A. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Notes to Financial Statements

A. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed financial statements of CEL-SCI Corporation (the Company) are unaudited and certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. While management of the Company believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the  financial statements and notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2014.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements contain all accruals and adjustments (each of which is of a normal recurring nature) necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2014 and the results of its operations for the three months then ended.  The condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2014 is derived from the September 30, 2014 audited financial statements.  Significant accounting policies have been consistently applied in the interim financial statements and the annual financial statements.  The results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Research and Office Equipment and Leasehold Improvements - Research and office equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of five to seven years.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the lease.  Repairs and maintenance which do not extend the life of the asset are expensed when incurred. The fixed assets are reviewed on a quarterly basis to determine if any of the assets are impaired.

Patents - Patent expenditures are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected useful life or the legal life of the patent (17 years).  In the event changes in technology or other circumstances impair the value or life of the patent, appropriate adjustment in the asset value and period of amortization is made.  An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset, and from its disposition, is less than the carrying value of the asset.  The amount of the impairment loss would be the difference between the estimated fair value of the asset and its carrying value.

Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating and tax loss carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be recognized.  A full valuation allowance was recorded against the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014.

Derivative Instruments – The Company has entered into financing arrangements that consist of freestanding derivative instruments that contain embedded derivative features.  The Company accounts for these arrangements in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.GAAP), derivative instruments and hybrid instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and are measured at fair value with gains or losses recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the nature of the derivative or hybrid instruments.  The Company determines the fair value of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments based on available market data using appropriate valuation models, giving consideration to all of the rights and obligations of each instrument.  The derivative liabilities are remeasured at fair value at the end of each interim period as long as they are outstanding.

Deferred Rent (Asset) –Consideration paid, including deposits, related to operating leases is recorded as a deferred rent asset and amortized as rent expense over the lease term. Interest on the deferred rent is calculated at 3% on the funds deposited on the manufacturing facility and is included in deferred rent. This interest income will be used to offset future rent.

Stock-Based Compensation – Compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at fair value as of the grant date in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.”  The fair value of stock options is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  The Black-Scholes model requires various judgmental assumptions including volatility and expected option life.  The stock-based compensation cost is recognized on the straight line allocation method as expense over the requisite service or vesting period.

Equity instruments issued to non-employees are accounted for in accordance with ASC 505-50, “Equity-Based Payments to Non Employees.”  Accordingly, compensation is recognized when goods or services are received and is measured using the Black-Scholes valuation model.  The Black-Scholes model requires various judgmental assumptions regarding the fair value of the equity instruments at the measurement date and the expected life of the options.

The Company has Incentive Stock Option Plans, Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans, a Stock Compensation Plan, Stock Bonus Plans and an Incentive Stock Bonus Plan. In some cases, these Plans are collectively referred to as the "Plans".  All Plans have been approved by the stockholders.

The Company’s stock options are not transferable, and the actual value of the stock options that an employee may realize, if any, will depend on the excess of the market price on the date of exercise over the exercise price.  The Company has based its assumption for stock price volatility on the variance of daily closing prices of the Company’s stock.  The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the U.S. Treasury rate at date of the grant with term equal to the expected life of the option. Historical data was used to estimate option exercise and employee termination within the valuation model.  The expected term of the option represents the period of time that the option granted is expected to be outstanding and has been determined based on an analysis of historical exercise behavior. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense for new awards may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period.

Vesting of restricted stock granted under the Incentive Stock Bonus Plan is subject to service, performance and market conditions and meets the classification of equity awards.  These awards were measured at market value on the grant-dates for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is likely and at fair value on the grant-dates, using a Monte Carlo simulation for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is uncertain. The total compensation cost will be expensed over the estimated requisite service period.

Reclassification – Certain prior year items have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.