A bond is a debt instrument that allows the issuer to obtain debt from third parties. Usually, companies and government bodies issue these instruments. When a buyer acquires a bond, they pay its market value to the issuer. After that, the buyer holds the bond for a period during which they receive interest payments. These payments depend on the face value and the coupon rate on the bond.
Bonds also come with a maturity date which is when bond extinguishment occurs. This process can impact several financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Before discussing those, it is crucial to understand what bond extinguishment is.
What is Bond Extinguishment?
Bond extinguishment refers to removing the liabilities related to a bond from a company’s financial statements. It primarily impacts the balance sheet. However, it may also affect the income statement and the statement of cash flows. Companies may also suffer a loss or gain in this process. However, it occurs if the bond extinguishment occurs before the maturity date.
The bond extinguishment process usually occurs when a bond reaches its maturity. However, it may also happen before that. If a company restructures its bond structure after its issue, it also constitutes bond extinguishment of the current bonds. Lastly, companies may also extinguish their bonds prematurely for reasons such as changes in interest rates, capital needs, etc.
What is the Extinguishment of Debt tax treatment?
Bond extinguishment tax treatment is similar to other debts. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the process works in general. As stated above, bond extinguishment can occur at maturity or before that. Usually, if a bond reaches its maturity, then tax treatment will not change. The IRS allows companies to charge interest expenses as an allowable deduction. On the other hand, the principal repayment will decrease the debt on the balance sheet.
However, if bond extinguishment occurs before maturity, the tax treatment may be of canceled debt. It occurs if the bond is forgiven or discharged for less than the full amount that the issuer owes. The canceled debt will equal the amount the issuer doesn’t have to repay. This amount will be considered an income for the issuer.
If a company has a debt cancellation income, the amount becomes taxable. The issuer must also report this amount as canceled debt. However, some exceptions may exist, allowing the issuer to remove this income from their taxable income.
What is the gain on Extinguishment of Debt Cash Flow Statement treatment?
A difference between the reacquisition price of the debt and its net carrying amount causes a gain or loss on debt extinguishment. Companies recognize this amount on the income statement. However, it also impacts the cash flow statement since it involves cash compensation. However, it is not as complex.
The treatment of gain on debt extinguishment in the cash flow statement involves two steps. The first is to remove this amount from the cash flow from operating activities. Primarily, it requires subtracting the gain from the net income. Once done, companies must move this amount to the cash flows from financing activities as a cash inflow.
Conclusion
Companies acquire debt from various sources. Usually, they hold this debt until maturity, when the extinguishment of that debt occurs. However, companies may also extinguish it before that. The tax treatment for early extinguishment may fall under canceled debt. Similarly, this process may cause a gain or loss, impacting the cash flow statement.
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