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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 $25,000.

B)	Increase in deferred tax expense of $5,000.

C)	Decrease in deferred tax expense of $5,000.

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.

Habel Inc. owns equipment with a tax base of $400,000 and a carrying value of $600,000. Habel also has a tax loss carryforward of $200,000 that is expected to be utilized in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax items on the balance sheet are valued based on a tax rate of 30%. If the tax rate is expected to increase to 35%, the adjustments to the value of deferred tax items will most likely cause Habel’s total liabilities-to-equity ratio to:

The $200,000 difference between the tax base and the carrying value of the equipment gives rise to a taxable temporary difference that leads to a deferred tax liability of $60,000 ($200,000 × 30%). The tax loss carryforward of $200,000 leads to a deferred tax asset of $60,000 ($200,000 × 30%).

The increase in the tax rate from 30% to 35% will increase both the DTL and the DTA by $10,000 ($200,000 × 5%). Equity is unchanged. Therefore, the total liabilities-to-equity ratio will increase because of the increase in the deferred tax liability.

Firm 1 has a deferred tax liability and Firm 2 has a deferred tax asset. With respect to the taxes payable for each firm when these deferred tax items reverse, a decrease in the firms’ tax rates will lead to:

Lower taxes payable

Higher taxes payable

Lower taxes payable

Higher taxes payable

When the expected tax rate decreases, income will be taxed at a lower rate when a DTL reverses, resulting in lower (cash) taxes payable for Firm 1. In contrast, expenses that will be tax deductible when the DTA reverses will provide less of a benefit when the tax rate is lower, resulting in higher taxes payable for Firm 2.