Skatteregnskap

Skatteregnskap refers to the part of accounting that deals with calculating, recording, and reporting taxes for a business or individual in accordance with applicable tax laws. It covers the preparation of current tax liabilities, the recognition of deferred taxes, and the preparation of tax returns and related filings. The field intersects with financial accounting, statutory reporting and tax planning, and aims to ensure both compliance and informative financial reporting.

A central purpose of skatteregnskap is to provide an accurate tax expense for the income statement and a correct tax position on the balance sheet. This includes determining the current tax payable based on taxable income, recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect timing differences between accounting profit and tax bases, and handling tax credits, deductions, losses carried forward, and other incentives. In multinational or complex operations, it may also address transfer pricing, withholding taxes, VAT, payroll taxes, and other levies.

Key concepts commonly involved are current tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities under applicable accounting standards (such as IAS 12 in many jurisdictions), and provisions for uncertain tax positions. The process typically involves data gathering from the general ledger, reconciling accounting and tax bases, calculating taxable income, preparing tax returns, and ensuring timely payments. Compliance activities include maintaining documentation for tax authorities and managing audits or disputes.

Skatteregnskap is closely linked to financial reporting and tax planning. It requires staying updated on tax laws and rate changes, interpreting their impact on cash flow and profitability, and providing transparent notes on tax risks and effective tax rates in financial statements.