GAAP
ASC 740
Income Taxes

📖 Overview

This standard addresses accounting treatment for income taxes, including current and deferred tax. Requires a recognition threshold analysis for uncertain tax positions.

🎯 Scope

This standard applies to the accounting treatment for income taxes, including:
- Current Tax.
- Deferred Tax.
- Uncertain Tax Positions.
- Temporary Differences.
- Operating Loss Carryforwards.

⚙️ Key Principles

1. **Current Tax**:
- Calculated based on Taxable Income under tax laws.
- Recorded as an expense or benefit in the income statement.

2. **Deferred Tax**:
- Arises from temporary differences between Book Value and Tax Base.
- **Taxable Temporary Differences**: Result in Deferred Tax Liability.
- **Deductible Temporary Differences**: Result in Deferred Tax Asset.

3. **Uncertain Tax Positions**:
- **Two-Step Test**:
- **Step 1**: Is it More Likely Than Not (>50%) that the position will be sustained upon audit?
- **Step 2**: Measure the tax benefit as the largest amount with a cumulative probability exceeding 50%.

📏 Measurement

**Current Tax:**
- Measured using Enacted Tax Rates at the balance sheet date.

**Deferred Tax:**
- Measured using tax rates expected to apply when the asset or liability is settled.
- **Deferred tax is not discounted**.

**Deferred Tax Assets:**
- Recognized only if it is More Likely Than Not that future taxable profit will be available.
- A Valuation Allowance is assessed to reduce the deferred tax asset if recovery is not likely.

**Uncertain Tax Positions:**
- Measured using the Cumulative Probability Method.
- Measurement is adjusted as circumstances change.

✅ Recognition

**Current Tax:**
- Recognized as an expense (or benefit) in the income statement.
- A tax liability (or asset) is recorded on the balance sheet.

**Deferred Tax:**
- Recognized for all temporary differences, with limited exceptions.
- Recognized in the income statement, unless related to:
- An item recognized in OCI.
- An item recognized directly in equity.
- A Business Combination.

**Valuation Allowance:**
- Recognized to reduce the deferred tax asset if benefit realization is not likely.
- Reversed when benefit realization becomes likely.

📊 Presentation

**On the Balance Sheet:**
- **Current Tax Liabilities**: Unpaid tax due.
- **Current Tax Assets**: Prepaid tax.
- **Deferred Tax Liabilities**: Presented as non-current liabilities.
- **Deferred Tax Assets**: Presented as non-current assets.
- **Current and deferred tax assets/liabilities are not offset** unless due to the same tax authority.

**On the Income Statement:**
- Income tax expense (benefit) is presented as a separate line item.
- Components of tax expense (current and deferred) are disclosed.

**Note Disclosures:**
- Reconciliation between accounting tax expense and tax calculated on accounting profit.
- Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities.
- Unused operating loss carryforwards and tax credits.
- Uncertain tax positions.

📝 Disclosure Requirements

Disclosures required:
- Current and deferred income tax expense (benefit).
- **Reconciliation**: Difference between accounting tax expense and tax calculated on accounting profit.
- Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities.
- Unused operating loss carryforwards and tax credits (amounts and expiration dates).
- Valuation Allowance for deferred tax assets (movement during the period).
- **Uncertain Tax Positions**:
- Opening and closing balances.
- Additions and reductions.
- Interest and penalties.
- Accounting policies for taxes.
- Effect of changes in tax rates (if any).

🔗 Related Standards

ASC 740-10 (Overall Recognition and Measurement), ASC 740-30 (Deferred Tax), ASC 740-270 (Interim Tax)

📁 Related Accounts in Chart of Accounts