DISCLOSURES
Many companies have already adopted FIN 48 and have turned their attention to the annual disclosure requirements. Under FIN 48, a company must include a number of disclosures including the following:
• Tabular reconciliation of the total aggregate amount of the unrecognized tax benefit at the beginning and end of the period including the following:
• The effects of the positions taken during the year
• Changes in assessments of prior-period positions
• The impact of settlements with taxing authorities
• The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate (ETR).
• The total amount of interest and penalties recognized in the financial statements.
• Potential significant increases/decreases to the total unrecognized tax benefit that could occur within the next 12 months, including the following:
• Nature of uncertainty
• Nature of event that might trigger the change
• A description of tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions.
Valuation services are often required for FIN 48 compliance. The following case studies represent examples of how we could help support the FIN 48 analysis which must be undertaken by companies as part of their quarterly and annual financial statement processes.