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Microlesson · 5-min read

Provision for Tax and Income Tax Refund — Cash Flow Treatment

## Provision for Tax & Income Tax Refund in Cash Flow Statement

### Why This Is Needed

The P&L account shows the tax provision (an estimate). The Cash Flow Statement requires the actual tax paid in cash. These differ. Use the Provision for Tax ledger to find the cash figure.

### Provision for Tax Ledger

```

Provision for Tax Account

──────────────────────────────────────────────

Dr | Cr

Tax paid during year [PLUG] | Opening balance

Closing balance | P&L charge (CY)

──────────────────────────────────────────────

```

Tax paid (cash) = Opening provision + CY P&L charge − Closing provision

### Income Tax Refund

A tax refund received is a cash inflow under Operating Activities.

Presentation rule: Net the refund against gross tax paid:

> Net tax outflow = Gross tax paid − Tax refund received

Only the net figure appears in the Cash Flow Statement. If the refund exceeds tax paid, the net amount is shown as an inflow.

### Refund Receivable Ledger (if a refund asset exists)

```

Refund Receivable Account

──────────────────────────────────────────────

Dr | Cr

Opening balance | Cash received [PLUG]

P&L — tax refund | Closing balance

──────────────────────────────────────────────

```

### Summary Table

ItemCash Flow Line
Tax paid (gross)Operating — outflow
Tax refund receivedOperating — netted against tax paid
Net tax (paid − refund)Single line in Operating Activities

Worked example

### Example 1

Finding tax paid from the Provision for Tax account:

Opening provision = ₹4,000

CY P&L charge = ₹7,000

Closing provision = ₹7,000

```

Provision for Tax Account

──────────────────────────────────────────────

Tax paid (plug): 4,000 | Opening: 4,000

Closing: 7,000 | P&L charge: 7,000

─────── | ──────

11,000 | 11,000

```

Gross tax paid = ₹4,000

If a refund of ₹1,000 was also received during the year:

Net tax paid = 4,000 − 1,000 = ₹3,000 (shown in Cash Flow Statement)

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using the P&L provision charge as the tax paid figure — they are different amounts.
  • Showing tax refund as a separate inflow instead of netting it against tax paid.
  • Classifying tax refund under Investing Activities — it belongs in Operating Activities (unless directly identifiable with financing/investing).
  • Forgetting to include the current year provision when building PBT from Retained Earnings.
Reference:
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