INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Moody’s effective tax rate (ETR) was 1.0% and 18.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The 17.2% decrease in the ETR for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to tax benefits recognized in the first quarter of 2023, which reflect the resolutions of uncertain tax positions in various U.S. and non-U.S. tax jurisdictions. The Company’s first quarter 2023 provision for income taxes differs from the tax computed by applying its estimated annual effective tax rate to the pre-tax earnings primarily due to the following items recognized in 2023: i) net reductions in UTPs of $117 million related to the resolutions of UTPs; and ii) excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation of $6 million.

The Company classifies interest related to UTPs in interest expense, net in its consolidated statements of operations. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized in other non-operating income (expense), net.

Moody’s Corporation and subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for 2019 through 2020 are currently under examination and 2021 remains open to examination. The Company’s New York City tax returns for 2015 through 2019 are currently under examination. The Company’s U.K. tax returns for 2017 through 2021 remain open to examination.

For ongoing audits, it is possible the balance of UTPs could decrease in the next twelve months as a result of the settlement of such audits, which might involve the payment of additional taxes, the adjustment of certain deferred taxes and/or the recognition of tax benefits. It is also possible that new issues will be raised by tax authorities which could necessitate increases to the balance of UTPs. As the Company is unable to predict the timing or outcome of these audits, it is unable to estimate the amount of changes to the balance of UTPs at this time. However, the Company believes that it has adequately provided for its financial exposure relating to all open tax years, by tax jurisdiction, in accordance with the applicable provisions of ASC Topic 740 regarding UTPs.

The following table shows the amount the Company paid for income taxes:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023		2022
Income taxes paid	$	66	$	70

In August 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a corporate minimum tax on book earnings of 15%, an excise tax on corporate share repurchases of 1%, and certain climate change and energy tax credit incentives. The adoption of a corporate minimum tax of 15% is not expected to impact Moody’s ETR. The excise tax of 1% on corporate share buybacks will not have an impact on the Company’s ETR for 2023.