Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

In order to make this report easier to read, DXC refers throughout to (i) the interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as the “financial statements,” (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as the “statements of operations,” (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) as the "statements of comprehensive income," (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the “balance sheets,” and (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as the “statements of cash flows.” In addition, references throughout to numbered “Notes” refer to the numbered Notes in these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted.

The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of DXC, its consolidated subsidiaries, and those business entities in which DXC maintains a controlling interest. Investments in business entities in which the Company does not have control, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for by the equity method. Other investments are accounted for by the cost method. Non-controlling interests are presented as a separate component within equity in the balance sheets. Net earnings attributable to the non-controlling interests are presented separately in the statements of operations and comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests are presented separately in the statements of comprehensive income. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Certain amounts reported in the previous year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Certain disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules. These financial statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 ("fiscal 2020").

Use of Estimates

Use of EstimatesThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. The Company bases its estimates on assumptions regarding historical experience, currently available information and anticipated developments that it believes are reasonable and appropriate. However, because the use of estimates involves an inherent degree of uncertainty, actual results could differ from those estimates. The severity, magnitude and duration, as well as the economic consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic, are uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. Therefore, accounting estimates and assumptions may change over time in response to COVID-19 and may change materially in future periods. In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying financial statements of DXC contain all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company's financial statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Effective April 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” using the modified retrospective method. Refer to Note 2 - "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" and Note 6 - "Receivables" for further discussion of the impact of adoption and other required disclosures. The amendments in this update changed the guidance for credit losses to an expected loss model rather than an incurred loss model. Financial assets subject to impairment under an expected credit loss model include billed and unbilled receivables, other receivables, and contract assets. Certain off-balance sheet arrangements, such as financial guarantees associated with receivables securitization facilities, are also subject to the guidance of ASU 2016-13.

Under an expected credit loss model, the Company immediately recognizes an estimate of credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of financial assets that are in the scope of ASU 2016-13. DXC considers all available relevant information when estimating expected credit losses, including past events, current market conditions and forecasts and their implications for expected credit losses.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

During the nine months ended December 31, 2020, DXC adopted the following Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board:


Date Issued and ASU	Date Adopted and Method	Description	Impact
June 2016 ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”	April 1, 2020 Modified Retrospective	This update requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses using the current expected credit loss model for financial assets held at amortized cost, which includes the Company’s trade accounts receivable, certain financial instruments and contract assets. It replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology. The recorded credit losses are adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. The standard requires a cumulative effect adjustment to the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective.	The Company adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach and recorded an immaterial cumulative effect adjustment in retained earnings as of April 1, 2020.
August 2018 ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract"	April 1, 2020 Prospective	This update helps entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement (hosting arrangement) by providing guidance for determining when the arrangement includes a software license. Entities have the option to apply this standard prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively.	The Company adopted this standard using the prospective method and determined that the adoption of ASU 2018-15 had no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

The following ASUs were recently issued but have not yet been adopted by DXC:


Date Issued and ASU	DXC Effective Date	Description	Impact
December 2019 ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes"	Fiscal 2022	This update is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. Early adoption of this update is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact this standard may have on its financial statements in future reporting periods.

Other recently issued ASUs effective after December 31, 2020 are not expected to have a material effect on DXC's consolidated financial statements.