Sales and revenue recognition Sales and revenue recognition (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

Sales and revenue recognition

A. Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation

Sales of ME&T are recognized when all the following criteria are satisfied: (i) a contract with an independently owned and operated dealer or an end user exists which has commercial substance; (ii) it is probable we will collect the amount charged to the dealer or end user; and (iii) we have completed our performance obligation whereby the dealer or end user has obtained control of the product. A contract with commercial substance exists once we receive and accept a purchase order under a dealer sales agreement, or once we enter into a contract with an end user. If collectibility is not probable, the sale is deferred and not recognized until collection is probable or payment is received. Control of our products typically transfers when title and risk of ownership of the product has transferred to the dealer or end user. Typically, where product is produced and sold in the same country, title and risk of ownership transfer when the product is shipped. Products that are exported from a country for sale typically transfer title and risk of ownership at the border of the destination country.

Our remanufacturing operations are primarily focused on the remanufacture of Cat engines and components and rail related products.  In this business, used engines and related components (core) are inspected, cleaned and remanufactured.  In connection with the sale of our remanufactured product to dealers, we collect a deposit that is repaid if the dealer returns an acceptable core within a specified time period.  Caterpillar owns and has title to the cores when they are returned from dealers.  The rebuilt engine or component (the core plus any new content) is then sold as a remanufactured product to dealers and end users.  Revenue is recognized pursuant to the same transfer of control criteria as ME&T sales noted above.  At the time of sale, the deposit is recognized in Other current liabilities in Statement 3, and the core to be returned is recognized as an asset in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in Statement 3 at the estimated replacement cost (based on historical experience with usable cores).  Upon receipt of an acceptable core, we repay the deposit and relieve the liability.  The returned core asset is then transferred into inventory. In the event that the deposit is forfeited (i.e., upon failure by the dealer to return an acceptable core in the specified time period), we recognize the core deposit and the cost of the core in Sales and Cost of goods sold, respectively. 

We provide discounts to dealers through merchandising programs. We have numerous programs that are designed to promote the sale of our products.  The most common dealer programs provide a discount when the dealer sells a product to a targeted end user.  Generally, the cost of these discounts is estimated for each product by model by geographic region based on historical experience and known changes in merchandising programs. The cost of these discounts is reported as a reduction to the transaction price when the product sale is recognized. A corresponding post-sale discount reserve is accrued in Statement 3, which represents discounts we expect to pay on units sold. If discounts paid differ from those estimated, the difference is reported as a change in the transaction price.

Except for replacement parts, no right of return exists on the sale of our products.  We estimate replacement part returns based on historical experience and recognize a parts return asset in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in Statement 3, which represents our right to recover replacement parts we expect will be returned. We also recognize a refund liability in Other current liabilities in Statement 3 for the refund we expect to pay for returned parts. If actual replacement part returns differ from those estimated, the difference in the estimated replacement part return asset and refund liability is recognized in Cost of goods sold and Sales, respectively.

Our standard dealer invoice terms are established by marketing region. Our invoice terms for end user sales are established by the responsible business unit. Payments from dealers are due shortly after the time of sale. When a sale is made to a dealer, the dealer is responsible for payment even if the product is not sold to an end user. Dealers and end users must make payment within the established invoice terms to avoid potential interest costs. Interest at or above prevailing market rates may be charged on any past due balance, and generally our practice is to not forgive this interest. In addition, Cat Financial provides wholesale inventory financing for a dealer’s purchase of inventory. Wholesale inventory receivables have varying payment terms and are included in Receivables – trade and other and Long-term receivables – trade and other in Statement 3. See Note 7 for further information. Trade receivables from dealers and end users were $7,648 million, $7,743 million and $6,399 million as of December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2018, respectively, and are recognized in Receivables – trade and other in Statement 3. Long-term trade receivables from dealers and end users were $693 million, $674 million and $639 million as of December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2018, respectively, and are recognized in Long-term receivables – trade and other in Statement 3.

We establish a bad debt allowance for ME&T receivables when it becomes probable that the receivable will not be collected. Our allowance for bad debts is not significant.

We invoice in advance of recognizing the sale of certain products. We recognize advanced customer payments as a contract liability in Customer advances and Other liabilities in Statement 3. Contract liabilities were $1,654 million, $1,680 million and $1,868 million as of December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2018, respectively. We reduce the contract liability when revenue is recognized. During 2019, we recognized $1,171 million of revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of 2019. During 2018, we recognized $1,294 million of revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of 2018.

We have elected the practical expedient to not adjust the amount of revenue to be recognized under a contract with a dealer or end user for the effects of time value of money when the timing difference between receipt of payment and recognition of revenue is less than one year.

As of December 31, 2019, we have entered into contracts with dealers and end users for which sales have not been recognized as we have not satisfied our performance obligations and transferred control of the products. The dollar amount of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original duration greater than one year is $6.2 billion, of which $2.4 billion is expected to be completed and revenue recognized in the twelve months following December 31, 2019. We have elected the practical expedient to not disclose unsatisfied performance obligations with an original contract duration of one year or less. Contracts with an original duration of one year or less are primarily sales to dealers for machinery, engines and replacement parts.

Sales and other related taxes are excluded from the transaction price. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in Cost of goods sold.

We provide a standard manufacturer’s warranty of our products at no additional cost. At the time a sale is recognized, we record estimated future warranty costs. See Note 21 for further discussion of our product warranty liabilities.

See Note 23 for further disaggregated sales and revenues information.

B. Revenues of Financial Products

Revenues of Financial Products are generated primarily from finance revenue on finance receivables and rental payments on operating leases. Finance revenue is recorded over the life of the related finance receivable using the interest method, including the accretion of certain direct origination costs that are deferred. Revenue from rental payments received on operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Recognition of finance revenue and rental revenue is suspended and the account is placed on non-accrual status when management determines that collection of future income is not probable (generally after 120 days past due). Recognition is resumed, and previously suspended income is recognized, when the account becomes current and collection of remaining amounts is considered probable. See Note 7 for more information.

Revenues are presented net of sales and other related taxes.