(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying CVR consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CVR Energy, Inc. and its majority-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The ownership interests of noncontrolling investors in its subsidiaries are recorded as noncontrolling interests.

Prior to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO, management had determined that the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership was a variable interest entity ("VIE") and as such evaluated the qualitative criteria under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810-10 — Consolidations-Variable Interest Entities ("ASC 810-10"), to make a determination whether the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership should be consolidated on the Company's financial statements. ASC 810-10 requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity's activities to consolidate the VIE. The primary beneficiary is identified as the enterprise that has a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The standard requires an ongoing analysis to determine whether the variable interest gives rise to a controlling financial interest in the VIE. Based upon that evaluation, CVR's management had determined to consolidate the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership in CVR's consolidated financial statements for the periods presented prior to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO. Subsequent to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership is no longer considered a VIE.

The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership are both consolidated based upon the fact that their general partners are owned by CVR and, therefore, CVR has the ability to control their activities. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's and the Refining Partnership's general partners manage their respective operations and activities subject to the terms and conditions specified in their respective partnership agreements. The operations of each general partner in its capacity as general partner are managed by its board of directors. The limited rights of the common unitholders of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership are demonstrated by the fact that the common unitholders have no right to elect either general partner or either general partner's directors on an annual or other continuing basis. Each general partner can only be removed by a vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units, including any common units owned by the general partner and its affiliates (including CVR) voting together as a single class. Actions by the general partner that are made in its individual capacity are made by the CVR subsidiary that serves as the sole member of the general partner and not by the board of directors of the general partner. The officers of the general partner manage the day-to-day affairs of the business. The majority of the officers of both general partners are also officers of CVR. Based upon the general partner's role and rights as afforded by the partnership agreements and the limited rights afforded to the limited partners, the consolidated financial statements of CVR will include the assets, liabilities, cash flows, revenues and expenses of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, CVR considers all highly liquid money market accounts and debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Under the Company's cash management system, checks issued but not presented to banks frequently result in book overdraft balances for accounting purposes and are classified as accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The change in book overdrafts are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as a component of operating cash flow for accounts payable as they do not represent bank overdrafts. The amount of these checks included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $13.2 million and $21.3 million, respectively.

Accounts Receivable, net

CVR grants credit to its customers. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer's financial condition; generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are due on negotiated terms and are stated at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding for longer than their contractual payment terms are considered past due. CVR determines its allowance for doubtful accounts by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts are past due, the customer's ability to pay its obligations to CVR, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. CVR writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Amounts collected on accounts receivable are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of December 31, 2013, one customer individually represented greater than 10% of the total accounts receivable balance. As of December 31, 2012, no customers individually represented greater than 10% of the total accounts receivable balance. The largest concentration of credit for any one customer at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately 12.2% and 9.8%, respectively, of the accounts receivable balance.

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of domestic and foreign crude oil, blending stock and components, work-in-progress, fertilizer products, and refined fuels and by-products. Inventories are valued at the lower of the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") cost, or market for fertilizer products, refined fuels and by-products for all periods presented. Refinery unfinished and finished products inventory values were determined using the ability-to-bear process, whereby raw materials and production costs are allocated to work-in-process and finished products based on their relative fair values. Other inventories, including other raw materials, spare parts, and supplies, are valued at the lower of moving-average cost, which approximates FIFO, or market. The cost of inventories includes inbound freight costs.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of prepayments for crude oil deliveries to CVR's refineries for which title had not transferred, non-trade accounts receivable, current portions of prepaid insurance, deferred financing costs, derivative agreements and other general current assets.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Additions to property, plant and equipment, including capitalized interest and certain costs allocable to construction and property purchases, are recorded at cost. Capitalized interest is added to any capital project over $1.0 million in cost which is expected to take more than six months to complete. Depreciation is computed using principally the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of depreciable assets. The lives used in computing depreciation for such assets are as follows:



Asset	Range of Useful Lives, in Years
Improvements to land	15 to 30
Buildings	20 to 30
Machinery and equipment	5 to 30
Automotive equipment	5 to 15
Furniture and fixtures	3 to 10
Aircraft	20
Railcars	25 to 40

Leasehold improvements and assets held under capital leases are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the contractual lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. Expenditures for routine maintenance and repair costs are expensed when incurred. Such expenses are reported in direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the assets acquired less liabilities assumed. Intangible assets are assets that lack physical substance (excluding financial assets). Goodwill acquired in a business combination and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, and intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized. Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired. CVR uses November 1 of each year as its annual valuation date for its goodwill impairment test. The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill for 2013, 2012 and 2011, which is attributable entirely to the nitrogen fertilizer segment and concluded there were no impairments. See Note 8 ("Goodwill") for further discussion.

Deferred Financing Costs, Underwriting and Original Issue Discount

Deferred financing costs associated with debt issuances are amortized to interest expense and other financing costs using the effective-interest method over the life of the debt. Additionally, the underwriting and original issue discount and premium related to debt issuances have been amortized to interest expense and other financing costs using the effective-interest method over the life of the debt. Deferred financing costs related to the Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility and CRNF credit facility are amortized to interest expense and other financing costs using the straight-line method through the termination date of the respective facility.

Planned Major Maintenance Costs

The direct-expense method of accounting is used for planned major maintenance activities. Maintenance costs are recognized as expense when maintenance services are performed. Planned major maintenance activities for the nitrogen plant generally occur every two to three years. The required frequency of the maintenance varies by unit for the refineries, but generally is every four to five years.

The Coffeyville refinery completed the second phase of a two-phase turnaround project during the first quarter of 2012. The first phase was completed during the fourth quarter of 2011. Costs of approximately $21.2 million and $66.4 million associated with the Coffeyville refinery's 2011/2012 turnaround were included in direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Wynnewood refinery completed a turnaround in the fourth quarter of 2012. Costs of approximately $102.5 million were included in direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the nitrogen fertilizer plant completed a scheduled major turnaround. Costs of approximately $4.8 million associated with the nitrogen fertilizer plant's turnaround were included in direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Cost Classifications

Cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) includes cost of crude oil, other feedstocks, blendstocks, pet coke expense, renewable identification numbers ("RINs") expense and freight and distribution expenses. Cost of product sold excludes depreciation and amortization of approximately $5.0 million, $3.7 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) includes direct costs of labor, maintenance and services, energy and utility costs, property taxes, environmental compliance costs as well as chemicals and catalysts and other direct operating expenses. Direct operating expenses exclude depreciation and amortization of approximately $134.5 million, $124.1 million and $86.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) consist primarily of legal expenses, treasury, accounting, marketing, human resources and maintaining the corporate and administrative office in Texas and the administrative offices in Kansas and Oklahoma. Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude depreciation and amortization of approximately $3.3 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Income Taxes

CVR accounts for income taxes utilizing the asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred amounts are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. See Note 10 ("Income Taxes") for further discussion.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

CVR accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") regarding the treatment of the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. As required by these standards, CVR reviews long-lived assets (excluding goodwill, intangible assets with indefinite lives, and deferred tax assets) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less cost to sell.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues for products sold are recorded upon delivery of the products to customers, which is the point at which title is transferred, the customer has the assumed risk of loss, and payment has been received or collection is reasonably assured. Deferred revenue represents customer prepayments under contracts to guarantee a price and supply of nitrogen fertilizer in quantities expected to be delivered in the next 12 months in the normal course of business. Excise and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in reported revenues.

Nonmonetary product exchanges and certain buy/sell crude oil transactions which are entered into in the normal course of business are included on a net cost basis in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company also engages in trading activities, whereby the Company enters into agreements to purchase and sell refined products with third parties. The Company acts as a principal in these transactions, taking title to the products in purchases from counterparties, and accepting the risks and rewards of ownership. The Company records revenue for the gross amount of the sales transactions, and records costs of purchases as an operating expense in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Shipping Costs

Pass-through finished goods delivery costs reimbursed by customers are reported in net sales, while an offsetting expense is included in cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization).

Derivative Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The petroleum business uses futures contracts, options, and forward contracts primarily to reduce exposure to changes in crude oil prices, finished goods product prices and interest rates to provide economic hedges of inventory positions and anticipated interest payments on long-term debt. Although management considers these derivatives economic hedges, these derivative instruments do not qualify as hedges for hedge accounting purposes under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815"), and accordingly are recorded at fair value in the balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recorded into earnings as a component of other income (expense) in the period of change. The estimated fair values of forward and swap contracts are based on quoted market prices and assumptions for the estimated forward yield curves of related commodities in periods when quoted market prices are unavailable.

The nitrogen fertilizer business uses forward swap contracts primarily to reduce the exposure to changes in interest rates on its debt and to provide a cash flow hedge. These derivative instruments have been designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Accordingly, these instruments are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, at each reporting period end. The actual measurement of the cash flow hedge ineffectiveness is recognized in earnings, if applicable. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the swaps is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI"), in accordance with ASC 815. See Note 17 ("Derivative Financial Instruments") for further discussion.

Other financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable are carried at cost, which approximates fair value, as a result of the short-term nature of the instruments. See Note 11 ("Long-Term Debt") for further discussion of the fair value of the debt instruments.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). ASC 718 requires that compensation costs relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in a company's financial statements. ASC 718 applies to transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services and also may apply to liabilities an entity incurs for goods or services that are based on the fair value of those equity instruments. See Note 5 ("Share-Based Compensation") for further discussion.

Treasury Stock

The Company accounts for its treasury stock under the cost method. To date, all treasury stock purchased was for the purpose of satisfying minimum statutory tax withholdings due at the vesting of non-vested stock awards.

Environmental Matters

Liabilities related to future remediation costs of past environmental contamination of properties are recognized when the related costs are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of these costs are based upon currently available facts, internal and third party assessments of contamination, available remediation technology, site-specific costs, and currently enacted laws and regulations. In reporting environmental liabilities, no offset is made for potential recoveries. Loss contingency accruals, including those for environmental remediation, are subject to revision as further information develops or circumstances change and such accruals can take into account the legal liability of other parties. Environmental expenditures are capitalized at the time of the expenditure when such costs provide future economic benefits.

Use of Estimates

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, using management's best estimates and judgments where appropriate. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events, if any, that would require an adjustment to the Company's consolidated financial statements or require disclosure in the notes to the consolidated financial statements through the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements. See Note 22 ("Subsequent Events") for further discussion.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2011-11, "Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities" ("ASU 2011-11"). ASU 2011-11 retains the existing offsetting requirements and enhances the disclosure requirements to allow investors to better compare financial statements prepared under GAAP with those prepared under IFRS. On January 31, 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-01, "Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities" ("ASU 2013-01"). ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of the new balance sheet offsetting disclosures to derivatives, repurchase agreements and securities lending transactions. Both standards are effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2013 and are to be applied retrospectively. The Company adopted these standards as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of these standards expanded the Company's consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2013-02"). ASU 2013-02 requires the Company to present information about reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income in the financial statements in a single footnote or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements based on the source and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2013 and is to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of this standard did not materially expand the Company's consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 requires the netting of unrecognized tax benefits against a deferred tax asset for a loss or other carryforward that would apply in settlement of the uncertain tax positions. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and is to be applied prospectively with optional retrospective adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is effective on January 1, 2014. The Company is currently evaluating the standard but does not expect it to materially impact the consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.