Why Starting Your Accounting Career at a Big Four Firm is Worth It
A lot of accountants dunk on the Big Four, and often for valid reasons. Long hours, tedious timesheets, and stifling bureaucracy are common complaints. However, having spent the first six years of my career at a Big Four firm (KPMG), I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Here’s why starting your career at a Big […]
Berkshire Hathaway’s Tax Liability: Stability in Simplicity
The Spotlight on Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway, led by the legendary Warren Buffett, is often celebrated for its exceptional returns and steady growth. While much attention is given to its financial performance and investment strategies, one aspect that rarely gets the spotlight is its tax liability. Delving into Berkshire’s tax provision (ASC 740) footnote reveals […]
Understanding the Components of Tax Expense on the P&L
The True Nature of Tax Expense When you look at a company’s profit and loss (P&L) statement, the tax expense shown isn’t just the tax the company expects to pay on its current year’s tax returns. Instead, this tax expense, often referred to as the “tax provision,” is a combination of two key components: current […]
Understanding Amazon’s $5.2 Billion in Uncertain Tax Positions
The Certainties of Amazon Amazon is known for its speed of delivery, low prices, and vast selection of products. However, there is one area where uncertainty prevails: their tax positions. As of the end of 2023, Amazon reported $5.2 billion worth of uncertain tax positions. What Are Uncertain Tax Positions? Under ASC 740, companies must […]
The Impact of Tax Provision on Stock Price
Understanding the Tax Provision The tax provision, a crucial component in a company’s financial statements, can significantly influence its stock price. To understand this, we need to break down the process and its effects on key financial metrics. The Role of Income Tax Expense At the core of the tax provision calculation is the income […]
Tesla’s $5 Billion Income Tax Benefit in 2023: Understanding the Valuation Allowance Release
Tesla’s Remarkable Financial Achievement In 2023, Tesla reported a pre-tax book income of approximately $10 billion. Surprisingly, their net income was about $15 billion, thanks to an income tax benefit of $5 billion. This means that over one-third of Tesla’s net profit in 2023 came from their tax provision. This might seem counterintuitive since taxes […]
The Potential Impact of Lowering the Corporate Tax Rate to 20%
Recently, former President Trump floated the idea of lowering the corporate tax rate from 21% to 20%. For those involved in tax provisions, this brings back vivid memories of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which dramatically slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The announcement of the TCJA led […]
Exploring Apple’s Effective Tax Rate: A Deep Dive into ASC 740
Insights from ASC 740 Apple’s effective tax rate (ETR) in 2023 was 14.7%. Given that the US corporate tax rate is 21%, and adding in state tax rates pushes the overall US statutory rate to around 27%+, it’s fascinating to see how Apple achieved an ETR that’s almost half the statutory rate. The answer lies […]
Maximizing Profitability: The Importance of Gross Margin for Ecommerce Businesses
Are you an ecommerce business owner trying to understand your financial health and improve your profitability? Look no further than gross margin, a key performance indicator (KPI) that measures the profitability of each product or service sold. Gross margin is the difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold (COGS) divided by revenue. Essentially, […]
The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping and Tax Services
Outsourcing your bookkeeping and tax services can be a smart move for your business. Not only does it free up your time to focus on running your business, but it also allows you to benefit from the expertise of professionals who specialize in these areas. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of outsourcing your […]
