ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION — Our company was founded in 1990 and is a Delaware corporation. ePlus inc. is sometimes referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as "we," "our," "us," "ourselves," or "ePlus." The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ePlus inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounts of businesses acquired during fiscal years 2012 and 2011 are included in the consolidated financial statements from the dates of acquisition.

USE OF ESTIMATES

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates are used when accounting for items and matters including, but not limited to, revenue recognition, residual values, vendor consideration, lease classification, goodwill and intangibles, reserves for credit losses, inventory obsolescence, and the recognition and measurement of income tax assets and other provisions and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION — The majority of our revenues are derived from the following sources: sales of products, sales of third-party software, sales of services provided by us, sale of third-party maintenance and services, financing revenues and sales of our software. For all these revenue sources, we determine whether we are the principal or agent in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("Codification") Topic, Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Principal Agent Considerations. Our revenue recognition policies vary based upon these revenue sources.

Sales of Products and Services

Generally, sales of technology products and third-party software are recognized when the title and risk of loss are passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement for sale, delivery has occurred and/or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Using these tests, the vast majority of our product sales are recognized upon delivery due to our sales terms with our customers and with our vendors. For proper cutoff, we estimate the product delivered to our customers at the end of each quarter based upon an analysis of current quarter and historical delivery dates.

We also sell services that we perform in conjunction with product sales, and recognize revenue for these sales in accordance with the guidance from Codification Topic Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Multiple Elements Arrangements. Accordingly, we recognize sales from delivered items only when:

· the delivered services have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; and

· delivery of the undelivered service is probable and substantially under our control.

For these "bundled arrangements", we allocate the total arrangement consideration to the deliverables based on an estimated selling price of our products and services. We determine the estimated selling price using cost plus a reasonable margin for each deliverable, which was based on our established policies for providing customers with quotes, as well as historical gross margins for our products and services. Revenue from the sales of products is generally recognized upon delivery to the customers and revenue for the services is generally recognized when the services are complete, which normally occurs within 90 to 120 days after the products are delivered to the customer.

We sell software assurance, maintenance and service contracts where the services are performed by a third-party. Software assurance is a maintenance product that allows customers to upgrade at no additional cost to the latest technology if new applications are introduced during the period that the software assurance is in effect. As we enter into contracts with third-party service providers, we evaluate whether we are acting as a principal or agent in the transaction. As our customers are aware that the third-party service provider is to provide the services to them and that we are not responsible for the day-to-day provision of services in these arrangements, we concluded that we are acting as an agent and recognize revenue on a net basis at the date of sale. Under net sales recognition, the cost paid to the third-party service provider or vendor is recorded as a reduction to sales of products and services.

We present freight billed to our customers within sales of product and services, and the related freight charged to us within cost of sales, product and services.

Financing Revenue

We lease products to customers generally that are accounted for in accordance with Codification Topic, Leases. In connection with those leases, we may also finance third-party software and services for our customers, which are classified as notes receivable. The terms of the notes receivable are often similar to the terms of the leases of computer hardware; that is, receivables are interest bearing and are often due over a period of time that corresponds with the terms of the leased computer hardware.

The accounting for investments in leases and leased equipment is different depending on the type of lease. Each lease is classified as either a direct financing lease, sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate. If a lease meets one or more of the following four criteria, the lease is classified as either a sales-type or direct financing lease; otherwise, it will be classified as an operating lease:

· the lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term;

· the lease contains a bargain purchase option;

· the lease term is equal to 75 percent or more of the estimated economic life of the leased property; or

· the present value at the beginning of the lease term of the minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90 percent of the fair value of the leased property at the inception of the lease.

Revenue on direct financing and sales-type leases is deferred at the inception of the leases and is recognized over the term of the lease using the interest method. Revenue from operating leases is recognized ratably on a straight line basis over the term of the lease agreement.

Codification Topic Transfers and Servicing, Subtopic Sales of Financial Assets, establishes criteria for determining whether a transfer of financial assets in exchange for cash or other consideration should be accounted for as a sale or as a pledge of collateral in a secured borrowing. Certain assignments of notes receivable and direct finance and sales-type leases we make on a non-recourse basis meet the criteria for surrender of control set forth by this subtopic and have therefore been treated as sales in our financial results. We recognize a net gain on these transactions, which is included within financing revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

Revenues on the sales of equipment at the end of a lease are recognized at the date of sale. The net gain or loss on sales of such equipment is presented within financing revenues in our consolidated statements of operations.

Sales of Software

We recognize revenue for the licensing and hosting of our software in accordance with Codification Topic Software, Subtopic Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue when all the following criteria exist:

· there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists;

· delivery has occurred;

· no significant obligations by us remain, which relate to services essential to the functionality of the software with regard to implementation;

· the sales price is determinable; and

· it is probable that collection will occur.

The majority of our agreements are fixed term license agreements and the revenue is recognized over the contract term. Revenue from the sale of a perpetual license is recognized upon installation of the software. We recognize revenue from hosting our proprietary software for our customers over the contract term. Our hosting arrangements do not contain a contractual right to take possession of the software. Revenue from sales of our software is derived by our technology segment and is included in fee and other income on our consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue from Other Transactions

Other sources of revenue are derived from: (1) income from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset; (2) remarketing fees; (3) agent fees received from various manufacturers in the IT reseller business unit; (4) settlement fees related to disputes or litigation; and (5) interest and other miscellaneous income. These revenues are included in fee and other income on our consolidated statements of operations.

INVESTMENT IN LEASES AND LEASED EQUIPMENT

INVESTMENT IN LEASES AND LEASED EQUIPMENT — Investments in leases and leased equipment consists of investments in direct financing and sales-type leases and investments in operating leases.

At the inception of our direct financing and sales-type leases, we record the net investment in leases, which consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments, initial direct costs (direct financing leases only), and unguaranteed residual value (gross investment) less the unearned income. For direct financing leases, the difference between the gross investment and the cost of the leased equipment is recorded as unearned income at the inception of the lease. Under sales-type leases, the difference between the fair value and cost of the leased property plus initial direct costs (net margins) is recorded as unearned revenue at the inception of the lease.

At the inception of an operating lease, equipment under operating leases is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over its useful life to the estimated residual value. The estimated useful lives for equipment under operating leases ranges based on the nature of the equipment. The estimated useful life for information technology equipment is 36 months, while that of medical equipment is between 24 and 36 months.

VENDOR CONSIDERATION

VENDOR CONSIDERATION — We receive payments and credits from vendors, including consideration pursuant to volume sales incentive programs, volume purchase incentive programs and shared marketing expense programs. Many of these programs extend over one or more quarters' sales activities and are primarily formula-based. These programs can be very complex to calculate and, in some cases, targets are estimated based upon historical data.

· Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume sales incentive programs is recognized as a reduction to cost of sales, product and services on the consolidated statements of operations in accordance with Codification Topic Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Vendor's Accounting for Consideration Given to a Customer.

· Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume purchase incentive programs is allocated to inventory based on the applicable incentives from each vendor and is recorded in cost of sales, product and services, as the inventory is sold.

· Vendor consideration received pursuant to shared marketing expense programs is recorded as a reduction of the related selling and administrative expenses in the period the program takes place only if the consideration represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental, identifiable costs. Consideration that exceeds the specific, incremental, identifiable costs is classified as a reduction of cost of sales, product and services.

RESIDUAL VALUES

RESIDUAL VALUES — Residual values, representing the unguaranteed estimated value of equipment at the termination of a lease, are recorded at the inception of each lease. The estimated residual values vary, both in amount and as a percentage of the original equipment cost, and depend upon several factors, including the equipment type, manufacturer's discount, market conditions, term of the lease, equipment supply and demand and by new product announcements by manufacturers.

Unguaranteed residual values for direct financing and sales-type leases are recorded at their net present value and the unearned income is amortized over the life of the lease using the interest method. The residual values for operating leases are included in the leased equipment's net book value.

Residual values are evaluated on a quarterly basis and any impairment, other than temporary, is recorded in the period in which the impairment is determined. No upward revision of residual values is made subsequent to lease inception.

RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES

RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES — Our receivables consist of accounts and notes receivable and minimum lease payments associated with our investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. We maintain our reserves for credit losses at a level believed to be adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in the respective balances. The reserve for credit losses is increased by provisions for potential credit losses, which increases expenses, and decreased by subsequent recoveries. The reserve for credit losses is decreased by write-offs and reductions to the provision for potential credit losses. Accounts are either written off or written down when the loss is both probable and determinable.

Management's determination of the adequacy of the reserves for credit losses for accounts and notes receivable is based on the age of the receivable balance, the customer's credit quality rating, an evaluation of historical credit losses, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. We assign an internal credit quality rating to all new customers and update these ratings regularly, but no less than annually. Also, management regularly reviews the notes receivable portfolio to assess whether any balances should be impaired or placed on nonaccrual status.

Investments in direct financing and sales-type leases consist of minimum lease payments, estimated unguaranteed residual values, initial direct costs and unearned lease income. Management's determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses for the minimum lease payments may be based on the following factors: an internally assigned credit quality rating, historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth, the composition of the lease portfolio, the fair value of the underlying collateral, and the funding status (i.e. not funded, funded on a recourse or partial recourse basis, or funded on non-recourse basis). We assign an internal credit quality rating to each customer at the inception of the lease based on the customer's financial status, rating agency reports and other financial information. We update the internal credit quality rating at least annually or when an indicator of a change in credit quality arises, such as a delinquency or bankruptcy.

RESERVES FOR SALES RETURNS

RESERVES FOR SALES RETURNS — Sales are reported net of allowances for returns which is maintained at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential returns of sales of product and services in accordance with Codification Topic Revenue, Subtopic Product. Management's determination of the adequacy of the reserve is based on an evaluation of historical sales returns, current economic conditions, volume and other relevant factors. These determinations require considerable judgment in assessing the ultimate potential for sales returns and include consideration of the type and volume of products and services sold.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — We consider all highly liquid investments, including those with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition, to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of interest-bearing accounts and money market funds that consist of short-term U.S. treasury securities. There were no restrictions on the withdrawal of funds from our market accounts as of March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — We consider certificates of deposits with original maturities at the date of acquisition greater than 90 days but less than one year as short-term investments. Interest income is recognized when earned.

NOTES RECEIVABLE

NOTES RECEIVABLE — We finance other assets for our customers including software and services, which are accounted for as notes receivable. Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method and reported within financing revenue in our consolidated statement of operations.

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES — Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average basis) or market and are shown net of allowance for obsolescence of $125 thousand and $112 thousand as of March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT — Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment obtained through an acquisition are stated at the fair market value as of the acquisition date. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to ten years. Information Technology hardware is depreciated over three years. Software is depreciated over five years. Furniture and certain fixtures are depreciated over five to ten years. Telephone equipment is depreciated over seven years.

CAPITALIZATION OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE FOR INTERNAL USE

CAPITALIZATION OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE FOR INTERNAL USE — We capitalize costs for the development of internal use software under the guidelines of Codification Topic Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Intangibles, Subtopic Internal-Use Software. Software capitalized for internal use was $171 thousand and $600 thousand during the years ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively, and is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as a component of other assets. We had capitalized costs, net of amortization, of approximately $766 thousand and $791 thousand at March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively.

CAPITALIZATION OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS

CAPITALIZATION OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS — In accordance with Codification Topic Software, Subtopic Costs of Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Marketed, software development costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. At such time, such costs are capitalized until the product is made available for release to customers. We capitalized $351 thousand and $116 thousand for the years ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively. We had $642 thousand and $382 thousand of capitalized costs, net of amortization, at March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively, which is included within other assets in the accompanying balance sheets

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS — Goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets we have acquired in business combinations. Goodwill is assigned to a reporting unit on the acquisition date. During the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we made acquisitions for the Technology reporting unit and have assigned goodwill to the Technology reporting unit. We have four reporting units based on the nature of the products and services offered: financing, technology, software procurement, and software document management.

We review our goodwill for impairment annually in the third quarter of our fiscal year, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include a sustained, significant decline in our share price and market capitalization, a decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, unanticipated competition, and/or slower growth rates, among others.

We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Qualitative factors we consider include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, company specific events, changes in circumstances, after tax cash flows and market capitalization. If the qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform the two step process to assess our goodwill for impairment. First, we compare the fair value of our reporting units with its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of the reporting unit using various valuation methodologies, including discounted expected future cash flows. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired, and no further testing is necessary. If the net book value of our reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we perform a second test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. To measure the amount of any impairment loss, we determine the fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if our reporting unit were being acquired in a business combination. Specifically, we allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical calculation that would yield the estimated fair value of goodwill. If the estimated fair value of goodwill is less than the goodwill recorded on our balance sheet, we record an impairment charge for the difference.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS —We review long-lived assets, including property and equipment, and other long term assets for impairment quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. If the total of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset. No impairment losses were recorded in the years ended March 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT—We follow the guidance in Codification Topic Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures which governs fair value accounting for financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be disclosed at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risk inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risk. Topic Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement as follows:

· Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets;

· Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

· Level 3 – Unobservable inputs reflecting the Company's own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

This hierarchy requires us to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. On a recurring basis, we measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Our goodwill is subjected to non-recurring fair value measurement. For financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivables, notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities, we consider the recorded value of the financial instruments to approximate the fair value due to their short maturities.

TREASURY STOCK

TREASURY STOCK — We account for treasury stock under the cost method and include treasury stock as a component of stockholders' equity on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. See Note 10, "Stockholders' Equity" for additional information.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES — Deferred income taxes are accounted for in accordance with Codification Topic Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using tax rates currently in effect. Future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carry-forwards, are recognized to the extent that realization of these benefits is considered to be more likely than not. We review our deferred tax assets at least annually and make necessary valuation adjustments.

In addition, we account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with Codification Topic Income Taxes. Specifically, the Topic prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation also provides guidance on the related de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure and transition of uncertain tax positions. In accordance with our accounting policy, we recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE—Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings attributable to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could participate in our earnings, including incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of "in-the-money" stock options and other common stock equivalents during each period, (further discussed in Note 9 – Earnings Per Share).

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION —We account for share-based compensation in accordance with Codification Topic Compensation—Stock Compensation. We recognize compensation cost for awards of restricted stock with graded vesting on a straight line basis over the requisite service period and we estimate forfeitures based on historical experience. There are no additional conditions for vesting other than service conditions.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS —We account for business combinations using the acquisition method in accordance with Codification Topic Business Combinations, which requires that the total purchase price of each of the acquired entities be allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the acquisition date. The allocation process requires an analysis of intangible assets, such as customer relationships, trade names, acquired contractual rights and assumed contractual commitments and legal contingencies to identify and record all assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair value.

Any premium paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets of the acquired business is recorded as goodwill. We recognize a gain in our income statement to the extent the purchase price is less than the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The results of operations for an acquired company are included in our financial statements from the date of acquisition.

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK—Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are maintained principally with financial institutions in the United States, which have high credit ratings. Risk on accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases is reduced by the large number of diverse industries comprising our customer base and through the ongoing evaluation of collectability of our portfolio. Our credit risk is further mitigated through the underlying collateral and whether the lease is funded with recourse or non-recourse notes payable.

A substantial portion of our sales of product and services are from sales of Cisco and Hewlett Packard products, which represented approximately 48% and 11%, respectively, of our technology segment sales of product and services for the year ended March 31, 2013, as compared to 45% and 15%, respectively, of our technology segment sales of product and services for the year ended March 31, 2012 and 40% and 19%, respectively, for the year ended March 31, 2011. Any changes in our vendors' ability to provide products could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

For the year ended March 31, 2013, sales to a large telecommunications company were approximately 14% of total revenues, all of which related to our technology segment. No customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, "Comprehensive Income" (ASU 2011-12), which amended existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous financial statement, statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-12 requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this amendment on April 1, 2012, and are presenting our components of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive financial statements.