2.4.0.82101100 - Disclosure - Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policiestruefalsefalse1falsefalsefalseD2013Q3YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001350420duration2012-10-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true1lwenergy_NatureOfBusinessAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesAbstractlwenergy_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse02false2us-gaap_BusinessDescriptionAndAccountingPoliciesTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Principal business activity</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">:  Lincolnway Energy, LLC (the Company), located in Nevada, Iowa, was formed in May 2004 to pool investors to build a </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">50 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> gallon annual production dry mill corn-based ethanol plant.  The Company began making sales on May 30, 2006 and became operational during the quarter ended June 30, 2006.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Basis of presentation and other information</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">: The balance sheet as of </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">September 30, 2012</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> was derived from the Company's audited balance sheet as of that date.  The accompanying financial statements as of and for the </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">three and nine months ended June 30, 2013</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">2012</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and operating results for the interim periods.  These unaudited financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto, for the year ended </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">September 30, 2012</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> contained in the Company's Annual Report  on Form 10-K.  The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Use of estimates</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">:  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Trade accounts receivable</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at original invoice amounts less an estimate made for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by regularly evaluating individual customer receivables and considering customers financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. Receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of receivables written off are recorded when received. A receivable is considered past due if any portion of the receivable is outstanding more than </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">90</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> days. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Deferred revenue:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> Deferred revenue represents fees received under a service agreement in advance of services being performed. The related revenue is deferred and recognized as the services are performed over the term of the contract.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Income taxes</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">:  The Company is organized as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and generally does not incur income taxes.  Instead, the Company's earnings and losses are included in the income tax returns of the members.  Therefore, no provision or liability for federal or state income taxes has been included in these financial statements.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Earnings per unit</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">:  Basic and diluted earnings per unit have been computed on the basis of the weighted average number of units outstanding during each period presented.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Fair value of financial instruments</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">:  The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments, trade and other accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value.  The carrying amount of long-term debt approximates fair value because the interest rates fluctuate with market rates or the fixed rates approximate current rates offered to the Company for debt with similar terms and maturities.</font></div></div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for the business description and accounting policies concepts. Business description describes the nature and type of organization including but not limited to organizational structure as may be applicable to holding companies, parent and subsidiary relationships, business divisions, business units, business segments, affiliates and information about significant ownership of the reporting entity. Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.No definition available.false0falseNature of Business and Significant Accounting PoliciesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.lincolnwayenergy.com/role/NatureOfBusinessAndSignificantAccountingPolicies12