Prepaid Taxes

Definition: Tax payments made before due

Scope:NarrowDifficulty:Easy

Tax payments made before due

Common Journal Entries
AccountDebitCredit
1. Pay estimated taxes
Quarterly estimated payment of $10,000.
Prepaid Income TaxAsset+$10,000
CashAsset$10,000
Prepaid asset until actual tax liability is determined.
2. Year-end adjustment
Actual tax = $38,000; four payments of $10,000 made.
Income Tax ExpenseExpense+$38,000
Prepaid Income TaxAsset$40,000
Income Tax ReceivableAsset+$2,000
Overpayment becomes a receivable (refund due).

T-AccountsA visual representation of a ledger account shaped like the letter T. Left side shows debits, right side shows credits.

Prepaid Income TaxPrepaid Income TaxAssetA resource owned by the business. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$10,000.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$40,000.00
$30,000.00
CashAsset account. Debits increase the balance. Credits decrease the balance.AssetA resource owned by the business. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$10,000.00
$10,000.00
Income Tax ExpenseIncome Tax ExpenseExpenseA cost incurred in the process of earning revenue. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$38,000.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$38,000.00
Income Tax ReceivableIncome Tax ReceivableAssetA resource owned by the business. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$2,000.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$2,000.00
DurationShort-Term

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