At December 31, 2018, the account balances of Dowling, Inc. showed income taxes payable of $38 million and a current deferred tax asset of $60 million before assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The previous year Dowling had reported a current deferred tax asset of $45 million with no valuation allowance. Dowling determined that it was more likely than not that 20% of the deferred tax asset ultimately would not be realized. Dowling made no estimated tax payments during 2013.
(a) What amount should Dowling report as total income tax expense in its 2018 income statement?

$35 million

Explanation:

First, there is one typographical in the narration of the question in the last paragraph. The correct year is 2018 not 2013. Therefore, the correct full question is as follows:

At December 31, 2018, the account balances of Dowling, Inc. showed income taxes payable of $38 million and a current deferred tax asset of $60 million before assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The previous year Dowling had reported a current deferred tax asset of $45 million with no valuation allowance. Dowling determined that it was more likely than not that 20% of the deferred tax asset ultimately would not be realized. Dowling made no estimated tax payments during 2018.

(a) What amount should Dowling report as total income tax expense in its 2018 income statement?

Answer and explanation:

From the question, we can obtain the following:

Income taxes payable = $38 million

Deferred tax assets balance = $60 million - $45 million = $15 million

Deferred tax assets valuation allowance = $60 million × 20% = $12 million

Therefore, we can obtain the difference that will be the tax expense for 2018 by posting the journal entries as follows:

                                                   DR ($'million)             CR ($'million)

Deferred tax assets                            15

Tax expense (Difference)                  35

Tax Payable                                                                            38

Valuation allowance                                                               12

From journal, it can be seen that the difference in the entries is $35 million, and that is the tax expense for 2018.

Therefore, Dowling should report $35 million as total income tax expense in its 2018 income statement.

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