d. Starbucks recognizes an expense related to retirement benefits as employees rendered services but cannot claim an income tax deduction until it pays cash to a retirement fund. Why do the deferred taxes for deferred compensation appear as a deferred tax asset (Accrued compensation and related costs)? Suggest possible reasons why the deferred tax asset decreased slightly between the end of 2011 and the end of 2012.

Exhibit 1.28 Starbucks Corporation Comparative Statements of Cash Flows (amounts in millions) (Integrative Case 1.1) Exhibit 1.29 Starbucks Corporation Common-Size and Percentage Change Balance Sheets (allow for rounding) (Integrative Case 1.1) Exhibit 2.18 Starbucks Income Tax Disclosures (amounts in millions) (Integrative Case 2.1)