Tax Accounting and the Present Day Business Scenario   by jacksmith

in Finance / Accounting    (submitted 2010-02-18)

Accounting in itself is a very wide and a diverse field. There are many aspects as well as sub domains in accountancy that each and every one of them needs to be studied as well as understood in entirety to have a clear picture of this branch of study. Although all the branches of accountancy have their own relevance and importance yet one field of accountancy that demands special attention as well as commands a place of its own in almost all the spheres of the human activity and also at almost all the strata is that of Tax accounting.
In order to understand the exact tenor of tax accounting it is really important that we first understand the rudimentary facts of the tax accounting. If defined in a simple way, the term tax accounting refers to the filing of the tax returns, as well as chalking out the future tax obligations. The method of tax accounting generally depends upon the financial accounting method. Thus it is always advisable that the tax accounting method chosen by the taxpayer has the financial accounting method as the referral point.
The tax accounting system is generally categorized into two domains that are:
* Cash Tax Accounting
* Accrual Tax Accounting

On the basis of the goals and agendas and the business plans of the company, a specific tax accounting system can be adopted. In the case of the owner of a small company whose sole purpose behind adopting the system is to foment a legal agreement with the federal tax authorities, the system of Cash Tax Accounting would be the most suitable.
There is also a provision of changing the method of tax accounting by either by filling the form and sending it to the secretary of the treasury or by filling for tax returns by using the method wanted for two consecutive years.

The advantages of using tax accounting are:
* Faster decision making
* A more efficient record keeping
The tax based accounting system gives the advantage of a better budget and a clear idea about their profits and losses.