Note C - New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted	9 Months Ended
Dec. 25, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]	NOTE C – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED In May 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that attempts to establish a uniform basis for recording income to virtually all industries financial statements, under U.S. GAAP as amended in March 2016 and April 2016. The FASB issued two updates to the standard clarifying reporting revenue between Principle versus Agent and clarification in determining performance obligations and licenses guidance. The revenue standard’s core principle is built on the contract between a vendor and a customer for the provision of goods and services. It attempts to depict the exchange of rights and obligations between the parties in the pattern of revenue recognition based on the consideration to which the vendor is entitled. In order to accomplish this objective, companies must evaluate the following five basic steps: (i) identify the contract with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. There are three basic transition methods that are available – full retrospective, retrospective with certain practical expedients, and a cumulative effect approach. Under the third alternative, an entity would apply the new revenue standard only to contracts that are incomplete under legacy U.S. guidance at the date of initial application and recognize the cumulative effect of the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Prior years would not be restated and additional disclosures would be required to enable users of the financial statements to understand the impact of adopting the new standard in the current year compared to prior years that are presented under legacy U.S. guidance. Early adoption is prohibited. Public companies were originally expected to apply the new standard for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods therein, which for Nathan’s would have been its first quarter of fiscal 2018, beginning on March 27, 2017. On May 12, 2015, the FASB issued a second proposed update to the standard clarifying the distinction between revenue from licenses of intellectual property that represent a promise to deliver a good or service over time versus a promise to be satisfied at a point in time. On July 9, 2015, the FASB agreed to delay the standard’s effective date to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 which will now be our first quarter (June 2018) of our fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting standard on its consolidated financial position and results of operations. The Company does not believe that the standard will impact its recognition of revenue for its Branded Product Program, Company-operated restaurants or its recognition of royalties from its franchised restaurants or retail licenses, which are based on a percentage of sales. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the recognition of fees received from international development fees from the sales of exclusive territorial rights, initial fees from franchises for new restaurant openings or extended franchise terms. In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance that requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. If such conditions exist, management will be required to include disclosures enabling users to understand those conditions and management’s plans to alleviate or mitigate those conditions. This new standard is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 16, 2016. This standard will take effect in Nathan’s fourth quarter of our fiscal year ending March 26, 2017. Nathan’s does not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position. In July 2015, the FASB updated U.S. accounting guidance to simplify the ways businesses measure inventory. Companies that use the first -in, first -out (FIFO) method or the average cost method will measure inventory at the lower of its cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the normal course of business, minus the cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. Companies will no longer consider replacement cost or net realizable value less a normal profit margin when measuring inventory. This new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 which will be our first quarter (June 2017) of our fiscal year ending March 25, 2018. Nathan’s does not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position. In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on leases. The new standard, among other changes, will require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases. The lease liability will be measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The right-of-use asset will be measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and the lessee’s initial direct costs (e.g. commissions). The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. This standard is required to take effect in Nathan’s first quarter ending (June 2019) of our fiscal year ending March 29, 2020. The adoption will require a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting standard on its consolidated financial position and results of operations. The Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting standards, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.

NOTE C – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED

May

2014,

the FASB issued a new accounting standard that attempts to establish a uniform basis for recording income to virtually all industries financial statements, under U.S. GAAP as amended in

March

2016

and

April

2016.

The FASB issued

two

updates to the standard clarifying reporting revenue between Principle versus Agent and clarification in determining performance obligations and licenses guidance. The revenue standard’s core principle is built on the contract between a vendor and a customer for the provision of goods and services. It attempts to depict the exchange of rights and obligations between the parties in the pattern of revenue recognition based on the consideration to which the vendor is entitled.

In order to accomplish this objective, companies must evaluate the following

five

basic steps: (i) identify the contract with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. There are

three

basic transition methods that are available – full retrospective, retrospective with certain practical expedients, and a cumulative effect approach. Under the

third

alternative, an entity would apply the new revenue standard only to contracts that are incomplete under legacy U.S. guidance at the date of initial application and recognize the cumulative effect of the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Prior years would not be restated and additional disclosures would be required to enable users of the financial statements to understand the impact of adopting the new standard in the current year compared to prior years that are presented under legacy U.S. guidance. Early adoption is prohibited. Public companies were originally expected to apply the new standard for annual periods beginning after

December

15,

2016,

including interim periods therein, which for Nathan’s would have been its

first

quarter of fiscal

2018,

beginning on

March

27,

2017.

May

12,

2015,

the FASB issued a

second

proposed update to the standard clarifying the distinction between revenue from licenses of intellectual property that represent a promise to deliver a good or service over time versus a promise to be satisfied at a point in time. On

July

2015,

the FASB agreed to delay the standard’s effective date to annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2017

which will now be our

first

quarter

(June

2018)

of our fiscal year ending

March

31,

2019.

The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting standard on its consolidated financial position and results of operations. The Company does not believe that the standard will impact its recognition of revenue for its Branded Product Program, Company-operated restaurants or its recognition of royalties from its franchised restaurants or retail licenses, which are based on a percentage of sales. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the recognition of fees received from international development fees from the sales of exclusive territorial rights, initial fees from franchises for new restaurant openings or extended franchise terms.

August

2014,

the FASB issued new guidance that requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within

one

year after the date that the financial statements are issued. If such conditions exist, management will be required to include disclosures enabling users to understand those conditions and management’s plans to alleviate or mitigate those conditions. This new standard is effective for annual periods ending after

December

15,

2016

and interim periods within annual periods beginning after

December

16,

2016.

This standard will take effect in Nathan’s

fourth

quarter of our fiscal year ending

March

26,

2017.

Nathan’s does not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

July

2015,

the FASB updated U.S. accounting guidance to simplify the ways businesses measure inventory. Companies that use the

first

-in,

first

-out (FIFO) method or the average cost method will measure inventory at the lower of its cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the normal course of business, minus the cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. Companies will no longer consider replacement cost or net realizable value less a normal profit margin when measuring inventory. This new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2016

which will be our

first

quarter

(June

2017)

of our fiscal year ending

March

25,

2018.

Nathan’s does not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

February

2016,

the FASB issued a new accounting standard on leases. The new standard, among other changes, will require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases. The lease liability will be measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The right-of-use asset will be measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and the lessee’s initial direct costs (e.g. commissions). The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2018,

including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. This standard is required to take effect in Nathan’s

first

quarter ending

(June

2019)

of our fiscal year ending

March

29,

2020.

The adoption will require a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting standard on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting standards, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.