FORM 10-K

47 For our warranty programs, we estimate the costs that may be incurred and record a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenues are recognized. Factors that affect this liability include the number of products sold, historical costs per claim, contractual recoveries from vendors and historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, including production and warranty patterns for new models. We assess the adequacy of our recorded warranty liability periodically and adjust the amounts as necessary. Additionally, we may establish a warranty liability related to the issuance of aircraft service bulletins for aircraft no longer covered under the limited warranty programs. Research and Development Costs Our customer-funded research and development costs are charged directly to the related contracts, which primarily consist of U.S. Government contracts. In accordance with government regulations, we recover a portion of company-funded research and development costs through overhead rate charges on our U.S. Government contracts. Research and development costs that are not reimbursable under a contract with the U.S. Government or another customer are charged to expense as incurred. Company-funded research and development costs were $634 million, $677 million and $778 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are included in cost of sales. Income Taxes The provision for income tax expense is calculated on reported Income from continuing operations before income taxes based on current tax law and includes, in the current period, the cumulative effect of any changes in tax rates from those used previously in determining deferred tax assets and liabilities. Tax laws may require items to be included in the determination of taxable income at different times from when the items are reflected in the financial statements. Deferred tax balances reflect the effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases, as well as from net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards, and are stated at enacted tax rates in effect for the year taxes are expected to be paid or recovered. Deferred tax assets represent tax benefits for tax deductions or credits available in future years and require certain estimates and assumptions to determine whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the benefit will not be realized. The recoverability of these future tax deductions and credits is determined by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years, estimated future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. Should a change in facts or circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the ultimate recoverability of a deferred tax asset, we record or adjust the related valuation allowance in the period that the change in facts and circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or decrease in income tax expense. We record tax benefits for uncertain tax positions based upon management’s evaluation of the information available at the reporting date. To be recognized in the financial statements, the tax position must meet the more-likely-than-not threshold that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authority based on technical merits assuming the tax authority has full knowledge of all relevant information. For positions meeting this recognition threshold, the benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit that meets the more-likely-than-not threshold to be sustained. We periodically evaluate these tax positions based on the latest available information. For tax positions that do not meet the threshold requirement, we recognize net tax-related interest and penalties for continuing operations in income tax expense. New Accounting Standards Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , that outlines a five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. This new standard became effective for us at the beginning of 2018, and will be adopted using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, we will record the cumulative effect of adopting the new standard in the first quarter of 2018. Based on review and analysis of our contracts, the standard primarily impacts our Bell and Textron Systems segments, which have long-term production contracts with the U.S. Government. Prior to adoption of the new standard, revenue was generally recognized for these contracts as units were delivered, while under the new standard, revenue will be recognized over time, principally as costs are incurred. This change will generally result in an acceleration of revenue for these contracts. At the adoption date, the impact of recognizing these revenues under the new standard for historical periods ending prior to December 31, 2017 will result in a cumulative after-tax transition adjustment to increase retained earnings by approximately $90 million, largely related to the Bell segment. In addition, the transition adjustment will establish contract assets of approximately $350 million, with corresponding decreases in inventory of approximately $200 million and in contract liabilities (deferred revenue and customer deposits) and accounts receivables, primarily reflecting the conversion of contracts to the cost-to-cost method. This change is not expected to have a significant impact on our future operating results as the revenues that would have been recognized under the units-of-delivery method in future years, will essentially be replaced by the acceleration of revenue on other contracts into earlier periods using the