Which of the following creates a deferred tax asset in accounting

Author

Reads 796

Asian businessman working with calculator and notes at his desk in a modern office space.
Credit: pexels.com, Asian businessman working with calculator and notes at his desk in a modern office space.

A deferred tax asset is created when a company has more tax deductions than taxable income in a given year. This can happen when a company has losses or expenses that can be carried forward to future years.

According to our previous examples, a company can create a deferred tax asset by having a net operating loss. This is because the company can carry forward the loss to future years, reducing its taxable income and increasing its tax deductions.

In accounting, this means that the company can expect to pay less taxes in the future, resulting in a deferred tax asset. This asset is recorded on the company's balance sheet and can be used to offset future taxes.

By understanding how deferred tax assets work, businesses can better manage their taxes and make more informed financial decisions.

Take a look at this: When Are Deferred Taxes Due

Understanding Deferred Tax Assets

A deferred tax asset is a reduction in future tax liability resulting from expenses or losses already recognized on the income statement that have not yet been deducted on the tax return. Common examples include accrued expenses that have been recorded but not yet paid.

Credit: youtube.com, Deferred Tax Assets in Financial Accounting

Accrued expenses are a type of deferred tax asset because they represent a reduction in future tax liability. For instance, if a company records an accrued expense of $100,000 but hasn't paid it yet, it can claim a tax deduction for that amount in the future.

Allowances for doubtful accounts and inventory obsolescence are also types of deferred tax assets. These allowances are made when a company expects to write off bad debts or inventory that won't sell.

Net operating loss carryforwards generate a future tax deduction and thus a deferred tax asset. This means that if a company incurs a loss in one year, it can carry that loss forward to offset taxable income in future years.

Here are some examples of deferred tax assets:

  • Accrued expenses that have been recorded but not yet paid
  • Allowances for doubtful accounts and inventory obsolescence
  • Net operating loss carryforwards

These types of deferred tax assets can be significant, and companies need to carefully consider them when preparing their financial statements.

Creating a Deferred Tax Asset

A deferred tax asset is created when there's a difference between the tax amount paid and the taxable income. This difference arises due to timing differences, such as income being taxed before it's recognized or expenses being taken into account before they're required to be recognized.

Credit: youtube.com, Deferred tax assets

According to Example 3, situations that give rise to deferred tax assets include expenses being taken into account by the taxing authority even before they're required to be recognized, revenue being taxed even before the time when it should be recognized, and the tax rules or base for assets and liabilities being different.

The value of a deferred tax asset is created by taking the difference between the book income and the taxable income, as shown in Example 4. For instance, if a company's revenue is Rs.10,00,000 and warranty expense is Rs.20,000, the taxable income would be Rs.9,80,000, resulting in a deferred tax asset of Rs.6,000.

Here are some examples of how deferred tax assets can arise:

In these examples, the deferred tax asset is the difference between tax as per income tax laws and tax as per accounts, as shown in Example 5.

How to Create

Creating a deferred tax asset is a straightforward process that involves recognizing the tax difference that arises due to timing differences between financial reporting and tax laws.

Credit: youtube.com, Simple Deferred Tax Asset & Liability Explanation

For example, if a company's income as per books is $5,000, but income as per income tax laws is $6,000, the difference of $1,000 is due to different depreciation policies by income tax and company law.

This difference is a deferred tax asset, which is shown on the asset side of the balance sheet under current assets.

Here are some examples of situations that give rise to deferred tax assets:

  1. Expenses are taken into account by the taxing authority even before they are required to be recognized
  2. Revenue earned is taxed even before the time when it should be recognized
  3. The tax rules or base for assets and liabilities are different

For instance, a company like XYZ that produces mobile phones may assume that the probability of a mobile phone being sent for warranty repairs is 2%. If XYZ's revenue for the financial year 2018 is Rs.10,00,000, the discrepancy in the income statement and the tax authority statement would result in a deferred tax asset.

The difference between the two taxes payable is the deferred tax asset, which can be calculated by subtracting the tax payable as per accounts from the tax payable as per income tax laws.

Credit: youtube.com, Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities (Part One)

Here's an example:

In this example, the deferred tax asset is $150 in Year 1 and -$150 in Year 2, indicating that the company has a deferred tax asset of $150 in the first year and an expense of $150 in the second year.

Cloud

A cloud can be a great asset for a company looking to reduce its future tax liability. Deferred tax assets can be created by taking the difference between the book income and the taxable income. Any deferred tax asset is useful in plummeting the company's future tax liability. This can be especially helpful for companies with varying revenue or expense recognition periods.

Recognition and Calculation

To create a deferred tax asset, you need to calculate the temporary deductible differences between book and tax income. This is done by applying the enacted future tax rate to these cumulative differences.

The calculation of a deferred tax asset is a crucial step in recognizing this asset. It's essential to consider the organization's confidence in generating adequate profits in the future, as this will determine the utilization of the deferred tax asset.

A loss-making position with carried-forward losses can also create a deferred tax asset, as these losses can be offset against future income. This means the organization can use the deferred tax asset to reduce its tax liability in the future.

Recognition

Bearded accountant in gray sweater working with banknotes and documents at office desk.
Credit: pexels.com, Bearded accountant in gray sweater working with banknotes and documents at office desk.

A business can only recognize a deferred tax asset if it's probable that it will generate enough taxable income in the future to use it. This means management needs to estimate a more than 50% chance of future taxable income.

To qualify for recognition, a deferred tax asset must arise from a deductible temporary difference, unused tax losses, or tax credits. These can come from various sources, such as tax losses carried forward to offset future taxable profits, provisions for expenses or allowances that are tax deductible in the future, differences in depreciation methods, or expenses recognized earlier for accounting purposes than tax purposes.

Management's estimate of future taxable income is crucial in recognizing a deferred tax asset. If they don't think there's a more than 50% chance of future income, the asset isn't recognized. Instead, the estimated future tax benefit is recorded as an unrecognized deferred tax asset.

Here are some examples of when a deferred tax asset may arise:

  • A business has tax losses that can be carried forward to offset future taxable profits
  • A business makes provisions for expenses or allowances that are tax deductible in the future when they are actually incurred
  • There are differences in depreciation methods used for accounting vs. tax purposes
  • Expenses are recognized earlier for accounting purposes than tax purposes

Calculation

A woman holds U.S. tax documents with a blurred background, implying focus on paperwork.
Credit: pexels.com, A woman holds U.S. tax documents with a blurred background, implying focus on paperwork.

To calculate a deferred tax asset, you need to identify all temporary deductible differences between book and tax income. This is the starting point for the calculation.

Temporary deductible differences are the key to unlocking the deferred tax benefit. They can arise from various sources, such as depreciation and amortization.

Applying the enacted future tax rate to these cumulative differences is the next step. This will give you an estimate of the deferred tax benefit they will create.

The enacted future tax rate is a crucial factor in this calculation. It represents the tax rate that is expected to apply in the future, based on current laws and regulations.

Additional considerations around valuation allowances may also apply. This means you need to think about whether there's a risk that some or all of the deferred tax asset may not be realized.

Valuation allowances are essentially a buffer against uncertainty. They help you account for the possibility that some of the deferred tax asset may not be recoverable.

Definition and Fundamentals

Credit: youtube.com, Deferred tax assets

A deferred tax asset is created when a company has overpaid taxes through advance tax or tax deductions, resulting in a lower tax liability in the future.

This situation arises due to different accounting treatments by laws, causing a timing difference in tax payments.

In essence, a deferred tax asset is the opposite of a deferred tax liability.

The key factor here is the difference in tax payments due to various laws and regulations.

This can happen when a company has made payments in advance or has claimed tax deductions, reducing its future tax liability.

As a result, the company is left with a deferred tax asset, which can be used to offset future tax liabilities.

Maurice Pollich

Senior Writer

Maurice Pollich is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in the digital world. With a background in technology and finance, he brings a unique perspective to his writing. Maurice's expertise spans a range of topics, including cryptocurrency tokens, where he has developed a deep understanding of the underlying mechanics and market trends.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.