Recent Accounting Pronouncements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance eliminating diversity in practice surrounding the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The new guidance requires entities to net an unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if the carryforward would be used to settle additional tax due upon disallowance of a tax position. The adoption of this amendment on January 1, 2014 did not have a material effect on ITT's financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB clarified that, when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity, the parent is required to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income. The cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. The FASB also clarified that if a business combination is achieved in stages related to a previously held equity method investment (step-acquisition) that is a foreign entity, the amount of accumulated other comprehensive income that is reclassified and included in the calculation of gain or loss as of the acquisition date shall include any foreign currency translation adjustment related to that previously held investment. The adoption of these amendments on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact to ITT's financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance requiring an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date as the amount the entity agreed to pay for the arrangement between them and the other entities that are also obligated to the liability and any additional amount the entity expects to pay on behalf of the other entities. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact to ITT's financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. The amendments are based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Adoption of the amendments is required in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. ITT is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments and the transition alternatives on ITT's financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued guidance that raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. The new guidance defines a discontinued operation as a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The new guidance will become effective on January 1, 2015, with early adoption permitted. While we do not expect a material impact on ITT’s financial statements upon adoption, the effects on future periods will depend upon the nature and significance of future disposals.