Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

7. Income Taxes

There was no current tax benefit or provision for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, due to cumulative net operating and capital losses, and no income taxes have been paid by the GUC Trust. There also was no deferred tax benefit or provision in such periods as a result of the establishment of a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets as of the beginning and end of such periods.

Deferred taxes in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2020 are comprised of the following components:

Deferred tax assets:
Reserves for expected costs of liquidation and Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs	$	4,232
Net operating loss carryovers		52,787
Gross deferred tax assets		57,019
Less: Valuation allowance		(56,982	)
Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance		37
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accrued investment income		(37	)
Gross deferred tax liabilities		(37	)
Net deferred taxes	$	—

As previously disclosed, during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the GUC Trust made a determination to file its U.S. federal income tax returns taking the position that beneficial ownership for a substantial majority of New GM Securities was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust on March 31, 2011, and that the tax basis of such New GM Securities should be determined with reference to the value of such securities on such date, instead of December 15, 2011, when record ownership of the remaining New GM Securities still held by MLC was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust. For the remaining substantial minority of New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust, the GUC Trust determined that the transfer of beneficial ownership occurred on other dates for which the tax basis should be determined by reference to the value of such securities on such dates. This new tax position resulted in an increased tax basis of the New GM Securities from the prior tax position and, therefore, reduced taxable gains and increased taxable losses on distributions and sales of New GM Securities since March 31, 2011. The new tax position has not been sustained on examination by the IRS as of the date hereof. However, the GUC Trust believes, based on the available evidence and consultation with GUC Trust Professionals, that it is more likely than not that the new tax position will be sustained on examination by the IRS based on the technical merits of the position. Accordingly, this new tax position has been recognized in the current and deferred income tax liabilities and the income tax provision in the GUC Trust’s financial statements since the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

Following the GUC Trust’s determination to utilize the new tax position set forth above, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2013 and thereafter with the IRS using such new tax position. Such tax returns were accompanied by requests for prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the 60-day statutory notification periods set forth in Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the GUC Trust’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2019 and prior years have expired. Accordingly, the tax liabilities set forth in the GUC Trust’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2019 and prior years are no longer subject to examination by the IRS, and no income taxes can be assessed for such years. Also, no income taxes are expected to be paid in the future as a result of the liquidation of all the GUC Trust’s holdings of New GM Securities during the year ended March 31, 2016.

On June 24, 2020, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2020 with the IRS and requested prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code that same day. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the GUC Trust has not received notification from the IRS whether or not its income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2020 has been selected for examination.

Remaining net operating loss carryovers generated through June 30, 2020, aggregating $142.7 million, could be subject to examination by the IRS in subsequent years when those losses, if any, are utilized. The GUC Trust does not expect to utilize any net operating loss carryovers (on a net basis) in the future. All capital loss carryovers have expired as of March 31, 2020. The net operating loss carryovers begin to expire on March 31, 2032. However, pursuant to the enactment of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” in December 2017, net operating losses generated by the GUC Trust in tax years beginning April 1, 2018, do not expire. These loss carryovers in the aggregate result in a deferred tax asset of $52.8 million at June 30, 2020 (reflected in the table above). As described in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Income Taxes” in Item 2 (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), the GUC Trust’s loss carryovers (including those no longer available for utilization by the GUC Trust) potentially could succeed to Claimants (as defined above pursuant to tax rules). Reference is made thereto for further information regarding such potential distributable loss carryovers and the material uncertainties associated therewith.

A full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets aggregating $57.0 million was established as of June 30, 2020 because, as a result of the liquidation of all of the GUC Trust’s holdings of New GM Securities, it has been determined that such deferred tax assets are not realizable at this time. Such valuation allowance was decreased by $1.7 million from the full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets established as of March 31, 2020.