ATC 5-7
a. When the LIFO method is used for tax purposes, tax law requires
companies to use the same cost flow method for financial
reporting. Consequently, if the company uses LIFO for tax
purposes, then it is legally bound to use the same method in
its financial statements. Accordingly, it would be illegal for
inflationary economy, the first inventory purchased, which
would be the lower cost inventory, would be the first inventory
expensed when goods are sold under FIFO. This would leave the
higher cost inventory in ending inventory which is the cost
that would appear on the balance sheet.
financial statements. Additionally, the LIFO reserve amount
would be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements and
the stockholders could make their own judgments about how the
statements would appear if FIFO had been used.