Accounting for Income Taxes Under ASC 740

» Articles » Tax Articles » Article

August 19, 2013


Review of the Basics and Recent Developments

A S C 7 4 0 – T H E B A S I C S

Scope


Establishes standards for financial reporting of income taxes.

Continue reading below

FREE Tax Training from Lorman

Lorman has over 37 years of professional training experience.
Join us for a special white paper and level up your Tax knowledge!

Miscellaneous 1099 Issues
Presented by Jennifer A. Driskill CPA, M.B.A.

Learn More
  • Current tax expense (benefit) on the income statement
  • Taxes payable / receivable on the balance sheet
  • Taxes deferred on the balance sheet

Applies to:

  • All income-based taxes:
    – Domestic federal income taxes
    – Foreign
    – State and local
  • Domestic and foreign operations consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method
  • Foreign enterprises preparing financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP)
  • Identifies tax positions based on technical merit that were taken in past and are to be taken in current year
  • Identifies book to tax differences

A S C 7 4 0 – BO O K TO TA X  DIFFERENCES

Permanent Differences

  • Never expected to reverse in a future period
  • Book income / expense is not recognized for tax
  • Has no future tax consequences

Examples:

  • Meals and entertainment
  • Penalties
  • Tax exempt income
  • Certain dividends / Dividends Received Deduction
  • Political contributions
  • Lobbying Expense
  • Auto-lease inclusion
  • Officer’s life insurance expense
  • Deferred charge basis differences

 

Temporary Differences
A difference between the timing of when an item of income or expense is recognized for financial statement purposes versus income tax purposes.

  • Certain items included in book income recognized at a different time then they are recognized for tax purposes.
  • Over time these items arise in one period and reverse in another period.
  • These items will eventually offset each other.

Common Temporary Differences

  • Bad debt reserve
  • Depreciation
  • Vacation accruals
  • Reserves for estimated expenses:
    – Warranty reserves
    – Reserve for inventory obsolescence
    – Contingent liability reserves
    – State and local tax reserves
  • Amortization
    – Tax Deductible Goodwill
    – Other intangibles

Accrued interest

  • Accrual to cash conversion

 

How do we identify book to tax differences?

  • Prior years’ tax returns
  • Audited Financial Statements
  • Tax workpapers
  • Current year trial balance compared to prior year
  • Understand balance sheet accounts - could they generate temporary differences?
  • Stock compensation plan review - impact
  • Discussions with client
  • Current year significant events
    – Transactions
    – Recapitalizations
    – Changes in ownership
    – Refinancings
  • Changes in Accounting Methods – current or prior year

D E F E R R E D TAXES

What Are They?

  • Definition: The difference in book versus tax basis in an asset or liability that will reverse in time.
  • Consistency: Smooth the impact of tax expense and tax benefits over time so that financials / tax rates are consistent.

What is the Liability Method?

  • Tax effect of temporary differences in basis becomes either a deferred asset or a deferred liability.
  • Look at the balance sheet.

Deductible differences = deferred tax assets (DTAs)

  • Recognizes the deferred taxes related to taxable temporary differences
  • Less tax will be paid in the future
  • Creates a future tax benefit
    – Asset: Book basis < tax basis (Example: bad debt reserve)
    – Liability: Book basis > tax basis (Example: vacation accrual)

Examples of DTAs

Revenue items

  • Advance receipts for Goods or Services (revenue deferred for book but recognized currently for tax) Expense items
  • Bad Debt Reserve
  • Compensation accruals (vacations, bonus)
  • Contingency reserve accruals (legal, environmental

Examples of DTAs

Tax Attributes – i.e., Tax carryforward items

  • Foreign tax credits
  • Net operating losses
  • Research credits
  • AMT credit

(Caution: Consider whether need a valuation allowance)

 

Author: Katherine D. Morris, CPA, CohnReznick


The material appearing in this web site is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The information provided herein is intended only as general information which may or may not reflect the most current developments. Although these materials may be prepared by professionals, they should not be used as a substitute for professional services. If legal or other professional advice is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

The opinions or viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Lorman Education Services. All materials and content were prepared by persons and/or entities other than Lorman Education Services, and said other persons and/or entities are solely responsible for their content.

Any links to other web sites are not intended to be referrals or endorsements of these sites. The links provided are maintained by the respective organizations, and they are solely responsible for the content of their own sites.