Mid-year Corporate Tax downward revision has given rise to debate on Deferred Tax Assets (DTA) when Q2FY20 results are getting announced. While arriving at Q2 profit estimates for the Corporate, Analyst expectations are showing divergences basis DTA whether that would be evenly spread during rest of the year or Corporate would go for one-time mark-down. Some of the Corporate, which have already announced the quarterly results are yet to take a call on Deferred Tax Asset adjustment. This has created ambiguity in the mind of brokerage houses about the likely call of the Corporate on DTA. The reduction in the base Corporate Tax rate from 30% to 22% has resulted in consensus estimates for Q2 FY20 results going haywire.
Let us define Deferred Tax Assets; as the name suggests it has to do with excess tax provisioning, and less tax provisioning for Deferred Tax liability. Generally, Deferred Tax Assets (DTA) is derived from the difference between Book Profits (BP) computed under Companies Act, 2013 and Tax Profits (TP) calculated in accordance with Income Tax Act, 1961. When BP is more than TP then that leads to Deferred Tax Assets whereas BP lesser than TP results in Deferred Tax liability. Depreciation happens to be main reason for difference in Profits as per Accounting Practices and Taxable Profits in accordance with Income Tax Act. The differences in BP and TP could be temporary in nature when those could be reversed at a later date whereas it becomes permanent when it is irreversible.
* In order to illustrate Deferred Tax Assets for Depreciation, let us take an example:-
Cost of Plant & Machinery: Rs 10,00,000.00
Depreciation @30% as per Accounting Practices: Rs 3,00,000.00
Depreciation @20% as per IT Act: Rs 2,00,000.00
Excess Depreciation: Rs 1,00,000.00
Tax @30% on excess depreciation Rs 30,000.00 (Deferred Tax Assets)
* Deferred Tax Assets calculation when tax rates are revised mid-year:-
Profit Before Tax Rs 10,00,000.00
Old Tax rate @30% Rs 3,00,000.00
New Tax rate @22% Rs 2,20,000.00
Deferred Tax Assets Rs 80,000.00
In other words, when BP is greater than TP then pay lower tax now and end up paying higher tax later. This process is called creation of Deferred Tax Liability. On the other hand, when BP is lower than TP then pay higher tax now to end up paying lower tax later. This process is called creation of Deferred Tax Assets. Creation of deferred Tax Liability means postponement of tax liability to future years unless it si of permanent nature. Similarly, creation of deferred Tax Assets means providing for higher taxes for adjustment in future years from DTL unless DTA is permanent in nature.
Keep watching this space for more updates on Taxation aspects!
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