# Deferred Income Tax Explained: Definition, Purpose, and Key Examples

## What Is Deferred Income Tax?

Deferred income tax represents a [liability](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liability.asp) arising from discrepancies in income reporting between tax laws, like those of the IRS, and company accounting practices, such as GAAP. This can cause a company's payable income tax to differ from the recorded tax expense. Clarifying these differences is key to understanding how deferred taxes impact financial statements. Dive into examples where depreciation methods lead to deferred tax liabilities and gain insights into how these are accounted for on balance sheets.

A company's total tax expense for a year can differ from what it owes the IRS due to postponed payments based on accounting rules.

### Key Takeaways

*   Deferred income tax is a liability that arises due to different income recognition rules between tax laws and accounting methods.
*   Companies often face discrepancies between the income tax reported in financial statements and the tax payable to authorities such as the IRS.
*   Deferred income tax can result from differing depreciation methods allowed by tax regulations and accounting standards like GAAP.
*   Deferred income tax is classified as a current or long-term liability on balance sheets depending on its expected settlement timeframe.
*   While typically a liability, overpaid taxes may lead to a deferred tax asset, indicating future economic benefit.

![Deferred Income Tax](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/5gk30VTd3T-tJlqMprcY4lsSMJk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/deferredincometax-v3-b8dc55e780ab4f47a0987161ece97060.png)

*— Zoe Hansen / Investopedia*

## How Deferred Income Tax Impacts Your Balance Sheet

In the U.S., [financial accounting practices](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financialaccounting.asp) are guided by [generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gaap.asp). GAAP accounting requires the calculation and disclosure of economic events in a specific manner. Income tax expense, which is a financial accounting record, is calculated using GAAP income. 

In contrast, the IRS tax code specifies special rules on the treatment of events. Differences between IRS rules and GAAP guidelines lead to varying [net income](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/netincome.asp) calculations and the income taxes owed on that income.

> **Important**
>
> A deferred income tax liability results from the difference between the income tax expense reported on the income statement and the income tax payable.

Situations may arise where the [income tax payable](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/incometaxpayable.asp) on a tax return is higher than the [income tax expense](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tax-expense.asp) on a financial statement. In time, if no other reconciling events happen, the deferred income tax account would net to $0. 

If there's no deferred income tax liability account, a deferred income tax [asset](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/asset.asp) gets created. This account would represent the future economic benefit expected to be received because income taxes charged were in excess based on GAAP income.

## Real-World Example of Deferred Income Tax Liability

A common situation that generates a deferred income tax liability is from differences in [depreciation](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/depreciation.asp) methods. GAAP guidelines allow businesses to choose between multiple depreciation practices. However, the IRS requires the use of a depreciation method that is different from all available GAAP methods.

As a result, depreciation on financial statements often differs from what's recorded on a [tax return](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/taxreturn.asp). Throughout an asset's life, depreciation values evolve, and at its end, no deferred tax liability remains, as total depreciation aligns between both methods.

## Why Is Deferred Income Tax an Asset?

Deferred income tax is considered a liability rather than an asset as it is money owed rather than to be received. If a company had overpaid on taxes, it would be a deferred tax asset and appear on the balance sheet as a non-current asset.

## What Is Deferred Income Tax in Simple Terms?

Deferred income tax is tax that must be paid in the future to account for differences in how companies recognize income and how tax authorities recognize income.

## What Is the Difference Between Current Tax and Deferred Tax?

Current tax is tax payable, while deferred tax is intended to be paid in the future.

## The Bottom Line

Deferred income tax arises when there is a difference between the income tax reported in a company's financial statements and the tax owed to authorities. This discrepancy stems from differences between accounting methods and tax regulations, such as depreciation methods specified by GAAP and the IRS. Deferred income tax appears as a liability on the balance sheet, indicating future taxes payable. Understanding this concept is important for accurately interpreting a company's financial health and obligations.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  PricewaterhouseCoopers. "[Demystifying deferred tax accounting](https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/tax/library/demystifying-deferred-tax-accounting.html)."
>     
> 2.  Univeristy of Minnesota. "[15.3 Recognition of Deferred Income Taxes](https://open.lib.umn.edu/financialaccounting/chapter/15-3-recognition-of-deferred-income-taxes/)."
>     
> 3.  Tax Foundation. "[Three Differences Between Tax and Book Accounting that Legislators Need to Know](https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/three-differences-between-tax-and-book-accounting-legislators-need-know/)."
>     
> 4.  Internal Revenue Service "[Topic No. 704, Depreciation](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc704)."