Purpose - This paper examines whether firms in the decline stage of life cycle manipulate core or operating income through misclassification of operating expenses as income-decreasing special items. Design/methodology/approach - Our sample comprises of firms from an emerging market, India with data from 1996-2011. We use the methodology given in McVay (2006) and multiple regressions. Findings - Managers of Indian firms also engage in classification shifting, primary incentive being desire to avoid reporting of operating losses. Further, the use of classification shifting is dependent upon the stage of life cycle in which firm is in. Specifically, firms in the decline stage of life cycle are more likely to use classification shifting to avoid reporting of operating losses. Practical implications - The paper sheds light on a critical phase of the firm life cycle-decline, which increases the possibility of use of classification shifting-an earnings management technique which auditors, investors and regulators find tough to detect. Originality/value - We extend the literature on classification shifting, and present first evidence that such shifting is more likely to take place during the decline phase of firm life cycle.