Projecting Income Statement Line Items

Income statement line items are one of the most commonly used financial tools for projecting future profitability. This is because income statement line items reflect the detail in the company’s operations, and they are a useful tool for investors and analysts. This tutorial will show you how to calculate income statement line items, and how to use them in your financial modeling.

Income statement line items can be projected in a general sense, but it gets a little tricky when you’re dealing with intangible items, such as assets and environmental costs.

Accounting Home Forecast income statement

7. August 2020
Accounting Adam Hill

Differences between taxable income and income or profit before taxes as reported in the financial statements are temporary or permanent. Permanent differences occur when there is a permanent difference between the deduction rules in accounting and in tax law. Temporary differences arise when there is a time lag between the recognition of deductions under tax and accounting standards. This results in a difference between the tax burden, which is calculated on the basis of pre-tax income, and the current tax liability, which is calculated on the basis of taxable income.

Although companies always debit income taxes and credit income taxes, the difference between the two accounts requires an additional debit of what are called deferred tax assets to offset the total journal entries. All businesses and individuals with taxable income must pay tax. For companies, this means an expense on the profit and loss account, which removes a substantial part of the profit.

However, this liability is not recognised for tax purposes (i.e. the tax base is nil) because the costs associated with the product warranty are not deductible on the tax return until paid. Consequently, the expense and the related liability are recognised for financial reporting purposes before being recognised for income tax purposes. Since GAAP is based on accrual accounting, an asset or liability must be recognized for differences that have future tax consequences.

What does the income tax expense represent in the income statement?

The difference of $2,000 is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet – a deferred tax asset. This is money that the company has already paid, but which can be used on the balance sheet to cover future income tax expenses. Companies report both tax expense and tax liability in journal entries. For entities operating on a cash basis, the income tax expense is the income tax payable – the actual amount of tax payable. However, there is a difference between tax expense and accounting profit when entities use the accrual basis of accounting and the cash basis of accounting for tax purposes.

This can be done using accounting standards such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Under the asset and liability method, the amount of deferred tax is measured using the tax rates expected to apply to the periods when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. In addition, this column includes enhancements that show how provisions for impairment, differences in tax rate over time, and tax credits affect ETR and how each item is presented in the reconciliation. On the other hand, suppose your company calculated an income tax expense of $10,000, but the actual tax bill was $12,000. Your company records an expense of $10,000 and reports $12,000 as a tax liability.

All companies must report current and deferred income taxes as part of the total provision for income taxes on continuing operations. T and P calculate the current tax liability and current tax expense by multiplying taxable income by the corporate tax rate of 21% set forth in a law called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L.

Since income tax is only paid when there is taxable income, companies try to further minimize their taxable income by understating profits or overstating losses. In addition, income reported for tax purposes sometimes differs from income reported for financial purposes due to differences in accounting policies.

Deferred tax assets

For example, a company must pay one type of tax on the wages it pays to its employees – the payroll tax – and another on purchases of assets – the sales tax. In addition, there are taxes levied at the state or national level. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the right tax rate as this will ultimately affect the company’s tax burden.

This is where the discrepancy arises between income tax and tax accounting. Deferred tax expense is based on the timing difference between the recognition of income and expenses in the financial statements and in the tax return. Under this method, the amount of deferred income tax is calculated using the tax rates in effect or substantively enacted at the time the temporary differences arose.

• We discussed the idea of calculating deferred tax expense in the Overview section above.
• Future taxable amounts will increase taxable income and give rise to a deferred tax liability for accounting purposes; future deductible amounts will decrease taxable income and give rise to a deferred tax asset for accounting purposes.

Under this balance sheet method, the amount of deferred tax expense is determined by the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Companies must first calculate the taxes due or receivable and then determine their deferred tax assets and liabilities. The calculation of deferred tax assets and liabilities must be based on current tax legislation and not on future expectations/assumptions. Finally, deferred tax assets (like all other assets) must be tested for impairment. Amounts deemed irrecoverable must be charged to the income statement.

If the tax expense exceeds the tax liability, the deferred tax expense is recognized; if the tax liability exceeds the tax expense, the deferred tax asset is recognized. After calculating the amount due to the government (tax payable), it is necessary to determine whether other income taxes should be recognised for financial reporting purposes.

Income taxes payable may also be treated as current income taxes and are not included in the total income tax expense on an accrual basis. Since tax returns are prepared on a cash basis, reflecting only cash receipts and payments, taxable income will be lower or higher than accrual financial income, which includes cash receipts or non-cash payments. As a result, the tax liability for the tax return is also lower or higher than the tax liability for the financial return.

This depends on whether there are temporary differences between the amounts reported for tax purposes and those reported for accounting purposes. U.S. GAAP, specifically ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes, requires income taxes to be recorded using the asset and liability method. The asset and liability method is used to value current and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The income tax expense recognised for the reporting period represents the amount of income tax payable or receivable, plus or minus the change in accumulated deferred tax assets and liabilities.

T files an amended 2017 tax return with a $10,000 capital loss carryback to receive a $3,500 income tax refund in 2019 for taxes previously paid on offsetting capital gains. It reflects a refund receivable of $3,500 and a corresponding decrease in current income tax expense. Because the $10,000 capital loss in 2019 financial income provides an additional tax savings of $1,400 over the $2,100 taken at the original rate reconciliation point, T reduces its 2019 ETR by 0.74% ($1,400 ÷ $190,000 of pre-tax financial income).

Should income taxes be included in the journal entries?

We discussed the idea of calculating deferred tax expense in the Overview section above. In general, temporary differences can be split into future taxable amounts and future deductible amounts. Future taxable amounts will increase taxable income and give rise to a deferred tax liability for accounting purposes; future deductible amounts will decrease taxable income and give rise to a deferred tax asset for accounting purposes. Deferred tax expense or income generally represents the change during the year in the amount of deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, and deferred tax liabilities. Income taxes are the amount of income taxes that an entity recognises as state taxes on its taxable income in a reporting period.

Depending on GAAP and IFRS accounting standards, the income reported by companies in their income statements often differs from taxable income as defined by tax law. This can be explained by the fact that, according to the accounting rules, companies use the straight-line method to determine the depreciation for a given year. However, the tax code allows them to use the accelerated depreciation method to determine their taxable income.

Accounting tools

This difference will result in a taxable or deductible amount in the future. For accounting purposes, an entity recognises a liability for a product warranty.

Current tax liabilities or assets are credited or charged to the income statement (current tax expense). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are generally offset in the income statement (deferred tax expense). The temporary difference is the difference between the asset or liability reported in the tax return (tax base) and the book value (balance sheet value) in the financial statements.

Some companies go to such lengths to defer or evade taxes that their tax burden is virtually zero despite large profits. and in other countries, companies are allowed to report one figure of pre-tax income (also called earnings before taxes, pre-tax profits or pre-tax profits) to shareholders and another figure, called taxable income, to the tax authorities.

Historically, many places used a cash accounting system, with the income statement considered primary and the balance sheet secondary. The approach adopted in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles was codified in SFAS 96, issued in December 1987, and updated in February 1992 in SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes on a Balance Sheet Approach. The accounting and financial reporting for income tax purposes of an ordinary company is complex, as accounting principles may differ from tax laws and regulations. For example, the financial statements of a profitable ordinary company will typically show both income tax expense and current liabilities. B. income taxes payable, of.{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is a line item on an income statement?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” A line item on an income statement is a single entry that represents a single transaction.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How do you forecast an income statement?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” An income statement forecasts the company’s revenues and expenses for a specific period of time.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What items are included in income statement?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” The income statement includes all the revenue and expenses that a company has during a specific period of time.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a line item on an income statement?

A line item on an income statement is a single entry that represents a single transaction.

How do you forecast an income statement?

An income statement forecasts the company’s revenues and expenses for a specific period of time.

What items are included in income statement?

The income statement includes all the revenue and expenses that a company has during a specific period of time.