that we will ultimately recover a substantial majority of the deferred tax assets recorded on our
consolidated balance sheets. However, should there be a change in our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, our tax
provision would increase in the period in which we determined that the recovery was not likely.
The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We
recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be
sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. Once it is determined that the position
meets the recognition threshold, the second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is
more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts,
as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a
quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in
tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement could result
in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Losses on accounts receivable are recognized when they are incurred, which requires us to make our best estimate of the
probable losses inherent in our customer receivables at each balance sheet date. These estimates require consideration of
historical loss experience adjusted for current conditions, trends in customer payment frequency, and judgments about the
probable effects of relevant observable data, including present economic conditions and the financial health of specific
customers and market sectors. Our risk management process includes standards and policies for reviewing major account
exposures and concentrations of risk. Deterioration in macroeconomic variables could result in our ultimate loss exposures on
our accounts receivable being significantly higher than what we have currently estimated and reserved for in our allowance for
doubtful accounts. Our total allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $118 and $121 million,
respectively. Our total provision for doubtful accounts charged to expense during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014
and 2013 was $121, $143 and $129 million, respectively.