Do Stock-Based Compensation Deferred Tax Assets Provide Incremental Information about Future Tax Payments?

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Johnston ◽  
Lisa Kutcher
Keyword(s):  
Stock Options ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Employee Stock Options ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Deferred Tax Assets ◽  
Incremental Information ◽  
Restricted Stock ◽  
Tax Payments ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
Jel Classifications

ABSTRACT We explore whether an accounting treatment similar to that required under IFRS improves the ability of the stock-based compensation component of deferred tax assets to predict future tax payments, relative to U.S. GAAP. Using hand-collected data for S&P 500 firms, we estimate the deferred tax assets related to employee stock options (ESOs) and restricted stock units (RSUs). We find that the RSU deferred tax asset is negatively related to future cash tax payments, while we fail to find that the ESO deferred tax asset is. However, after reducing the ESO and RSU deferred tax assets by their corresponding estimated impairments, we find that both variables are negatively associated with future tax payments. Additional analysis provides evidence that supports the conjecture that using a revaluation approach to account for stock-based compensation deferred tax assets may be more useful in predicting future tax cash flows, relative to current U.S. GAAP. JEL Classifications: H25; M41.

The Association between Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities and Future Tax Payments

2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 1357-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick C. Laux
Keyword(s):  
Data Availability ◽  
Deferred Taxes ◽  
Taxable Income ◽  
Deferred Tax Assets ◽  
Incremental Information ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Tax Payments ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT This study empirically examines whether deferred taxes provide incremental information about future tax payments and explores whether the relationship is affected by whether and when the deferred tax accounts reverse. The analysis provides evidence that while deferred taxes do provide incremental information about future tax payments, the magnitude of the information is small. Further, consistent with theoretical predictions (Guenther and Sansing 2000, 2004; Dotan 2003) the analysis demonstrates there is an asymmetrical association between deferred taxes and future tax payments. For instance, deferred taxes associated with temporary differences that are included in GAAP income prior to taxable income are associated with future tax payments. In contrast, deferred taxes associated with temporary differences that are included in GAAP income after taxable income are not associated with future tax payments. Finally, the analysis provides evidence that growth in the deferred tax balances does not defer future tax payments. Data Availability: The data are available from public sources.

Accounting for Employee Stock Options

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kirschenheiter ◽  
Rohit Mathur ◽  
Jacob K. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Stock Options ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Stock Option ◽  
Share Price ◽  
Employee Stock Options ◽  
Deferred Taxes ◽  
Recommended Treatment ◽  
Option Values ◽  
The Common

Accounting for employee stock options is affected by whether outstanding options are viewed as equity or liabilities. The common perception is that the FASB's recommended treatment (per SFAS No. 123), which is based on the options-as-equity view, results in representative financial statements. We argue that this treatment distorts performance measures for three reasons. First, the deferred taxes associated with nonqualified options should also be included as equity, but are not. Second, since unexpected share price changes affect optionholders and equityholders differently, combining their interests provides an average earnings effect that is not representative for either group. We show that efforts to isolate the interests of common stockholders via diluted earning per share calculations (per SFAS No. 128) are inherently incapable of identifying wealth transfers between stockholders and optionholders. Finally, projections of future cash flow statements prepared under SFAS No. 95 overstate cash flows to current equityholders by the pretax value of projected option grants. We show that these distortions can be avoided simply by accounting for options as liabilities at grant and thereafter recognizing changes in option values (similar to the accounting for stock appreciation rights). Our analysis of stock option accounting leads to two, more general implications: (1) all securities other than common shares should be treated as liabilities, thereby simplifying the equity versus liability distinction, and (2) these liabilities should be recorded at fair values, thereby obviating the need to consider earnings dilution.

scholarly journals Earnings Management Through Deferred Taxes Recognized Under IAS 12: Evidence From Pakistan

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Abdul Rafay Abdul Rafay ◽  
Mobeen Ajmal
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Deferred Taxes ◽  
Deferred Tax Assets ◽  
Operational Activities ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
Relevant Component

This study examines earnings management through deferred taxes calculated under the IAS 12 and its impact on firm valuation. The literature finds that book–tax nonconformity leads to better earning quality and a greater association between earnings and future expected cash flows. Given that Pakistan is a pioneering implementer of the International Financial Reporting Standards, our hypothesis is that the components of deferred tax disclosed under the IAS 12 provide value-relevant information to equity investors. We divide deferred tax components into three categories: those arising from (i) operational activities, (ii) investing activities, and (iii) financing activities. These are subdivided to ensure that no value-relevant component is aggregated with a nonvalue-relevant component, which might otherwise lead to an information slack. Our sample includes data on shariah-compliant companies listed on the Karachi Meezan Index (KMI-30). We find that deferred tax line items in firms’ balance sheets are reflected in market prices. Investors also tend to treat deferred tax line items (arising from operating, financing, and investing activities) differently. Furthermore, the value relevance is dissimilar for different components of deferred tax. Investors are wary of deferred tax assets and liabilities when pricing and are likely to penalize firms with a higher deferred tax position.

scholarly journals The Effects of Employee Stock Options on Credit Ratings

2008 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 1273-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Jung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Stock Options ◽  
Credit Rating ◽  
Credit Ratings ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Share Repurchases ◽  
Credit Rating Agencies ◽  
Employee Stock Options ◽  
Rating Agencies ◽  
Unfavorable Effect

ABSTRACT: This paper examines whether outstanding employee stock options (ESOs), which represent the firm’s contractual obligation to deliver shares upon ESO exercise, affect firms’ credit ratings. I hypothesize that outstanding ESOs play two information roles—(1) suggesting equity infusion, and (2) predicting share repurchases—that help credit-rating agencies evaluate the issuing company’s debt service ability. Consistent with these hypothesized roles, results indicate that the present values of expected cash proceeds and tax benefits from ESO exercise have favorable effects on credit ratings. In contrast, the present value of the expected cost of ESO-related share repurchases has an unfavorable effect on credit ratings and this unfavorable effect is more pronounced for firms with a greater tendency to repurchase shares. The after-tax fair value of outstanding ESOs, which summarizes the effects of the above three ESO-related cash flows, is negatively associated with credit ratings. Taken together, these findings are consistent with credit-rating agencies incorporating the information conveyed by outstanding ESOs regarding potential equity infusion and ESO-related repurchases in their credit risk assessments and assigning lower credit ratings to firms with greater values of outstanding ESOs.

Critical Accounting Estimate Disclosures and the Predictive Value of Earnings

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Glendening
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Accounting Measurement ◽  
Accounting Estimates ◽  
Future Cash Flows ◽  
Disclosure Practice ◽  
Jel Classifications

SYNOPSIS In the early 2000s, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) called on firms to provide new Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) disclosures about their critical accounting estimates (CAEs). The quantitative sensitivity disclosures outline reasonably likely changes in firms' highly uncertain accounting estimates and allow firms to communicate with users about accounting measurement uncertainty. Using a sample of S&P 500 firms, I find that the predictive value of earnings with respect to future cash flows is negatively associated with the presence of a CAE disclosure. Consistent with the SEC's intended purpose of the new disclosure practice, this finding suggests that CAE disclosures convey instances of heightened accounting measurement uncertainty and potentially aid users in assessing the level of uncertainty in accounting estimates. JEL Classifications: M41.

Tangible Long-Lived Asset Impairments and Future Operating Cash Flows under U.S. GAAP and IFRS

2017 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Gordon ◽  
Hsiao-Tang Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Operating Cash Flows ◽  
Reporting Incentives ◽  
Asset Impairments ◽  
Jel Classifications

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the predictive value of tangible long-lived asset impairments for changes in future operating cash flows under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. We find that impairments reported under IFRS are negatively associated with changes in future operating cash flows, whereas those under U.S. GAAP, on average, are not. We investigate whether differences in the predictive value are attributable to differences in recognition or measurement, providing evidence suggesting that impairment recognition under U.S. GAAP is delayed. Evidence also suggests that the value-in-use measurement attribute, allowed under IFRS, does not induce under-impairing as IFRS and U.S. GAAP impairments are similarly related to future impairments. The main result of a negative association under IFRS, but not U.S. GAAP, holds after considering future impairments to control for measurement differences, macro-economic factors, and firm reporting incentives. Further, impairment losses under IFRS are more predictive in high-enforcement countries. JEL Classifications: D78; F02; M16; M41; G38. Data Availability: Data used are available from sources identified in the paper.

Valuation of the Firm in the Presence of Temporary Book-Tax Differences: The Role of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

2000 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Guenther ◽  
Richard C. Sansing
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Deferred Tax Assets ◽  
Tax Deductions ◽  
Deferred Tax Liabilities ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
Future Cash Flows

This study uses an analytical model to investigate the value of the firm when there are temporary differences between when revenue and expense items are recognized for tax- and financial-reporting purposes. The model shows that deferred tax assets and liabilities transform book values of underlying liabilities and assets into estimates of the after-tax cash flows on which the firm's market value is based. The analysis shows that if tax deductions are taken on a cash basis, and if the underlying assets and liabilities are recorded at the present value of their associated future cash flows, then the value of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is their recorded amount, regardless of when the asset will be realized or when the liability will reverse. If tax deductions are not taken when the expenditure is made (e.g., depreciation) or if underlying assets and liabilities are recorded at more than the present value of their associated future cash flows (e.g., warranty liabilities), then the market value of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is less than their recorded values. The value of the deferred tax account is independent of when that account will reverse.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Adoption of International Accounting Standards No. 12 (IAS No.12) for Firms Reporting Losses: Evidence from Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5732
Author(s):  
Hong ◽  
Shim
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Income Taxes ◽  
Good News ◽  
International Accounting ◽  
International Accounting Standards ◽  
Deferred Tax Assets ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Incremental Information ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
Accounting For Income Taxes

This study examines the effects of the adoption of International Accounting Standards No. 12, Income Taxes (IAS No.12) on the incremental information about future profitability for firms reporting losses compared to Korean Generally Accepted Accounting No.16, Accounting for Income Taxes (K-GAAP No.16). Specifically, this paper shows that whether the IAS No.12 affects the information of deferred tax assets (DTAs) regarding loss persistence which implies the ability to predict earnings sustainability. Using a sample of 2,905 observations from Korean listed firms that reported a loss between 2007 and 2014, we divide loss firm-years into categories of ‘good news’ (GN) or ‘bad news’ (BN) based on whether management appears to report an increase in DTAs. We find that our tax categories have incremental information about the probability of loss reversal under K-GAAP No. 16, but under IAS No.12 the incremental effects of a deferred tax balance disappear. Also, we find that investors underweight the informativeness of DTAs under K-GAAP, and after the adoption of IAS No.12, investors cannot obtain buy-and-hold returns by buying GN firm-years and selling BN firms-years. However, this is not because investors understand the information of DTAs, but because the informativeness of DTAs deteriorates after the relaxation in the recognition threshold of DTAs.

Option Acceleration in Response to SFAS No. 123(R)

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Balsam ◽  
Austin L. Reitenga ◽  
Jennifer Yin
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Abnormal Return ◽  
Stock Options ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Employee Stock Options ◽  
Cumulative Abnormal Return ◽  
Return On Assets ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Firm Profitability

As of February 28, 2006, 958 publicly held companies accelerated the vesting of some or all of their employee stock options in advance of adopting SFAS No. 123(R). In doing so, these companies, on average, avoided $11.3 (8.4) million in pretax (after tax) expense, which represented 42 percent of prior year income. Investors, in general, react positively to acceleration announcements as we find an average cumulative abnormal return of about one-half of 1 percent for the three-day window (−1,1) surrounding the announcement, with the reaction positively associated with the expense reduction that resulted from the acceleration, the declaration by the firm that the options accelerated are out of the money, return on assets, and firm size. Additionally, we find that the decision to accelerate is positively associated with our estimate of the future expense related to unvested options; that is, the expense avoided because of the acceleration. In contrast, the intrinsic value of unvested options; that is, the expense that would have to be recognized at the time of acceleration, firm profitability, and firm size (i.e., political visibility) are negatively associated with the decision to accelerate. We interpret these results to indicate that managers consider the costs, as well as the benefits, in deciding whether to accelerate. Overall we conclude that while accelerated vesting may be motivated by expense avoidance, it appears to be beneficial to equity investors as evidenced by the positive abnormal returns associated with the announcement of the acceleration and the fact that abnormal returns are positively associated with the expense avoided via acceleration.

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