ABSTRACT
This study examines the theory underlying the current accounting and reporting standards for
deferred taxes. Given the goal of global accounting convergence and under the proposed
condorsement approach, the FASB and the IASB have a historic opportunity to
revise the existing
deferred tax accounting standards. Thus, it is warranted to illustrate the financial consequences of
using the proposed flow
-
through (where tax expense is equal to the statutory tax liability)
approach versus the asset
-
liability method
of accounting for deferred taxes. We achieve this
objective by computing the change in the debt
-
to
-
equity (DTE) ratios for the 2004
-
2010 period
when net deferred tax balances are eliminated and corresponding adjustments are made in the
total liability and
stockholders equity balances. Based on our observations, we propose that the
underlying issue in accounting for deferred taxes is the unit problem and argue that deferred taxes
do not represent assets and liabilities as defined by accounting standards.