Prior literature
has examined various tax accounts with the potential for earnings management,
including deferred tax assets and liabilities (Phillips, Pincus, Rego, and Wan 2004;
Burgstahler, Elliott, and Hanlon 2006), deferred tax expense (Phillips, Pincus, and
Rego 2003; Joos, Pratt, and Young 2003; Mills and Newberry 2001), and the valuation
allowance account (Frank and Rego 2006; Schrand and Wong 2003; Bauman,
Bauman, and Halsey 2001; and Visvanathan 1998). In addition, Frank, Lynch, and
Rego (2006) and Erickson, Hanlon, and Maydew (2004) examine the trade-offs
between aggressive financial reporting decisions and tax decisions