A more thorough explanation:

The clear-reflection-of-income standard is a method used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that a taxpayer's income is accurately reported. If the method used by the taxpayer does not clearly reflect their income, the IRS can force them to use a different method.

For example, if a self-employed individual uses a cash basis accounting method to report their income, but the IRS determines that this method does not accurately reflect their income, they may be required to switch to an accrual basis accounting method.

Another example could be a business that consistently reports losses year after year, but the IRS determines that the losses are not a true reflection of the business's income. In this case, the IRS may require the business to adjust their accounting method to more accurately reflect their income.

The clear-reflection-of-income standard is important because it ensures that taxpayers are reporting their income accurately and paying the appropriate amount of taxes. By using this standard, the IRS can prevent taxpayers from underreporting their income and potentially evading taxes.