...Tax Law and Accounting University of Phoenix/ACCT 483 July 20, 2009 Tax Law and Accounting The history and time line of federal, state, and local tax systems within the United States follows events in history that have shaped the current tax laws of today. Today the law is almost inconceivable with so many interpretations and loopholes. In today’s business world not only are companies governed by federal income tax laws, but also accounting guideline established by the national framework of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Due to the complexity of the guidelines and tax laws, many questions arise with regard to the interpretations. Taxpayers may ask are the practices used to reduce taxes, tax avoidance, or tax evasion. History of Income Tax Income taxes can be traced through history, in colonial times; individual taxpayers had nothing to do with the federal taxing authorities. The government, instead, received income from excise taxes, tariffs, and custom duties. Prior to the Revolutionary War, colonies held more responsibility; therefore, needing greater access to revenues. Post Revolutionary War, in 1781, the Articles of Confederation was adopted. The article gave full rights to each State as an entity allowing the state to levy tax as each state saw fit. The idea of central government was still strongly rejected [ (Unknown, n.d.) ]. In 1789, the Constitution was adopted. At this time in history, the governing powers recognized that a need for resources...
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...Chapter 16 Accounting for Income Taxes DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES Fundamental Concepts There are fundamental differences in the amount of income and expenses reported for GAAP and income tax purposes. The objective for GAAP reporting is to report the economic activities of the entity. The objective for income tax purposes is for the government to raise revenue. There are two terms that identify the types of income subject to tax under each reporting system. 1 Pretax financial income Pretax financial income is the income determined using GAAP. It is the amount of income on which income tax is computed for financial statement purposed. It is formally presented in the income statement as income before income taxes. We normally refer to it is pretax income. 2 Taxable income Taxable income is the income determined using Internal Revenue Code rules and regulations. It is the amount of income on which the entity will actually pay income tax in the current accounting period. Temporary Differences Deferred taxes arise as a result of temporary difference between income tax expense and income tax payable. A temporary difference is the difference between the book value of an asset or liability and the tax basis of the same asset or liability. If the income tax expense in the income statement is larger than the current income tax liability the difference is called a deferred tax liability. If the income tax expense in the income statement is smaller than the current...
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...Team 2: Defend the asset/liability approach of accounting for inter-period income tax allocation. The asset/liability method of income tax allocation is balance sheet oriented. The intent is to accrue and report the total tax benefit or taxes payable that will actually be realized or assessed on temporary differences when their respective future taxable or deductible amounts are expected to occur. The book states 5 arguments: 1. The balance sheet is becoming more important financial statement. Reporting deferred taxes based on the expected tax rates when the temporary differences reverse increases the predictive value of future cash flows, liquidity, and financial flexibility. 2. Reporting deferred taxes based on the expected tax rates is conceptually more sound because the reported amount represents either the likely future economic sacrifice (future tax payment) or economic benefit (future reduction in taxes). 3. Deferred taxes may be the result of historical transactions, but, by definition, they are taxes that are postponed and will be paid (or will reduce taxes) in the future at the future tax rates. 4. Estimates are used extensively in accounting. The use of estimated future tax rates for deferred taxes poses no more of a problem regarding verifiability and reliability than using, say, estimated lives for depreciation. 5. Because the tax expense results from changes in balance sheet values, its measurement is consistent with the SFAC No. 6 and SFAS...
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...2011 Subject: Income tax treatment I appreciate that you choose me to deal with the questions for you, these are really good questions which we should pay attention to. In this memo, I would answer your questions about the specific treatment of your company’s income taxes according to my research in FASB Accounting Standard Codification and other sources. First, you ask about if the income taxes should be considered as an expense for financial reporting purpose. According to my research, I found that most accountants now agree that corporate income tax is an expense. Treating income tax as an expense is required under GAAP. This treatment is consistent with proprietary theory because the earnings that accrue to owners are reduced by corporate obligations to the government. Also, because the income tax does not result from transactions with owners, expensing corporate income tax is consistent with the SFAC No. 6 definition of comprehensive income. Thus, on the surface, accounting for income taxes would appear to be a nonissue. So for your company’s financial reporting, you should treat income taxes as an expense. Your second question is about the difference between intraperiod and interperiod tax allocation and how to differ these two, as well as the effect on financial reporting of these two methods. This is really a good question, because new start-up company would always be confused at this part. Intraperiod tax allocation method that allocates total income tax expense or...
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...Tax Law and Accounting ACC/483 Income Tax Accounting The first step to understanding taxes is to first understand why we have taxes in the first place. As citizens many people take for granted what benefits we gain from the government developing the country around us. The various infrastructures, public systems, education, and the very safety of the citizens in a country are all affected by government funds. People generally are unable to pay for these services directly out of their own pockets, so the government provides for the care of its citizens out of its own funds. As most people know, the United States tax system is special in that citizens generally can pay taxes to a variety of levels: federal, state, and even city taxes depending on where you live. Regardless of whom you pay taxes to, or if you live in the United States or in some other country around the world, the objective of income taxes still remains the same. Just as was mentioned in the previous paragraph, taxes are used to fund various government activities that affect the citizens of a country throughout their everyday life. Income taxes provide a way to ensure that the government is able to collect revenue from its citizens efforts at a variety of governmental levels to provide proper care and service for its people and keep the country running. After understanding why taxes are important, another important aspect to understand...
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...Methodology used to determine deferred taxes. Generally Accepted Accounting Standards is used for preparing financial reports for creditors and investors. However to file income tax returns corporations must use the guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service. The differences between GAAP and tax reporting regulations could cause tax expenses reported on the financial statements to be different from the amount of taxes payable to the IRS. Understanding the differences, first understand the difference between pretax financial income and taxable income. Pretax financial income is the amount calculated for financial reporting purposes. Taxable income is the tax accounting term used to compute income taxes payable. The difference between these two amounts is a temporary difference. The temporary difference is the difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the financial statements, which will result in taxable amounts or deductible amounts in the future (Kieso et al, 2007). Once the company has established the temporary difference, the amount is shown on the books as a deferred tax liability or a deferred tax asset. A taxable temporary difference is a deferred tax liability that will increase taxes payable in futures years whereas a deductible temporary difference is a deferred tax asset that will be a refundable amount in taxes payable for future years. Using deferred tax methods can be useful, an obligation can be spread...
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...1. Introduction Accounting treatment for income taxes for for-profit entities is subject to Australian Accounting Standard Board (AASB) 112 Income Taxes. In accounting for income tax, complying with tax-effect method involves the occurrence of tax consequences due to different treatments are applied for transactions and other events happened inside an entity for accounting and taxation purposes, namely current tax consequences and future tax consequences. The purpose of this report was to identify and analyze the reasoning behind the responsibility of exploration and development costs (E&D) for the creation of a deferred tax liability (DTL) and its treatments for both accounting and taxation purposes. Moreover, the analysis was performed with reference to case study of Gravatt Ltd., a company operating in the mining industry where its directors arguing on the disadvantages of applying tax-effect accounting standards of AASB 112 and rather not to comply with one. This report was not discussing only on the rationale behind deferred tax liabilities according to AASB Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements and AASB 112 Income Taxes, but also the comparison of the impact on information utility captured by the users of financial statements of Gravatt in case of recognizing and unrecognizing deferred tax liabilities to be reported on its annual reports. 2. Discussion 2.1 Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred tax liabilities (DTL) can be defined...
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...Accounting for Income Taxes I. Overview – Accounting for income taxes involves both intraperiod and interperiod tax allocation. Intraperiod allocation matches a portion of the provision for income tax to the applicable components of net income and retained earnings. Income for federal tax purposes and financial accounting income frequently differ. Income for federal tax purposes is computed in accordance with the prevailing tax laws, whereas financial accounting income is determined in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, a company’s income tax expense and income taxes payable may differ. The incongruity is caused by temporary differences in taxable and/or deductible amounts and requires interperiod tax allocation. II. Intraperiod Tax Allocation – Intraperiod Tax Allocation involves apportioning the total tax provision for financial accounting purposes in a period between the income or loss from: a. Income from continuing operations b. Discontinued operations c. Extraordinary items d. Cumulative effect of an accounting change e. Other comprehensive income i. Pension Adjustment ii. Unrealized gain/loss on available for sale security iii. Foreign translation adjustment f. Components of stockholders’ equity iv. Retained earnings for prior period adjustments and v. Items of accumulated (other) comprehensive income g. General Rule – Any amount not allocated to continuing operations...
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...Question 36 Taxable income of a corporation Correct Answer: differs from accounting income due to differences in interperiod allocation and permanent differences between the two methods of income determination. Question 37 Correct Answer: III Question 38 Interperiod income tax allocation causes Correct Answer: tax expense shown on the income statement to equal the amount of income taxes payable for the current year plus or minus the change in the deferred tax asset or liability balances for the year. Question 39 The deferred tax expense is the Correct Answer: increase in balance of deferred tax liability minus the increase in balance of deferred tax asset. Question 40 The rationale for interperiod income tax allocation is to Correct Answer: recognize a tax asset or liability for the tax consequences of temporary differences that exist at the balance sheet date. Question 41 Interperiod tax allocation results in a deferred tax liability from Correct Answer: the amount of deferred tax consequences attributed to temporary differences that result in net taxable amounts in future years. Question 42 Which of the following situations would require interperiod income tax allocation procedures? Correct Answer: A temporary difference exists at the balance sheet date because the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the financial statements differ Question 43 Interperiod income tax allocation procedures are appropriate...
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...CHAPTER 19 ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES IFRS questions are available at the end of this chapter. TRUe-FALSe—Conceptual Answer No. Description F 1. Taxable income. F 2. Use of pretax financial income. T 3. Taxable amounts. T 4. Deferred tax liability. F 5. Deductible amounts. T 6. Deferred tax asset. F 7. Need for valuation allowance account. T 8. Positive and negative evidence. F 9. Computation of income tax expense. T 10. Taxable temporary differences. F 11. Taxable temporary difference examples. T 12. Permanent differences. T 13. Applying tax rates to temporary differences. F 14. Change in tax rates. F 15. Accounting for a loss carryback. T 16. Tax effect of a loss carryforward. T 17. Possible source of taxable income. T 18. Classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities. F 19. Classification of deferred tax accounts. F 20. Method used for accounting for income taxes. Multiple Choice—Conceptual Answer No. Description b 21. Differences between taxable and accounting income. c 22. Differences between taxable and accounting income. b 23. Determination of deferred tax expense. a 24. Differences arising from depreciation methods. a P25. Temporary difference and a revenue item. b S26. Effect of future taxable amount. c P27. Causes of a deferred tax liability. d S28. Distinction between temporary and permanent differences. b S29. Identification of deductible temporary difference. c S30. Identification...
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...ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAX Aylin Alishahi University of Houston - Victoria Abstract The main idea of this paper is to introduce the concept of Accounting for Income Tax. As part of our discussion, we will understand the meaning of Income Tax and Tax Accounting. We will also look into the different terminologies of GAAP and IRS and the differences between the two. There are two basic kinds of differences between the two – temporary and permanent. In addition to looking at the basic kinds of differences, we will also look into Net Operating Losses. Examples have been provided for all the concepts to better understand the idea behind the concept. Although, this paper does not provide the detailed explanation, it will help us understand the overview of the whole theory. Keywords: Income Tax, Tax Accounting, Accounting for Income Tax, Temporary Differences, Permanent Differences, Net Operating Losses. ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAX Income Tax and Tax Accounting Income Tax is defines as “A tax that governments impose on financial income generated by all entities within their jurisdiction”. It is required by the law that businesses and individuals must file an income tax return every year to determine whether they owe any taxes or are eligible for a tax refund. Income tax is a key source of funds that the government uses to fund its activities and serve the public. Tax Accounting is defined as “Accounting methods that focus on taxes rather than the appearance of public financial statements”...
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...directors 3 2.2.1 No Income Tax Expenses 3 2.2.2 No deferred tax liability 4 2.2.3 Tax losses 5 2.3 Information utility to users of financial report of deferred tax liabilities 6 3.0 Conclusion 7 References 8 1.0 Introduction Accounting Standard AASB 112 (Income Taxes) prescribe the accounting treatment for income taxes. As stated by Leo, Hoggett, & Sweeting (2012), transactions undertaken by an entity and other events affecting the entity have two separate effects, which are current and future tax consequences. This is because accrual principal is applied on accounting treatment whereas income tax treatment uses the cash flow method. For accounting treatment, accounting profit is profit or loss for a period before deducting tax expense whereas for income tax treatment, taxable income described as gross income minus any allowable deduction. Difference between accounting and tax treatments lead to taxable temporary differences and deductible temporary differences. Discussion was carried out to determine how exploration and development cost create a deferred tax liability, analyse the argument presented by the directors in view of the AASB 112 and discuss the infromation ultility to readers of annual report of including or excluding deferred tax liability. 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Exploration and Development costs creates a Deferred Tax Liability As stated by Leo, Hoggett, & Sweeting (2012), deferred tax liability is the amounts of income taxes payable in future...
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...CHAPTER 19 Accounting for Income Taxes ASSIGNMENT CLASSIFICATION TABLE (BY TOPIC) Topics 1. Reconcile pretax financial income with taxable income. 2. Identify temporary and permanent differences. 3. Determine deferred income taxes and related items— single tax rate. 4. Classification of deferred taxes. 5. Determine deferred income taxes and related items— multiple tax rates, expected future income. 6. Determine deferred taxes, multiple rates, expected future losses. 7. Carryback and carryforward of NOL. 8. Change in enacted future tax rate. 9. Tracking temporary differences through reversal. 10. Income statement presentation. 9 8 16, 17, 18, 14, 21, 22 Questions 1, 13 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 13 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 15 10 Brief Exercises Exercises 1 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 18, 20, 21 4, 5, 6, 7 Concepts Problems for Analysis 1, 2, 3, 8 2, 3, 4 3, 4, 5 2 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 3, 4, 8, 9 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25 7, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 2, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22 3, 6 1, 2, 6, 7 10, 11, 12 2, 3, 5 1, 6, 7 10 12, 13, 14 11 9, 10, 23, 24, 25 16 8, 17 5 2, 7 2, 7 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 16, 19, 7, 8, 9 23, 24, 25 7 1, 2, 7 11. Conceptual issues—tax allocation. 1, 2, 8, 19, 21, 22 7 12. Valuation allowance—deferred 8, 19 tax asset. 13. Disclosure and other issues. 15 7, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25 Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Kieso, Intermediate Accounting, 13/e, Solutions Manual (For Instructor Use Only) 19-1 ASSIGNMENT CLASSIFICATION...
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...played a large role in the said scandal which in turn resulted in many people losing their investments in Enron and many employees being prosecuted by the criminal court system. One of the major responsibilities of a CPA is to remain and act ethical inside and outside of the business. Confidentiality is a major ethic hassle many CPAs have had a difficult time with. The information in a company is vital to the operations of the company. Leaking the vital information to the public or to the company’s competitors is an unethical action. When a CPA is hired by a company to review the financial statements of a company, which is their only job they must do. Preparing income tax refund papers, giving tax advice, or any other information to the management of the company is against the scope of practice what the CPA was hired for. When misstatements, errors, or misclassifications are found in the financial statements, the CPA is responsible for making note of the adjustments to be made and turn the information back to the company for correction. The CPA is not required to perform the error corrections due to it is the accountant’s job. Difference between a Review and an Audit A review is just a review of the...
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...questions: What is the methodology used in determining deferred taxes, what is the procedures for reporting accounting changes and error corrections, and what is the rationale behind establishing the subsidiary as a corporation. It will also detail the professional responsibilities of a CPA and what the differences between a review and an audit are. The professional responsibilities of a CPA are to uphold the rules set forth by the State board of Certified Public Accountants, and to conduct ourselves in a manner bound by the rules of the AICPA’s Professional Code of Conduct. They also include: independence, scope of service, confidentiality, practice development, and difference on accounting issues. A CPA at all times should maintain a high level of ethical conduct that goes above and beyond society’s laws. As a CPA we are to keep our professional judgment unbiased and base our opinions on factual information and keep all personal interest separate from the work. CPA’s should keep all client information confidential, and only report information deemed necessary for investors and outside users, as well as determine and discuss with the client and differences in accounting issues that relate to transactions are handled so that they may be resolves in an accurate and timely manner (Schroeder, 2005). The difference between and audit and a review is that an audit provides a basis for an opinion for a company’s financials. A review on the other hand does not offer a basis for...
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