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The Global Insight

What is the advantage of using LIFO method?

Author

John Hall

Updated on February 20, 2026

The biggest benefit of LIFO is a tax advantage. During times of inflation, LIFO results in a higher cost of goods sold and a lower balance of remaining inventory. A higher cost of goods sold means lower net income, which results in a smaller tax liability.

What are the disadvantages and advantages of using LIFO and FIFO?

The companies that decide to use LIFO over FIFO most often do it for the tax advantages. However, there can also be tax liabilities. The advantages of LIFO are also its disadvantages as the only real purpose of instituting LIFO is to avoid paying higher taxes but this means profits are generally lower.

What is FIFO advantages and disadvantages?

All the advantages of FIFO occur because when a company sells goods, the first costs it removes from inventory are the oldest unit costs. The disadvantages of FIFO include (1) the recognition of paper profits and (2) a heavier tax burden if used for tax purposes in periods of inflation.

What are disadvantages of LIFO method?

1. Calculation under LIFO system becomes complicated and cumbersome when frequent purchases are made at highly fluctuating rates.

What is disadvantage of FIFO method?

The first-in, first-out (FIFO) accounting method has two key disadvantages. It tends to overstate gross margin, particularly during periods of high inflation, which creates misleading financial statements. Costs seem lower than they actually are, and gains seem higher than they actually are.

What are the disadvantages of the LIFO inventory method?

Disadvantages of the LIFO inventory method: Using this method is prohibited by many accounting standards (incl. IFRS) and is not accepted by many tax authorities around the globe because it helps to understate profit and pay lower taxes compared with other inventory methods.

Which is better to use LIFO or FIFO?

LIFO matches most recent costs against current revenues: The LIFO method provides a better measurement of current earnings by matching most recent costs against current revenues. The non-LIFO methods (such as FIFO method) match old costs against current revenues.

Why do businesses use LIFO when prices are rising?

This is exactly why business like LIFO. By using LIFO when prices are rising, firms can better match their revenues to their latest costs, save on taxes that otherwise would have been accrued under other forms of cost accounting, and undertake fewer inventory write downs.

When should a company use last in first out ( LIFO )?

When Should a Company Use Last in, First Out (LIFO)? Last in, first out (LIFO) is a method used to account for how inventory has been sold that records the most recently produced items as sold first.