Deferred Tax Asset

What Is a Deferred Tax Asset?

A deferred tax asset is an item on a company's balance sheet that reduces its taxable income in the future.

Such a line item asset can be found when a business overpays its taxes. This money will eventually be returned to the business in the form of tax relief. Therefore, the overpayment becomes an asset to the company.

A deferred tax asset is the opposite of a deferred tax liability, which indicates an expected increase in the amount of income tax owed by a company. 

Understanding Deferred Tax Assets

A deferred tax asset is often created when taxes are paid or carried forward but cannot yet be recognized on the company's income statement.

For example, deferred tax assets can be created when the tax authorities recognize revenue or expenses at different times than those that the company follows as an accounting standard.

These assets help reduce the company’s future tax liability.

It is important to note that a deferred tax asset is recognized only when the difference between the loss-value or depreciation of the asset is expected to offset its future profit.

A deferred tax asset might be compared to rent paid in advance or a refundable insurance premium. While the business no longer has the cash on hand, it does have its comparable value, and this must be reflected in its financial statements.

Common Deferred Tax Assets

One straightforward example of a deferred tax asset is the carryover of losses. If a business incurs a loss in a financial year, it usually is entitled to use that loss in order to lower its taxable income in the following years. In that sense, the loss is an asset.

Another scenario arises when there is a difference between accounting rules and tax rules. For example, deferred taxes exist when expenses are recognized in a company's income statement before they are required to be recognized by the tax authorities or when revenue is subject to taxes before it is taxable in the income statement.

Essentially, whenever the tax base or tax rules for assets and/or liabilities are different, there is an opportunity for the creation of a deferred tax asset.

Example of Deferred Tax Asset Calculation

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Say a computer manufacturing company estimates, based on past experience, that the probability that a computer will be sent back for warranty repairs in the next year is 2% of the total production. If the company's total revenue in year one is $3,000 and the warranty expense in its books is $60 (2% x $3,000), then the company's taxable income is $2,940.

However, most tax authorities do not allow companies to deduct expenses based on expected warranties; thus the company is required to pay taxes on the full $3,000.

If the tax rate for the company is 30%, the difference of $18 ($60 x 30%) between the taxes payable in the income statement and the actual taxes paid to the tax authorities is a deferred tax asset.

Special Considerations

There are some key characteristics of deferred tax assets to consider. First, starting in the 2018 tax year, they can be carried forward indefinitely for most companies, but are no longer able to be carried back.

The second thing to consider is how tax rates affect the value of deferred tax assets. If the tax rate goes up, it works in the company’s favor because the assets’ values also go up, therefore providing a bigger cushion for a larger income. But if the tax rate drops, the tax asset value also declines. This means that the company may not be able to use the whole benefit before the expiration date. 

Why Do Deferred Tax Assets Occur?

A balance sheet may reflect a deferred tax asset if it has prepaid its taxes.

This may occur simply because of a difference in the time that a company pays its taxes and the time that the tax authority credits it. Or, it may indicate that the company overpaid its taxes. In that case, the money will be refunded.

In such cases, the company's books need to reflect taxes paid by the company or money due to it.

Do Deferred Tax Assets Carry Forward?

Yes. Beginning in 2018, taxpayers can carry deferred tax assets forward indefinitely.

What Is a Deferred Tax Asset vs. a Deferred Tax Liability?

A deferred tax asset represents a financial benefit, while a deferred tax liability indicates a future tax obligation or payment due.

For instance, retirement savers with traditional 401(k) plans make contributions to their accounts using pre-tax income. When that money is eventually withdrawn, income tax is due on those contributions. That is a deferred tax liability.