Taxpayers who use the cash basis of accounting can reduce their United States federal tax burden by adjusting when income is received and expenses are incurred. Sometimes the effect will only be temporary, but in other cases permanent savings will be generated.

Cash basis accounting is a different method from accrual accounting. In cash basis, income and expense are recorded when they are paid. Accrual accounting recognizes these when they are incurred.

The following examples relate to the taxpayer using cash basis accounting.

Effect of Timing on Income

The simplest example of timing is in delaying taxable income until the next year. If there is any ability to defer taxes until after the end of the tax period (usually January 1), money received will not be taxed until the next year.