The Analyst's Path

Glossarytaught in M3.04, M3.03

Marginal tax rate

Also called statutory tax rate, marginal rate.

The rate applied to the next rupee of profit, which is the rate that belongs in a valuation.

Operating profit of ₹960 crore taxed at 25% gives a ₹240 crore charge.

It differs from the effective rate in a way that matters, because tax holidays, accumulated losses and one-off credits lower the reported rate temporarily. Any discounted cash flow that uses a 12% effective rate in perpetuity has assumed a concession that lasts forever. That's a big assumption to bury in a terminal value.

Use the effective rate for the years the concession runs, then step to the marginal rate.

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