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Accounting for changes in valuation allowance can be complex. Often the reason for the change in a valuation allowance can impact how it is accounted for.
Excerpts from ASC 740 and ASC 805

ASC 740-10-45-20

The effect of a change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of a valuation allowance that results from a change in circumstances that causes a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax asset in future years ordinarily shall be included in income from continuing operations. The only exceptions are changes to valuation allowances of certain tax benefits that are adjusted within the measurement period as required by paragraph 805-740-45-2 related to business combinations and the initial recognition (that is, by elimination of the valuation allowances) of tax benefits related to the items specified in paragraph 740-20-45-11(c) through (f). The effect of other changes in the balance of a valuation allowance are allocated among continuing operations and items other than continuing operations as required by paragraphs 740-20-45-2 and 740-20-45-8.

ASC 805-740-45-2

The effect of a change in a valuation allowance for an acquired entity’s deferred tax asset shall be recognized as follows:

  1. Changes within the measurement period that result from new information about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date shall be recognized through a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. However, once goodwill is reduced to zero, an acquirer shall recognize any additional decrease in the valuation allowance as a bargain purchase in accordance with paragraphs 805-30-25-2 through 25-4. See paragraphs 805-10-25-13 through 25-19 and 805-10-30-2 through 30-3 for a discussion of the measurement period in the context of a business combination.
  2. All other changes shall be reported as a reduction or increase to income tax expense (or a direct adjustment to contributed capital as required by paragraphs 740-10-45-20 through 45-21).

ASC 740-10-45-20 essentially groups changes in valuation allowances into the following three categories:
  • Effects of a change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of a valuation allowance that results from a change in circumstances that causes a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax asset in future years (see TX 12.3.2.3).
  • Effects of a change to valuation allowances of certain tax benefits that are adjusted within the measurement period as required by ASC 805-740-45-2 related to business combinations (see TX 10.5.5).
  • Effects resulting from the initial recognition (that is, by elimination of the valuation allowance) of tax benefits related to the items specified in ASC 740-20-45-11(c)–(f) (see TX 12.3.2.4).
All other changes should be allocated based on ASC 740’s general rules for intraperiod allocation (see TX 12.3).
Figure TX 5-1 summarizes the sections of this guide that address the accounting for changes in valuation allowance in various situations.
Figure TX 5-1
Other considerations in accounting for the impacts of changes in valuation allowance
Topic
Reference
Impact of tax law change on valuation allowances
Acquired deferred tax assets and changes to the valuation allowance required at the time of acquisition
Subsequent changes to acquired deferred tax assets
Changes in the acquirer’s valuation allowance due to an acquisition
Valuation allowance and transactions with shareholders
Change in the valuation allowance as a result of a common control transaction
Intraperiod allocation for changes in valuation allowances
Restating prior-period presentation and intraperiod allocation for discontinued operations when there is a change in the beginning-of-the-year valuation allowance that results from a change in assessment about future realizability of deferred tax assets
Changes in valuation allowance due to NOL carryforward limitations after an initial public offering
Changes in valuation allowance in spin-off transactions
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