Being able to assess a company's operating cash flow (OCF)—and how that is impacted by taxes—is an important skill in evaluating a company's overall health.
The operating cash flow is vital when considering whether the company can generate enough positive funds to maintain and grow its operations. If not, the company may require external financing.
Shorter turnover rates in inventory and shorter times for receiving funds increase a business's operational cash flow. Items such as depreciation and taxes are included to adjust the net income, rendering a more accurate financial picture. Higher taxes and lower depreciation methods adversely impact the operational cash flow.
Key Takeaways
- Operating cash flow reveals the cash that a company generates through its business operations.
- This is an important indicator for gauging how well a company can continue its operations and grow.
- Calculating taxes in operating cash flow involves reverse-engineering the following equation: Operating Cash Flow = EBIT + Depreciation - Taxes where EBIT refers to earnings before interest and taxes.
How Are Taxes Calculated in Operating Cash Flow?
The operating cash flow indicates the cash a company brings in from ongoing, regular business activities. It can be found on a company's annual or quarterly cash flow statement. Simply, it is Total Revenue - Operating Expenses = Operating Cash Flow.
Taxes are included in the calculations for the operating cash flow. Cash flow from operating activities is calculated by adding depreciation to the earnings before income and taxes and then subtracting the taxes.
A company's EBIT—also known as its earnings before interest and taxes—consists of its net income before income tax and interest expenses are deducted. Once a company's EBIT is known, multiply that by the tax rate to calculate the total tax paid. Finally, to calculate operating cash flow, use the following equation: EBIT - tax paid + depreciation.
In terms of how to calculate OCF with the tax rate already known, the equation above can be simply reverse-engineered, solving for the unknown variables.
What Is the Impact of Taxes on Cash Flow?
Proper tax planning is important since it can impact a company’s cash position. Companies can assess their overall tax situation, considering income tax, indirect tax, and tax benefits.
Tax policies can also impact how businesses depreciate capital assets. In this way, faster depreciation can theoretically reduce the user cost of capital and increase the cash flows of companies.
Why Is Operating Cash Flow After Taxes Important?
Investors find it important to look at the cash flow after taxes (CFAT), which indicates a corporation's ability to pay dividends. The higher the cash flow, the better the company is financially, and the better positioned it is to make distributions. Income the company has from outside of its operations is not included in the operating cash flow. Any dividends paid and infrequent long-term expenses are often excluded from this calculation as well.
One-time asset sales are also noted, as they inflate the cash flow numbers during the relevant time period. Investors look at the balance and income statements to gain a better knowledge of the overall health of a company.
Does Operating Cash Flow Include Taxes?
Yes, operating cash flow includes taxes along with interest, given that they are part of a business's operating activities.
Is Operating Cash Flow the Same as EBIT?
Operating cash flow is different from earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), but both are metrics used to assess a company's financial health. Operating cash flow is the cash generated from a company's core business activities. By contrast, EBIT shows a company's profitability by looking at its net income before expenses, interest, and tax have been deducted. EBIT is also used to analyze the performance of a company's core business.
What Is the Formula for Calculating Taxes in Operating Cash Flow?
Calculating taxes in operating cash flow requires reverse-engineering the following formula: Operating Cash Flow = EBIT - tax paid + depreciation. You would then solve for unknown variables, assuming the tax rate is known.
The Bottom Line
A company's operating cash flow can be significantly impacted by higher taxes and lower depreciation methods. In this way, it can be important to calculate the taxes in operating cash flow to get a clearer picture of how they impact a company's overall financial situation and its ability to pay dividends.