Description of business:  Paychex, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Paychex”) is a leading provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses in the United States (“U.S.”). The Company also has a subsidiary in Germany.

 

Paychex, a Delaware corporation formed in 1979, reports as one segment. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is generated within the U.S. The Company also generates revenue within Germany, which was less than one percent of its total revenue for each of the years ended May 31, 2011 (“fiscal 2011”), 2010 (“fiscal 2010”), and 2009 (“fiscal 2009”). Long-lived assets in Germany are insignificant in relation to total long-lived assets of the Company as of May 31, 2011 and May 31, 2010.

 

Total revenue is comprised of service revenue and interest on funds held for clients. Service revenue is comprised of the Payroll and Human Resource Services portfolios of services and products. Payroll service revenue is earned primarily from payroll processing, payroll tax administration services, employee payment services, and other ancillary services. Payroll processing services include the calculation, preparation, and delivery of employee payroll checks; production of internal accounting records and management reports; preparation of federal, state, and local payroll tax returns; and collection and remittance of clients’ payroll obligations.

 

In connection with the automated payroll tax administration services, the Company electronically collects payroll taxes from clients’ bank accounts, typically on payday, prepares and files the applicable tax returns, and remits taxes to the applicable tax or regulatory agencies on the respective due dates. These taxes are typically paid between one and 30 days after receipt of collections from clients, with some items extending to 90 days. The Company handles regulatory correspondence, amendments, and penalty and interest disputes, and is subject to cash penalties imposed by tax or regulatory agencies for late filings and late or under payment of taxes. With employee payment services, employers are offered the option of paying their employees by direct deposit, payroll debit card, a check drawn on a Paychex account (Readychex^®), or a check drawn on the employer’s account and electronically signed by Paychex. For the first three methods, Paychex electronically collects net payroll from the clients’ bank accounts, typically one business day before payday, and provides payment to the employees on payday.

 

In addition to service fees paid by clients, the Company earns interest on funds held for clients that are collected before due dates and invested until remittance to the applicable tax or regulatory agencies or client employees. The funds held for clients and related client fund obligations are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as current assets and current liabilities. The amount of funds held for clients and related client fund obligations varies significantly during the year.

 

The Human Resource Services portfolio of services and products provides small- to medium-sized businesses with retirement services administration, insurance services, eServices, and other human resource services and products. Paychex HR Solutions is available as an administrative services organization (“ASO”) and a professional employer organization (“PEO”). Both options provide a combined package of services that include payroll, employer compliance, human resource and employee benefits administration, risk management outsourcing, and the on-site availability of a professionally trained human resource services representative. These comprehensive bundles of services are designed to make it easier for businesses to manage their payroll and related benefits costs while providing a benefits package equal to that of larger companies. The PEO differs from the ASO in that Paychex serves as a co-employer of the clients’ employees, assumes the risks and rewards of workers’ compensation insurance, and provides health care coverage to PEO client employees. PEO services are sold through the Company’s registered and licensed subsidiary, Paychex Business Solutions, Inc. Paychex HR Essentials is a new ASO product that provides support to the Company’s clients over the phone or online to help manage employee-related topics.

 

Basis of presentation:  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Paychex, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure through the date of issuance of these financial statements.

 

Cash and cash equivalents:  Cash and cash equivalents consist of available cash, money market securities, U.S. agency discount notes, and other investments with a maturity of three months or less at acquisition.

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts:  Accounts receivable balances are shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of the allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.1 million as of May 31, 2011 and $1.9 million as of May 31, 2010. Accounts receivable are written off and charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when the Company has exhausted all collection efforts without success. No single client had a material impact on total accounts receivable, service revenue, or results of operations.

 

Funds held for clients and corporate investments:  Marketable securities included in funds held for clients and corporate investments consist primarily of securities classified as available-for-sale and are recorded at fair value obtained from an independent pricing service. The funds held for clients portfolio also includes cash, money market securities, and short-term investments. Unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are reported as comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined by specific identification of the cost basis of each security. On the Consolidated Statements of Income, realized gains and losses from their respective portfolios are included in interest on funds held for clients and investment income, net.

 

Concentrations:  Substantially all of the Company’s deposited cash is maintained at two large credit-worthy financial institutions. These deposits may exceed the amount of any insurance provided. All of the Company’s deliverable securities are held in custody with one of the two aforementioned financial institutions, for which that institution bears the risk of custodial loss. Non-deliverable securities, primarily time deposits and money market mutual funds, are restricted to credit-worthy financial institutions.

 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation:  Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of property and equipment using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of depreciable assets are generally:

 

 

Normal and recurring repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. The Company reviews the carrying value of property and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.

 

Software development and enhancements:  Expenditures for software purchases and software developed for internal use are capitalized and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, which are generally three to fifteen years. For software developed for internal use, certain costs are capitalized, including external direct costs of materials and services associated with developing or obtaining the software, and payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with internal-use software projects. Capitalization of these costs ceases no later than the point at which the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance, and other post-implementation stage activities are expensed as incurred. The carrying value of software and development costs is reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization:  The Company has recorded goodwill in connection with the acquisitions of businesses. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change in a way to indicate that there has been a potential decline in the fair value of the reporting unit. Impairment is determined by comparing the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company’s business is largely homogeneous and, as a result, substantially all the goodwill is associated with one reporting unit. The Company performs its annual impairment testing in its fiscal fourth quarter. Based on the results of the Company’s reviews, no impairment loss was recognized in the results of operations for fiscal years 2011, 2010, or 2009. Subsequent to the latest review, there have been no events or circumstances that indicate any potential impairment of the Company’s goodwill balance.

 

Intangible assets are comprised primarily of client list acquisitions and are reported net of accumulated amortization on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Intangible assets are amortized over periods generally ranging from five to twelve years using either the straight-line method, an accelerated method, or based on client attrition. The Company tests intangible assets for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.

 

Revenue recognition:  Service revenue is recognized in the period services are rendered and earned under service arrangements with clients where service fees are fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Certain processing services are provided under annual service arrangements with revenue recognized ratably over the annual service period. The Company’s service revenue is largely attributable to payroll-related processing services where the fee is based on a fixed amount per processing period or a fixed amount per processing period plus a fee per employee or transaction processed. The revenue earned from delivery service for the distribution of certain client payroll checks and reports is included in service revenue, and the costs for the delivery are included in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

PEO revenue is included in service revenue and is reported net of direct costs billed and incurred, which include wages, taxes, benefit premiums, and claims of PEO worksite employees. Direct costs billed and incurred were $3.9 billion for fiscal 2011, $3.1 billion for fiscal 2010, and $2.6 billion for fiscal 2009.

 

Revenue from Stromberg time and attendance solutions was recognized during fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010 until the date of disposition, when all of the following were present: persuasive evidence that an arrangement existed, typically a non-cancelable sales order; delivery was complete for the software and hardware; the fee was fixed or determinable and free of contingencies; and collectibility was reasonably assured. Maintenance contracts were generally purchased by the Company’s clients in conjunction with their purchase of certain time and attendance solutions. Revenue from these maintenance contracts was recognized ratably over the term of the contract.

 

Interest on funds held for clients is earned primarily on funds that are collected from clients before due dates for payroll tax administration services and for employee payment services, and invested until remittance to the applicable tax or regulatory agencies or client employees. These collections from clients are typically remitted from one to 30 days after receipt, with some items extending to 90 days. The interest earned on these funds is included in total revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income because the collecting, holding, and remitting of these funds are components of providing these services. Interest on funds held for clients also includes net realized gains and losses from the sales of available-for-sale securities.

 

Advantage Payroll Services Inc. (“Advantage”), a subsidiary of the Company, has license agreements with independently owned associate offices (“Associates”). The Associates are responsible for selling and marketing Advantage payroll services and performing certain operational functions. Paychex and Advantage provide all centralized back-office payroll processing and payroll tax administration services for the Associates, including the billing and collection of processing fees and the collection and remittance of payroll and payroll tax funds pursuant to Advantage’s service arrangement with Associate customers. The marketing and selling by the Associates is conducted under their respective logos. Commissions earned by the Associates are based on the processing activity for the related clients. Revenue generated from customers as a result of these relationships and commissions paid to Associates are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as service revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.

 

PEO workers’ compensation insurance:  Workers’ compensation insurance reserves are established to provide for the estimated costs of paying claims underwritten by the Company. These reserves include estimates for reported losses, plus amounts for those claims incurred but not reported and estimates of certain expenses associated with processing and settling the claims. In establishing the workers’ compensation insurance reserves, the Company uses an independent actuarial estimate of undiscounted future cash payments that would be made to settle the claims.

 

Estimating the ultimate cost of future claims is an uncertain and complex process based upon historical loss experience and actuarial loss projections, and is subject to change due to multiple factors, including economic trends, changes in legal liability law, and damage awards, all of which could materially impact the reserves as reported in the consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, final claim settlements may vary from the present estimates, particularly when those payments may not occur until well into the future.

 

The Company regularly reviews the adequacy of its estimated workers’ compensation insurance reserves. Adjustments to previously established reserves are reflected in the results of operations for the period in which the adjustment is identified. Such adjustments could possibly be significant, reflecting any variety of new and adverse or favorable trends.

 

The Company’s maximum individual claims liability was $1.0 million under both its fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 policies. As of May 31, 2011 and May 31, 2010, the Company had recorded current liabilities of $7.3 million and $5.8 million, respectively, and long-term liabilities of $20.6 million and $20.1 million, respectively, on its Consolidated Balance Sheets for workers’ compensation claims.

 

Stock-based compensation costs:  All stock-based awards to employees, including grants of stock options, are recognized as compensation costs in the consolidated financial statements based on their fair values measured as of the date of grant. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires various assumptions as inputs including expected volatility of the Paychex stock price and expected option life. Volatility is estimated based on a combination of historical volatility using weekly stock prices over a period equal to the expected option life and implied market volatility. Expected option life is estimated based on historical exercise behavior.

 

The Company is required to estimate forfeitures and only record compensation costs for those awards that are expected to vest. The assumptions for forfeitures were determined based on type of award and historical experience. Forfeiture assumptions are adjusted at the point in time a significant change is identified with any adjustment recorded in the period of change, and the final adjustment at the end of the requisite service period to equal actual forfeitures.

 

The assumptions of volatility, expected option life, and forfeitures all require significant judgment and are subject to change in the future due to factors such as employee exercise behavior, stock price trends, and changes to type or provisions of stock-based awards. Any change in one or more of these assumptions could have a material impact on the estimated fair value of an award and on stock-based compensation costs recognized in the Company’s results of operations.

 

The Company has determined that the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as well as the underlying assumptions used in its application, is appropriate in estimating the fair value of stock option grants. The Company periodically reassesses its assumptions as well as its choice of valuation model, and will reconsider use of this model if additional information becomes available in the future indicating that another model would provide a more accurate estimate of fair value, or if characteristics of future grants would warrant such a change.

 

Refer to Note D for further discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

 

Income taxes:  The Company accounts for deferred taxes by recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a deferred tax asset related to the stock-based compensation costs recognized for certain stock-based awards. At the time of the exercise of non-qualified stock options or vesting of stock awards, the Company accounts for the resulting tax deduction by reducing its accrued income tax liability with an offset to the deferred tax asset and any excess tax benefit increasing additional paid-in capital. The Company currently has a sufficient pool of excess tax benefits in additional paid-in capital to absorb any deficient tax benefits related to stock-based awards.

 

The Company maintains a reserve for uncertain tax positions. The Company evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return for recognition in its consolidated financial statements. Prior to recording the related tax benefit in the consolidated financial statements, the Company must conclude that tax positions must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained, assuming those positions will be examined by taxing authorities with full knowledge of all relevant information. The benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the amount the Company expects to realize after examination by taxing authorities. If a tax position drops below the more-likely-than-not standard, the benefit can no longer be recognized. Assumptions, judgment, and the use of estimates are required in determining if the more-likely-than-not standard has been met when developing the provision for income taxes and in determining the expected benefit. A change in the assessment of the more-likely-than-not standard could materially impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position. The Company’s reserve for uncertain tax positions was $34.4 million as of May 31, 2011 and $27.5 million as of May 31, 2010. Refer to Note I for further discussion of the Company’s reserve for uncertain tax positions.

 

Use of estimates:  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts and results could differ from these estimates.

 

Reclassifications:  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on reported consolidated earnings.

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements:  Effective June 1, 2010, the Company adopted the following Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) authoritative guidance, neither of which had a material impact on its consolidated financial statements:

 

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements:  In December 2010, the FASB issued updated guidance on when and how to perform certain steps of the periodic goodwill impairment test for public entities that may have reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010, with early adoption prohibited. It is applicable to the Company’s fiscal year beginning June 1, 2011. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance, but does not expect its adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2010, the FASB also issued guidance to clarify the reporting of pro forma financial information related to business combinations of public entities and to expand certain supplemental pro forma disclosures. This guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations that occur on or after the beginning of the fiscal year beginning on or after December 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. It is applicable to the Company’s fiscal year beginning June 1, 2011. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance, but does not expect its adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance to amend certain measurement and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements to improve consistency with international reporting standards. This guidance is effective prospectively for public entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption by public entities prohibited, and is applicable to the Company’s fiscal quarter beginning March 1, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance, but does not expect its adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income that will require a company to present components of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive statements. There are no changes to the components that are recognized in net income or other comprehensive income under current GAAP. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. It is applicable to the Company’s fiscal year beginning June 1, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance, but does not expect its adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Other recent authoritative guidance issued by the FASB (including technical corrections to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) did not, or are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.