Verizon Wireless 2010 Annual Report Download - page 51

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements continued
49
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities is defined
as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell
an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between
market participants. The three-tier hierarchy for inputs used in measuring
fair value, which prioritizes the inputs used in the methodologies of mea-
suring fair value for assets and liabilities, is as follows:
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets
for identical assets and liabilities
Level 3 – No observable pricing inputs in the market
Financial assets and financial liabilities are classified in their entirety based
on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measure-
ments. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair
value measurements requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of
the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the
fair value hierarchy.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is based on pre-tax income, statutory tax rates, tax
laws and regulations and tax planning strategies available to us in the
various jurisdictions in which we operate.
Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in the
bases between financial statement and income tax assets and liabilities.
Deferred income taxes are recalculated annually at tax rates then in effect.
We record valuation allowances to reduce our deferred tax assets to the
amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
We use a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits
taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The first step is recognition:
we determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be
sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals
or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In
evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not rec-
ognition threshold, we presume that the position will be examined by
the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant
information. The second step is measurement: a tax position that meets
the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine
the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax
position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than
50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Differences
between tax positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in
the financial statements will generally result in one or more of the fol-
lowing: an increase in a liability for income taxes payable, a reduction of
an income tax refund receivable, a reduction in a deferred tax asset, or an
increase in a deferred tax liability.
The accounting standard relating to income taxes generated by lever-
aged lease transactions requires that changes in the projected timing of
income tax cash flows generated by a leveraged lease transaction be rec-
ognized as a gain or loss in the year in which the change occurs.
Significant management judgment is required in evaluating our tax posi-
tions and in determining our effective tax rate.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and recognize compensation expense for all stock-based
compensation awards made to employees and directors based on esti-
mated fair values. See Note 11 for further details.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of our foreign operations is generally the local
currency. For these foreign entities, we translate income statement
amounts at average exchange rates for the period, and we translate assets
and liabilities at end-of-period exchange rates. We record these transla-
tion adjustments in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a
separate component of Equity, in our consolidated balance sheets. We
report exchange gains and losses on intercompany foreign currency
transactions of a long-term nature in Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss). Other exchange gains and losses are reported in income.
Employee Benefit Plans
Pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits earned
during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are
accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting from changes in
plan benefits are generally amortized over the average remaining service
period of the employees expected to receive benefits. Expected return
on plan assets is determined by applying the return on assets assump-
tion to the actual fair value of plan assets. Actuarial gains and losses are
recognized in operating results in the year in which they occur. These
gains and losses are measured annually as of December 31 or upon a
remeasurement event. Verizon management employees no longer earn
pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical
subsidy (see Note 12).
We recognize a pension or a postretirement plan’s funded status as either
an asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets. Also, we measure
any unrecognized prior service costs and credits that arise during the
period as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss), net of applicable income tax.
Change in Accounting for Benefit Plans
During the fourth quarter of 2010, Verizon retrospectively changed its
method of accounting for pension and other postretirement benefits.
Historically, Verizon has recognized actuarial gains and losses as a com-
ponent of Equity in its consolidated balance sheets on an annual basis.
These gains and losses were amortized into operating results gener-
ally over the average future service period of active employees. Verizon
elected to immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses in its oper-
ating results in the year in which the gains and losses occur. This change
is intended to improve the transparency of Verizon’s operational perfor-
mance by recognizing the effects of current economic and interest rate
trends on plan investments and assumptions. Additionally, Verizon will
no longer calculate expected return on plan assets using an averaging
technique permitted under U.S. GAAP for market-related value of plan
assets but instead will use actual fair value of plan assets. Accordingly, the
financial data for all periods presented has been adjusted to reflect the
effect of these accounting changes.