Judgment and the use of estimates are required in developing the provision for income taxes and reporting of tax-related assets and liabilities. The interpretation of tax laws and associated regulations involves uncertainty, since tax authorities may interpret the laws differently. The Companies are routinely audited by federal and state tax authorities. Ultimate resolution of income tax matters may result in favorable or unfavorable impacts to net income and cash flows, and adjustments to tax-related assets and liabilities could be material.

In August 2022, the IRA was enacted which, among other things, extends the investment and production tax credits for clean energy technologies until at least 2032 and imposes a 15% alternative minimum tax on GAAP net income, as adjusted for certain items, of corporations greater than $1 billion for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. The IRA did not impact the measurement of the Companies’ deferred income taxes or change the assessment of the realizability of deferred tax assets. The Companies continue to monitor and evaluate the impacts of the IRA, including changes in interpretations, if any, as guidance is issued and finalized.

In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued final regulations providing guidance about the limitation on the deduction for business interest expenses under the 2017 Tax Reform Act. Under the 2017 Tax Reform Act, deductions for net interest expense are limited to 30% of adjusted taxable income, which prior to 2022, was defined similarly to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). For tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, the calculation of adjusted taxable income is defined similarly to EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes). For consolidated groups such as Dominion Energy that have both regulated and nonregulated operations, these rules may result in a temporary disallowance of a portion of Dominion Energy’s interest deductions in the future, although any interest disallowed has an indefinite carryforward period.

As indicated in Note 2, certain of the Companies’ operations, including accounting for income taxes, are subject to regulatory accounting treatment. For regulated operations, many of the changes in deferred taxes from the 2017 Tax Reform Act represent amounts probable of collection from or return to customers and were recorded as either an increase to a regulatory asset or liability.

Details of income tax expense for continuing operations including noncontrolling interests were as follows:


	Dominion Energy									Virginia Power
Year Ended December 31,	2022			2021			2020			2022			2021			2020
(millions)
Current:
Federal	$	7		$	(162	)	$	(314	)	$	17		$	67		$	364
State		46			45			(81	)		(17	)		(13	)		71
Total current expense (benefit)		53			(117	)		(395	)		—			54			435
Deferred:
Federal
Taxes before operating loss carryforwards and investment tax credits		62			151			12			212			145			(226	)
Tax utilization expense of operating loss carryforwards		36			43			44			—			—			—
Investment tax credits		(129	)		250			311			(148	)		(39	)		(27	)
State		32			(19	)		72			112			118			7
Total deferred expense (benefit)		1			425			439			176			224			(246	)
Investment tax credit-gross deferral		18			121			42			18			121			42
Investment tax credit-amortization		(4	)		(4	)		(3	)		(3	)		(2	)		(2	)
Total income tax expense	$	68		$	425		$	83		$	191		$	397		$	229

In 2021, Dominion Energy’s current income taxes reflect a benefit from continuing operations as the income tax expense associated with the Q-Pipe Group’s operations, including taxes on the gain, is reflected in discontinued operations. Dominion Energy’s income tax expense reflects the utilization of investment tax credit carryforwards to offset a portion of the federal tax gain on the sale.

In 2020, Dominion Energy’s current income taxes reflect a benefit from continuing operations as the income tax expense associated with gas transmission and storage operations, including taxes on the gain, is reflected in discontinued operations. Dominion Energy’s income tax expense reflects the utilization of investment tax credit carryforwards to offset a portion of the federal tax gain on the sale. In addition, an $18 million income tax benefit is reflected in common shareholders’ equity associated with state deferred taxes on assets and liabilities retained in connection with the GT&S Transaction.

Income tax expense (benefit) reflected in discontinued operations is $8 million, $188 million, and $(204) million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 2021 income taxes include a $14 million benefit related to finalizing income tax returns on the GT&S Transaction and the absence of a $36 million benefit on non-deductible goodwill written off in connection with the sale of the Q-Pipe Group. The 2020 income tax expense reflects a charge of $81 million for the write-off of tax-related regulatory assets associated with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project and the absence of a $236 million benefit on non-deductible goodwill written off in connection with the GT&S Transaction.

For continuing operations including noncontrolling interests, the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate reconciles to the Companies’ effective income tax rate as follows:


	Dominion Energy												Virginia Power
Year Ended December 31,	2022				2021				2020				2022				2021				2020
U.S. statutory rate		21.0		%		21.0		%		21.0		%		21.0		%		21.0		%		21.0		%
Increases (reductions) resulting from:
Recognition of taxes - sale of subsidiary stock		8.7				—				—
Recognition of taxes - privatization intercompany gain		—				—				—				2.4				—				—
State taxes, net of federal benefit		3.9				2.6				2.0				4.6				4.6				4.8
Investment tax credits		(12.7	)			(3.2	)			(9.6	)			(9.1	)			(3.0	)			(4.5	)
Production tax credits		(1.4	)			(0.4	)			(0.7	)			(1.0	)			(0.6	)			(0.7	)
Valuation allowances		—				0.1				0.9				—				—				—
Reversal of excess deferred income taxes		(11.5	)			(3.2	)			(5.4	)			(3.8	)			(2.1	)			(2.2	)
State legislative change		(0.2	)			(0.7	)			—				—				(0.7	)			—
Change in tax status		—				—				(1.7	)			—				—				—
AFUDC—equity		(0.7	)			(0.4	)			(0.2	)			(0.4	)			(0.5	)			—
Changes in state deferred taxes associated with assets held for sale		0.5				(0.3	)			(3.2	)
Absence of tax on noncontrolling interest		—				(0.1	)			3.8
Settlements of uncertain tax positions		—				(1.2	)			—				—				—				—
Employee stock ownership plan deduction		(0.8	)			(0.3	)			(0.9	)
Other, net		(0.3	)			(0.2	)			(0.1	)			(0.1	)			0.1				(0.1	)
Effective tax rate		6.5		%		13.7		%		5.9		%		13.6		%		18.8		%		18.3		%

As described in Note 3, Dominion Energy sold 100% of the equity interests in Hope in a stock sale for income tax purposes. Dominion Energy’s 2022 effective tax rate reflects the current income tax expense on the sale of Hope’s stock. As described in Note 9, Virginia Power transferred its existing privatization operations in Virginia to Dominion Energy, and Dominion Energy contributed these assets to Dominion Privatization. As the original owner of these privatization assets, Virginia Power is required to recognize the income tax expense on Dominion Energy’s transaction with Dominion Privatization. As such, Virginia Power’s effective tax rate reflects an income tax expense of $34 million on this transaction.

In December 2021, unrecognized tax benefits related to several state uncertain tax positions acquired in the SCANA Combination were effectively settled through negotiations with the taxing authority. Management believed it was reasonably possible these unrecognized tax benefits could decrease through settlement negotiations or payments during 2021, however no income tax benefits could be recognized unless or until the positions were effectively settled. Resolution of these uncertain tax positions decreased income tax expense by $38 million. In addition, the Companies’ effective tax rates reflect the benefit of a state legislative change enacted in April 2021 for tax years beginning January 1, 2022. Dominion Energy’s effective tax rate reflects a $21 million deferred tax benefit, inclusive of a $16 million deferred tax benefit at Virginia Power.

Dominion Energy’s 2020 effective tax rate reflects an income tax benefit of $45 million associated with the remeasurement of consolidated state deferred taxes with the classification of gas transmission and storage operations as held for sale. In addition, Dominion Energy’s effective tax rate reflects an income tax expense of $55 million attributable to the noncontrolling interest primarily associated with the impairment of non-wholly-owned nonregulated solar facilities held in partnerships discussed in Note 10.

The Companies’ deferred income taxes consist of the following:


	Dominion Energy						Virginia Power
At December 31,	2022			2021			2022			2021
(millions)
Deferred income taxes:
Total deferred income tax assets	$	2,869		$	3,025		$	1,535		$	1,373
Total deferred income tax liabilities		9,267			9,397			4,701			4,286
Total net deferred income tax liabilities	$	6,398		$	6,372		$	3,166		$	2,913
Total deferred income taxes:
Plant and equipment, primarily depreciation method and basis differences	$	5,545		$	6,017		$	3,355		$	3,327
Excess deferred income taxes		(1,060	)		(1,107	)		(616	)		(629	)
Unrecovered NND Project costs		479			508
DESC rate refund		(89	)		(113	)
Toshiba Settlement		(162	)		(189	)
Nuclear decommissioning		1,001			1,114			311			324
Deferred state income taxes		892			857			566			420
Federal benefit of deferred state income taxes		(199	)		(179	)		(119	)		(88	)
Deferred fuel, purchased energy and gas costs		579			189			403			126
Pension benefits		414			362			(105	)		(119	)
Other postretirement benefits		73			73			111			93
Loss and credit carryforwards		(1,790	)		(1,571	)		(751	)		(537	)
Valuation allowances		138			140			7			6
Partnership basis differences		470			398
Other		107			(127	)		4			(10	)
Total net deferred income tax liabilities	$	6,398		$	6,372		$	3,166		$	2,913
Deferred Investment Tax Credits – Regulated Operations		300			286			286			270
Total Deferred Taxes and Deferred Investment Tax Credits	$	6,698		$	6,658		$	3,452		$	3,183

At December 31, 2022, Dominion Energy had the following deductible loss and credit carryforwards:


	Deductible		Deferred		Valuation			Expiration
	Amount		Tax Asset		Allowance			Period
(millions)
Federal losses	$	794	$	167	$	—		2037
Federal investment credits	—			874	—			2036-2042
Federal production and other credits	—			84	—			2036-2042
State losses		5,711		306		(51	)	2023-2042
State minimum tax credits	—			271	—			No expiration
State investment and other credits	—			128		(87	)	2023-2032
Total	$	6,505	$	1,830	$	(138	)

At December 31, 2022, Virginia Power had the following deductible loss and credit carryforwards:


	Deductible		Deferred		Valuation			Expiration
	Amount		Tax Asset		Allowance			Period
(millions)
Federal losses	$	—	$	—	$	—
Federal investment credits	—			631	—			2036-2042
Federal production and other credits	—			80	—			2036-2042
State losses		513		31	—			2042
State investment and other credits	—			9		(7	)	2024
Total	$	513	$	751	$	(7	)

A reconciliation of changes in Dominion Energy’s unrecognized tax benefits follows. Virginia Power does not have any unrecognized tax benefits in the periods presented:


	Dominion Energy
	2022			2021			2020
(millions)
Beginning balance	$	128		$	167		$	175
Increases-prior period positions		8			48			18
Decreases-prior period positions		(8	)		(59	)		(19	)
Increases-current period positions		2			2			1
Settlements with tax authorities		(3	)		(26	)		—
Expiration of statutes of limitations		(10	)		(4	)		(8	)
Ending balance	$	117		$	128		$	167

Certain unrecognized tax benefits, or portions thereof, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Changes in these unrecognized tax benefits may result from remeasurement of amounts expected to be realized, settlements with tax authorities and expiration of statutes of limitations. For Dominion Energy and its subsidiaries, these unrecognized tax benefits were $64 million, $72 million and $140 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In discontinued operations, these unrecognized tax benefits were $33 million at both December 31, 2022 and 2021. For Dominion Energy, the change in these unrecognized tax benefits decreased income tax expense by $7 million, $34 million and $6 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For discontinued operations, the change in these unrecognized tax benefits increased income tax expense by $5 million in 2020.

Dominion Energy participates in the IRS Compliance Assurance Process which provides the opportunity to resolve complex tax matters with the IRS before filing its federal income tax returns, thus achieving certainty for such tax return filing positions agreed to by the IRS. The IRS has completed its audit of tax years through 2019. The statute of limitations has not yet expired for years after 2018. Although Dominion Energy has not received a final letter indicating no changes to its taxable income for tax years 2021 and 2020, no material adjustments are expected. The IRS examination of tax year 2022 is ongoing.

It is reasonably possible that settlement negotiations and expiration of statutes of limitations could result in a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits in 2023 by up to $39 million for Dominion Energy. If such changes were to occur, other than revisions of the accrual for interest on tax underpayments and overpayments, earnings could increase by up to $26 million for Dominion Energy. Otherwise, with regard to 2022 and prior years, the Companies cannot estimate the range of reasonably possible changes to unrecognized tax benefits that may occur in 2023.

The Companies are also obligated to report adjustments resulting from IRS settlements to state tax authorities. In addition, if Dominion Energy utilizes operating losses or tax credits generated in years for which the statute of limitations has expired, such amounts are generally subject to examination.