EBITDA: $1,000,000
Tax rate: 40%
We can calculate the firm’s income tax expense, taxes payable, and deferred tax liability as follows:
Income Statement
| | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| EBITDA | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Depreciation | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Income before tax | 500,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| Income tax expense | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
Income Tax Returns
| | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| EBITDA | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Depreciation | $600,000 | $500,000 | $400,000 |
| Income before tax | 400,000 | 500,000 | 600,000 |
| Tax payable | 160,000 | 200,000 | 240,000 |
In year 1, income tax expense is $200,000 but the tax payable is only $160,000. The difference of $40,000 is deferred to future period and reported on balance sheet as Deferred Tax Liability (DTL).
In year 2, depreciation is same for both accounting and tax purpose; therefore, income tax expense and tax payable are same. There will be no change in DTL.
In year 3, tax payable is higher than income tax expense by $40,000. The Deferred Tax Liability recognized at the end of year 1 will now be reversed.
Note that over the period of three years, the income tax expense, tax payable, and the total depreciation are same for both income statement and tax returns.
Impact of Tax Rate Change on Financial Statements
If the income tax rates change, the firm is required to adjust the values of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the new tax rate. The income tax expense may also be affected.
If tax rate increases:
- Deferred tax assets and liabilities increase
- Income tax expense = Income tax payable + ΔDTL – ΔDTA
If tax rate decreases:
- Deferred tax assets and liabilities decrease
- Income tax expense = Income tax payable - ΔDTL + ΔDTA
Example
A firm has an asset with carrying value = $500,000
Tax base = $400,000
Tax rate = 40%
Deferred Tax Liability = 40% * (500,000 – 400,000) = $40,000
Bad debt expense recognized in income statement = $25,000. Carrying value is $0.
This bad debt expense is not deducted in tax returns. Tax base is $25,000
Deferred Tax Asset = 40% * (25,000 – 0) = $10,000
The tax rate changes to 30%.
Since the tax rate has decreased, both DTL and DTA will decrease.
New DTL = 30% * (500,000 – 400,000) = $30,000. DTL is lower by $10,000
New DTA = 30% * (25,000 – 0) = $7,500. DTA is lower by $2,500.
We will apply the following equation to determine the change in income tax expense:
Income tax expense = Income tax payable - DDTL + D DTA
The income tax expense will reduce by $7,500.
