Income Tax Expense

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Expense [Text Block]

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

	Quarter Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Millions
Current Income Tax Expense (a)
Federal	—	—	—	—
State	$0.1	—	$0.1	$0.2
Total Current Income Tax Expense	$0.1	—	$0.1	$0.2
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Federal (b)	$(8.3)	$(5.0)	$(34.5)	$(21.8)
State (c)	2.9	2.7	7.1	17.7
Investment Tax Credit Amortization	(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.5)	(0.4)
Total Deferred Income Tax Benefit	$(5.6)	$(2.4)	$(27.9)	$(4.5)
Total Income Tax Benefit	$(5.5)	$(2.4)	$(27.8)	$(4.3)

(a)For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the federal and state current tax expense was minimal due to NOLs which resulted from the bonus depreciation provisions of certain tax legislation. Federal and state NOLs are being carried forward to offset current and future taxable income.

(b)For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the federal income tax benefit is primarily due to production tax credits.

(c)For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the state income tax expense is primarily related 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.

	Quarter Ended				Nine Months Ended
Reconciliation of Taxes from Federal Statutory	September 30,				September 30,
Rate to Total Income Tax Expense	2020		2019		2020		2019
Millions
Income Before Income Taxes	$33.3		$28.8		$92.4		$131.6
Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate	21	%	21	%	21	%	21	%
Income Taxes Computed at Statutory Federal Rate	$7.0		$6.0		$19.4		$27.6
Increase (Decrease) in Income Tax Due to:
State Income Taxes – Net of Federal Income Tax Benefit	2.4		2.1		5.7		14.1
Production Tax Credits	(12.5)		(9.6)		(45.9)		(35.7)
Regulatory Differences – Excess Deferred Tax	(3.2)		(1.7)		(8.5)		(6.5)
U.S. Water Services Sale of Stock Basis Difference	—		—		—		1.7
Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries	0.4		—		1.5		—
Share-Based Compensation	—		—		(0.1)		(0.9)
Other	0.4		0.8		0.1		(4.6)
Total Income Tax Benefit	$(5.5)		$(2.4)		$(27.8)		$(4.3)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the effective tax rate was a benefit of 30.1 percent (benefit of 3.3 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2019). The effective tax rate for 2020 was primarily impacted by production tax credits. The effective tax rate for 2019 was primarily impacted by production tax credits and the gain on sale of U.S. Water Services.

Uncertain Tax Positions. As of September 30, 2020, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1.4 million ($1.4 million as of December 31, 2019). 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.

NOTE 8. INCOME TAX EXPENSE (Continued)

Uncertain Tax Positions (Continued)

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 2016, or state examination for years before 2015.