Accounting Changes (Policies) |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2025 | |
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract] | |
Basis of Presentation | The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM or the company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The financial statements and footnotes are unaudited. In the opinion of the company’s management, these statements include all adjustments, which are only of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present a fair statement of the company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, expenses and other comprehensive income/(loss) that are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events, historical experience, actions that the company may undertake in the future and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. As a result, actual results may be different from these estimates. In the first quarter of 2025, the company made changes to the reported revenue categories within its Software and Consulting reportable segments. These changes did not impact the company's Consolidated Financial Statements or its reportable segments. The revenue categories are reported on a comparable basis for all periods. Refer to note 3, “Revenue Recognition,” for additional information. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the company reported a benefit from income taxes of $112 million. The benefit from income taxes was primarily driven by the resolution of certain tax audit matters in the first quarter of 2024. On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1, a bill to provide for reconciliation, was signed into law in the United States as Public Law 119-21 (the Act). The Act incorporates various business tax provisions, including the permanent extension of key measures from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The effects of changes in tax legislation must be recognized in the period of enactment. The company is currently assessing the tax effects of the Act and expects to record a one-time, non-cash charge in the Consolidated Income Statement for the period ending September 30, 2025, primarily for the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI), now renamed to Net Controlled Foreign Corporation Tested Income (NCTI). Noncontrolling interest amounts, included as a reduction within other (income) and expense in the Consolidated Income Statement, were not material to the consolidated results for the periods presented. The company has supplier finance programs with third-party financial institutions where the company agrees to pay the financial institutions the stated amounts of invoices from participating suppliers on the originally invoiced maturity date, which have an average term of 90 to 120 days, consistent with the company's standard payment terms. The financial institutions offer earlier payment of the invoices at the sole discretion of the supplier for a discounted amount. The company does not provide secured legal assets or other forms of guarantees under the arrangements. The company is not a party to the arrangements between its suppliers and the financial institutions. These obligations are recognized as accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The obligations outstanding under these programs were immaterial at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of financial results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the company’s 2024 Annual Report. Within the financial statements and tables presented, certain columns and rows may not add due to the use of rounded numbers for disclosure purposes. Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying whole-dollar amounts. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the change in current-period presentation. This is annotated where applicable.
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New Standards to be Implemented and Standards Implemented | New Standards to be Implemented Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses Standard/Description–Issuance date: November 2024. This guidance requires a new tabular disclosure of certain types of expenses (including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and amortization) that are included within commonly presented expense captions on the income statement. The guidance also requires the disclosure of a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively. Additionally, the guidance requires the disclosure of the total amount of selling expenses and an entity’s definition of selling expenses. The disclosures are required on an interim and annual basis. Effective Date and Adoption Considerations–The guidance is effective for the company for annual reporting periods beginning in 2027, and for interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2028. Early adoption is permitted. The company expects to adopt the guidance as of the effective date and to apply the guidance on a prospective basis. Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters– The company continues to evaluate the need for any changes to systems, processes, data or controls to meet the additional disclosure requirements. As the guidance is a change to disclosures only, it will impact the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements but will not impact the consolidated financial results. Income Tax Disclosures Standard/Description–Issuance date: December 2023. This guidance requires disaggregated disclosure of the tax rate reconciliation into eight categories, with further disaggregation required for items greater than a specific threshold. Additionally, the guidance requires the disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by federal, state and foreign jurisdictions. Effective Date and Adoption Considerations–The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning in 2025 and early adoption is permitted. The company will adopt the guidance as of the effective date. Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters–As the guidance is a change to disclosures only, it will impact the “Taxes” note within the company's annual financial statements but will not impact the consolidated financial results. Standards Implemented Segment Reporting Disclosures Standard/Description–Issuance date: November 2023. This guidance requires the disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to a company's chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss. The company must also disclose “other segment items,” which is the difference between segment revenue less significant expenses for each reported measure of segment profit or loss, and a description of its composition. This guidance also requires certain segment annual disclosures to be provided on an interim basis. Effective Date and Adoption Considerations–The guidance was effective for annual periods beginning in 2024, and for interim periods beginning January 1, 2025, and is required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all prior periods presented. Early adoption was permitted. The company adopted the guidance as of the effective date. Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters–The guidance is a change to disclosures only, that impacted the “Segments” note within the company's quarterly and annual financial statements but did not have an impact on the consolidated financial results.
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Remaining Performance Obligations | Remaining Performance Obligations The remaining performance obligation (RPO) disclosure provides the aggregate amount of the transaction price yet to be recognized as of the end of the reporting period and an explanation as to when the company expects to recognize these amounts in revenue. It is intended to be a statement of overall work under contract that has not yet been performed and does not include contracts in which the customer is not committed, such as certain as-a-service, governmental, term software license and services offerings. The customer is not considered committed when they are able to terminate for convenience without payment of a substantive penalty. The disclosure includes estimates of variable consideration, except when the variable consideration is a sales-based or usage-based royalty promised in exchange for a license of intellectual property. Additionally, as a practical expedient, the company does not include contracts that have an original duration of one year or less. RPO estimates are subject to change and are affected by several factors, including terminations, changes in the scope of contracts, periodic revalidations, adjustment for revenue that has not materialized and adjustments for currency.
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Segments | The following tables reflect the results of continuing operations of the company’s segments consistent with the management and measurement system utilized within the company. Performance measurement is based on segment profit. The chief operating decision maker (CODM) considers budget-to-actual results of segment profit, both when evaluating the performance of and allocating resources to each of the segments as well as in developing certain compensation recommendations. The CODM reviews segment revenue, cost and profit information related to each segment, which is included in the tables below, but does not regularly review total assets by segment and therefore, such information is not presented.
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Intangible Assets | The identified intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life which approximates the economic life of the assets. |
Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The company classifies certain assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy: •Level 1–Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date; •Level 2–Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and •Level 3–Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. When available, the company uses unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets to measure the fair value and classifies such items as Level 1. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that use current market-based or independently sourced market parameters such as interest rates and currency rates. Items valued using internally generated models are classified according to the lowest level input or value driver that is significant to the valuation. The determination of fair value considers various factors including interest rate yield curves and time value underlying the financial instruments. For derivatives and debt securities, the company uses a discounted cash flow analysis using discount rates commensurate with the duration of the instrument. In determining the fair value of financial instruments, the company considers certain market valuation adjustments to the “base valuations” calculated using the methodologies described below for several parameters that market participants would consider in determining fair value: •Counterparty credit risk adjustments are applied to financial instruments, taking into account the actual credit risk of a counterparty as observed in the credit default swap market to determine the true fair value of such an instrument. •Credit risk adjustments are applied to reflect the company’s own credit risk when valuing all liabilities measured at fair value. The methodology is consistent with that applied in developing counterparty credit risk adjustments, but incorporates the company’s own credit risk as observed in the credit default swap market. The company holds investments primarily in time deposits, certificates of deposit, and U.S. government debt that are designated as available-for-sale. The primary objective of the company’s cash and debt investment portfolio is to protect principal by investing in very liquid investment securities with highly rated counterparties. Available-for-sale securities are measured for impairment on a recurring basis by comparing the security’s fair value with its amortized cost basis. If the fair value of the security falls below its amortized cost basis, the change in fair value is recognized in the period the impairment is identified when the loss is due to credit factors. The change in fair value due to non-credit factors is recorded in other comprehensive income when the company does not intend to sell and has the ability to hold the investment. The company’s standard practice is to hold all of its debt security investments classified as available-for-sale until maturity. No impairments for credit losses and no material non-credit impairments were recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Certain non-financial assets such as property, plant and equipment, operating right-of-use assets, goodwill and intangible assets are also subject to nonrecurring fair value measurements if they are deemed to be impaired. The impairment models used for non-financial assets depend on the type of asset. There were no material impairments of non-financial assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
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Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value | Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value Short-Term Receivables and Payables Short-term receivables (excluding the current portion of long-term receivables) and other investments are financial assets with carrying values that approximate fair value. Accounts payable, other accrued expenses and short-term debt (excluding the current portion of long-term debt) are financial liabilities with carrying values that approximate fair value. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these financial instruments would be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy, except for short-term debt which would be classified as Level 2. Loans and Long-Term Receivables Fair values are based on discounted future cash flows using current interest rates offered for similar loans to clients with similar credit ratings for the same remaining maturities. At June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the difference between the carrying amount and estimated fair value for loans and long-term receivables was immaterial. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these financial instruments would be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Long-Term Debt Fair value of publicly traded long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market. For other long-term debt (including long-term finance lease liabilities) for which a quoted market price is not available, an expected present value technique that uses rates currently available to the company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities is used to estimate fair value. The carrying amount of long-term debt was $55,219 million and $49,884 million, and the estimated fair value was $52,968 million and $47,389 million at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, long-term debt (including the current portion) would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
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Financing Receivables | Financing receivables primarily consist of client loan and installment payment receivables (loans), investment in sales-type and direct financing leases (collectively referred to as client financing receivables) and commercial financing receivables. Loans are provided primarily to clients to finance the purchase of IBM hardware, software and services. Payment terms on these financing arrangements are for terms generally up to seven years. Investment in sales-type and direct financing leases relate principally to the company’s Infrastructure products and are for terms generally up to five years. Commercial financing receivables, which consist of both held-for-investment and held-for-sale receivables, relate primarily to working capital financing for business partners and distributors of IBM products and services. Payment terms for working capital financing generally range from 30 to 60 days. When determining the allowances, financing receivables are evaluated either on an individual or a collective basis. For the company’s policy on determining allowances for credit losses, refer to note A, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the company’s 2024 Annual Report.
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Commitments | The company collectively evaluates the allowance for these arrangements using a provision methodology consistent with the portfolio of the commitments. Refer to note A, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the company’s 2024 Annual Report for additional information.The company has applied the guidance requiring a guarantor to disclose certain types of guarantees, even if the likelihood of requiring the guarantor’s performance is remote. |
Contingencies | The company records a provision with respect to a claim, suit, investigation or proceeding when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Any recorded liabilities, including any changes to such liabilities for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 were not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with the relevant accounting guidance, the company provides disclosures of matters for which the likelihood of material loss is at least reasonably possible. In addition, the company also discloses matters based on its consideration of other matters and qualitative factors, including the experience of other companies in the industry, and investor, customer and employee relations considerations. With respect to certain of the claims, suits, investigations and proceedings discussed herein, the company believes at this time that the likelihood of any material loss is remote, given, for example, the procedural status, court rulings, and/or the strength of the company’s defenses in those matters. With respect to the remaining claims, suits, investigations and proceedings discussed in this note, except as specifically discussed herein, the company is unable to provide estimates of reasonably possible losses or range of losses, including losses in excess of amounts accrued, if any, for the following reasons. Claims, suits, investigations and proceedings are inherently uncertain, and it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters. It is the company’s experience that damage amounts claimed in litigation against it are unreliable and unrelated to possible outcomes, and as such are not meaningful indicators of the company’s potential liability. Further, the company is unable to provide such an estimate due to a number of other factors with respect to these claims, suits, investigations and proceedings, including considerations of the procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, and/or the ongoing discovery and development of information important to the matters. The company reviews claims, suits, investigations and proceedings at least quarterly, and decisions are made with respect to recording or adjusting provisions and disclosing reasonably possible losses or range of losses (individually or in the aggregate), to reflect the impact and status of settlement discussions, discovery, procedural and substantive rulings, reviews by counsel and other information pertinent to a particular matter.
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Derivative Financial Instruments | The company operates in multiple functional currencies and is a significant lender and borrower in the global markets. In the normal course of business, the company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations, and to a lesser extent equity risk. The company limits these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures, including the use of derivatives, and, where cost effective, financing with debt in the currencies in which assets are denominated. For interest rate exposures, derivatives are used to better align rate movements between the interest rates associated with the company’s lease and other financial assets and the interest rates associated with its debt. Derivatives are also used to manage the related cost of debt. For foreign currency exposures, derivatives are used to better manage the cash flow volatility arising from foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Amounts excluded from effectiveness testing for both net investment hedges and cash flow hedges of foreign currency debt are amortized to net income on a straight line basis over the life of the relevant hedging instrument.
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Offsetting Derivatives | In the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the company does not offset derivative assets against liabilities in master netting arrangements nor does it offset receivables or payables recognized upon payment or receipt of cash collateral against the fair values of the related derivative instruments.The company restricts the use of cash collateral received to rehypothecation and therefore reports it in restricted cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. |
Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-based compensation cost for stock awards and stock options is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized over the employee requisite service period. |