CONCLUSIONS
The ever-increasing net deferred tax liability position for many firms does not appear to be reversing, and questions concerning whether the required method of accounting for deferred taxes is helpful in assessing future cash flows are still not resolved. This paper argues that the simultaneous use of incompatible unit perspectives by the FASB is the basis of the disagreements most critics have with the FASB’s positions. The FASB adopted both individual and aggregate event perspectives, drawing insupportable conclusions regarding the recognition of liabilities and assets. This study concludes that income taxation is an aggregate phenomenon and an aggregate perspective is required, making the flow-through method of accounting the obvious choice.
The flow-through method of accounting for taxes results in significant decreases in the debt-to-equity ratio for most firms, improving their financial position. The flow-through method represents a logical approach in accounting for taxes as long as taxation is viewed as a transaction occurring between the private and public sectors. That is, taxation is the act of transferring a portion of the periodic increase in an entity’s net worth (computed using the tax law) to a government entity for the privilege of conducting business in that government’s jurisdiction.
Deferred taxes do not meet the FASB's definition of a liability. They represent contingencies since most firms have tax policies that allow them to continue deferring taxes at the aggregate level indefinitely making it probable that temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Where the reversal of some deferred taxes is probable, it is appropriate to report those amounts in the financial statements with the remaining balances that may possibly reverse being disclosed in the footnotes. In this manner, global convergence of accounting for deferred taxes will be achieved.