Business	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Business [Abstract]
Description of the Business	1. BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of the Business IES Holdings, Inc. is a holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries in business activities across a variety of end markets. Our operations are currently organized into four principal business segments, based upon the nature of our current services: Commercial & Industrial – Provider of electrical and mechanical design, construction, and maintenance services to the commercial and industrial markets in various regional markets and nationwide in certain areas of expertise, such as the power infrastructure market. Communications – Nationwide provider of technology infrastructure products and services to large corporations and independent businesses. Infrastructure Solutions – Provider of electro-mechanical solutions for industrial operations. Residential – Regional provider of electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes. The words “IES”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to IES Holdings, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations Results of operations from our Residential construction segment are seasonal, depending on weather trends, with typically higher revenues generated during spring and summer and lower revenues generated during fall and winter, with an impact from precipitation in the warmer months. The Commercial & Industrial, Communications and Infrastructure Solutions segments of our business are less subject to seasonal trends, as work in these segments generally is performed inside structures protected from the weather, although weather can still impact these businesses, especially in the early stages of projects. Our service and maintenance business is generally not affected by seasonality. Our volume of business may be adversely affected by declines in construction projects resulting from adverse regional or national economic conditions. Quarterly results may also be materially affected by the timing of new construction projects. Results for our Infrastructure Solutions segment may be affected by the timing of outages at our customers’ facilities. Accordingly, operating results for any fiscal period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any subsequent fiscal period. Basis of Financial Statement Preparation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IES, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and entities that we control due to ownership of a majority of voting interest and have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to interim financial reporting as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These interim financial statements do not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with the SEC in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. In the opinion of management, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report include all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods reported herein. Any such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Noncontrolling Interest In connection with our acquisitions of STR Mechanical, LLC (“STR Mechanical”) in fiscal 2016 and NEXT Electric, LLC (“NEXT Electric”) in fiscal 2017, we acquired an 80 percent interest in each of the entities, with the remaining 20 percent interest in each such entity being retained by the respective third party seller. The interests retained by those third party sellers are identified on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as noncontrolling interest, classified outside of permanent equity. Under the terms of each entity’s operating agreement, after five years from the date of the acquisition, we may elect to purchase, or the third party seller may require us to purchase, part or all of the remaining 20 percent interest in the applicable entity. The purchase price is variable, based on a multiple of earnings as defined in the operating agreements. Therefore, this noncontrolling interest is carried at the greater of the balance determined under ASC 810 and the redemption amounts assuming the noncontrolling interests were redeemable at the balance sheet date. If all of these interests had been redeemable at June 30, 2018, the redemption amount would have been $2,995. See Note 13, “Business Combinations” for further discussion. For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded an increase to retained earnings of $44 to decrease the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest in STR to the balance determined under ASC 810, as if it had been redeemable at June 30, 2018, as the redemption amount would have been less than the carrying amount. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are primarily used in our revenue recognition of construction in progress, fair value assumptions in accounting for business combinations and analyzing goodwill, investments, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments and adjustments, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, stock-based compensation, reserves for legal matters, realizability of deferred tax assets, unrecognized tax benefits and self-insured claims liabilities and related reserves. Income Taxes In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted, which, among other changes, reduced the federal statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. As a result of this change, the Company’s statutory tax rate for fiscal 2018 will be a blended rate of 24.53% and will decrease to 21% thereafter. For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, our effective tax rate differed from the statutory tax rate as a result of a preliminary charge of $31,506 to re-measure our deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the estimated impact of the new statutory tax rate, slightly offset by a benefit of $1,840 related to the reversal of an uncertain tax position. This benefit differs from the expected recognition of $3,284 as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017 as a result of the decrease in the statutory tax rate. The preliminary charge to re-measure our deferred tax assets is subject to completion of our analysis of the impact of the Act, including as it relates to future deductions for executive compensation expense, as well as the effect of changes in the utilization of net deferred tax assets that reverse in fiscal 2018 as compared to subsequent years. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard which will supersede previous existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard creates a five-step model for revenue recognition that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The effective date will be the first quarter of our fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. The standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption, and we plan to use the modified retrospective basis on the adoption date. We are continuing to evaluate the impact of the adoption of this standard on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In particular, we believe the most significant areas where we expect some impact to our current accounting will be contract termination provisions, identification of performance obligations, and accounting for commissions paid. We expect that we will continue to recognize revenues for most of our fixed-price contracts over time, as services are performed, although we have identified a limited number of arrangements where we currently recognize revenue over time, but will no longer do so under the new standard. The impact of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements will be determined by the specific terms of contracts in progress at the adoption date and our progress on those projects. We are also continuing to assess the necessary changes in processes and controls to meet the disclosure requirements of the new standard. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-01”). This standard is associated with the recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities with further clarifications made in February 2018 with the issuance of ASU 2018-03. The amended guidance requires certain equity investments that are not consolidated and not accounted for under the equity method to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income rather than as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). It further states that an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values using a quantitative approach, or measurement alternative, which is equal to its cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption is permitted. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will need to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all of their leases, other than those that meet the definition of a short-term lease. For income statement purposes, leases must be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, similar to current operating leases, while finance leases will result in a front-loaded pattern, similar to current capital leases. ASU 2016-02 becomes effective for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. We are currently evaluating the impact it will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (“ASU 2017-01”). This standard clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The prospective transition method will be required for this new guidance. In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASU 2017-09”), to reduce the diversity in practice and the cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The prospective transition method will be required for this new guidance. We do not expect ASU 2016-01, ASU 2017-01 or ASU 2017-09 to have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to simplify the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments for employees, with certain exceptions. Under the new guidance, the cost for nonemployee awards may be lower and less volatile than under current US GAAP because the measurement generally will occur earlier and will be fixed at the grant date. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact it will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Business

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

1. BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of the Business

IES Holdings, Inc. is a holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries in business activities across a variety of end markets. Our operations are currently organized into four principal business segments, based upon the nature of our current services:

Commercial & Industrial – Provider of electrical and mechanical design, construction, and maintenance services to the commercial and industrial markets in various regional markets and nationwide in certain areas of expertise, such as the power infrastructure market.
Communications – Nationwide provider of technology infrastructure products and services to large corporations and independent businesses.
Infrastructure Solutions – Provider of electro-mechanical solutions for industrial operations.
Residential – Regional provider of electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes.

The words “IES”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to IES Holdings, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations

Results of operations from our Residential construction segment are seasonal, depending on weather trends, with typically higher revenues generated during spring and summer and lower revenues generated during fall and winter, with an impact from precipitation in the warmer months. The Commercial & Industrial, Communications and Infrastructure Solutions segments of our business are less subject to seasonal trends, as work in these segments generally is performed inside structures protected from the weather, although weather can still impact these businesses, especially in the early stages of projects. Our service and maintenance business is generally not affected by seasonality. Our volume of business may be adversely affected by declines in construction projects resulting from adverse regional or national economic conditions. Quarterly results may also be materially affected by the timing of new construction projects. Results for our Infrastructure Solutions segment may be affected by the timing of outages at our customers’ facilities. Accordingly, operating results for any fiscal period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any subsequent fiscal period.

Basis of Financial Statement Preparation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IES, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and entities that we control due to ownership of a majority of voting interest and have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to interim financial reporting as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These interim financial statements do not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with the SEC in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. In the opinion of management, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report include all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods reported herein. Any such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

Noncontrolling Interest

In connection with our acquisitions of STR Mechanical, LLC (“STR Mechanical”) in fiscal 2016 and NEXT Electric, LLC (“NEXT Electric”) in fiscal 2017, we acquired an 80 percent interest in each of the entities, with the remaining 20 percent interest in each such entity being retained by the respective third party seller. The interests retained by those third party sellers are identified on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as noncontrolling interest, classified outside of permanent equity. Under the terms of each entity’s operating agreement, after five years from the date of the acquisition, we may elect to purchase, or the third party seller may require us to purchase, part or all of the remaining 20 percent interest in the applicable entity. The purchase price is variable, based on a multiple of earnings as defined in the operating agreements. Therefore, this noncontrolling interest is carried at the greater of the balance determined under ASC 810 and the redemption amounts assuming the noncontrolling interests were redeemable at the balance sheet date. If all of these interests had been redeemable at June 30, 2018, the redemption amount would have been $2,995. See Note 13, “Business Combinations” for further discussion. For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded an increase to retained earnings of $44 to decrease the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest in STR to the balance determined under ASC 810, as if it had been redeemable at June 30, 2018, as the redemption amount would have been less than the carrying amount.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are primarily used in our revenue recognition of construction in progress, fair value assumptions in accounting for business combinations and analyzing goodwill, investments, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments and adjustments, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, stock-based compensation, reserves for legal matters, realizability of deferred tax assets, unrecognized tax benefits and self-insured claims liabilities and related reserves.

Income Taxes

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted, which, among other changes, reduced the federal statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. As a result of this change, the Company’s statutory tax rate for fiscal 2018 will be a blended rate of 24.53% and will decrease to 21% thereafter. For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, our effective tax rate differed from the statutory tax rate as a result of a preliminary charge of $31,506 to re-measure our deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the estimated impact of the new statutory tax rate, slightly offset by a benefit of $1,840 related to the reversal of an uncertain tax position. This benefit differs from the expected recognition of $3,284 as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017 as a result of the decrease in the statutory tax rate. The preliminary charge to re-measure our deferred tax assets is subject to completion of our analysis of the impact of the Act, including as it relates to future deductions for executive compensation expense, as well as the effect of changes in the utilization of net deferred tax assets that reverse in fiscal 2018 as compared to subsequent years.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard which will supersede previous existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard creates a five-step model for revenue recognition that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The effective date will be the first quarter of our fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. The standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption, and we plan to use the modified retrospective basis on the adoption date. We are continuing to evaluate the impact of the adoption of this standard on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In particular, we believe the most significant areas where we expect some impact to our current accounting will be contract termination provisions, identification of performance obligations, and accounting for commissions paid. We expect that we will continue to recognize revenues for most of our fixed-price contracts over time, as services are performed, although we have identified a limited number of arrangements where we currently recognize revenue over time, but will no longer do so under the new standard. The impact of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements will be determined by the specific terms of contracts in progress at the adoption date and our progress on those projects. We are also continuing to assess the necessary changes in processes and controls to meet the disclosure requirements of the new standard.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-01”). This standard is associated with the recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities with further clarifications made in February 2018 with the issuance of ASU 2018-03. The amended guidance requires certain equity investments that are not consolidated and not accounted for under the equity method to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income rather than as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). It further states that an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values using a quantitative approach, or measurement alternative, which is equal to its cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption is permitted.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will need to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all of their leases, other than those that meet the definition of a short-term lease. For income statement purposes, leases must be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, similar to current operating leases, while finance leases will result in a front-loaded pattern, similar to current capital leases. ASU 2016-02 becomes effective for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. We are currently evaluating the impact it will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (“ASU 2017-01”). This standard clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The prospective transition method will be required for this new guidance.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASU 2017-09”), to reduce the diversity in practice and the cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The prospective transition method will be required for this new guidance.

We do not expect ASU 2016-01, ASU 2017-01 or ASU 2017-09 to have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to simplify the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments for employees, with certain exceptions. Under the new guidance, the cost for nonemployee awards may be lower and less volatile than under current US GAAP because the measurement generally will occur earlier and will be fixed at the grant date. This update is effective for annual financial reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact it will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.