.Analysis of Income Taxes
Difficulty: Advanced
Income Tax Accounting Policy
Facebook records provision for income taxes for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations using the asset and liability method. Under this method, Facebook recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as well as for loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Facebook recognizes the deferred income tax effects of a change in tax rates in the period of the enactment.
Facebook records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the net amount that Facebook believes is more likely than not to be realized. Facebook considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance.
Facebook recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if Facebook believes that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. These uncertain tax positions include Facebook's estimates for transfer pricing that have been developed based upon analyses of appropriate arms-length prices. Similarly, Facebook's estimates related to uncertain tax positions concerning research tax credits are based on an assessment of whether the available documentation corroborating the nature of the activities supporting the tax credits will be sufficient. Although Facebook believes that Facebook has adequately reserved for the uncertain tax positions (including net interest and penalties), Facebook can provide no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be materially different. Facebook makes adjustments to these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made and could have a material impact on Facebook's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) was enacted into law and the new legislation contains several key tax provisions that affected Facebook, including a one-time mandatory transition tax on accumulated foreign earnings and a reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018, among others. Facebook is required to recognize the effect of the tax law changes in the period of enactment, such as determining the transition tax, re-measuring the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities as well as reassessing the net realizability of the deferred tax assets and liabilities. In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB 118), which allows Facebook to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. Since the Tax Act was passed late in the fourth quarter of 2017, and ongoing guidance and accounting interpretation is expected over the next 12 months, Facebook considers the accounting of the transition tax, deferred tax re-measurements, and other items to be incomplete due to the forthcoming guidance and the ongoing analysis of final year-end data and tax positions. Facebook expects to complete the analysis within the measurement period in accordance with SAB 118.
Source: Facebook Inc., Annual Report
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Facebook Inc., income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations
USD $ in millions
| 12 months ended | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Federal | |||||
| | State | |||||
| | Foreign | |||||
| | Current tax expense | |||||
| | Federal | |||||
| | State | |||||
| | Foreign | |||||
| | Deferred tax benefit | |||||
| | Provision for income taxes |
Source: Based on data from Facebook Inc. Annual Reports
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Current tax expense | The component of income tax expense for the period representing amounts of income taxes paid or payable (or refundable) for the period for all income tax obligations as determined by applying the provisions of relevant enacted tax laws to relevant amounts of taxable income (loss) from continuing operations. | Facebook Inc.'s current tax expense declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
| Deferred tax benefit | The component of income tax expense for the period representing the net change in the entity's deferred tax assets and liabilities pertaining to continuing operations. | Facebook Inc.'s deferred tax benefit increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Provision for income taxes | The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations; income tax expense (benefit) may include interest and penalties on tax uncertainties based on the entity's accounting policy. | Facebook Inc.'s provision for income taxes declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR)
Facebook Inc., effective income tax rate (EITR) reconciliation
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | U.S. federal statutory income tax rate | % | % | % | % | % |
| | State income taxes, net of federal benefit | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Research tax credits | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Share-based compensation | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Effect of non-U.S. operations | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Effect of U.S. tax law change | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Other | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Effective tax rate | % | % | % | % | % |
Source: Based on data from Facebook Inc. Annual Reports
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Effective tax rate | A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations. | Facebook Inc.'s effective tax rate declined from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly increased from 2016 to 2017. |
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Facebook Inc., components of deferred tax assets and liabilities
USD $ in millions
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Net operating loss carryforward | |||||
| | Tax credit carryforward | |||||
| | Share-based compensation | |||||
| | Accrued expenses and other liabilities | |||||
| | Other | |||||
| | Deferred tax assets | |||||
| | Valuation allowance | |||||
| | Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | |||||
| | Depreciation and amortization | |||||
| | Purchased intangible assets | |||||
| | Deferred taxes on foreign income | |||||
| | Deferred tax liabilities | |||||
| | Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) |
Source: Based on data from Facebook Inc. Annual Reports
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax assets | The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amounts of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws (before the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such sum amount to net realizable value). Includes any tax benefit realized in deferred tax assets for significant impacts of tax planning strategies. | Facebook Inc.'s deferred tax assets increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | The aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; net of deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. | Facebook Inc.'s deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance increased from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly declined from 2016 to 2017. |
| Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) | For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods. | Facebook Inc.'s net deferred tax assets (liabilities) increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Analyst Adjustments: Removal of Deferred Taxes
Facebook Inc., adjustments to financial data
USD $ in millions
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustment to Total Assets | ||||||
| | Total assets (as reported) | |||||
| | Less: Noncurrent deferred tax assets, net | |||||
| | Total assets (adjusted) | |||||
| Adjustment to Total Liabilities | ||||||
| | Total liabilities (as reported) | |||||
| | Less: Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net | |||||
| | Total liabilities (adjusted) | |||||
| Adjustment to Stockholders' Equity | ||||||
| | Stockholders' equity (as reported) | |||||
| | Less: Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) | |||||
| | Stockholders' equity (adjusted) | |||||
| Adjustment to Net Income | ||||||
| | Net income (as reported) | |||||
| | Add: Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | |||||
| | Net income (adjusted) | |||||
Adjusted Ratios: Removal of Deferred Taxes (Summary)
Facebook Inc., adjusted ratios
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Profit Margin | ||||||
| | Reported net profit margin | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Adjusted net profit margin | % | % | % | % | % |
| Total Asset Turnover | ||||||
| | Reported total asset turnover | |||||
| | Adjusted total asset turnover | |||||
| Financial Leverage | ||||||
| | Reported financial leverage | |||||
| | Adjusted financial leverage | |||||
| Return on Equity (ROE) | ||||||
| | Reported ROE | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Adjusted ROE | % | % | % | % | % |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | ||||||
| | Reported ROA | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Adjusted ROA | % | % | % | % | % |
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted net profit margin | An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted net profit margin improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted total asset turnover | An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted financial leverage | A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income. |
Facebook Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
| Adjusted ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Net Profit Margin
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Revenue (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Net profit margin1 | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adjusted for Deferred Taxes | ||||||
| | Adjusted net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted net profit margin2 | % | % | % | % | % |
2017 Calculations
1 Net profit margin = 100 × Net income ÷ Revenue
= 100 × ÷ = %
2 Adjusted net profit margin = 100 × Adjusted net income ÷ Revenue
= 100 × ÷ = %
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted net profit margin | An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted net profit margin improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Total Asset Turnover
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Revenue (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total asset turnover1 | |||||
| Adjusted for Deferred Taxes | ||||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total asset turnover2 | |||||
2017 Calculations
1 Total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Total assets
= ÷ =
2 Adjusted total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Adjusted total assets
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted total asset turnover | An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Financial Leverage
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Financial leverage1 | |||||
| Adjusted for Deferred Taxes | ||||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted financial leverage2 | |||||
2017 Calculations
1 Financial leverage = Total assets ÷ Stockholders' equity
= ÷ =
2 Adjusted financial leverage = Adjusted total assets ÷ Adjusted stockholders' equity
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted financial leverage | A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income. |
Facebook Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
Adjusted Return on Equity (ROE)
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | ROE1 | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adjusted for Deferred Taxes | ||||||
| | Adjusted net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted ROE2 | % | % | % | % | % |
2017 Calculations
1 ROE = 100 × Net income ÷ Stockholders' equity
= 100 × ÷ = %
2 Adjusted ROE = 100 × Adjusted net income ÷ Adjusted stockholders' equity
= 100 × ÷ = %
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Return on Assets (ROA)
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | ROA1 | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adjusted for Deferred Taxes | ||||||
| | Adjusted net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted ROA2 | % | % | % | % | % |
2017 Calculations
1 ROA = 100 × Net income ÷ Total assets
= 100 × ÷ = %
2 Adjusted ROA = 100 × Adjusted net income ÷ Adjusted total assets
= 100 × ÷ = %
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
