Asset write down/up -- DTA and DTL

These are the explanations for DTA/DTL creation from asset write-up/down. Is the explanation for asset write-down & DTA correct?

  • Asset write-up, which increases depreciation/ decreases pre-tax income on the IS (save on taxes), will produce a DTL.
  • Asset write-down, which increases pre-tax income on the IS (pay more taxes), will produce a DTA

For an asset write down, wouldn't pretax income decrease?

 

Maybe I don't fully understand the question but after a business combination you fair value your assets/liabilities. After that process is complete if you effectively "wrote down" your inventory (for example) as the fair value was less than book cost, then you would inherently recognize less cost when you sell that inventory in the future, thus increasing margin > net income.

Similar to PPE, if you wrote down the value of PPE (fair value

 
Most Helpful

I went over the subject a few days ago, and I'm not 100% confident, but this is my understanding. With asset write-down, depreciation (on the accounting book) decreases, thus pretax income (on the book) increases. But for tax-purpose accounting (for the government), asset write-up/down isn't reflected unless there's some kind of asset purchase or Section 338 transaction, so depreciation remains unchanged. The write-down itself is recorded as a loss on income statement, but it's not tax-deductible, thus no change in tax.

So with asset write-down, on the company's accounting book, it is supposed to pay more tax due to decreased depreciation, but in reality, it pays less tax because the government's tax purpose accounting doesn't take the write-down into consideration. So on the book, the amount the firm pays less than its projected tax translates into DTA. I'd welcome any feedback/correction.

 

Modi enim voluptas quia libero. Consequatur aliquam dolorem ea nulla voluptates ipsum aut. Illum qui est dolorem id corrupti sunt eos tenetur.

Qui eligendi quia consequatur quod iusto. Neque id aspernatur id aut architecto assumenda et nihil. Temporibus non culpa id possimus commodi magnam. Similique magni rerum voluptas aut officia error. Est quo et dolorem. Ut et aut reprehenderit molestiae sed porro voluptas.

Voluptas earum pariatur voluptatem eum ut voluptatem. Nemo et et aut.

Cumque sed impedit dolores exercitationem qui repudiandae amet. Recusandae autem doloribus commodi iure aut earum. Molestias voluptatibus magni est consequatur veniam vel. Dolores sunt rerum aliquid quos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (89) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”