Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Autodesk, Inc. (“Autodesk,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) as of July 31, 2015, and for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information along with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In management’s opinion, Autodesk made all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring and non-recurring adjustments) during the quarter that were considered necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position and operating results of the Company. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In addition, the results of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending January 31, 2016, or for any other period. There have been no material changes to Autodesk's significant accounting policies as compared to the significant accounting policies disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes, together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations contained in Autodesk’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, filed on March 18, 2015.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Adopted

Effective in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, Autodesk elected to early adopt FASB's Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 (“ASU 2015-03”) regarding Subtopic 835-30 “Interest - Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The amendments in ASU 2015-03 require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The standard requires retrospective application and represents a change in accounting principle. The adoption of this ASU resulted in a $4.1 million retrospective reduction of both our other assets and long term notes payable, net, as of January 31, 2015.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07 ("ASU 2015-07") regarding ASC Topic 820 "Fair Value Measurement: Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)." The amendments in ASU 2015-07 remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments also limit certain disclosures to investments for which the entity has elected to measure at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments in ASU 2015-07 are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively by removing from the fair value hierarchy any investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Autodesk does not expect ASU 2015-07 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-05 ("ASU 2015-05") regarding Subtopic 350-40, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.” The amendments in this ASU provide guidance about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The amendments in ASU 2015-05 are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2015-05 may be applied either prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. Autodesk does not expect ASU 2015-05 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09") regarding ASC Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2014-09 provides principles for recognizing revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. On July 7, 2015, the FASB amended ASU 2014-09 to defer the effective date by one year with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date.  ASU 2014-09 will be effective for Autodesk’s fiscal year beginning February 1, 2018 unless we elect the earlier date of February 1, 2017.  Autodesk is currently evaluating the accounting, transition and disclosure requirements of the standard and cannot currently estimate the financial statement impact of adoption, nor the effective date election.