Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates, Policy	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Estimates and assumptions are used for revenue recognition, including determining the nature and timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and determining standalone selling price of performance obligations, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales returns reserve, allowances for inventory valuation, warranty costs, investments, goodwill impairment, intangibles impairment, purchased intangibles, useful lives for tangible and intangible assets, other long-lived asset impairments, stock-based compensation, and income taxes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. The global economic climate and unanticipated effects from the COVID-19 pandemic make these estimates more complex, and actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Financial Instruments - Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard that requires credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented based on the net amount expected to be collected. Application of this standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects all expected credit losses. Additionally, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are recorded through an allowance for credit losses limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. We adopted the new standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2020 by applying a modified retrospective method without restating comparative periods. The adoption did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We continue to actively monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expected credit losses. Intangibles - Goodwill and Other In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in the current two-step impairment test. The impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and an impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. We adopted the new standard on a prospective basis at the beginning of fiscal year 2020. The adoption did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Intangibles - Internal-Use Software In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance that clarifies the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance aligns the accounting for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the accounting for implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. We adopted the guidance on a prospective basis for all implementation costs incurred after the beginning of fiscal year 2020. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Recently issued Accounting Pronouncements not yet adopted Income Taxes - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued amendments to the accounting for Income Taxes to reduce complexity by removing certain exceptions and implementing targeted simplifications. The new standard is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect of the amendments on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Business Combinations Policy	The fair value of identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed were determined under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations as of the date of acquisition. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of intangible assets acquired is determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. For the acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the preliminary fair value of net tangible assets and intangible assets acquired was based on preliminary valuations and estimates, and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date).
Product Warranties Policy	We accrue for warranty costs as part of our cost of sales based on associated material product costs, technical support, labor costs, and costs incurred by third parties performing work on our behalf. Our expected future costs are primarily estimated based upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the costs to repair or replace the equipment. When products sold include warranty provisions, they are covered by a warranty for periods ranging generally from one year to two years.
Earnings Per Share, Policy	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Inc. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Inc. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock units, and contingently issuable shares.
Income Tax, Policy	Our practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 03, 2020

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Estimates and assumptions are used for revenue recognition, including determining the nature and timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and determining standalone selling price of performance obligations, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales returns reserve, allowances for inventory valuation, warranty costs, investments, goodwill impairment, intangibles impairment, purchased intangibles, useful lives for tangible and intangible assets, other long-lived asset impairments, stock-based compensation, and income taxes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. The global economic climate and unanticipated effects from the COVID-19 pandemic make these estimates more complex, and actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard that requires credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented based on the net amount expected to be collected. Application of this standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects all expected credit losses. Additionally, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are recorded through an allowance for credit losses limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost.

We adopted the new standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2020 by applying a modified retrospective method without restating comparative periods. The adoption did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We continue to actively monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expected credit losses.

Intangibles - Goodwill and Other

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in the current two-step impairment test. The impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and an impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

We adopted the new standard on a prospective basis at the beginning of fiscal year 2020. The adoption did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Intangibles - Internal-Use Software

In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance that clarifies the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance aligns the accounting for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the accounting for implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software.

We adopted the guidance on a prospective basis for all implementation costs incurred after the beginning of fiscal year 2020. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently issued Accounting Pronouncements not yet adopted

Income Taxes - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued amendments to the accounting for Income Taxes to reduce complexity by removing certain exceptions and implementing targeted simplifications. The new standard is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect of the amendments on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Business Combinations Policy

The fair value of identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed were determined under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations as of the date of acquisition. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of intangible assets acquired is determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. For the acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the preliminary fair value of net tangible assets and intangible assets acquired was based on preliminary valuations and estimates, and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date).

Product Warranties Policy

We accrue for warranty costs as part of our cost of sales based on associated material product costs, technical support, labor costs, and costs incurred by third parties performing work on our behalf. Our expected future costs are primarily estimated based upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the costs to repair or replace the equipment.

When products sold include warranty provisions, they are covered by a warranty for periods ranging generally from one year to two years.

Earnings Per Share, Policy

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Inc. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Inc. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock units, and contingently issuable shares.

Income Tax, Policy

Our practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

+ References

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+ Details