Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 10 – Income Taxes

The following table summarizes our provision for income taxes for the periods presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2022		2021		2020
Current income tax expense (benefit)
Federal	$	—	$	—	$	(1,236)
State	764		311		357
Total current income tax expense (benefit)	764		311		(879)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Federal	—		—		1,236
State	3,422		1,249		(2,660)
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)	3,422		1,249		(1,424)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	4,186	$	1,560	$	(2,303)

The following table reconciles the difference between the income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the statutory tax rate to our income (loss) before income taxes and our reported income tax expense (benefit) for the periods presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2022				2021				2020
Tax computed at federal statutory rate	$	98,428	21.0	%	$	21,100	21.0	%	$	(65,701)	21.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	4,186		0.9	%	1,560		1.6	%	(1,856)		0.6	%
Change in valuation allowance	(44,070)		(9.4)	%	(9,348)		(9.3)	%	64,062		(20.5)	%
Noncontrolling interest	(52,299)		(11.2)	%	(12,501)		(12.4)	%	—		—	%
Other, net	(2,059)		(0.4)	%	749		0.7	%	1,192		(0.4)	%
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	4,186	0.9	%	$	1,560	1.6	%	$	(2,303)	0.7	%

The following table summarizes the principal components of our deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of the dates presented:

	December 31,
	2022		2021
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards	$	194,819	$	203,243
Asset retirement obligations	66		63
Property and equipment	27,530		24,585
Fair value of derivative instruments	310		493
Interest expense limitation	13,443		13,747
Other	—		18
Total deferred tax assets	236,168		242,149
Less: Valuation allowance	(158,017)		(205,617)
Total net deferred tax assets	$	78,151	$	36,532
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	$	6,592	$	3,357
Investment in the Partnership	77,713		35,968
Other	62		—
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	84,367	$	39,325
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(6,216)	$	(2,793)

Income Tax Provision

For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we did not have any current federal tax benefits. The provision for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes current federal benefits of $1.2 million attributable to refunds of AMT credits for the 2020 tax year. The amounts attributable to 2020 combined the amounts attributable to 2019, which had been recognized on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 as a current asset, were received in 2020 as an acceleration of all AMT credits in connection with certain provisions of the CARES Act. In addition, we have recognized deferred state tax expense (benefits) of $3.4 million, $1.2 million and $(2.7) million primarily attributable to property and equipment as well as $0.8 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million current state expense attributable to the Texas margin tax for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our overall effective tax rates were 0.9%, 1.6% and 0.7% for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

As of December 31, 2022, we had federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $706.7 million, a substantial portion of which, if not utilized, expire between 2032 and 2037. NOLs incurred after January 1, 2018 can be carried forward indefinitely. Because of the change in ownership provisions of the Code, use of a portion of our federal NOLs may be limited in future periods. As of December 31, 2022, we carried a valuation allowance against our federal and state deferred tax assets of $158.0 million. We considered both the positive and negative evidence in determining whether it was more likely than not that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable could, however, be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective positive evidence, including projections for growth. The valuation allowance along with $84.4 million of deferred tax liabilities fully offset our deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax liability recognized on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 is attributable to certain state deferred tax liabilities associated with property and equipment and unrealized hedges. The valuation allowance related to all other net deferred tax assets remains in full as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Following the Juniper Transactions, Ranger Oil is a holding company and all of its operating assets are held within the Partnership. Certain of the federal deferred tax assets and liabilities were reclassified to investment in partnership deferred tax liability in 2021.

Other Income Tax Matters

We had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. There were no interest and penalty charges recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. Tax years from 2015 forward remain open for examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state jurisdictions.