Staples Corporation would have had identical income before taxes on both its income tax returns and its income statements for the years 2020 through 2023 except for a depreciable asset that cost $120,000. The asset was 100% expensed for tax purposes in 2020. However, for accounting purposes the straight-line method was used (that is, $30,000 per year). The accounting and tax periods both end December 31. There were no deferred taxes at the beginning of 2020. The depreciable asset has a four-year estimated life and no residual value. The tax rate for each year was 25%. Pretax GAAP income amounts for each of the four years were as follows: Year Pretax GAAP Income
2020 $230,000
2021 250,000
2022 240,000
2023 240,000

Required:
Prepare a schedule to compute the increase to income tax payable on December 31, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Staples Corporation

A Schedule, computing the increase to income tax payable on December 31, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023:

Year          Pre-tax         GAAP Tax-  Tax Taxable   Income Tax      Deferred

          GAAP Income  able Income    Income      Payable Expense  Liability

                  (a)                     (b)                (c)             25%       25%   (Recovery)

                                                                                of (c)      of (b)  

2020     $230,000      $200,000     $110,000  $27,500 $50,000  $22,500

2021        250,000        220,000      250,000    62,500   55,000     (7,500)

2022       240,000         210,000      240,000    60,000   52,500     (7,500)

2023       240,000         210,000      240,000    60,000   52,500     (7,500)

Total     $960,000      $840,000    $840,000  $210,000 $210,000      0

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Cost of depreciable asset = $120,000

Estimated useful life = 4 years

Residual value = $0

Tax depreciation expense = 100% in 2020

GAAP depreciation expense = 25% in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023

Tax rate for each year = 25%

Year          Pre-tax         GAAP Tax-  Tax Taxable   Income Tax      Deferred

          GAAP Income  able Income    Income      Payable Expense  Liability

                  (a)                     (b)                (c)             25%       25%   (Recovery)

                                                                                of (c)      of (b)  

2020     $230,000      $200,000     $110,000  $27,500 $50,000  $22,500

2021        250,000        220,000      250,000    62,500   55,000     (7,500)

2022       240,000         210,000      240,000    60,000   52,500     (7,500)

2023       240,000         210,000      240,000    60,000   52,500     (7,500)

Total     $960,000      $840,000    $840,000  $210,000 $210,000      0

2020 Tax Taxable Income = $110,000 ($230,000-$120,000)

GAAP Taxable Income = GAAP minus Annual Depreciation

b) Tax Taxable Income = GAAP income of $230,000 minus 100% depreciation ($120,000) for the first year and 0% for the remaining years.  This gives rise to temporary differences in 2020 between the calculated tax payable and the tax expense for the following years.  While in the first year, there arose a tax liability, this is offset in subsequent years.