<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?><InstanceReport xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><Version>2.4.0.8</Version><ReportLongName>1010 - Disclosure - BASIS OF PRESENTATION</ReportLongName><DisplayLabelColumn>true</DisplayLabelColumn><ShowElementNames>false</ShowElementNames><RoundingOption /><HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports><Columns><Column FlagID="0"><Id>1</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><LabelSeparator>

</LabelSeparator><CurrencyCode /><FootnoteIndexer /><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios><MCU><KeyName /><CurrencySymbol /><contextRef><ContextID>D2013Q2YTD</ContextID><EntitySchema>http://www.sec.gov/CIK</EntitySchema><EntityValue>0001473597</EntityValue><PeriodDisplayName /><PeriodType>duration</PeriodType><PeriodStartDate>2013-01-01T00:00:00</PeriodStartDate><PeriodEndDate>2013-06-30T00:00:00</PeriodEndDate><Segments /><Scenarios /></contextRef><UPS /><CurrencyCode /><OriginalCurrencyCode /></MCU><CurrencySymbol /><Labels><Label Key="CalendarSupplement" Id="0" Label="6 Months Ended" /><Label Key="Calendar" Id="1" Label="Jun. 30, 2013" /></Labels></Column></Columns><Rows><Row FlagID="0"><Id>1</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>true</IsAbstractGroupTitle><LabelSeparator>

</LabelSeparator><Level>1</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstract</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap_</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>na</BalanceType><PeriodType>duration</PeriodType><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell FlagID="0" ContextID="" UnitID=""><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>false</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>0</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>0</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat></Cell></Cells><ElementDataType>xbrli:stringItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>string</SimpleDataType><IsTotalLabel>false</IsTotalLabel><UnitID>0</UnitID><Label>BASIS OF PRESENTATION</Label></Row><Row FlagID="0"><Id>2</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><LabelSeparator>

</LabelSeparator><Level>2</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlock</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap_</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>na</BalanceType><PeriodType>duration</PeriodType><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><PreferredLabelRole>terseLabel</PreferredLabelRole><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell FlagID="0" ContextID="D2013Q2YTD" UnitID=""><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>false</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>0</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>0</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText>&lt;div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"&gt;
&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold;" size="2"&gt;NOTE 1&amp;#8212;BASIS OF PRESENTATION&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" size="2"&gt;The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and the related interim information contained within the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (&amp;#8220;GAAP&amp;#8221;) and the applicable rules&amp;#160;and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (&amp;#8220;SEC&amp;#8221;) for interim financial information and quarterly reports on the Form&amp;#160;10&amp;#8212;Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and the notes required for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December&amp;#160;31, 2012, included in STR Holdings,&amp;#160;Inc.&amp;#8217;s (the &amp;#8220;Company&amp;#8221;) Form&amp;#160;10&amp;#8212;K filed with the SEC on March&amp;#160;15, 2013. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements, and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company&amp;#8217;s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of future results.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" size="2"&gt;The year&amp;#8212;end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" size="2"&gt;The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant 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 periods. Actual results could differ from management&amp;#8217;s estimates. Certain prior periods&amp;#8217; disclosures have been reclassified to conform to the current period&amp;#8217;s presentation.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</NonNumbericText><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat></Cell></Cells><ElementDataType>nonnum:textBlockItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>na</SimpleDataType><ElementDefenition>The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.</ElementDefenition><ElementReferences>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

 -Number 46R

 -Paragraph 4, 14, 15

 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 275

 -SubTopic 10

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&amp;trid=2134480



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

 -Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8

 -Paragraph 8, C1, C7

 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 205

 -SubTopic 10

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&amp;trid=2122150



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 720

 -SubTopic 15

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&amp;trid=2122524



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 810

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 8

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=7880789&amp;loc=SL6228881-111685



Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 205

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 1

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=6359566&amp;loc=d3e326-107755



Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 235

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 3

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=6367646&amp;loc=d3e18780-107790



Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 205

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 45

 -Paragraph 3

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=7668296&amp;loc=d3e288-107754



Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 810

 -SubTopic 10

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&amp;trid=2197480



Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 810

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 1

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=18733093&amp;loc=d3e5614-111684



Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher AICPA

 -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

 -Number 51

 -Paragraph 2-6

 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 915

 -SubTopic 235

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 1

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=6472506&amp;loc=d3e38932-110933



Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 852

 -SubTopic 10

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&amp;trid=2209116



Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher FASB

 -Name Accounting Standards Codification

 -Topic 272

 -SubTopic 10

 -Section 50

 -Paragraph 3

 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&amp;oid=6373374&amp;loc=d3e70478-108055



Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

 -Publisher AICPA

 -Name Statement of Position (SOP)

 -Number 94-6

 -Paragraph 10

 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



</ElementReferences><IsTotalLabel>false</IsTotalLabel><UnitID>0</UnitID><Label>BASIS OF PRESENTATION</Label></Row></Rows><Footnotes /><IsEquityReport>false</IsEquityReport><ReportName>BASIS OF PRESENTATION</ReportName><MonetaryRoundingLevel>UnKnown</MonetaryRoundingLevel><SharesRoundingLevel>UnKnown</SharesRoundingLevel><PerShareRoundingLevel>UnKnown</PerShareRoundingLevel><ExchangeRateRoundingLevel>UnKnown</ExchangeRateRoundingLevel><HasCustomUnits>true</HasCustomUnits><IsEmbedReport>false</IsEmbedReport><IsMultiCurrency>false</IsMultiCurrency><ReportType>Sheet</ReportType><RoleURI>http://www.strholdings.com/role/DisclosureBasisOfPresentation</RoleURI><NumberOfCols>1</NumberOfCols><NumberOfRows>2</NumberOfRows></InstanceReport>
