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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Principles of Consolidation [Policy Text Block]

(a) Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries up to the date of disposal. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated prior to consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Policy Text Block]

(b) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash consists of cash on hand and in banks excluding pledged deposits. The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments, with initial terms of less than three months to be cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2014 and 2015, there were no cash equivalents.
Trade Accounts and Bills Receivable [Policy Text Block]

(c) Trade Accounts and Bills Receivable

Trade accounts and bills receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions.

Outstanding accounts receivable balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.
Inventories [Policy Text Block]

(d) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of inventories is determined using the weighted average cost method, and includes expenditures incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location and condition. In case of finished goods and work in progress, the cost includes an appropriate share of production overhead based on normal operating capacity.

The Company regularly reviews the cost of inventories against their estimated fair market value and records a lower of cost or market write down for inventories that have costs in their excess of estimated market value.
Property, Plant and Equipment [Policy Text Block]

(e) Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment (except construction in progress) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment charges. Depreciation is calculated based on the straight-line method (after taking into account their respective estimated residual values) over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings 5 - 35 years
Machinery and equipment 5 - 12 years
Office equipment 1 - 12 years
Motor vehicles 5 - 8 years

The cost and accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and resulting gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Construction in progress mainly represents expenditures in respect of the Company’s corporate campus, including offices, factories, warehouses and research and development facilities, under construction. All direct costs relating to the acquisition or construction of the Company’s corporate campus and equipment, including interest charges on borrowings, are capitalized as construction in progress. No depreciation is provided in respect of construction in progress.

A long-lived asset to be disposed of by abandonment continues to be classified as held and used until it is disposed of.
Prepaid Land Use Rights [Policy Text Block]

(f) Prepaid Land Use Rights

Land use rights are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of rights of 50 years.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation [Policy Text Block]

(g) Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

The reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“US dollar”). The financial records of the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries are maintained in their local currency, the Renminbi (“RMB”), which is the functional currency. The financial records of the Company’s subsidiaries established in other countries are maintained in their local currencies. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated into the reporting currency at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and income and expense items are translated using the average rate for the period. The translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) under shareholders’ equity.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies are translated into the functional currencies at the prevailing rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into the applicable functional currencies at historical exchange rates. Transactions in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies during the period are converted into the functional currencies at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

RMB is not a fully convertible currency. All foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place either through the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange. The exchange rates adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates of exchange quoted by the PBOC, which are determined largely by supply and demand. Translation of amounts from RMB into US dollars has been made at the following exchange rates for the respective years:

September 30, 2015  
Balance sheet, except for equity accounts RMB6.3564 to $1.00
Income statement and cash flows RMB6.2224 to $1.00

September 30, 2014  
Balance sheet, except for equity accounts RMB6.1382 to $1.00
Income statement and cash flows RMB6.1469 to $1.00
Intangible Assets [Policy Text Block]

(h) Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. The costs of the intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The respective amortization periods for the intangible assets are as follows:

Computer software 10 years
Impairment of Long-lived Assets [Policy Text Block]

(i) Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, prepaid land use rights and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Revenue Recognition [Policy Text Block]

(j) Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales when products are delivered and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable.

Net sales of products represent the invoiced value of goods sold, net of value added taxes (“VAT”), sales returns, trade discounts and allowances. The Company is subject to VAT which is levied on the majority of the products of Shenzhen BAK, BAK Battery, BAK Tianjin, Dalian BAK Trading and Dalian BAK Power at the rate of 17% on the invoiced value of sales. Output VAT is borne by customers in addition to the invoiced value of sales and input VAT is borne by the Company in addition to the invoiced value of purchases to the extent not refunded for export sales. Provision for sales returns are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the same period that revenue is recognized. The provision for sales returns, which is based on historical sales returns data, is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of goods that will be returned from its customers.

Cost of Revenues [Policy Text Block]

(k) Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues consists primarily of material costs, employee compensation, depreciation and related expenses, which are directly attributable to the production of products. Write-down of inventories to lower of cost or market is also recorded in cost of revenues.
Income Taxes [Policy Text Block]

(l) Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the years in which 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 the statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period that includes the enactment date.

The impact of an uncertain income tax positions on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.

Research and Development and Advertising Expenses [Policy Text Block]

(m) Research and Development and Advertising Expenses

Research and development and advertising expenses are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of remuneration for research and development staff, depreciation and maintenance expenses of research and development equipment and material costs for research and development. For the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, the Company recorded research and development expenses of $3,981,163 and $1,001,889, respectively.

Advertising expenses, included in sales and marketing expenses were insignificant for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2015.
Bills Payable [Policy Text Block]

(n) Bills Payable

Bills payable represent bills issued by financial institutions to the Company’s vendors. The Company’s vendors receive payments from the financial institutions directly upon maturity of the bills and the Company is obliged to repay the face value of the bills to the financial institutions.
Government Grants [Policy Text Block]

(o) Government Grants

The Company’s subsidiaries in China receive government subsidies from local Chinese government agencies in accordance with relevant Chinese government policies. In general, the Company presents the government subsidies received as part of other income unless the subsidies received are earmarked to compensate a specific expense, which have been accounted for by offsetting the specific expense, such as research and development expense, interest expenses and removal costs. Unearned government subsidies received are deferred for recognition until the criteria for such recognition could be met.

Grants applicable to land are amortized over the life of the depreciable facilities constructed on it. For research and development expenses, the Company matches and offsets the government grants with the expenses of the research and development activities as specified in the grant approval document in the corresponding period when such expenses are incurred.
Share-based Compensation [Policy Text Block]

(p) Share-based Compensation

The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 718 which requires the Company to measure and recognize compensation expenses for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value. The cost is recognized over the vesting period (or the requisite service period) on graded-vesting method. ASC Topic 718 also requires the Company to measure the cost of a liability classified award based on its current fair value. The fair value of the award will be remeasured subsequently at each reporting date through the settlement date. Changes in fair value during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period. Further, ASC Topic 718 requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model. The expected volatility was based on the historical volatilities of the Company’s listed common stocks in the United States and other relevant market information. The Company uses historical data to estimate share option exercises and employee departure behavior used in the valuation model. The expected terms of share options granted is derived from the output of the option pricing model and represents the period of time that share options granted are expected to be outstanding. Since the share options once exercised will primarily trade in the U.S. capital market, the risk-free rate for periods within the contractual term of the share option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefits [Policy Text Block]

(q) Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefits

Contributions to retirement schemes (which are defined contribution plans) are charged to cost of revenues, research and development expenses, sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as and when the related employee service is provided.
(Loss) Earnings per Share [Policy Text Block]

(r) (Loss) Earnings per Share

Basic (loss) earnings per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted (loss) earnings per share is computed by dividing net (loss) earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding and dilutive potential ordinary shares during the year.
Use of Estimates [Policy Text Block]

(s) Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the recoverability of the carrying amount of long-lived assets; valuation allowance for obsolete inventories, receivables and deferred tax assets and valuation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Segment Reporting [Policy Text Block]

(t) Segment Reporting

The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operating results solely by monthly revenue of Li-ion rechargeable batteries (but not by sub-product type or geographic area) and operating results of the Company and, as such, the Company has determined that the Company has one operating segment as defined by ASC Topic 280 “Segment Reporting”.
Commitments and Contingencies [Policy Text Block]

(u) Commitments and Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Policy Text Block]

(v) Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360) - Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity”, which changes the threshold for reporting discontinued operations and adds new disclosures. The new guidance defines a discontinued operation as a disposal that “represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.” The standard is required to be adopted by public business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods. Entities may “early adopt” the guidance for new disposals. The Company does not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" which clarifies and improves the principles for recognizing revenue and develops a common revenue standard for United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that among other things, improves comparability of revenue recognition practices and provides more useful information to users of financial statements through improved disclosure requirements. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The amendment in this ASU defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities for one year. Public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods with that reporting period. The Company is currently reviewing the effect of this guidance on its revenue recognition.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)" which provides explicit guidance on the treatment of awards with performance targets that could be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going concern (Subtopic 205-40) which provides guidance to an organization’s management, with principles and definitions that are intended to reduce diversity in the timing and content of disclosures that are commonly provided by organizations today in the financial statement footnotes. This guidance in ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not previously been issued. The Company does not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).The amendments permit the use of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (also referred to as the Overnight Index Swap Rate, or OIS) as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Public business entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2015. All other types of entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-16 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis." ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. It is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”, which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements. ASU 2015-03 requires an entity to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively to each period presented. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have any impact on the Company's financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory, which requires an entity to measure inventory within the scope at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The effective date for the standard is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. To simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination, the amendments eliminate the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-16 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.