Does FIN 48 Improve Firms' Estimates of Tax Reserves?

52 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2015 Last revised: 3 Sep 2016

See all articles by Cristi A. Gleason

Cristi A. Gleason

University of Iowa - Department of Accounting

Lillian F. Mills

University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business; The University of Texas at Austin

Michelle L. Nessa

Michigan State University - The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

Date Written: August 2, 2016

Abstract

This paper examines whether the increased accounting guidance and reporting requirements of FIN 48 impact the adequacy and accuracy of tax reserves and the effect of auditor-provided tax services on tax reserves. While we do not find FIN 48 affected the adequacy or accuracy of tax reserves on average, FIN 48 eliminated the differences in the tax reserve adequacy of firms with and without auditor-provided tax services that existed prior to its adoption. We also find evidence of more timely recording and less premature releasing of tax reserves post-FIN 48. Our evidence is consistent with an increase in comparability of reserves for firms that do and do not purchase auditor-provided tax services, consistent with one of the FASB’s objectives for FIN 48.

Keywords: FIN 48; tax reserves; Auditor-provided tax services

Suggested Citation

Gleason, Cristi A. and Mills, Lillian F. and Mills, Lillian F. and Nessa, Michelle L., Does FIN 48 Improve Firms' Estimates of Tax Reserves? (August 2, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2594507 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2594507

Cristi A. Gleason

University of Iowa - Department of Accounting ( email )

108 Pappajohn Business Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
United States

Lillian F. Mills

University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business ( email )

Austin, TX 78712
United States

The University of Texas at Austin ( email )

McCombs School of Business
1 University Station B6400
Austin, TX 78712-0211

Michelle L. Nessa (Contact Author)

Michigan State University - The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management ( email )

East Lansing, MI 48824-1121
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
313
Abstract Views
2,158
Rank
207,048
PlumX Metrics