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Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition

Revenue for the Company’s products, consisting of both equipment and software, is recognized upon shipment, delivery, installation or customer acceptance of the product, as agreed in the customer order or contract.  Sutron does sell its software products without the related equipment although software products are integral to systems.  The Company’s typical system requires no significant production, modification or customization of the software or hardware.  For complex systems, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance. The Company does provide customer discounts and does allow for product returns.  The Company does not do consignment sales or bill and hold arrangements.  Revenue reflects reductions due to discounts and product returns.  Product returns have historically been insignificant in amount.  

The Company’s sales arrangements for systems often include services in addition to equipment and software.  These services could include equipment integration, software customization, installation, maintenance, training, and customer support.  For sales arrangements that include bundled hardware, software and services, Sutron accounts for any undelivered service offering as a separate element of a multiple-element arrangement.  Amounts allocated to each element are based on its objectively determined fair value, such as the sales price for the product or service when it is sold separately.  Revenue for these services is typically recognized ratably over the period benefited or when the services are complete.

The Company uses the percentage of completion method for recognizing revenue and profits when it performs on fixed price contracts that extend over a number of years.  Under the percentage of completion method, revenue and profits are recorded as costs are incurred based on estimates of total sales value and costs at completion where total profit can be estimated with reasonable accuracy and ultimate realization is reasonably assured.  Profit estimates are revised periodically based upon changes and facts, and any losses on contracts are recognized immediately. Contracts may contain provisions to earn incentive and award fees if targets are achieved.  Incentive and award fees that can be reasonably estimated are recorded over the performance period of the contract.  Incentive and award fees that cannot be reasonably estimated are recorded when awarded.  The Company recognizes revenue from time-and-materials contracts to the extent of billable rates, times hours delivered, plus direct materials costs incurred.  Some of the contracts include provisions to withhold a portion of the contract value as retainage. The Company’s policy is to take into revenue the full value of the contract, including any retainage, as it performs against the contract.   Contract costs include allocated indirect costs.  Anticipated losses on all contracts are recognized as soon as they become known.  Costs on contracts in excess of related billings are reflected as unbilled receivables and are included in accounts receivable.  Billings in excess of costs are reflected as a liability.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash equivalents include time deposits and all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less.  Interest paid approximated $900, $900 and $26,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.  Income taxes paid approximated $366,000, $706,000 and $1,332,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Foreign income tax paid approximated $328,000, $33,000 and $336,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Restricted Cash

For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had submitted bid bonds or performance bonds on both official tenders or awarded contracts. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, cash in the amount of $810,396 and $760,037, respectively, was restricted for bid or performance bonds.
Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Accounts Receivable

Based on management’s evaluation of uncollected accounts receivable at the end of each year, bad debts are provided for utilizing the allowance method.  At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s investment in accounts 90 days or more past due was $1,326,798 and $1,398,668, respectively, net of contract retainages.  Bad debt expense for the years ending December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 was $230,485, $44,000 and $0, respectively.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market.  Electronic components costs, work in process and finished goods costs consist of materials, labor and overhead and are recorded at a standard cost that approximates the average cost method. The Company provides allowances on inventories for any material that has become obsolete or may become unsellable based on estimates of future demand and sale price in the market.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to ten years, using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes, and the straight-line and accelerated methods for income tax purposes.  Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and improvements that do not materially extend the useful lives of the assets are charged to earnings as incurred.  When items of property and equipment are disposed of, the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts.  Any gain or loss resulting from the removal from service is taken into the current period earnings.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost of the acquired net assets over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  Goodwill is not amortized, but rather evaluated for impairment each year.  Impairment exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.  The Company performs impairment testing in the last quarter of each year.  No impairment of goodwill was deemed to exist as of the balance sheet date.
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are comprised of customer lists and software with estimated useful lives of seven and five years, respectively. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives using the straight-line method.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances have indicated that an asset may not be recoverable and are grouped with other assets to the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. If the sum of the projected undiscounted cash flows (excluding interest charges) is less than the carrying value of the assets, the assets will be written down to the estimated fair value and such loss is recognized in income from continuing operations in the period in which the determination is made. Management determined that no impairment of long-lived assets existed as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Taxes

The Company utilizes an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes.  The objective is to recognize the amount of income taxes payable or refundable in the current year based on the Company’s income tax return and the deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns.  The asset and liability method accounts for deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates to temporary differences, the difference between financial statement amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities.  The resulting deferred tax liabilities or assets are classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability.  Deferred income tax liabilities or assets are adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws or rates in the year of enactment.

Management has evaluated the Company’s tax positions and concluded that the Company had taken no uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements to comply with the provisions of this guidance.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations by the U.S. federal, state or local tax authorities for years before 2009.
Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Capital

The Company has 12,000,000, $.01 par value, shares of authorized common stock.  There were 5,039,632 and shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 4,704,632 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]
Foreign Currency Translation

Results of operations for the Company’s foreign branch office and foreign wholly-owned subsidiary are translated from the designated functional currency to the U.S. dollar using average exchange rates during the period, while assets and liabilities of the foreign branch office are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the reporting date.  Resulting gains or losses from translating foreign currency financial statements are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates

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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could vary from the estimates that were used.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Earnings per Share

The Company presents two categories of earnings per share, basic EPS and diluted EPS.  Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the year.  Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock Compensation Plans

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards to employees and directors based on estimated fair values.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value Measurement

Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the standards are described as follows:

Level 1 – Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets.  Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets.  Valuations are obtained from third party pricing services for identical or similar assets or liabilities or other inputs observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data.  If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 – Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker traded transactions.  Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities.

The asset or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the application of valuation techniques applied to similar assets and liabilities has been consistent.  The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value:
Deposit Contracts, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of deposit are carried at cost, which approximates fair value based upon observable market prices of similar instruments.  If observable market prices are not available, fair values are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows applying interest rates currently being offered.  For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011, all certificates of deposit are valued using Level 2 inputs and are valued at $0 and $924,294, respectively.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments not described above arise in the ordinary course of business and approximate fair value.

The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Reclassifications

Certain items on the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 have been reclassified with no effect on net income or earnings per share to be consistent with the classifications adopted as of December 31, 2012.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.”  This ASU is the result of joint efforts by the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to develop a single, converged fair value framework on how (not when) to measure fair value and what disclosures to provide about fair value measurements.  The ASU is largely consistent with existing fair value measurement principles in U.S. GAAP (Topic 820), with many of the amendments made to eliminate unnecessary wording differences between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with prospective application.   The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Presentation of Comprehensive Income.”  The objective of this ASU is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The single statement of comprehensive income should include the components of net income, a total for net income, the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income.  In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present all the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income.  The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income, the option for an entity to present components of other comprehensive income either net of related tax effects or before related tax effects, or the calculation or reporting of earnings per share.  The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively. The amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is permitted because compliance with the amendments is already permitted. The amendments do not require transition disclosures.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Intangible – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Testing Goodwill for Impairment.”  The amendments in this ASU permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors related to goodwill to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill test described in Topic 350.  The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent.  Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity’s financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.”  This ASU requires entities to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2011-11 will have on its consolidated financial statements. 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.”  The amendments are being made to allow the Board time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. While the Board is considering the operational concerns about the presentation requirements for reclassification adjustments and the needs of financial statement users for additional information about reclassification adjustments, entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before ASU 2011-05.  All other requirements in ASU 2011-05 are not affected by ASU 2011-12, including the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements. Public entities should apply these requirements for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.   The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," which provides entities with the option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If the entity concludes that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, it is required to determine the fair value of the intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with Topic 350. If the entity concludes otherwise, no further quantitative assessment is required. ASU 2012-02 is effective on January 1, 2013. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2012-02 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.