All glossary terms
Glossary term
FIFO (First-In, First-Out)
Inventory cost-flow method assuming the earliest acquired items are sold first.
Related terms
1
Jurisdictions
us
Definition
FIFO is the default inventory cost-flow method, generally producing higher taxable income during inflation than LIFO. It is widely used because it conforms to physical inventory movement in many businesses.
Examples
- A retailer using FIFO matches earliest costs against current sales revenue.
Related terms
Translations
ESFIFO
ZH先进先出
DEFIFO
FRFIFO
JAFIFO
Citations
26 U.S.C. · 471
Related citations
Computed from the cross-reference graph. Links open the related entity on this site.
This entry cites
Cited by
Primary sources
- IRS: Inventory methodsVerified 2026-05-20
Important disclaimer
This library is for general tax education only. Always verify filing obligations, due dates, and tax consequences against the cited primary source or with a qualified tax professional.