XML 16 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | The accompanying financial statements are unaudited. However, the condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (“the Company”, “Zoom”, or “our”). The adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year. The Company has evaluated subsequent events from September 30, 2015 through the date of this filing and other than the amendment listed in Note 7, Bank Credit Lines, determined that there are no other events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. The financial statements of the Company presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in the Company's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. (a) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements —Going Concern" This standard requires management to evaluate for each annual and interim reporting period whether it is probable that the reporting entity will not be able to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. If the entity is in such a position, the standard provides for certain disclosures depending on whether or not the entity will be able to successfully mitigate its going concern status. This guidance 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. The Company does not expect a material impact to the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows from the adoption of this guidance. In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-10, "Technical Corrections and Improvements.” ASU 2015-10 clarifies various topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2015-10 is effective for the interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect a material impact to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows from the adoption of this guidance. In August 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date”. The amendments in this Update defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. Public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in ASC 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect a material impact to the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows from the adoption of this guidance. | (a) Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates The financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Significant estimates made by the Company include: 1) allowance for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable (collectability and sales returns) and asset valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets; 2) write-downs of inventory for slow-moving and obsolete items, and market valuations; 3) and stock based compensation. (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents All highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days from the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist exclusively of money market funds. The Company has deposits at a limited number of financial institutions with federally insured limits. Balances of cash and cash equivalents at these institutions are normally in excess of the insured limits. However, the Company believes that the institutions are financially sound and there is only nominal risk of loss. (c) Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out method, or market. Consigned inventory is held at third-party locations. The Company retains title to the inventory until purchased by the third-party. Consigned inventory, consisting of finished goods, was approximately $86,000 and $305,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. (d) Equipment and Leasehold Improvements Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the improvement or lease term, whichever is shorter. (e) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by 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 the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. (f) Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are provided on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and on net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for that portion of deferred tax assets not expected to be realized. (g) Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Under the treasury stock method, the unexercised options are assumed to be exercised at the beginning of the period or at issuance, if later. The assumed proceeds are then used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. A summary of the denominators used to compute basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share follow:
|  | 2013 |  |  | 2014 |
Weighted average shares outstanding – used to compute basic earnings (loss) per share |  |  | 7,363,482 |  |  |  | 7,982,704 |
Net effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding, based on the treasury stock method |  |  | –– |  |  |  | –– |
Weighted average shares outstanding – used to compute diluted earnings (loss) per share |  |  | 7,363,482 |  |  |  | 7,982,704 |
Potential common shares for which inclusion would have the effect of increasing diluted earnings per share (i.e., anti-dilutive) are excluded from the computation. Options to purchase 1,855,500 shares of common stock at December 31, 2014 and 2,585,000 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2013 were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive. (h) Revenue Recognition The Company primarily sells hardware products to its customers. The hardware products include dial-up modems, DSL modems, cable modems, embedded modems, ISDN modems, telephone dialers, and wireless and wired networking equipment. The Company generally does not sell software. The Company derives its net sales primarily from the sales of hardware products to computer peripherals retailers, computer product distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company sells an immaterial amount of its hardware products to direct consumers or to any customers via the internet. The Company recognizes net hardware sales for all four types of customers at the point when the customers take legal ownership of the delivered products. Legal ownership passes to the customer based on the contractual FOB point specified in signed contracts and purchase orders, which are both used extensively. Many customer contracts or purchase orders specify FOB destination. When Zoom consigns inventory to a retailer, sales revenue for an item in that inventory is recognized when that item is sold by the retailer to a customer. The item remains in Zoom inventory when it is consigned, and moves out of Zoom inventory when the item is sold by the retailer. The Company's net sales of hardware are reduced by certain events which are characteristic of the sales of hardware to retailers of computer peripherals. These events are product returns, certain sales and marketing incentives, price protection refunds, and consumer and in-store mail-in rebates. Each of these is accounted for as a reduction of net sales based on management estimates, which are reconciled to actual customer or end-consumer credits on a monthly or quarterly basis. The estimates for product returns are based on recent historical trends plus estimates for returns prompted by announced stock rotations, announced customer store closings, etc. Management analyzes historical returns, current economic trends, and changes in customer demand and acceptance of the Company's products when evaluating the adequacy of sales return allowances. Product return reserves were $535.2 thousand and $354.0 thousand at December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The Company's estimates for price protection refunds require a detailed understanding and tracking by customer, by sales program. Estimated price protection refunds are recorded in the same period as the announcement of a pricing change. Information from customer inventory-on-hand reports or from direct communications with the customers is used to estimate the refund, which is recorded as a reserve against accounts receivable and a reduction of current period revenue. Price protection reserves were $10.7 thousand and $0 at December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The Company's estimates for consumer mail-in rebates are comprised of actual rebate claims processed by the rebate redemption centers plus an accrual for an estimated lag in processing. The Company's estimates for store rebates are comprised of actual credit requests from the eligible customers. Rebate reserves were $40.7 thousand and $0 at December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, sales and marketing incentive reserves were $41.7 thousand and $15.2 thousand at December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $12 thousand at both December 31, 2013 and 2014. The Company accounts for point-of-sale taxes on a net basis. (i) Fair Value of Financial Instruments The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:
● | Level 1 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company has the ability to access.
● | Level 2 - Inputs are inputs (other than quoted prices included within Level 1) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
● | Level 3 - Inputs include unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and rely on management's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. (The unobservable inputs should be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances and may include the Company’s own data.)
Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, bank debt, accounts payable, and accrued expenses. Due to the short term nature and payment terms associated with these instruments, their carrying amounts approximate fair value. (j) Stock-Based Compensation Compensation cost for awards is generally recognized over the required service period based on the estimated fair value of the awards on their grant date. Fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. (k) Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and reported in selling expense in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), and include costs of advertising, production, trade shows, and other activities designed to enhance demand for the Company's products. There are no deferred advertising costs in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company reported advertising costs of $247.5 thousand in 2013 and $255.0 thousand in 2014. (l) Foreign Currencies The Company generates a portion of its revenues in markets outside North America principally in transactions denominated in foreign currencies, which exposes the Company to risks of foreign currency fluctuations. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reflected in operations and were not material for any period presented. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments. The Company considers the local currency to be the functional currency for its U.K. branch. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are charged or credited to “accumulated other comprehensive income.” During Q4 2014 Zoom Telephonics closed its UK office. This required the recognition of foreign currency translation gains that had previously been recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income. Zoom reported $361 thousand of other income in operations and a reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income of $361 thousand, resulting in zero impact to net comprehensive income. The associated balance sheet adjustment similarly had zero effect on total Stockholders’ Equity. (m) Warranty Costs The Company provides for the estimated costs that may be incurred under its standard warranty obligations, based on actual historical repair costs. The reserve for the provision for warranty costs was $38,098 and $25,069 at December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. (n) Shipping and Freight Costs The Company records the expense associated with customer-delivery shipping and freight costs in selling expense. The Company reported shipping and freight costs of $191.7 thousand in 2013 and $232.1 thousand in 2014. (o) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements —Going Concern" This standard requires management to evaluate for each annual and interim reporting period whether it is probable that the reporting entity will not be able to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. If the entity is in such a position, the standard provides for certain disclosures depending on whether or not the entity will be able to successfully mitigate its going concern status. This guidance 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. The Company does not expect a material impact to the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows from the adoption of this guidance. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The core principle of this ASU is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. This ASU requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. This ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017, including interim periods in 2017, and allows for both retrospective and prospective methods of adoption. The Company is in the process of determining method of adoption and assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements. (p) Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the 2014 presentation. The reclassifications relate to the presentation of changes in accounts receivable and inventory on the statements of cash flows. (q) Contingencies The Company reviews the status of its legal proceedings and records a provision for a liability when it is considered probable that both a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. This review is updated periodically as additional information becomes available. If either or both of the criteria are not met, the Company reassesses whether there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss, or additional losses, may be incurred. If there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, the Company discloses the estimate of the amount of the loss or range of losses, that the amount is not material, or that an estimate of the loss cannot be made. The Company expenses its legal fees as incurred. In assessing potential loss contingencies, the Company considers a number of factors, including those listed in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification 450-20, Contingencies – Loss Contingencies , regarding assessing the probability of a loss and assessing whether a loss is reasonably estimable.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ZMTP_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ZMTP_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18743-107790 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18854-107790 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration