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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax [Line Items]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Rates - The provision for income taxes for earnings from continuing operations is based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate that excludes the impact of significant unusual or infrequently occurring items, discontinued operations or extraordinary items. The effective income tax rates for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL differ from the federal statutory rate of 35% generally due to effects of enacted tax legislation, utility rate-making, including the tax benefit rider, tax credits, state income taxes and certain non-deductible expenses. Changes in state apportionment rates caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business also impacted the effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL. The effective income tax rates shown in the following table for the three and nine months ended September 30 were computed by dividing income tax expense (benefit) by income from continuing operations before income taxes.
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Alliant Energy
20.4
%
 
23.5
%
 
24.0
%
 
16.6
%
IPL
(12.6
%)
 
(3.3
%)
 
(5.6
%)
 
(1.7
%)
WPL
35.5
%
 
34.4
%
 
37.7
%
 
33.0
%


State Apportionment - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL utilize state apportionment projections to record their deferred tax assets and liabilities each reporting period. Deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements are recorded utilizing currently enacted tax rates and estimates of future state apportionment rates expected to be in effect at the time the temporary differences reverse. These state apportionment projections are most significantly impacted by the estimated amount of revenues expected in the future from each state jurisdiction for Alliant Energy’s consolidated tax group, including both its regulated operations and its non-regulated operations. In the first quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL recorded $15.2 million, $8.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of deferred income tax expense due to changes in state apportionment projections caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business. These income tax expense amounts recognized in the first quarter of 2012 increased Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by 4.3%, 6.9% and 3.5%, respectively.

IPL’s Electric Tax Benefit Rider - In January 2011, the IUB approved an electric tax benefit rider proposed by IPL, which utilizes tax-related regulatory liabilities to credit bills of Iowa retail electric customers beginning in February 2011 to help offset the impact of recent rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs, mixed service costs and allocation of insurance proceeds from the floods in 2008. Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 include the impact of reducing income tax expense with offsetting reductions to regulatory liabilities as a result of implementing the electric tax benefit rider. Tax benefit rider-related regulatory liabilities of $23 million and $63 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and $20 million and $44 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, were used to credit IPL’s Iowa retail electric customers’ bills. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider are currently expected to decrease Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s 2012 annual effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 11.0% and 34.5%, respectively. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 9.2% and 8.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and decreased IPL’s effective income tax rates by 26.5% and 25.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Production Tax Credits - Alliant Energy has three wind projects that are currently generating production tax credits: WPL’s 68 MW Cedar Ridge wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2008; IPL’s 200 MW Whispering Willow - East wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2009; and WPL’s 200 MW Bent Tree - Phase I wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2010. For the three and nine months ended September 30, production tax credits (net of state tax impacts) resulting from these wind projects were as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Cedar Ridge (WPL)

$0.7

 

$0.6

 

$3.0

 

$3.2

Bent Tree - Phase I (WPL)
1.8

 
1.4

 
6.0

 
6.7

Subtotal (WPL)
2.5

 
2.0

 
9.0

 
9.9

Whispering Willow - East (IPL)
2.0

 
1.8

 
8.7

 
8.2

 

$4.5

 

$3.8

 

$17.7

 

$18.1



Effect of Rate-making on Property-related Differences - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income tax expense and benefits are impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recognized in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. The primary factor contributing to the increase in the current tax benefits recorded for the effect of rate-making on property-related differences is related to repair expenditures and the allocation of mixed service costs at IPL in 2012. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit process was completed for allocation of mixed service costs with the income tax return for calendar year 2010 and repairs expenditures with the income tax return for calendar year 2011. The tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for allocation of mixed service costs subsequent to 2010 and the tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for repairs expenditures subsequent to 2011 are being recorded consistent with general Iowa rate-making principles, which impact income tax expense and benefits at Alliant Energy and IPL.

Wisconsin Tax Legislation - In June 2011, the 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 (Act 32) was enacted. The most significant provision of Act 32 for Alliant Energy authorizes combined groups to share net operating loss carryforwards that were incurred by group members prior to January 1, 2009 and utilize these shared net operating losses over 20 years beginning after December 31, 2011. Based on this provision of Act 32, Alliant Energy anticipated its Wisconsin combined group will be able to fully utilize $368 million of Wisconsin net operating losses incurred by Alliant Energy and Resources prior to January 1, 2009 to offset future taxable income and therefore reversed previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowances related to state net operating loss carryforwards of $19 million in the second quarter of 2011. The income tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2011 from Act 32 decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rate for continuing operations by 5.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities - For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s current deferred tax assets increased $67.2 million, $22.4 million and $44.3 million, respectively, and Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s non-current deferred tax liabilities increased $244.5 million, $102.5 million and $136.8 million, respectively. These increases were primarily due to a transfer of deferred tax assets from non-current to current caused by an increase in the amount of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expected to be utilized during the next 12 months. The increase in non-current deferred tax liabilities was also due to property-related temporary differences recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from bonus depreciation deductions available in 2012.

Bonus Depreciation Deductions - In 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (SBJA) and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the Act) were enacted. The most significant provisions of the SBJA and the Act for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are related to the extension of bonus depreciation deductions for certain expenditures for property that are placed in service through December 31, 2012. Based on capital projects expected to be placed into service in 2012, Alliant Energy currently estimates its total bonus depreciation deductions to be claimed in its 2012 federal income tax return will be approximately $415 million ($114 million for IPL, $203 million for WPL and $98 million for Resources).

Carryforwards - At September 30, 2012, tax carryforwards and associated deferred tax assets and expiration dates were estimated as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$828

 

$284

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(55
)
 
(19
)
 
 
State net operating losses
776

 
40

 
2014
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
128

 
126

 
2022
 
 
 

$429

 
 

IPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$354

 

$121

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(25
)
 
(9
)
 
 
State net operating losses
170

 
9

 
2022
Federal tax credits
34

 
34

 
2022
 
 
 

$155

 
 

WPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$379

 

$130

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(30
)
 
(10
)
 
 
State net operating losses
183

 
10

 
2022
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
36

 
35

 
2022
 
 
 

$163

 
 


Uncertain Tax Positions - In October 2012, the Joint Committee of Taxation finalized the audits of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2005 through 2009. The completion of these audits also finalized the deductions for the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting included in Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2008 through 2010. With the completion of these audits in the fourth quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL expect to reduce their uncertain tax positions related to the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting. The reduction of these uncertain tax positions is not expected to have a material impact on effective tax rates for continuing operations for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL in the fourth quarter of 2012.
IPL [Member]
 
Income Tax [Line Items]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Rates - The provision for income taxes for earnings from continuing operations is based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate that excludes the impact of significant unusual or infrequently occurring items, discontinued operations or extraordinary items. The effective income tax rates for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL differ from the federal statutory rate of 35% generally due to effects of enacted tax legislation, utility rate-making, including the tax benefit rider, tax credits, state income taxes and certain non-deductible expenses. Changes in state apportionment rates caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business also impacted the effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL. The effective income tax rates shown in the following table for the three and nine months ended September 30 were computed by dividing income tax expense (benefit) by income from continuing operations before income taxes.
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Alliant Energy
20.4
%
 
23.5
%
 
24.0
%
 
16.6
%
IPL
(12.6
%)
 
(3.3
%)
 
(5.6
%)
 
(1.7
%)
WPL
35.5
%
 
34.4
%
 
37.7
%
 
33.0
%


State Apportionment - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL utilize state apportionment projections to record their deferred tax assets and liabilities each reporting period. Deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements are recorded utilizing currently enacted tax rates and estimates of future state apportionment rates expected to be in effect at the time the temporary differences reverse. These state apportionment projections are most significantly impacted by the estimated amount of revenues expected in the future from each state jurisdiction for Alliant Energy’s consolidated tax group, including both its regulated operations and its non-regulated operations. In the first quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL recorded $15.2 million, $8.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of deferred income tax expense due to changes in state apportionment projections caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business. These income tax expense amounts recognized in the first quarter of 2012 increased Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by 4.3%, 6.9% and 3.5%, respectively.

IPL’s Electric Tax Benefit Rider - In January 2011, the IUB approved an electric tax benefit rider proposed by IPL, which utilizes tax-related regulatory liabilities to credit bills of Iowa retail electric customers beginning in February 2011 to help offset the impact of recent rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs, mixed service costs and allocation of insurance proceeds from the floods in 2008. Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 include the impact of reducing income tax expense with offsetting reductions to regulatory liabilities as a result of implementing the electric tax benefit rider. Tax benefit rider-related regulatory liabilities of $23 million and $63 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and $20 million and $44 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, were used to credit IPL’s Iowa retail electric customers’ bills. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider are currently expected to decrease Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s 2012 annual effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 11.0% and 34.5%, respectively. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 9.2% and 8.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and decreased IPL’s effective income tax rates by 26.5% and 25.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Production Tax Credits - Alliant Energy has three wind projects that are currently generating production tax credits: WPL’s 68 MW Cedar Ridge wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2008; IPL’s 200 MW Whispering Willow - East wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2009; and WPL’s 200 MW Bent Tree - Phase I wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2010. For the three and nine months ended September 30, production tax credits (net of state tax impacts) resulting from these wind projects were as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Cedar Ridge (WPL)

$0.7

 

$0.6

 

$3.0

 

$3.2

Bent Tree - Phase I (WPL)
1.8

 
1.4

 
6.0

 
6.7

Subtotal (WPL)
2.5

 
2.0

 
9.0

 
9.9

Whispering Willow - East (IPL)
2.0

 
1.8

 
8.7

 
8.2

 

$4.5

 

$3.8

 

$17.7

 

$18.1



Effect of Rate-making on Property-related Differences - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income tax expense and benefits are impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recognized in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. The primary factor contributing to the increase in the current tax benefits recorded for the effect of rate-making on property-related differences is related to repair expenditures and the allocation of mixed service costs at IPL in 2012. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit process was completed for allocation of mixed service costs with the income tax return for calendar year 2010 and repairs expenditures with the income tax return for calendar year 2011. The tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for allocation of mixed service costs subsequent to 2010 and the tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for repairs expenditures subsequent to 2011 are being recorded consistent with general Iowa rate-making principles, which impact income tax expense and benefits at Alliant Energy and IPL.

Wisconsin Tax Legislation - In June 2011, the 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 (Act 32) was enacted. The most significant provision of Act 32 for Alliant Energy authorizes combined groups to share net operating loss carryforwards that were incurred by group members prior to January 1, 2009 and utilize these shared net operating losses over 20 years beginning after December 31, 2011. Based on this provision of Act 32, Alliant Energy anticipated its Wisconsin combined group will be able to fully utilize $368 million of Wisconsin net operating losses incurred by Alliant Energy and Resources prior to January 1, 2009 to offset future taxable income and therefore reversed previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowances related to state net operating loss carryforwards of $19 million in the second quarter of 2011. The income tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2011 from Act 32 decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rate for continuing operations by 5.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities - For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s current deferred tax assets increased $67.2 million, $22.4 million and $44.3 million, respectively, and Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s non-current deferred tax liabilities increased $244.5 million, $102.5 million and $136.8 million, respectively. These increases were primarily due to a transfer of deferred tax assets from non-current to current caused by an increase in the amount of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expected to be utilized during the next 12 months. The increase in non-current deferred tax liabilities was also due to property-related temporary differences recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from bonus depreciation deductions available in 2012.

Bonus Depreciation Deductions - In 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (SBJA) and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the Act) were enacted. The most significant provisions of the SBJA and the Act for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are related to the extension of bonus depreciation deductions for certain expenditures for property that are placed in service through December 31, 2012. Based on capital projects expected to be placed into service in 2012, Alliant Energy currently estimates its total bonus depreciation deductions to be claimed in its 2012 federal income tax return will be approximately $415 million ($114 million for IPL, $203 million for WPL and $98 million for Resources).

Carryforwards - At September 30, 2012, tax carryforwards and associated deferred tax assets and expiration dates were estimated as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$828

 

$284

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(55
)
 
(19
)
 
 
State net operating losses
776

 
40

 
2014
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
128

 
126

 
2022
 
 
 

$429

 
 

IPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$354

 

$121

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(25
)
 
(9
)
 
 
State net operating losses
170

 
9

 
2022
Federal tax credits
34

 
34

 
2022
 
 
 

$155

 
 

WPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$379

 

$130

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(30
)
 
(10
)
 
 
State net operating losses
183

 
10

 
2022
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
36

 
35

 
2022
 
 
 

$163

 
 


Uncertain Tax Positions - In October 2012, the Joint Committee of Taxation finalized the audits of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2005 through 2009. The completion of these audits also finalized the deductions for the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting included in Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2008 through 2010. With the completion of these audits in the fourth quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL expect to reduce their uncertain tax positions related to the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting. The reduction of these uncertain tax positions is not expected to have a material impact on effective tax rates for continuing operations for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL in the fourth quarter of 2012.
WPL [Member]
 
Income Tax [Line Items]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Rates - The provision for income taxes for earnings from continuing operations is based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate that excludes the impact of significant unusual or infrequently occurring items, discontinued operations or extraordinary items. The effective income tax rates for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL differ from the federal statutory rate of 35% generally due to effects of enacted tax legislation, utility rate-making, including the tax benefit rider, tax credits, state income taxes and certain non-deductible expenses. Changes in state apportionment rates caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business also impacted the effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL. The effective income tax rates shown in the following table for the three and nine months ended September 30 were computed by dividing income tax expense (benefit) by income from continuing operations before income taxes.
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Alliant Energy
20.4
%
 
23.5
%
 
24.0
%
 
16.6
%
IPL
(12.6
%)
 
(3.3
%)
 
(5.6
%)
 
(1.7
%)
WPL
35.5
%
 
34.4
%
 
37.7
%
 
33.0
%


State Apportionment - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL utilize state apportionment projections to record their deferred tax assets and liabilities each reporting period. Deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements are recorded utilizing currently enacted tax rates and estimates of future state apportionment rates expected to be in effect at the time the temporary differences reverse. These state apportionment projections are most significantly impacted by the estimated amount of revenues expected in the future from each state jurisdiction for Alliant Energy’s consolidated tax group, including both its regulated operations and its non-regulated operations. In the first quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL recorded $15.2 million, $8.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of deferred income tax expense due to changes in state apportionment projections caused by the planned sale of Alliant Energy’s RMT business. These income tax expense amounts recognized in the first quarter of 2012 increased Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by 4.3%, 6.9% and 3.5%, respectively.

IPL’s Electric Tax Benefit Rider - In January 2011, the IUB approved an electric tax benefit rider proposed by IPL, which utilizes tax-related regulatory liabilities to credit bills of Iowa retail electric customers beginning in February 2011 to help offset the impact of recent rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs, mixed service costs and allocation of insurance proceeds from the floods in 2008. Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 include the impact of reducing income tax expense with offsetting reductions to regulatory liabilities as a result of implementing the electric tax benefit rider. Tax benefit rider-related regulatory liabilities of $23 million and $63 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and $20 million and $44 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, were used to credit IPL’s Iowa retail electric customers’ bills. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider are currently expected to decrease Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s 2012 annual effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 11.0% and 34.5%, respectively. The tax impacts of the electric tax benefit rider decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rates for continuing operations by 9.2% and 8.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and decreased IPL’s effective income tax rates by 26.5% and 25.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Production Tax Credits - Alliant Energy has three wind projects that are currently generating production tax credits: WPL’s 68 MW Cedar Ridge wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2008; IPL’s 200 MW Whispering Willow - East wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2009; and WPL’s 200 MW Bent Tree - Phase I wind project, which began generating electricity in late 2010. For the three and nine months ended September 30, production tax credits (net of state tax impacts) resulting from these wind projects were as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Cedar Ridge (WPL)

$0.7

 

$0.6

 

$3.0

 

$3.2

Bent Tree - Phase I (WPL)
1.8

 
1.4

 
6.0

 
6.7

Subtotal (WPL)
2.5

 
2.0

 
9.0

 
9.9

Whispering Willow - East (IPL)
2.0

 
1.8

 
8.7

 
8.2

 

$4.5

 

$3.8

 

$17.7

 

$18.1



Effect of Rate-making on Property-related Differences - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income tax expense and benefits are impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recognized in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. The primary factor contributing to the increase in the current tax benefits recorded for the effect of rate-making on property-related differences is related to repair expenditures and the allocation of mixed service costs at IPL in 2012. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit process was completed for allocation of mixed service costs with the income tax return for calendar year 2010 and repairs expenditures with the income tax return for calendar year 2011. The tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for allocation of mixed service costs subsequent to 2010 and the tax benefits and expenses from the change in accounting method for repairs expenditures subsequent to 2011 are being recorded consistent with general Iowa rate-making principles, which impact income tax expense and benefits at Alliant Energy and IPL.

Wisconsin Tax Legislation - In June 2011, the 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 (Act 32) was enacted. The most significant provision of Act 32 for Alliant Energy authorizes combined groups to share net operating loss carryforwards that were incurred by group members prior to January 1, 2009 and utilize these shared net operating losses over 20 years beginning after December 31, 2011. Based on this provision of Act 32, Alliant Energy anticipated its Wisconsin combined group will be able to fully utilize $368 million of Wisconsin net operating losses incurred by Alliant Energy and Resources prior to January 1, 2009 to offset future taxable income and therefore reversed previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowances related to state net operating loss carryforwards of $19 million in the second quarter of 2011. The income tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2011 from Act 32 decreased Alliant Energy’s effective income tax rate for continuing operations by 5.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities - For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s current deferred tax assets increased $67.2 million, $22.4 million and $44.3 million, respectively, and Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s non-current deferred tax liabilities increased $244.5 million, $102.5 million and $136.8 million, respectively. These increases were primarily due to a transfer of deferred tax assets from non-current to current caused by an increase in the amount of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expected to be utilized during the next 12 months. The increase in non-current deferred tax liabilities was also due to property-related temporary differences recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from bonus depreciation deductions available in 2012.

Bonus Depreciation Deductions - In 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (SBJA) and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the Act) were enacted. The most significant provisions of the SBJA and the Act for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are related to the extension of bonus depreciation deductions for certain expenditures for property that are placed in service through December 31, 2012. Based on capital projects expected to be placed into service in 2012, Alliant Energy currently estimates its total bonus depreciation deductions to be claimed in its 2012 federal income tax return will be approximately $415 million ($114 million for IPL, $203 million for WPL and $98 million for Resources).

Carryforwards - At September 30, 2012, tax carryforwards and associated deferred tax assets and expiration dates were estimated as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$828

 

$284

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(55
)
 
(19
)
 
 
State net operating losses
776

 
40

 
2014
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
128

 
126

 
2022
 
 
 

$429

 
 

IPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$354

 

$121

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(25
)
 
(9
)
 
 
State net operating losses
170

 
9

 
2022
Federal tax credits
34

 
34

 
2022
 
 
 

$155

 
 

WPL
Carryforward
Amount
 
Deferred
Tax Assets
 
Earliest
Expiration Date
Federal net operating losses

$379

 

$130

 
2028
Federal net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(30
)
 
(10
)
 
 
State net operating losses
183

 
10

 
2022
State net operating losses offset - uncertain tax positions
(26
)
 
(2
)
 
 
Federal tax credits
36

 
35

 
2022
 
 
 

$163

 
 


Uncertain Tax Positions - In October 2012, the Joint Committee of Taxation finalized the audits of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2005 through 2009. The completion of these audits also finalized the deductions for the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting included in Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s federal income tax returns for calendar years 2008 through 2010. With the completion of these audits in the fourth quarter of 2012, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL expect to reduce their uncertain tax positions related to the repairs expenditures change in method of accounting. The reduction of these uncertain tax positions is not expected to have a material impact on effective tax rates for continuing operations for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL in the fourth quarter of 2012.