LOS G requires us to:
describe the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets—when it is required and what effect it has on financial statements.
The deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted to their present values to ascertain their book value. Instead, these are evaluated on each balance sheet date to ensure that their values would be recovered. Thus, the carrying value of DTA must reflect its expected recoverable amount.
Under U.S. GAAP, if there is a fall in the value of expected recovery of DTA, the value of DTA should be reduced through a contra asset account, called the ‘valuation allowance’.
Any increase in the valuation allowance may, either reduce the deferred tax asset, increase the income tax expense, or lower the net income, retained earnings, or share equity.
If, however, the conditions change the previous reduction to the deferred tax assets may be reversed.