Its going to be my first year filing for a C Corporation tax return, I need to decide whether to elect an Accrual basis of Accounting or Cash Basis.

Can you explain the advantages or disadvantages of both methods?

Thank you.

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Generally, most taxpayers elect to use the Cash basis of accounting rather than the Accrual method. Some of the times Taxpayers cannot choose the method because big corporations with certain large $$$sales have to report on an Accrual basis.

As such a small corporation (Revenue <$10mm) would elect the cash basis, because they do not wish to pay taxes on revenue not received or collected. Simply speaking that this the main difference between cash and accrual method.

Would a taxpayer wish to record a higher profit for tax purposes especially if you have a choice of recording a lower profit for tax purposes???

The only advantage I can think of for a new startup company is if you need to demonstrate a strong balance sheet and income statement to a financial institution for securing better loan terms or you have other entities and are required by law to conform to their method of accounting (accrual method).

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