Is the balance sheet method of deferred tax informative?

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31
Author(s):  
Kim Mear ◽  
Michael Bradbury ◽  
Jill Hooks

Purpose This study aims to compare the value relevance of the recognised deferred tax elements under International Accounting Standard 12 (IAS 12): Income Taxes (balance sheet method) relative to the taxes payable (flow through) method. It also investigates the value relevance of the IAS 12 deferred tax disclosures. Design/methodology/approach This study used standard valuation models to examine the association between share price and the recognised amounts and footnote disclosures of IAS 12. The Vuong (1989) test is then used to assess which information set is more value relevant. The sample includes 440 firm years over the period 2008-2012. Findings The results show that deferred tax amounts recognised under the balance sheet method provide no more information to investors than the taxes payable method (TPM). Deferred tax footnote disclosures, however, are more relevant than the amounts recognised under the balance sheet method. This study investigates potential reasons for the relevance of footnote disclosures. Research limitations/implications This study has not addressed whether the deferral method of deferred tax is relevant. In addition, while footnote disclosures look promising, further research is necessary. Practical implications The results suggest, given the complexity and cost of compliance with IAS 12, that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) should undertake a comprehensive re-think on the relevance of the balance sheet method in IAS 12 and revert to the TPM. Originality/value The IASB and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group have expressed concerns over the balance sheet method under IAS 12. The IASB and the Financial Accounting Standards Board also have concerns over the cost and complexity of the deferred tax disclosures. The study’s results offer a perspective by examining whether the balance sheet method is value relevant. Prior research has addressed this issue using local data (i.e. pre-International Financial Reporting Standards). This study also provides suggestions for future research into deferred tax footnote disclosures.

Author(s):  
Fatema Ebrahim Alrawahi ◽  
Adel Mohammed Sarea

Purpose This study aims to investigate the association between seven firm-specific characteristics and the level of mandatory compliance with International Accounting Standards (IAS) 1 by firms listed on Bahrain Bourse. Design/methodology/approach A disclosure index is used to measure the extent of compliance with IAS 1. Each of the 36 sampled firms’ annual reports were examined against the index for the financial year ending December 31, 2013. Findings The results reveal an overall compliance of 83 per cent. Regression results report that only audit firm size, profitability and industry type have a positive and significant association with IAS 1 disclosure requirements. Practical implications This study should be particularly relevant to regulatory bodies in Bahrain for strategizing and encouraging compliance with IAS 1 by listed firms. Originality/value Additionally, the study contributes to financial reporting literature relating to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, mainly Bahrain. Bahrain is a financial hub, and it is interesting to examine how it presents its financial statements to investors and the degree of its compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards since its adoption in 2007.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-291
Author(s):  
Gaurav Kumar ◽  
Jagjit S. Saini

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of choice of accounting standards on the value relevance and accrual quality of reported earnings and book values under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) versus US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Design/methodology/approach The authors examine the effect of choice of accounting standards on the value relevance and accrual quality of reported earnings and book values under IFRS versus US GAAP using 404 firms from 37 countries listed in the USA. They use the modified Jones (1991) model to measure accruals. Findings The authors find that value relevance of the book value of equity is increasing (significantly) when the sample firms use IFRS to prepare their financial statements. They also find some evidence in support of the mediating effect of the choice of accounting standards on the accrual quality of the sample firms. The results of this paper indicate that sample firms with lower accrual quality (larger discretionary accruals) experience higher returns during the fiscal year. However, the authors also find that the positive association between size of discretionary accruals and returns is decreasing in the use of IFRS by the sample firms. Originality/value This paper adds to prior literature on the harmonization of accounting standards and emphasizes the role of accounting standards in the quality of financial reporting. By using the financial data of all foreign registrants listed in the USA, the authors are able to provide deeper and more representative evidence.


Author(s):  
Ng Shir Li ◽  
Dennis W Taylor

This study contributes to the issue of accounting for goodwill by examining the impact of changing from the Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP) to Australian International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS) on goodwill, 3 years (2002 to 2004) before and 3 years (2006 to 2008) after AIFRS adoption. The sample is drawn from top 200 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). This study applies multiple regressions. The dependent variable is the closing share price 3 months after the balance sheet date. The independent variables consist of earnings per share, book value per share, goodwill in the balance sheet, goodwill in the income statement (goodwill amortisation and goodwill impairment) and goodwill acquisition. The findings indicate that goodwill accounted for in the income statement and balance sheet do not provide increased explanatory power of market value under AIFRS compared to AGAAP. Moreover, the goodwill in the income statement does not show value relevance in year 2007, but became significant in year 2008 during the global financial crisis (GFC). Also, the age of goodwill recorded in the balance sheet does not affect the value relevance of earnings and book value in the post-adoption period. This study contributes new evidence on accounting for goodwill under pre and post-IFRS accounting regimes in Australia. This is also the first study to examine the separate effects of goodwill accounting on earnings and net assets, with special attention given to the period before and during the GFC in capital markets.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 1150008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunhui Liu ◽  
Lee J. Yao ◽  
Michelle Y. M. Yao

In face of broad adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering its quality and acceptability. This paper reports a study that examines changes in value relevance with a sample of Peru firms mandated to use international accounting standards between 1999 and 2007. The period under study is broken into a period of International Accounting Standards (IAS) between 1999 and 2001, a period of early IFRS between 2002 and 2004, and a more recent period of IFRS between 2005 and 2007 by major changes to accounting standards. The empirical results generally indicate that value relevance improved from the IAS period to the early IFRS period when the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) took over the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), but worsened from the early IFRS period to the recent IFRS period when more accounting standards started to reflect IASB's preference for fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. Quality weakens to a greater extent for firms with more discretion for fair value estimates. Further analysis shows that such changes are less likely to result from changes in economic conditions, but from the changes of the standards. The findings are particularly alarming in face of rising IFRS adoptions and call for quality improvement to IFRS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Gumb ◽  
Philippe Dupuy ◽  
Charles Richard Baker ◽  
Véronique Blum

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of financial accounting standards on the economic decisions of managers. The primary research question addressed in the paper is whether the hedging behavior of corporate treasurers in France has been affected by the issuance of International Accounting Standard No. 39 and International Financial Reporting Standard No. 9 dealing with financial instruments and hedging. Design/methodology/approach In all, 48 semi-structured interviews were conducted with French corporate treasurers. The interview instrument is included as an exhibit to this paper. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. In addition, three interviews were conducted with representatives of Big 4 audit firms who are experts in accounting for financial instruments. The empirical findings are interpreted using a theoretical framework derived from Jean Baudrillard who argues that the “map” (accounting results) tends to define the “territory” (economic decision-making) in a period of “hyperreality” (when the underlying economic reality is confused). In other words, accounting standards, and the reported numbers that result from such standards, can influence the economic decisions of managers and not merely represent the outcome of economic decisions already taken. Findings Corporate treasurers often make decisions based on earnings impact. This finding is similar to findings in prior literature regarding the effects of accounting standards on economic decisions taken by managers. A fear of increased earnings volatility is central to the treasurers’ concerns. Also key is the complexity of the process for qualifying financial instruments for hedge accounting treatment. The authors also find that the behavior of corporate treasurers is neither stable nor homogeneous. The behavior appears to be the outcome of a collective learning process in which the corporate treasurer is only one actor. Research limitations/implications The type of qualitative research undertaken in this study has its limitations. It cannot be demonstrated that the findings are generalizable. There is a contextual specificity to the treasurer’s function, which reinforces a particular focus on accounting results. The CFO is simultaneously the superior of the treasurer and responsible for financial reporting, and consequently subject to a conflict of interest that does not necessarily apply to other types of managers. Therefore the findings cannot apply to all managerial functions. Practical implications The authors found that corporate treasurers focus on accrual-based earnings despite engaging in a function that is supposed to focus on cash flows. Even if the IASB believes that accounting standards should be used primarily by investors and creditors, they should acknowledge that there is a fear of earnings volatility by managers, and that there is an temptation toward increased use of other comprehensive income as an alternative to reporting volatile earnings numbers. Social implications The research provides support for those who argue that international accounting standards that require fair value accounting for financial instruments have had a negative pro-cyclical impact on the real economy. Originality/value This paper is a qualitative research study conducted in an area of research where there have previously been only quantitative studies. The access to a large number of French corporate treasurers is unique. The study supports prior findings regarding the influence of accounting standards on managerial behavior, but with an added theoretical interpretation related to Baudrillard’s arguments regarding the nature of the “map” and the “territory” in complex economic systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 706-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Yee Gan ◽  
Lee-Lee Chong ◽  
Zauwiyah Ahmad

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of Financial Reporting Standards (FRS)139 adoption on value relevance of financial reporting for non-financial public listed companies in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Multiple regressions were applied in this study to explore the value relevance of financial reporting upon FRS139 adoption. Findings – The finding indicates that book value of equity and net income after tax are significant in jointly explaining the variations associated with market value for both the pre- and post-FRS139 period. However, the role of the book value of equity and the balance sheet in stock market valuation is becoming increasingly important compared with the role of net income after tax and income statement upon mandatory adoption of FRS139. Originality/value – This study provides relevant insights into the potential consequences of FRS139 adoption in Malaysia. This is a significant event in the history of financial reporting in Malaysia. Given the importance and complexity of applying IAS39 in more developed countries, the results of this study add to current literature by providing a comprehensive empirical analysis on the effects of FRS139 adoption on financial reporting in Malaysia, a developing country where the economy is smaller, the financial market less efficient, and institutional settings different from developed countries.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasean A. Tahat ◽  
Theresa Dunne ◽  
Suzanne Fifield ◽  
David M. Power

Purpose The main aim of this paper is to investigate Financial Instruments (FIs) disclosures provided by Jordanian listed companies under International Financial Reporting Standard No. 7 (IFRS 7) as compared to those supplied under International Accounting Standards (IAS) 30/32. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 82 Jordanian listed companies is used in this monograph. A disclosure index checklist was constructed to measure FI information provided by the sample companies. Findings The study finds that a larger number of Jordanian listed companies provided a greater level of FI-related information after IFRS 7 was implemented. Specifically, the sample firms provided 47 per cent of the disclosure index items after implementing IFRS 7 as compared to 30 per cent under IAS 30/32. In addition, the industrial analysis of FI disclosure revealed that the highest level of disclosure was provided by firms in the banking sector over the two periods; these companies disclosed 44 per cent of FI-related items pre-IFRS 7 and 69 per cent of items post-IFRS 7. Moreover, the industrial analysis of FI disclosure pre-and post-implementation of IFRS 7 revealed specific aspects of usefulness. In particular, some components of FI disclosure (Balance Sheet and Fair Value) showed no significant differences within and across sectors post the implementation of IFRS 7, suggesting that the new standard may have enhanced the comparability of such information. Research limitations/implications The results provide timely findings to Jordanian authorities who may be trying to evaluate the current reforms adopted; stringent enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure full compliance with accounting standards. However, the present investigation was conducted on a single nation (Jordan); the circumstances in Jordan gave rise to the importance of the current study. A cross-country comparative analysis is needed in order to examine the application of IFRS 7 in a developing country context. Practical implications The results of the current study have a number of implications for policymakers. First, they provide a great deal of insight for the International Accounting Standards Board about the relevance of its standards to countries outside the Western context. In addition, the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers in Jordan who are concerned about the implications of mandatory disclosures. Originality/value The analysis of FI disclosure in developing countries in general, and in Jordan in particular has been overlooked by the extant literature and therefore this study is the first of its kind to examine this research issue for a sample of Jordanian firms.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serge Agbodjo ◽  
Kaouther Toumi ◽  
Khaled Hussainey

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the value relevance of accounting information for Islamic, conventional and hybrid banks. It also investigates the moderation impact of IFRS adoption and AAOIFI mandatory adoption on value relevance of accounting information.Design/methodology/approachUsing value relevance models, The authors run panel data regressions on 47 Islamic banks, 112 conventional banks and 42 hybrid banks (conventional banks with Islamic windows). The study covers listed banks from 14 countries over the period 2010–2018.Findingspaper offers three empirical evidences. First, the authors find that value relevance of accounting information is higher for Islamic banks, compared to conventional banks. Second, the authors find that IFRS framework strengthens the relevance of accounting information in Islamic banks, but the authors did not find the same for hybrid banks. Third, the authors find that the mandatory adoption of AAOIFI accounting standards has a moderation effect on value relevance of accounting information for both Islamic banks and hybrid banks. The robustness analysis shows that there is a significant contribution of compliance with Islamic Finance rules in IBs and HBs, which substantially reduces managers' opportunistic behavior to manage accounting information.Research limitations/implicationsOne limit of this research is the reduced number of sampled listed IBs since the authors deleted countries that do not have both listed Islamic and conventional banks.Practical implicationsThe study is useful for investors that consider the Islamic ethical practices to make their investment decisions as well as for the standards-setting bodies that focus on establishing accounting standards for the Islamic banking industry.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to the value relevance literature by providing novel evidence on the value relevance in fully-fledged Islamic, fully-fledged conventional and hybrid Banks. The authors also provide new evidence on the moderating role of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions standard (AAOIFI) for the value relevance of accounting information.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erick Rading Outa ◽  
Peterson Ozili ◽  
Paul Eisenberg

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative value relevance of accounting information arising from the adoption of converged and revised International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in East Africa. Design/methodology/approach The research applies “same firm year” design for identification of the effects of changes in accounting standards. A model similar to Ohlson’s price model and random-effects GLS are used to estimate R2 of the regressions of share prices on book values and earnings. Findings The results show that accounting information prepared from revised and converged IAS/IFRS display higher value relevance and also increased following the revision and convergence of IAS/IFRS. The cross-product term is more significant in the post-revision/convergence period thus providing further evidence for increased value relevance after the revision of IAS/IFRS. The results are robust to various models and show that value relevance in East Africa is relatively lower than that of the developed markets. Originality/value The current study provides empirical evidence that value relevance increases with converged/revised IAS/IFRS based on quasi natural experimental setting in East Africa. The authors also extend the debate on whether value relevance is relevant in emerging markets, which are regarded as imperfect markets with few regulations, weak enforcement and limited sources of information. The results may be useful to accounting preparers, regulators, investors, standard setters and countries seeking to adopt IAS/IFRS in developing countries.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 801
Author(s):  
Hanifa Zulhaimi ◽  
R. Nelly R. Nelly Nur Apandi

The implementation of international accounting standards in Indonesia has significantly affected financial reporting. It increases information relevance for the investors because a fair value comprehensively represents assets and liabilities of an entity as of the balance sheet date. However, this triggers polemics over the value relevance of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS). This can be seen from stock price decline. This study aims to find out the effect of net income and other comprehensive income on stock price and to observe the effect of other comprehensive income moderated by audit quality. Furthermore this study also aims to find out the effect of  the subjectivity of OCI components. Using a sample of 79 companies, the writer analyzes 2014 financial statements derived from Indonesia Stock Exchange. Based on the result, the predetermined hypotheses are unable to prove. Net income is the only variable that affects stock return. Thus it can be concluded that net income has a value relevance for the investors in making economic decisions.


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