Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

Financial Statements— The unaudited financial statements included herein have been prepared by Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”). In the opinion of management, the interim financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial statements included in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain reclassifications of prior year data have been made to conform with current year reporting.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued authoritative guidance which changes the methodology used to measure credit losses for certain financial instruments. Under prior guidance, credit loss reserves were estimated based on historical information. The new guidance requires credit loss reserves to reflect the estimated credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the financial asset. The Company adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2020, which did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which simplifies the assessment of goodwill for impairment. Under prior guidance, when the estimated fair value of a reporting unit was less than its carrying value, the fair value of the goodwill was determined by valuing the other assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. Under the new guidance, the requirement to determine the fair value of goodwill has been eliminated, and an impairment charge is recognized for the amount that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new guidance prospectively and will apply the new guidance during its annual assessment of goodwill in the third quarter, or earlier if a triggering event occurs. The adoption of this new accounting guidance had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which simplifies certain aspects of the accounting for income taxes, including the elimination of an exception to the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated full year loss. The Company early adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2020, which did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.