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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Business.    Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT or the Company) designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of integrated circuits for the advanced communications, computing and consumer industries.
Basis of Presentation.    The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending on the Sunday nearest to March 31. Fiscal 2015 included 52 weeks and ended on March 29, 2015. Fiscal 2014 included 52 weeks and ended on March 30, 2014 and fiscal 2013 included 52 weeks and ended on March 31, 2013.
Principles of Consolidation.   The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates.   The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
Investments
Available-for-Sale InvestmentsInvestments designated as available-for-sale include marketable debt and equity securities.  Available-for-sale investments are classified as short-term, as these investments generally consist of highly marketable securities that are intended to be available to meet near-term cash requirements.  Marketable securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at market value, with net unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders' equity, until realized.  Realized gains and losses on investments are computed based upon specific identification, are included in interest income and other, net and have not been significant for all periods presented.
Non-Marketable Equity Securities.  Non-marketable equity securities are accounted for at historical cost or, if the Company has significant influence over the investee, using the equity method of accounting.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment.  All of the Company’s available-for-sale investments and non-marketable equity securities are subject to a periodic impairment review.  Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary.  This determination requires significant judgment.  For publicly traded investments, impairment is determined based upon the specific facts and circumstances present at the time, including a review of the closing price over the previous six months, general market conditions and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery.  For non-marketable equity securities, the impairment analysis requires the identification of events or circumstances that would likely have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment, including revenue and earnings trends, overall business prospects and general market conditions in the investees’ industry or geographic area.  Investments identified as having an indicator of impairment are subject to further analysis to determine if the investment is other-than-temporarily impaired, in which case the investment is written down to its impaired value.
Inventories.   Inventories are recorded at the lower of standard cost (which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis) or market value.  Inventory held at consignment locations is included in finished goods inventory as the Company retains full title and rights to the product.  Inventory valuation includes provisions for excess and obsolete inventory based on management’s forecasts of demand over specific future time horizons and reserves to value the Company's inventory at the lower of cost or market which rely on forecasts of average selling prices (ASPs) in future periods.
Property, Plant and Equipment.   Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Property, plant and equipment acquired in conjunction with mergers or acquisitions are stated at estimated fair value at the time of acquisition.  For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of the assets.  Estimated useful lives for major asset categories are as follows: machinery and equipment, 3 to 5 years; and buildings and improvements, 10 to 30 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the remaining term of the lease.
Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill. The carrying values of long-lived assets, including purchased intangibles are evaluated whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable. If estimated undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying values, the affected assets are considered impaired and are written down to their estimated fair value, which is generally determined on the basis of discounted cash flows or outside appraisals.
The Company tests for impairment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets on an annual basis, or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present.  These tests are performed at the reporting unit level using a two-step, fair-value based approach. The first step, used to determine if impairment possibly exists, is to compare the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, to its fair value. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the second step is to measure the amount of impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill.
Income Taxes.  The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach that requires the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between book and tax bases of assets and liabilities be recognized as deferred tax assets and liabilities. Generally accepted accounting principles require the Company to evaluate the ability to realize the value of its net deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the net deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. Accordingly, the Company considers various tax planning strategies, forecasts of future taxable income, and recent operating results in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. Since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company has determined that, under applicable accounting principles, it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the value of its net deferred tax assets. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. However, given the continued improvement in the Company's operations combined with certain tax strategies, the Company believes that there is a reasonable possibility that within the next 12 months, sufficient positive evidence may become available to allow the Company to reach a conclusion that a significant portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. Release of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and a decrease to income tax expense for the period the release is recorded. The exact timing and amount of the valuation allowance release are subject to change on the basis of the level of profitability that the Company is able to actually achieve.
The Company recognizes the tax liabilities for uncertain income tax positions taken on the income tax return based on the two-step process prescribed under U.S. GAAP. The first step is to determine whether it is more likely than not that each income tax position would be sustained upon audit. The second step is to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. Estimating these amounts requires the Company to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. The Company evaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on the consideration of several factors including changes in facts or circumstances, changes in applicable tax law, settlement of issues under audit, and new exposures. If the Company later determines that the exposure is lower or that the liability is not sufficient to cover its revised expectations, the Company adjusts the liability and effect a related change in its tax provision during the period in which the Company makes such determination.
Revenue Recognition.  The Company’s revenue results from semiconductor products sold through three channels: direct sales to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electronic manufacturing service providers (EMSs), consignment sales to OEMs and EMSs, and sales through distributors.   The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, and its ability to collect is reasonably assured.
Distributors who serve our customers worldwide and distributors who serve our customers in the U.S. and Europe regions, who have stock rotation, price protection and ship from stock pricing adjustment rights, the Company defers revenue and related cost of revenues on sales to these distributors until the product is sold through by the distributor to an end-customer.  Subsequent to shipment to the distributor, the Company may reduce product pricing through price protection based on market conditions, competitive considerations and other factors.  Price protection is granted to distributors on the inventory that they have on hand at the date the price protection is offered.  The Company also grants certain credits to its distributors on specifically identified portions of the distributors’ business to allow them to earn a competitive gross margin on the sale of the Company’s products to their end customers.  As a result of its inability to estimate these credits, the Company has determined that the sales price to these distributors is not fixed or determinable until the final sale to the end-customer.
In the Asia Pacific region and Japan, the Company has distributors for which revenue is recognized upon shipment, with reserves recorded for the estimated return and pricing adjustment exposures.   The determination of the amount of reserves to be recorded for stock rotation rights requires the Company to make estimates as to the amount of product which will be returned by customers within their limited contractual rights.  The Company utilizes historical return rates to estimate the exposure. In addition, on occasion, the Company can offer pricing adjustments to distributors for product purchased in a given quarter that remains in their inventory.  These amounts are estimated by management based on discussions with customers, assessment of market trends, as well as historical practice.
Shipping and Handling Costs.  The Company includes shipping and handling costs billed to customers in revenues.  The Company’s shipping and handling costs are included in cost of revenues.
Stock-based Compensation. The fair value of employee restricted stock units is equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the award is granted.  For performance-based restricted stock units, the Company is required to assess the probability of achieving certain financial objectives at the end of each reporting period. Based on the assessment of this probability, which requires subjective judgment, the Company records stock-based compensation expense before the performance criteria are actually fully achieved, which may then be reversed in future periods if the Company determines that it is no longer probable that the objectives will be achieved. The expected cost of each award is reflected over the performance period and is reduced for estimated forfeitures. For restricted stock units which are subject to a market condition, compensation cost is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, provided that the requisite service period has been provided. The market condition is considered in the estimate of fair value using a method that incorporates the possibility that the market condition may not be satisfied.
The Company estimates the fair value of employee stock options and the right to purchase shares under the employee stock purchase plan using the Black-Scholes valuation model, consistent with the FASB’s authoritative guidance for share-based payments.  Option-pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected term of options and the expected price volatility of the stock underlying such options.  In addition, the Company is required to estimate the number of stock-based awards that will be forfeited due to employee turnover and true up these forfeiture rates when actual results are different from the Company's estimates.  The Company attributes the value of stock-based compensation to expense on an accelerated method.  Finally, the Company capitalizes into inventory a portion of the periodic stock-based compensation expense that relates to employees working in manufacturing activities.
The Company updates the expected term of stock option grants annually based on its analysis of the stock option exercise behavior over a period of time.  The interest rate used in the Black-Scholes valuation model to value the stock option is based on the average U.S. Treasury interest rate over the expected term during the applicable quarter.  The Company believes that the implied volatility of its common stock is an important consideration of overall market conditions and a good indicator of the expected volatility of its common stock.  However, due to the limited volume of options freely traded over the counter, the Company believes that implied volatility, by itself, is not representative of the expected volatility of its common stock.  Therefore, the Company's volatility factor used to estimate the fair value of its stock-based awards reflects a blend of historical volatility of its common stock and implied volatility of call options and dealer quotes on call options, generally having a term of less than twelve months.  The Company has not paid, nor does it have current plans to pay dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future.
The Company uses the “with and without” approach in determining the order in which tax attributes are utilized. As a result, the Company recognizes a tax benefit from stock-based awards in additional paid-in capital only if an incremental tax benefit is realized after all other tax attributes currently available to the Company have been utilized. In addition, the Company accounts for the indirect effects of stock-based awards on other tax attributes, such as the research tax credit, through the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Comprehensive Income (Loss).    Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss) and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and foreign exchange contracts and changes in pension assets and liabilities. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), as presented on the consolidated balance sheets, consists of net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and foreign currency translation adjustments, and changes in pension assets and liabilities, net of tax.
Pensions and Other Post-retirement Plans.    The Company, through its actuaries, utilizes assumptions when estimating the liabilities for pension and other employee benefit plans. These assumptions, where applicable, include the discount rates used to determine the actuarial present value of projected benefit obligations, the rate of increase in future compensation levels, the long-term rate of return on assets and the growth in health care costs. The cost of these benefits is recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements over an employee’s term of service with the Company, and the accrued benefits are reported as other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  
Translation of Foreign Currencies.    For subsidiaries in which the functional currency is the local currency, gains and losses resulting from translation of foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For subsidiaries where the functional currency is the U.S. dollar, gains and losses resulting from the process of remeasuring foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in interest income and other, net and have not been significant for all periods presented. 
Certain Risk and Concentrations.    The Company's most significant potential exposure to credit concentration risk includes debt-security investments, foreign exchange contracts and trade accounts receivable.  The Company’s investment policy addresses sector and industry concentrations, credit ratings and maturity dates.  The Company invests its excess cash primarily in highly-rated money market and short-term debt instruments, diversifies its investments and, by policy, invests only in highly-rated securities to minimize credit risk.
The Company sells integrated circuits to OEMs, distributors and EMSs primarily in the U.S., Europe, Japan and APAC. The Company monitors the financial condition of its major customers, including performing credit evaluations of those accounts which management considers to be high risk, and generally does not require collateral from its customers.   When deemed necessary, the Company may limit the credit extended to certain customers.   The Company’s relationship with the customer, and the customer’s past and current payment experience, are also factored into the evaluation in instances in which limited financial information is available. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for probable credit losses, including reserves based upon a percentage of total receivables.  When the Company becomes aware that a specific customer may default on its financial obligation, a specific amount, which takes into account the level of risk and the customer’s outstanding accounts receivable balance, is reserved.  These reserved amounts are classified within selling, general and administrative expenses.  Write-offs of accounts receivable balances were not significant in each of the three fiscal years presented.
Sales through a distributor, Uniquest, represented approximately 16% and 10%, of the Company's revenues in fiscal 2015 and 2013, respectively. Sales through a distributor, Avnet and its affiliates, represented approximately 11%, 12% and 10% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Sales through a distributor, Maxtek and its affiliates, represented approximately 13% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal 2013. As of March 29, 2015, two distributors represented approximately 11% and 10%, respectively of the Company's account receivable. As of March 30, 2014, two distributors represented approximately 15% and 14%, respectively, of the Company's account receivable.
For foreign exchange contracts, the Company manages its potential credit exposure primarily by restricting transactions with only high-credit quality counterparties.
The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, competitive pricing pressures, and cyclical market patterns. The Company's results of operations are affected by a wide variety of factors, including general economic conditions, both at home and abroad; economic conditions specific to the semiconductor industry; demand for the Company's products; the timely introduction of new products; implementation of new manufacturing technologies; manufacturing capacity; the availability and cost of materials and supplies; competition; the ability to safeguard patents and intellectual property in a rapidly evolving market; and reliance on assembly and manufacturing foundries, independent distributors and sales representatives. As a result, the Company may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results due to the factors mentioned above or other factors.
Product Warranty.    The Company maintains a reserve for obligations it incurs under its product warranty program. The standard warranty period offered is one year, though in certain instances the warranty period may be extended to as long as two years.  Management estimates the fair value of its warranty liability based on actual past warranty claims experience, its policies regarding customer warranty returns and other estimates about the timing and disposition of product returned under the program.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of certain obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount is fixed. Such obligations may include debt arrangements, legal settlements, and other contractual arrangements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented for those obligations within the scope which existed as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In March 2013, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In July 2013, FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) on Income Taxes, to improve the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This guidance is expected to reduce diversity in practice and is expected to better reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exists. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013, which, for the Company, is the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The Company has historically accounted for its unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with this guidance and as such, adoption of this guidance had no impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective for Fiscal 2015
In April 2014, the FASB issued guidance which changes the criteria for identifying a discontinued operation. The guidance limits the definition of a discontinued operation to the disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. This amended guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company expects this guidance to have an impact on its financial statements only in the event of a future disposition which meets the criteria.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. On April 1, 2015, the FASB proposed deferring the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for annual periods beginning after that date. The FASB also proposed permitting early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This standard sets forth management’s responsibility to evaluate, each reporting period, whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, and if so, to provide related footnote disclosures. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have any material impact on its financial position or results of operations.