INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Moody’s ETR was 23.1% and 23.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Moody’s ETR for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was 23.2% and 12.0%, respectively. The increase in the ETR for the six months ended June 30, 2024 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 resolution of uncertain tax positions in various U.S. and non-U.S. tax jurisdictions and will not recur in 2024. The Company’s year-to-date provision for income taxes differs from the tax computed by applying its estimated annual ETR to the pre-tax earnings primarily due to the excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation of $19 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, net. The Company had a net increase in its UTP reserves of $5 million, net of federal tax, during the second quarter of 2024 and an increase in its UTPs of $11 million, net of federal tax, during the first six months of 2024.

Moody’s is 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 through 2022 remain open to examination. The Company’s New York City tax returns for 2018 through 2022 are currently under examination. The Company’s U.K. tax returns for 2017 through 2022 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 future 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:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2024		2023
Income taxes paid	$	276	$	122

Effective in 2024, multiple foreign jurisdictions in which the Company operates have enacted legislation to adopt a minimum tax rate described in the Global Anti-Base Erosion tax model rules (referred to as GloBE or Pillar II) issued by the OECD. A minimum ETR of 15% applies to multinational companies with consolidated revenue above €750 million. Under the GloBE rules, a company is required to determine a combined ETR for all entities located in a jurisdiction. If the jurisdictional effective tax rate is less than 15%, an additional tax generally will be due to bring the jurisdictional ETR up to 15%. We have evaluated the impact of the Pillar II global minimum tax rules on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As of June 30, 2024, the Pillar II minimum tax requirement is not expected to have a material impact upon our full-year results of operations or financial position.