ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

NOTE 2 - ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

In January 2019, Occidental adopted the new lease standard Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 - Leases (ASC 842). The new standard requires Occidental to recognize most leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet. The new rules require lessees to recognize a right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Occidental adopted the standard using the modified retrospective approach, including adopting several optional practical expedients. See Note 8 - Lease Commitments.

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released standards that allow the reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings of stranded tax effects resulting from changes to U.S. federal tax law from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Reform) enacted in December 2017. Occidental early adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018, resulting in the reclassification of $58 million in stranded tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings.

In January 2018, Occidental adopted the new revenue recognition standard Topic 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers and related updates (ASC 606). The new standard requires more detailed disclosures related to the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Occidental adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method. The cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption was not material. See Note 5 - Revenue.

In January 2017, FASB issued new guidance clarifying the definition of a business under the topic Business Combinations. The rules became effective in the first quarter of 2018, and did not have a material impact to Occidental’s financial statements upon adoption.