Income Tax Expense

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

INCOME TAX EXPENSE



	Quarter Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2019		2018		2019			2018
Millions
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (a)
Federal	—		—		—			—
State	$(0.1)		$(0.3)			$0.2			$0.4
Total Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$(0.1)		$(0.3)			$0.2			$0.4
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Federal (b)	$(7.1)		$(7.4)		$(16.8)			$(14.2)
State (c)	2.5		2.4		15.0			5.0
Investment Tax Credit Amortization	(0.1	)	(0.1	)	(0.3		)	(0.3		)
Total Deferred Income Tax Benefit	$(4.7)		$(5.1)		$(2.1)			$(9.5)
Total Income Tax Benefit	$(4.8)		$(5.4)		$(1.9)			$(9.1)

(a)

For each of the six months ended June 30, 2019, and 2018, the federal and state current tax expense was minimal due to NOLs which resulted from the bonus depreciation provisions of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Federal and state NOLs are being carried forward to offset current and future taxable income.


(b)	For each of the six months ended June 30, 2019, and 2018, the federal income tax benefit is primarily due to production tax credits.


(c)	For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the state income tax expense is primarily due to the sale of U.S. Water Services.

The Company's tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in that quarter. In each quarter, the Company updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate and if the estimated annual effective tax rate changes, the Company would make a cumulative adjustment in that quarter.

NOTE 9. INCOME TAX EXPENSE (Continued)



	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
Reconciliation of Taxes from Federal Statutory	June 30,						June 30,
Rate to Total Income Tax Expense	2019			2018			2019			2018
Millions
Income Before Income Taxes		$29.4			$25.9			$102.8			$73.2
Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate	21		%	21		%	21		%	21		%
Income Taxes Computed at Statutory Federal Rate		$6.2			$5.4			$21.6			$15.4
Increase (Decrease) in Income Tax Due to:
State Income Taxes – Net of Federal Income Tax Benefit	1.9			1.6			12.0			4.2
Production Tax Credits	(9.8		)	(11.2		)	(26.1		)	(25.6		)
Regulatory Differences – Excess Deferred Tax	(1.6		)	(2.2		)	(4.8		)	(4.4		)
U.S. Water Services Sale of Stock Basis Difference	(0.7		)	—			1.7			—
Share-Based Compensation	—			—			(0.9		)	(0.5		)
Other	(0.8		)	1.0			(5.4		)	1.8
Total Income Tax Benefit	$(4.8)			$(5.4)			$(1.9)			$(9.1)

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the effective tax rate was a benefit of 1.8 percent (benefit of 12.4 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2018). The effective tax rate for 2019 was a lower benefit primarily due to a higher tax rate on the gain on the sale of U.S. Water Services and higher pre-tax income.

Uncertain Tax Positions. As of June 30, 2019, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1.3 million ($1.6 million as of December 31, 2018). Of the total gross unrecognized tax benefits, $0.6 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective income tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefit amounts have been presented as reductions to the tax benefits associated with NOL and tax credit carryforwards on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

ALLETE and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return as well as combined and separate state income tax returns in various jurisdictions. ALLETE has no open federal or state audits, and is no longer subject to federal examination for years before 2015, or state examination for years before 2014.