TOPIC
How ASC 740 Applies to State Income Taxes
August 23, 2022
ASC 740 governs how companies recognize the effects of income taxes on their financial statements under U.S. GAAP. State income taxes are generally a deductible expense in the federal income tax calculation. So, to arrive at current and deferred tax assets and liabilities, companies need to calculate their state income tax deductions. See how Bloomberg Tax Provision untangles ASC 740’s complexity.
Learn more about how to calculate your ASC 740 tax provision accurately and efficiently with in-depth articles and how-to videos.
How are state income taxes accounted for under ASC 740?
State income taxes are deductible for federal income tax purposes. So, to arrive at an appropriate figure for current federal income taxes payable, companies must calculate their state income tax liability.
In addition, companies calculate their deferred taxes at a combined federal and state rate, net of the federal benefit from the deduction of state taxes. Similarly, companies report the effective tax rate impact of state income taxes net of the federal tax benefit.

Though most states use federal taxable income as the starting point for calculating state taxable income, state income tax laws often differ significantly from U.S. tax law. The states make modifications, referred to as additions and subtractions, to account for differences between federal and state tax law.
State income tax rates
State corporate income tax rates vary significantly among the states that impose an income tax. The top marginal tax rates are typically in the 6% to 12% range.
Download: Your Guide to ASC 740
Find answers to the technical and process challenges that arise when calculating your ASC 740 income tax provision with this comprehensive guide.
What effect do federal and state tax differences have on the ASC 740 income tax provision?
Certain states do not allow taxpayers to file consolidated tax returns. Consequently, many companies must file a separate return for each entity that conducts business in a particular state.
Some states allow entities to file combined returns, also known as unitary returns. However, the filing groups in these combined returns may be based on different principles than those governing federal consolidated returns. As a result, there are situations where a state combined return may include entities that are not included in the federal group or exclude entities included in the consolidated federal return.
State net operating losses and credits
State net operating losses (NOLs) are accounted for as deferred tax assets, similar to federal NOLs. However, they often differ in the carryforward or carryback (if any) period and whether the carryforward is based on modified state income prior to apportionment or after apportionment. Due to budget issues, some states have enacted laws suspending or limiting the use of NOLs.
Many states allow taxpayers to offset their state liability with credits. These tax credits tend to relate to research and development expenditures, job creation initiatives, and certain industries in the state.
State NOLs and credits are recorded net of the federal benefit since they reduce state income taxes and, therefore, an increase in future federal income.
Enacted state law and rates
Companies may encounter state tax law changes that impact the income tax provision. ASC 740 requires companies to account for income tax rate and law changes in the period in which the law is enacted.
A state tax rate change will often require a company to “re-price” its deferred tax assets and liabilities, resulting in a deferred impact on the effective rate.
If a law change occurs after the end of a reporting period but prior to the release of the financial statements, the company must base its income tax provisions on the law in effect as of the balance sheet date. However, it should disclose any material impact of subsequent changes in the law.
ASC 740 requires companies to calculate income tax provisions for each jurisdiction in which it is subject to tax. However, due to apportionment and state rates being much lower than the federal rate, state income taxes tend to be relatively small compared to the federal income tax liability. Therefore, situations arise where a company uses a blended state rate to account for all or a portion of its state income tax provision. The decision to use a blended rate should be evaluated as facts change.
Pass-through entity taxes
Historically, pass-through entities are not subject to income tax because the tax consequences of transactions within the pass-through entity “flow through” to its owners. However, an increasing number of states have started embracing an entity-level income tax on pass-through entities.
Pass-through entities that issue GAAP-based financial statements must be mindful of the consequences of a state’s pass-through entity tax on its tax provision.
The first step is to determine whether the tax is within the scope of ASC 740. This means the tax:
- Must be paid by the pass-through entity alone
- Must be based on taxable income
Unfortunately, the inconsistent nature of taxes on pass-through entities at the state level means that some taxes will be within the scope of ASC 740 while others will be treated as a transaction with the owners.
Watch on-demand: ASC 740 States Overview Webinar
This webinar includes an overview of the basic concepts of accounting for state income taxes under ASC 740, including state taxable income, state modifications, state credits, and federal impact of state taxes.
Hub: ASC 740 Tools and Resources
From accounting for NOLSs to business combinations, Bloomberg Tax Provision covers the needs of tax professionals. Learn more about how to calculate your ASC 740 tax provision accurately and efficiently with in-depth articles and how-to videos.
How do corporations allocate taxable income between states when calculating the income tax provision?
Certain types of income, such as portfolio interest and dividend income, may be directly allocated to a particular state. Income not directly allocated to a state is apportioned based on an apportionment percentage.
The apportionment percentage is a ratio of certain in-state apportionment factors to the total amounts for those same factors. Typically, apportionment factors include sales, property, and payroll. The specific items included in the factors and the relative weight given to each varies from state to state.
In recent years, there has been a general shift for states to move towards a single sales factor apportionment method or increase the weight of the sales factor relative to the other factors.
Learn more: How to calculate the ASC 740 tax provision
Understand the ASC 740 tax provision, how to calculate the provision for income tax, and how tax provision software can help practitioners.
What state tax-related disclosures does ASC 740 require?
Typically, the rate reconciliation disclosure presents state income taxes net of the federal benefit. Alternatively, the components of expense may show the state current and deferred expense on a gross basis and the federal current and deferred expense net of the state tax.
Examples showing how state income tax affects the ASC 740 tax provision
The following videos provide examples for accounting for state income taxes under ASC 740.
Example 1: Single state tax return
This ASC 740 example includes a single entity with a single state tax return. The example includes a discussion on the tax effects of state taxes on deferred tax assets and liabilities and the federal impact of state income taxes. [11:20]
Example 3: Multiple states and entities
This ASC 740 example includes two entities with two state income tax returns. One state is a separate-return state, whereas the other state is a unitary state. [9:59]
Example 5: State loss and rate change
This ASC 740 example includes two entities with two state income tax returns. One state is a separate-return state, whereas the other is a unitary state. [7:22]
Example 2: Multiple state income tax returns
This ASC 740 example includes a single entity with two state income tax returns. The example includes a discussion on the tax effects of state taxes on deferred tax assets and liabilities and the federal impact of state income taxes. [9:59]
Example 4: State loss
This ASC 740 example includes two entities with two state income tax returns. One state is a separate-return state, whereas the other state is a unitary state. This example also includes a loss at the entity that files in the separate company state. [8:51]
Example 6: RSUs and states
This ASC 740 example includes a single entity with a single state income tax return. This example also includes an excess benefit associated with the vesting of restricted stock units. [5:08]
Our customers are talking about Bloomberg Tax Provision
I’ve worked with tax software my entire career, and this program is a gem. It’s self-contained, simple, powerful, and efficient. Bloomberg Tax Provision does the prep right the first time. I can’t say enough good things about it.
I’ve done implementations of other software, and this one was hands-down the easiest to get the hang of. It was just a matter of weeks before we had full implementation and recreation of our prior year provision ready to go.
Navigate the ASC 740 tax provision with confidence
Bloomberg Tax brings expert context and unmatched content so that financial accounting professionals can navigate the nuances of U.S. GAAP with confidence. Access practitioner-authored analysis and interpretations in our Portfolios to help you develop and implement complex accounting strategies. Don’t have access? Request a demo.
Portfolio 5000: Accounting for Income Taxes — FASB ASC 740
This guide summarizes the accounting literature related to accounting for income taxes.
Portfolio 5001: Accounting for Income Taxes: Fundamental Principles and Special Topics
This portfolio analyzes the rules in FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 (ASC 740), Accounting for Income Taxes, and its international counterpart, IASC International Accounting Standard 12, Income Taxes.
Portfolio 5002: Accounting for Income Taxes: Uncertain Tax Positions (FIN 48)
This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the treatment of uncertain tax positions under the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.
Get in-depth guidance and industry perspectives on emerging accounting issues
Reduce Risk and Simplify Reporting with Tax Provision Software
Learn how tax professionals can use ASC 740 tax provision software to manage controls and efficiencies better than in Excel.
Corporate Considerations and Planning Opportunities
Learn how to conduct tax research, including why it’s necessary, steps in the process, and techniques for fast, efficient searching.
The Inflation Reduction Act: Corporate Tax Provisions
Learn how this legislation closes tax loopholes used by the largest corporations and incentivizes businesses and individuals to boost their use of renewable energy.
See for yourself
Not a subscriber? Get the tax expertise and tools with our provision software and research platform– request pricing now.