SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE B – SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business and Basis of Presentation

On September 16, 2002, the Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada. Effective December 17, 2008, the Company reincorporated from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware. The Company is principally devoted to developing DNA embedded biotechnology security solutions in the United States and Europe. To date, the Company has had a limited operating history, and as a result, its operations have produced limited recurring revenues from its services and products; it has incurred expenses and has sustained losses. Consequently, its operations are subject to all the risks inherent in the establishment of a biotechnology company.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, APDN (B.V.I.) Inc. and Applied DNA Sciences Europe Limited, which currently have no operations. Significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

On October 24, 2014, the Company filed a Third Certificate of Amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware that effected a one-for-60 (1:60) reverse stock split of its common stock, par value $.001 per share, and a decrease in its authorized common stock, from 1,350,000,000 to 500,000,000 shares, effective October 29, 2014. All warrant, option, share, and per share information in the consolidated financial statements gives retroactive effect to a one-for-60 reverse stock split that was effected on October 29, 2014.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the U.S. (“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, plant and equipment, fair value calculations for warrants and stock based compensation, contingencies and allowance for doubtful accounts. Management reviews its estimates on a regular basis and the effects of any material revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are deemed necessary. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

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 September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded deferred revenue of $282,050 and $583,362, 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 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 milestones are achieved as per the contract. The Company recognized revenue of approximately $2,792,555 and $156,452, from these contract awards during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Company has a mutual license agreement with Divatex Home Fashion, Inc. (“Divatex”), a supplier of home textiles, to commercialize supply-chain-DNA-verified cotton product. Divatex is responsible for marketing, while the Company licenses its patented SigNature T DNA technology for application. The Company invoices and receives the tagging fee from merchants and subsequently pays to Divatex its share of the tagging fee on a quarterly basis, based on when payments are received by the Company. Both the Company and Divatex are entitled to be reimbursed for its respective agreed costs and the balance of the tagging fees received are divided in accordance with the mutual license agreement.

In addition, in June 2015, the Company signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with Louis Dreyfus Commodities to provide secure logistic supply chain support for the tagging and authentication of cotton fibers with SigNature T DNA. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, the Company shipped SigNature T DNA to tag 100 million pounds of cotton.

The Company recognizes the revenue under its cotton customer contracts when the product has been shipped, as there is no right of return under these arrangements. The Company has evaluated the other indicators of gross and net revenue recognition, including whether or not the Company is the primary obligor and if it has general inventory risk.  The Company does not have any general inventory risk and is not the primary obligor as it relates to the marketing portion of the tagging fee. The Company has carefully evaluated all of the key gross and net revenue recognition indicators and have concluded that its circumstances at it relates to Divatex’s portion of the tagging fee is more consistent with those key indicators that support net revenue reporting.

The nature of the MOU described above includes extended payment terms that will result in a longer collection period and slower cash inflows.  As a result, approximately $1,500,000 is included in long-term accounts receivable for the revenue recognized during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Cash Equivalents

For the purpose of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts. The Company’s estimate is based on historical collection experience and a review of the current status of trade accounts receivable. It is reasonably possible that the Company’s estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts will change.

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest.   As the Company increases sales to its cotton customers, which have longer payment terms on certain contracts, its collection cycle may increase in future periods.  The Company classifies receivable amounts as current or long-term based on expected payment and records long-term accounts receivable when the collection period is expected to be greater than one year.

At September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company has an allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,140 and $9,634, respectively. The Company writes-off receivables that are deemed uncollectible.

Deferred offering costs

Deferred offering costs consist of fees paid in relation to legal, accounting, regulatory and printing work completed in preparation of equity offerings. Deferred offering costs will be charged against the proceeds from equity offerings. At September 30, 2014, deferred offering costs were $181,104 and were reclassified to equity upon the closing of the November 20,2014 public offering (see Note I).

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740-10”) which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statement or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Temporary differences between taxable income reported for financial reporting purposes and income tax purposes include, but not limited to, accounting for intangibles, warrants, equity based compensation and depreciation and amortization. The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company incurred losses from operations. Based upon these results and the trends in the Company’s performance projected for fiscal year 2016, it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize any benefit from the deferred tax assets recorded by the Company in previous periods. Management makes judgments as to the interpretation of tax laws that might be challenged upon an audit and cause changes to previous estimates of tax liability. In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for all years. If actual taxable income by tax jurisdiction varies from estimates, additional allowances or reversals of reserves may be necessary. The Company has identified its federal tax return and its state tax return in New York as “major” tax jurisdictions. Based on the Company’s evaluation, it has been concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company believes that its income tax positions and deductions will be sustained on audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to its financial position. It is the Company’s policy to accrue interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as components of income tax provision. The Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties as of September 30, 2015 and 2014. Tax years 2011 through 2014 remain subject to future examination by the applicable taxing authorities.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight line method over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful life for computer equipment, lab equipment and furniture is 3 to 5 years and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful life or the lease terms. Property plant and equipment consist of:

	September 30,
	2015		2014
Computer equipment	$	43,718	$	77,182
Lab equipment		1,069,541		844,104
Furniture		44,592		164,997
Leasehold improvements		267,123		248,932
Total		1,424,974		1,335,215
Accumulated depreciation		852,867		759,087
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	572,107	$	576,128

Depreciation expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $393,750 and $349,458, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses, or a forecasted inability to achieve break-even operating results over an extended period. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets based upon forecasted undiscounted cash flows. Should impairment in value be indicated, the carrying value of long-lived assets will be adjusted, based on estimates of future discounted cash flows resulting from the use and ultimate disposition of the asset. As of September 30, 2015, the Company concluded that its long-lived assets were not required to be tested for recoverability.

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 years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, 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 that were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been antidilutive for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	2015		2014
Warrants		6,027,654		945,166
Employee options		3,458,905		2,909,046
		9,486,559		3,854,212

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, excess tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock-based awards are classified in cash flows from financing activities. The future realization of the reserved deferred tax assets related to these tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options will result in a credit to additional paid in capital if the related tax deduction reduces taxes payable. The Company has elected the “with and without approach” regarding ordering of windfall tax benefits to determine whether the windfall tax benefit did reduce taxes payable in the current year. Under this approach, the windfall tax benefit would be recognized in additional paid-in-capital only if an incremental tax benefit is realized after considering all other benefits presently available.

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 temporary cash investments 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 fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 included an aggregate of 79% from two customers of the Company’s total revenues. These two customers accounted for approximately 90% of the Company’s total accounts receivable at September 30, 2015. No customers represented greater than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014.

Research and Development

The Company accounts for research and development costs in accordance with the ASC 730, Research and Development (“ASC 730”). Under ASC 730, all research and development costs must be charged to expense as incurred. Accordingly, internal research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Third-party research and development costs are expensed when the contracted work has been performed or as milestone results have been achieved. Company-sponsored research and development costs related to both present and future products are expensed in the period incurred. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company incurred research and development expenses of $1,635,381 and $1,300,750, respectively.

Advertising

The Company follows the policy of charging the costs of advertising to expense as incurred. The Company charged to operations $158,373 and $99,128, as advertising costs for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company amortizes its intangible assets using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit. All of the Company’s intangible assets, except for goodwill are subject to amortization.

Goodwill and other intangible assets arise as a result of business acquisitions. Goodwill consists of the excess of the cost of the acquisitions over the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment at least annually. The Company also reviews its goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not their carrying amount may exceed their implied fair value. The Company quantitatively determines whether, more likely than not, the fair value exceeds the carrying amount of a reporting unit. There are numerous assumptions and estimates underlying the quantitative assessments including future earnings, long-term strategies, and the Company’s annual planning and forecasts. If these planned initiatives do not accomplish the targeted objectives, the assumptions and estimates underlying the quantitative assessments could be adversely affected and have a material effect upon the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. As of September 30, 2015 and 2014 goodwill and other intangible impairment assessments indicated that there was no impairment.

Internally Developed Software

Internally developed software products, consist of capitalized costs associated with the development of computer software to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed. Software development costs associated with new products are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility, as defined in FASB ASC Topic 985-20, has been established. Costs incurred thereafter are capitalized until the product is made generally available. The stage during the Company’s development process for a new product or new release at which technological feasibility requirements are established affects the amount of costs capitalized. Annual amortization of internally developed software products is the greater of the amount computed using the ratio that current gross revenues for a product bear to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenues for that product or the straight-line method over the remaining estimated economic life of the software product, generally estimated to be 5 years from the date the product became available for general release to customers. The Company generally recognizes amortization expense for capitalized software costs using the straight-line method. Internally developed software products are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The valuation techniques utilized are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related asset or liabilities.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of assets or liabilities.

The Company utilizes observable market inputs (quoted market prices) when measuring fair value whenever possible.

Level 3 Measurements:

Warrant Liability: Estimated using the Binomial Lattice option valuation model. Significant observable and unobservable inputs include stock price, exercise price, annual risk free rate, term, and expected volatility. An increase or decrease in these inputs could significantly increase or decrease the fair value of the warrant. See Notes G and J.

For fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s accounting and finance department, who report to the Chief Financial Officer, determine its valuation policies and procedures. The development and determination of the unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and fair value calculations are the responsibility of the Company’s accounting and finance department and are approved by the Chief Financial Officer.

Recently Adopted Accounting Principles

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.   This update requires an entity to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent within a classified statement of financial position.  ASU 2015-17 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  This update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented.  Early application is permitted as of the beginning of the interim or annual reporting period.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this pronouncement on its balance sheet; although it does not expect it to have a significant impact.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 provides guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 are effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the methodologies prescribed by ASU 2014-15 by the date required, and does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-12, “Accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period,” (“ASU 2014-12”) which requires performance-based awards with a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period to be accounted for as a performance condition. If performance targets are clearly defined and it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, stock-based expense should be recognized over the remaining requisite service period. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of the ASU and assessing the potential effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”) which provides updated, comprehensive revenue recognition guidance for contracts with customers, including a new principles-based five step framework that eliminates much of the industry-specific guidance in current accounting literature. Under ASU 2014-09, revenue recognition is based on a core principle that companies recognize revenue in an amount consistent with the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for the transfer of goods or services. The standards update also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of recognized revenue. ASU 2015-14 was issued to extend the effective date of this guidance. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of the ASU and assessing the potential effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.