While inflation is not at the high levels seen in the last couple of years, if you haven’t elected LIFO previously, now is the time to look at Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) accounting. If you have inventories of machinery and equipment, glass products or any concrete or cement inventory, there could be tax savings available for 2023. Whether you are already on LIFO or not, analyzing the IPIC LIFO method could be a great opportunity. IPIC LIFO uses indexes published by the Bureau of Labor Statics to measure inflation on your inventory. In 2023 these indexes show inflation is still on the rise in many industries, which means businesses of all sizes could experience tax savings using LIFO.
Whether you are a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, you have the opportunity to mitigate the negative impact of price increases and annually save money by using the LIFO inventory method. Adopting LIFO removes the phantom profits caused by inflation, lowering your tax liability and creating cash for reinvestment in your business. Any business with over $2M in inventory that is experiencing inflation is a qualified candidate for electing LIFO. Depending on the inflation rate and the inventory level, the cash savings can be quite substantial.
Tax Benefit Projections
Estimated Inflation
2.00%
5.00%
7.00%
10.00%
15.00%
Estimated After-Tax Cash Savings*
$2M inventory
$14,000
$35,000
$49,000
$70,000
$105,000
$5M inventory
$35,000
$87,500
$122,500
$175,000
$262,500
$10M inventory
$70,000
$175,000
$245,000
$350,000
$525,000
$20M inventory
$140,000
$350,000
$490,000
$700,000
$1,050,000
*Estimated After-Tax Cash Savings assumes a total Tax Rate of 35%. Estimated Inventory level is as of year beginning.
Case Studies
- A wine distributor with $30m in inventory is planning to elect LIFO in 2023 as there is currently about 7% inflation in their inventory. Assuming inflation holds steady through the end of the year, they will calculate LIFO reserve of almost $2m, providing tax savings of over $650,000. Knowing this projected savings now helps them as they begin tax planning for 2023.
- Inflation for sporting goods is currently about 10%. A family-owned store with $2m in prior year inventory that elects LIFO in 2023 can expect a first year LIFO reserve of over $200,000, translating to more than $70,000 in tax savings.
- Taxpayers across the different industries and with inventory can save tax dollars with LIFO.
Taxpayer Type
Estimated 2023 Inflation
Prior Year Inventory Value
Year 1 LIFO Reserve
After-tax Cash Savings*
Industrial Products Manufacturer
4%
$3,000,000
$117,000
$40,950
Machinery and Equipment Retailer
6%
$12,000,000
$660,000
$244,200
Sporting Goods Store
11%
$4,000,000
$440,000
$162,800
Aircraft Engine Manufacturer
5%
$14,000,000
$700,000
$259,000
Lawn & Garden Store
4%
$6,000,000
$240,000
$88,800
Glass Bottles Distributor
10%
$5,000,000
$480,000
$177,600
Packaged Concrete Manufacturer
12%
$10,000,000
$1,200,000
$444,000
*After tax-cash savings is measured using 35% tax rate.*
