The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
Current tax
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred tax
Deferred taxation is provided on the liability method to take account of timing differences between the treatment of certain items for accounts purposes and their treatment for tax purposes.
Tax deferred or accelerated is accounted for in respect of all material timing differences, in particular accelerated capital allowances and revaluation gains in investment properties. All deferred tax is charged/(credited) to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings.