SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE A — SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and for the three month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and are presented in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended December 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) filed with the SEC on December 28, 2017.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017 contained herein has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2017, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Business and Basis of Presentation

The Company is principally devoted to developing and marketing plant-based or other DNA technology solutions in the United States, Europe and Asia. To date, the Company has produced limited recurring revenues from its products and services and has incurred expenses and has sustained losses. Consequently, its operations are subject to all the risks inherent in the establishment and development of a biotechnology company.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, APDN (B.V.I.) Inc., Applied DNA Sciences Europe Limited, and Applied DNA Sciences India Private Limited. Applied DNA Sciences India Private Limited was incorporated in India on June 22, 2017. Significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 

Inventories

Inventories, which consist primarily of raw materials, and finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined by using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). ASC 605 requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and/or service has been performed; (3) the selling price is fixed and determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Determination of criteria (3) and (4) are based on management’s judgments regarding the fixed nature of the selling prices of the products delivered or services provided and the collectability of those amounts. Provisions for allowances and other adjustments are provided for in the same period the related sales are recorded. The Company defers any revenue for which the product has not been delivered, service has not been provided, or is subject to refund until such time that the Company and the customer jointly determine that the product has been delivered, the service has been provided, or no refund will be required. At December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the Company recorded deferred revenue of $342,960 and $351,735, respectively.

Revenue arrangements with multiple components are divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered component has stand-alone value to the customer. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their respective selling prices. The selling price for each unit is based on vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, if available, third party evidence if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price if neither VSOE nor third party evidence is available. The applicable revenue recognition criteria are then applied to each of the units.

Revenue for government contract awards, which supports the Company’s development efforts on specific projects, is recognized as firm fixed price government contract awards and are recognized over the period of the contract. The Company recognized revenue from a government contract of $187,010 for the three month period ended December 31, 2017. The Company did not recognize revenue from government contract awards during the three month period ended December 31, 2016.

The cotton ginning season in the United States takes place between September and March each year; therefore, revenues from these customer contracts may be seasonal and recognized primarily during the second half of the Company’s fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The most complex and subjective estimates include recoverability of long-lived assets, including the values assigned to goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, fair value calculations for stock based compensation, contingencies, allowance for doubtful accounts and management’s anticipated liquidity. Management reviews its estimates on a regular basis and the effects of any material revisions are reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements in the period they are deemed necessary. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. 

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company estimates the degree to which tax assets and credit carry forwards will result in a benefit based on expected profitability by tax jurisdiction.

In its interim financial statements, the Company follows the guidance in ASC 270, “Interim Reporting” and ASC 740 “Income Taxes”, whereby the Company utilizes the expected annual effective tax rate in determining its income tax provisions for the interim periods. That rate differs from U.S. statutory rates primarily as a result of valuation allowance related to the Company’s net operating loss carryforward as a result of the historical losses of the Company.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code that will affect the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, including, but not limited to, reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate.  The Tax Act reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21 percent in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.  Section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code stipulates that our fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, will have a blended corporate tax rate of approximately 25 percent, which is based on the applicable tax rates before and after the Tax Act and the number of days in the year.  The reduction of the corporate tax rate will cause the Company to reduce its deferred tax asset to the lower federal base rate of 21% and adjust the allowance against the deferred tax asset by the same amount. The Company has not yet determined the impact the rate reduction will have on its gross deferred tax asset and liabilities and offsetting valuation allowance. The Company has a full allowance against the deferred tax asset and as a result there was no impact to income tax expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

The changes included in the Tax Act are broad and complex. The final transition impacts of the Tax Act may differ from the above estimate, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations of the Tax Act, any legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Tax Act, any changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Tax Act, or any updates or changes to estimates the company has utilized to calculate the transition impact. The Securities Exchange Commission has issued rules that would allow for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date of the Tax Act to finalize the recording of the related tax impacts. We currently anticipate finalizing and recording any resulting adjustments by the end of our current fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.

Net Loss Per Share

The Company presents loss per share utilizing a dual presentation of basic and diluted loss per share. Basic loss per share includes no dilution and has been calculated based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company’s stock options and warrants.

For the three month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation of the diluted loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Securities that could potentially dilute basic net income per share in the future were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the three month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows: 

	2017		2016
Warrants		12,275,455		9,548,969
Stock options		5,304,411		5,237,478
		17,579,866		14,786,447

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for employees and directors in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation costs are measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and are recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The fair value of the Company’s common stock options are estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility, dividend rate, risk free interest rate and the expected life. The Company expenses stock-based compensation by using the straight-line method. In accordance with ASC 718 and, excess tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock-based awards are classified as cash flows from operating activities. All excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees for services, as prescribed by ASC 718-10, at either the fair value of the services rendered or the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more readily determinable, using the measurement date guidelines enumerated in ASC 505-50.

Concentrations

Financial instruments and related items, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.

The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the three month period ended December 31, 2017 included an aggregate of 37%, 22% and 17% from three customers, respectively.

The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the three month period ended December 31, 2016 included an aggregate of 50% and 19% from two customers, respectively. 

One customer accounted for 88% of the Company’s accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 and two customers accounted for approximately 93% of the Company’s total accounts receivable at September 30, 2017.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a two-part Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-11, I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments With Down Round Features and II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests With a Scope Exception (“ASU 2017-11”). ASU 2017-11 amends guidance in FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, FASB ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 change the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded features) with down round features. The amendments in Part II of ASU 2017-11 re-characterize the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480 that now are presented as pending content in the Codification, to a scope exception. Those amendments do not have an accounting effect. ASU 2017-11 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has adopted this guidance for the three month period ended December 31, 2017.

In May 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – “Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting”, which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. This pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-09 to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” (“ASU 2017-01”). The amendments in this update are to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”). The purpose of the amendment is to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. For public entities, the amendments in ASU 2017-04 are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2017-04 on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." The objective of this update is to simplify several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has adopted this guidance during the three month period ended December 31, 2017. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods and is to be applied utilizing a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which was subsequently modified in August 2015 by ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2017. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is that companies should recognize revenue when the transfer of promised goods or services to customers occurs in an amount that reflects what the company expects to receive. It requires additional disclosures to describe the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers. In 2016 and 2017, the FASB issued additional ASUs that clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08), on identifying performance obligations and licensing (ASU 2016-10), and on narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients (ASU 2016-12), revenue recognition criteria and other technical corrections (ASU 2016-20) as well as clarifying the scope of asset derecognition guidance and accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets (ASU 2017-05). The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of these ASU’s and assessing the potential effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, based upon the revenue recognized for the current contracts in place as of December 31, 2017, we expect to identify similar performance obligations under these ASUs as compared with the deliverables and separate units of accounting previously identified. The Company is also evaluating the transition guidance under ASU 2014-09 to determine if it will apply the full retrospective or modified retrospective approach.