AS 22 Accounting for Taxes on Income

Profits as per your financial statements rarely match with your taxable profits. And it would be incorrect to ignore to account for the difference between these two profits. To govern the accounting for such differences, we cover the following topics  in this article w.r.t. AS 22 Accounting for Taxes on Income:

Introduction – Accounting Standard

Accounting Standard 22 has been prescribed by ICAI to be applied in accounting for taxes on income. This AS is applied to match the differences between accounting income and taxable income. 1. Accounting income is the net profit before tax for a period, as reported in the profit and loss statement. 2. Taxable income is the income on which income tax is payable, computed by applying provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 & Rules.

Types of differences and why they appear

The differences can be of two types:

Timing difference

Timing differences are those differences between accounting income and taxable income which can be reversed in one or more subsequent periods. For example, Depreciation allowed as per WDV method for computing taxable income and as per SLM method for computing accounting income.

Permanent difference

Permanent differences are those differences between accounting income and taxable income which cannot be reversed any subsequent period. For example, Donation paid in cash is disallowed in computing taxable income whereas it is allowed as expenditure while computing accounting income. There can be differences between accounting income and taxable income because of the following reasons :

1. Expenses debited in profit and loss statement, but disallowed as per Income Tax Act 1961, while computing taxable income

2. Provision for Bad/doubtful debts allowed while computing accounting income, but disallowed while computing taxable income

3. Charging depreciation using different rates as per Companies Act 2013 and Income Tax Act 1961

4. Any income recognized on an accrual basis in profit and loss statement but recognized on receipt basis in subsequent period for computing taxable income. In order to account for these kinds of differences, AS 22 needs to be applied.

When to apply AS 22 Accounting for Taxes on Income

AS 22 needs to be applied when there are differences between taxable income and accounting income. If taxable income is greater than accounting income, then it will result in deferred tax asset. And if accounting income is greater than taxable income, then it will result in deferred tax liability.

When the difference is resulting in deferred tax asset, then it should be recognized only when there is a reasonable certainty of its realization. The recognition of deferred tax asset should be to the extent of the reasonable certainty of the expected realization. The reasonable certainty can be determined by making the realistic estimates of future profits based on the examination of profits and loss statement of earlier periods.

Say, an entity has unabsorbed depreciation or carry forward of losses. In such a case, deferred tax asset should be recognized to the extent there is a virtual certainty supported by convincing evidence. Virtual certainty is a matter of judgment of convincing evidence, which should be available in a concrete form at a particular date.

How to apply AS 22 Accounting for Taxes on Income

The application of AS 22 can be explained with the help of examples: Example of timing difference: 

Deferred tax computation

Comparison between AS 22 and IND AS 12

IFRIC 23

IFRIC 23 also provides for Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments. It requires an entity to treat uncertain tax treatments depending on which method will be best suited for its resolution. The major difference between AS 22 and IFRIC 23 is that IFRIC 23 requires an entity, while determining the current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, to make an assessment whether it is probable that taxation authority will accept an uncertain tax treatment.

If it is not probable, then entity should reflect that uncertainty through either expected value approach or most likely approach. IFRIC 23 will be applicable for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 01.01.2019.