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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The following is a reconciliation of income taxes on continuing operations at the statutory rate of 21% to the provision for income taxes as shown in AFG’s Statement of Earnings (dollars in millions):
202120202019
Amount% of EBTAmount% of EBTAmount% of EBT
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes (“EBT”)$1,335 $339 $634 
Income taxes at statutory rate$280 21 %$71 21 %$133 21 %
Effect of:
Employee stock ownership plan dividend paid deduction(16)(1 %)(2)(1 %)(3)— %
Stock-based compensation(13)(1 %)(4)(1 %)(7)(1 %)
Tax exempt interest(8)(1 %)(10)(3 %)(11)(2 %)
Change in valuation allowance(4)— %(117)(35 %)17 3 %
Dividend received deduction(2)— %(2)(1 %)(3)— %
Adjustment to prior year taxes(1)— %1 — %(2)— %
Tax benefit related to sale of Neon— — %(72)(21 %)— — %
Nondeductible expenses8 1 %4 1 %8 1 %
Foreign operations— — %149 44 %4 1 %
Other10 — %7 3 %7 — %
Provision for income taxes as shown in the statement of earnings$254 19 %$25 7 %$143 23 %

On December 31, 2020, AFG completed the sale of the legal entities that own Neon Underwriting Limited (“Neon”, formerly known as Marketform Group Limited), a United Kingdom-based Lloyd’s insurer (see Note C — “Acquisitions and Sale of Businesses”), which resulted in a taxable loss for U.S. tax purposes. AFG recorded a $72 million tax benefit associated with this loss in 2020. Approximately $65 million of the $72 million tax benefit reduced current taxes payable while the remaining tax benefit will be received from the carry-back of the tax-basis capital loss to offset capital gains in prior tax years.

Due to uncertainty concerning the realization of the deferred tax benefits associated with losses incurred at Neon and its predecessor, Marketform, AFG maintained a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets related to the Lloyd’s insurance business. The effect of foreign operations and change in valuation allowance in 2020 in the table above reflect the transfer of the deferred tax assets related to Neon, to the buyer at closing, and the corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance. The changes in valuation allowance in 2019 are primarily increases in the valuation allowance on tax benefits related to losses in the Neon Lloyd’s insurance business.

Excluding the impact of the $72 million tax benefit on the sale and other impacts of Neon in 2020, AFG’s effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2020, was 28%.

Since almost all of AFG’s earnings are taxable based on U.S. tax rates, the Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (“GILTI”) provision is not expected to be material to AFG’s results of operations and will be recorded in the period that any tax arises.

AFG’s 2013 — 2021 tax years remain subject to examination by the IRS.
Total earnings before income taxes include earnings subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions of $33 million in 2021 and losses subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions of $131 million in 2020 and $109 million in 2019. The losses in 2020 and 2019 are primarily related to the Neon Lloyd’s operations.

The total income tax provision of continuing operations consists of (in millions):
202120202019
Current taxes:
Federal$162 $46 $103 
State7 4 5 
Foreign1 3 2 
Deferred taxes:
Federal84 (28)33 
Provision for income taxes$254 $25 $143 
For income tax purposes, AFG and its subsidiaries had the following carryforwards available at December 31, 2021 (in millions):
ExpiringAmount
Operating Loss – U.S.2022 - 2041$56 
Operating Loss – United Kingdomindefinite37 (*)
(*)£28 million

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for tax purposes. The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities of continuing operations included in AFG’s Balance Sheet at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
20212020
Deferred tax assets:
Federal net operating loss carryforwards$12 $15 
Foreign underwriting losses9 6 
Capital loss carryforwards— 7 
Insurance claims and reserves249 240 
Employee benefits112 102 
Other, net26 45 
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
408 415 
Valuation allowance against deferred tax assets(25)(29)
Total deferred tax assets383 386 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Investment securities(200)(129)
Deferred policy acquisition costs(61)(55)
Insurance claims and reserves transition liability(17)(21)
Real estate, property and equipment(29)(33)
Total deferred tax liabilities(307)(238)
Net deferred tax asset$76 $148 

AFG’s net deferred tax asset of its continuing operations at December 31, 2021 and 2020 is included in other assets in AFG’s Balance Sheet. The decrease in AFG’s net deferred tax asset of its continuing operations at December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020 reflects GAAP earnings on equity method investments in excess of tax earnings, the increase in market value of equity securities that are reported at fair value, sales of equity securities in a loss position for tax purposes and the addition of a deferred tax liability (included in other, net) related to amortizable intangible assets acquired in the purchase of Verikai.

The likelihood of realizing deferred tax assets is reviewed periodically; any adjustments required to the valuation allowance are made in the period during which developments requiring an adjustment become known.
The gross deferred tax asset has been reduced by a $9 million valuation allowance related to AFG’s net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) subject to the separate return limitation year (“SRLY”) tax rules. A SRLY NOL can be used only by the entity that created it and only in years that both it and the consolidated group have taxable income. Approximately $27 million of AFG’s SRLY NOLs expired unutilized at December 31, 2021. Since AFG maintains a full valuation allowance against its SRLY NOLs, the expiration of these loss carryforwards was offset by corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance and had no overall impact on AFG’s income tax expense or results of operations.

At December 31, 2021, there are unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties of less than $1 million that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. At December 31, 2020, there are no unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. AFG’s provision for income taxes in 2021 included interest expense of less than $1 million related to unrecognized tax benefits. There is no interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits included in AFG’s provision for income taxes in 2020 or 2019. There were liabilities of less than $1 million for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2021. There is no liability for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2020. There were no penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits included in AFG’s provision for income taxes in 2021 or 2020. AFG’s provision for income taxes in 2019 included penalties of less than $1 million. There is no liability for penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds, were $212 million, $179 million and $278 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.