1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, HISTORY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of Business/About Paysign

Description of business – Paysign, Inc. (the “Company,” “Paysign,” “we” or “our”, formerly known as 3PEA International, Inc.) was incorporated on August 24, 1995 under the name of Antek International, Inc. The Company has undergone several name changes before eventually changing its name to Paysign, Inc. on April 23, 2019. The Company acquired 3Pea Technologies, Inc., a payment solutions company, in March 2006, which resulted in 3Pea Technologies, Inc. becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.

About Paysign

Paysign, Inc. is a vertically integrated provider of prepaid card products and processing services for corporate, consumer and government applications. The Company markets prepaid card solutions under our PaySign^® brand. As we are a payment processor and prepaid card program manager, we derive revenue from all stages of the prepaid card lifecycle. We provide a card processing platform consisting of proprietary systems and innovative software applications based on the unique needs of our programs. We have extended our processing business capabilities through our proprietary PaySign platform. We design and process prepaid programs that run on the platform through which customers can define the services they wish to offer cardholders. Through the PaySign platform, we provide a variety of services including transaction processing, cardholder enrollment, value loading, cardholder account management, reporting, and customer service.

The PaySign brand offers prepaid card based solutions or “card products” for corporate incentive rewards and corporate expense, per diem and travel payments, healthcare reimbursement payments, pharmaceutical co-pay assistance, donor compensation and clinical trials. We plan to expand our product offering to include payroll cards, general purpose re-loadable cards, and others. Our cards are offered to end users through our relationships with bank issuers.

Our proprietary PaySign^® platform was built on modern cross-platform architecture and designed to be highly flexible, scalable and customizable. The platform allows us to expand our operational capabilities by facilitating entry into new markets within the payments space through its flexibility and ease of customization. The PaySign platform delivers cost benefits and revenue building opportunities to our partners.

We manage all aspects of the debit card lifecycle, from managing the card design and approval processes with partners and networks, to production, packaging, distribution, and personalization. We oversee inventory and security controls, renewals, lost and stolen card management and replacement. We deploy a fully staffed, in-house customer service department which utilizes bi-lingual customer service agents, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and two way short message service (SMS) messaging and text alerts.

Principles of consolidation

Principles of consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Year end

Year end – The Company’s year-end is December 31.

Use of estimates

Use of estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents – The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents for the purposes of the statement of cash flows. The Company had no cash equivalents at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Restricted cash

Restricted cash – At December 31, 2019 and 2018, restricted cash consist of funds held specifically for our card product programs that are contractually restricted to use. Following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, the Company includes changes in restricted cash balances with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending total amounts in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets – Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is principally recorded on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are generally 3 to 10 years. The cost of repairs and maintenance is charged to expense as incurred. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. Expenditures for property betterments and renewals are capitalized. Upon sale or other disposition of a depreciable asset, cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in other income (expense).

The Company periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful life of fixed assets or whether the remaining balance of fixed assets should be evaluated for possible impairment. The Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted cash flows over the remaining life of the fixed assets in measuring their recoverability.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets – For intangible assets, we recognize an impairment loss if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. The carrying amount of the intangible asset is considered not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

Costs for internally developed software, the Platform, are capitalized in intangible assets. In accordance with ASC 350-40, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), we capitalize application and development charges and amortize them over an estimated useful life of three years.

Customer card funding

Customer card funding – At December 31, 2019 and 2018, customer card funding represents funds loaded on our prepaid debit card programs less settlement income recognized on current programs.

Fair value of financial instruments

Fair value of financial instruments – Under applicable accounting guidance, fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

We determine the fair values of our financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established under applicable accounting guidance which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The following describes the three-level hierarchy:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. We currently do not have any assets or liabilities in this category.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the overall fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. The fair value for such assets and liabilities is generally determined using pricing models, market comparables, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques that incorporate the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability. We currently do not have any assets or liabilities in this category.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share– Basic earnings per share exclude any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. Basic earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding common stocks during the applicable period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method (See Note 5). Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is antidilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no antidilutive common stock equivalent shares to be excluded.

Income taxes

Income taxes – Our income tax expense is comprised of current and deferred income tax expense. Current income tax expense approximates taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period. Deferred income tax expense results from the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the periods. These gross deferred tax assets and liabilities represent decreases or increases in taxes expected to be paid in the future because of future reversals of temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities as measured by tax laws and their basis as reported in our consolidated financial statements. We also recognize deferred tax assets for tax attributes such as net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we conclude are more likely-than-not to be realized in the foreseeable future.

We recognize and measure income tax benefits based upon a two-step model: 1) a tax position must be more likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits in order to be recognized, and 2) the benefit is measured as the largest dollar amount of that position that is more likely-than-not to be sustained upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized for a position and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. We accrue income tax related interest and penalties, if applicable, within income tax expense.

We have filed consolidated tax returns whereby past subsidiary losses are used to offset tax liabilities on current profits. This approach could be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and if not accepted, may affect net income and earnings per share. Management believes that the likelihood of the IRS not accepting such filings is minimal.

Revenue and expense recognition

Revenue and expense recognition – In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606), guidance on recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the model is that an entity recognizes revenue to portray the transfer of goods and 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 standard also expands disclosure requirements regarding revenue recognition. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations. The standard also requires new, expanded disclosures regarding revenue recognition.

The Company recognizes revenue when goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration which it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In determining when and how revenue is recognized from contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five-step analysis: (i) identification of contract with customers; (ii) determination of performance obligations; (iii) measurement of the transaction price; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligations. All of the Company’s revenues are recognized over time.

The Company generates revenue through fees generated from cardholder transactions, interchange, card program management and settlement income. Revenue from cardholder transactions, interchange and card program management is recorded when the performance obligation is fulfilled. Settlement income is recognized and recorded ratably throughout the account and program life cycle. The Company records all revenue on a gross basis since it is the primary obligor and establishes the price in the contract arrangement with its customers. The Company is currently under no obligation for refunding any fees or has any obligations for disputed claim settlements. Given the nature of the Company’s services and contracts, it has no contract assets.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-Based Compensation – Stock based compensation is accounted for using the Stock Based Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC. We use the fair value method for equity instruments and use the Black Scholes model for measuring the fair value of options, if issued. The stock based fair value compensation is determined as of the date of the grant and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods on a straight-line basis.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs – Advertising costs incurred in the normal course of operations are expensed as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company expensed $165,940 and $149,547, respectively, included in Selling, general and administrative expense.

New accounting pronouncements

New accounting pronouncements – In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (Subtopic 350-40). The amendments in ASU No. 2018-15 align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The amendments in this ASU No. 2018-15 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. As a public business entity, the Company is an emerging growth company and smaller reporting company and has elected to use the extended transition period provided for such companies. As a result, the Company is not required to adopt this ASU No. 2018-15 for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company elected to early adopt this standard using the prospective method as of October 1, 2018. There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the adoption of ASU No. 2018-15.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-13 provide clarification and modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurement in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this ASU No. 2018-13 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this principle on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services. Under the ASU, most of the guidance on such payments to nonemployees would be aligned with the requirements for share-based payments granted to employees. Under the guidance, equity-classified nonemployee awards are measured on the grant date, rather than on the earlier of (1) the performance commitment date or (2) the date at which the nonemployee’s performance is complete. The guidance is effective in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. We adopted this new standard on January 1, 2019, and there was no material impact to our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which increases the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing information. This new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this new standard on January 1, 2019, and there was no material impact to our financial statements.