The esoterica of tax accounting is not terribly thrilling. In truth, it may be downright headache-inducing for these of us who aren’t CPAs. Nonetheless, when your money circulation is at risk of taking a giant hit due to circumstances past your management — even in a yr that noticed report dealership profitability — it grabs your consideration.

This week, Automotive Information examines how the hyperlink between the worldwide microchip scarcity and the generally used stock accounting technique referred to as LIFO — or final in, first out — is more likely to lead to extraordinary tax payments for 1000’s of dealerships throughout the nation this spring.

LIFO is often employed by small and midsize automotive retailers, although some massive ones use it as effectively, as a technique to defer taxes, for years and even many years. It is essential to notice that it is not used to keep away from taxes altogether — it helps handle money circulation from yr to yr. Finally, the IRS will get its cash.

However dealerships on LIFO depend on a gentle stream of new-vehicle stock. As a result of the microchip disaster has vastly constricted the circulation of latest automobiles to retail tons, their stock ranges dropped dramatically in 2021, triggering considerably increased taxable earnings associated to value of products offered.

This not the primary time LIFO has given sellers tax suits. A visit by means of Automotive Information‘ archives finds tales on this situation relationship again to the Nineteen Nineties. A small sampling:

■ June 26, 1995, “IRS rulings spell tax hazard for sellers”: How sellers may face six-figure tax payments for previous errors they made utilizing LIFO.

■ Aug. 25, 1997, “NADA and IRS attain compromise on LIFO”: After about three years of negotiations, the Nationwide Vehicle Sellers Affiliation struck a cope with the federal tax authority on the LIFO conformity situation. It gave sellers a protected harbor on future LIFO computations and decreased penalties for previous errors.

■ Dec. 17, 2001, “Zero p.c generates huge tax invoice”: The draw back of the gross sales surge sparked by 0 p.c financing: Sellers confronted considerably bigger tax payments in the event that they didn’t replenish their inventories by yr finish.

■ Jan. 25, 2010: “This yr, LIFO is an ‘Oh, no!’ at tax time.” Coming off the Nice Recession and the money for clunkers program that spurred gross sales however drained inventories, sellers had a dearth of inventory because the yr wound down. Stated one accountant with greater than 200 auto retail shoppers on LIFO: “We have ruined a number of sellers’ days.”

Final spring, Will De Filipps, a CPA who makes a speciality of dealership tax points, introduced the connection between tight inventories and LIFO to Automotive Information‘ consideration. His April 5 op-ed, “Coping with a drop in LIFO reserves,” supplied recommendation to retailers who would wish to confront the issue.

Quick-forward to at present: NADA, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and members from each homes of Congress have an answer, however it will take an unprecedented transfer from the federal authorities to supply aid — and time is working quick.

What’s that answer? Come again to Automotive Information tomorrow to search out out.

— Omari Gardner