LOS e: Evaluate the impact of tax rate changes on a company’s financial statements and ratios.
Christophe Inc. is an electronics manufacturing firm. It owns equipment with a tax basis of $800,000 and a carrying value of $600,000 as the result an impairment charge. It also has a tax loss carryforward of $300,000 that is expected to be utilized within the next year or two. The tax rate on these items is 40% but the tax rate is expected to decrease to 35% for the foreseeable future. Which of the following amounts is closest to the net effect of the change in tax rate on the income statement?
A) |
Increase in deferred tax expense of $5,000. | |
B) |
Decrease in deferred tax expense of $5,000. | |
C) |
Increase in deferred tax expense of $25,000. | |
The $200,000 difference between the tax base and the carrying value of the equipment gives rise to a deductible temporary difference that leads to a deferred tax asset (DTA) of $80,000 ($200,000 × 40%). The tax loss carryforward of $300,000 also leads to a DTA but for $120,000 ($300,000 × 40%).
The decrease in the tax rate from 40% to 35% will reduce the DTA of the equipment by $10,000 ($200,000 × 5%). It will reduce the DTA of the tax loss carryforward by $15,000 ($300,000 × 5%). In total, the DTA will decrease by $25,000. Therefore, the balancing entry will be to increase deferred tax expense by $25,000.
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