INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

For interim financial statement purposes, U.S. GAAP income tax expense/benefit related to ordinary income is determined by applying an estimated annual effective income tax rate against a company’s ordinary income. Income tax expense/benefit related to items not characterized as ordinary income is recognized as a discrete item when incurred. The estimation of the Company’s income tax provision requires the use of management forecasts and other estimates, application of statutory income tax rates and an evaluation of valuation allowances. The Company’s estimated annual effective income tax rate may be revised, if necessary, in each interim period.

Provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $8 million and included: (i) $28 million of income tax provision for the Company’s ordinary loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and (ii) $20 million of net income tax benefit for discrete items, which includes $22 million of net income tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions.

Provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $73 million and included: (i) $13 million of income tax benefit for the Company’s ordinary loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and (ii) $86 million of net income tax expense for discrete items, which includes: (a) $41 million of net income tax expense related to final and potential settlements of various tax audits in the first quarter of 2023, (b) $18 million of income tax expense related to changes in uncertain tax positions, (c) $18 million of income tax expense associated with the establishment of a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets of B+L’s Canadian parent and (d) $6 million of income tax expense associated with stock compensation

The Company records a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets to reduce the net carrying value to an amount that it believes is more likely than not to be realized. When the Company establishes or reduces the valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, the provision for income taxes will increase or decrease, respectively, in the period such determination is made. The valuation allowance against deferred tax assets was approximately $2,294 million and $2,254 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company will continue to assess the need for valuation allowances on an ongoing basis.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $880 million and $918 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, which included $45 million and $51 million of interest and penalties, respectively. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2024, $408 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2024 could decrease by approximately $30 million in the next 12 months as a result of the resolution of certain tax audits and other events.

The Company has included the estimated impact of the OECD’s Inclusive Framework (Pillar 2), as currently adopted, in its tax provision beginning in 2024. While the estimated impact is not material, it is possible that the further implementation of the Inclusive Framework could have a material effect on the liability for corporate taxes or the consolidated tax rate in the future.

The Company continues to be under examination by the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”). In the first quarter of 2024, the Company finalized a settlement related to prior year withholding tax returns which will be paid in the second quarter of 2024.

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) previously completed its examinations of the Company’s U.S. consolidated federal income tax returns for the years 2013 and 2014. There were no material adjustments to the Company’s taxable income as a result of these examinations. However, the 2014 tax year remains open to the extent of a 2017 capital loss carried back to that year. The Company’s annual tax filings for 2015 and 2016 and short period tax return for the period ended September 8, 2017, which was filed as a result of the Company’s internal restructuring efforts during 2017 is currently under IRS examination. As part of its examination, the Company received a notice of proposed adjustment from the IRS that would disallow the 2017 Capital Loss resulting from its internal restructuring. The Company previously contested this proposed tax deficiency through the IRS administrative appeals process and if necessary, intends to continue to contest any proposed tax deficiency through appropriate litigation. Accordingly, no income tax provision had been recorded as of March 31, 2024.

If the Company were ultimately unsuccessful in defending its position, and all or a substantial portion of the 2017 capital loss deduction were disallowed, the Company estimates, in a worst-case scenario, that it could be liable for additional income taxes (excluding penalties and interest) of up to $2,100 million, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

In January 2023, as part of an alternative dispute resolution process with the IRS, the Company has reached a tentative settlement on the 2017 Capital Loss. This tentative settlement is subject to further review and approvals before it is finalized. The Company expects that the tentative settlement, if finalized without further modification, will affect the Company’s 2024 income tax provision, and while such settlement may be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in the quarter in which it is recorded, will not be material to its results of operations or cash flows for the year ending December 31, 2024.

The Company’s U.S. affiliates remain under examination for various state tax audits in the U.S. for years 2015 through 2023.

The Company’s subsidiaries in Germany are under audit for tax years 2014 through 2019. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company received a preliminary assessment from the German taxing authority that would disallow certain transfer pricing adjustments. The Company intends to contest this alleged tax deficiency through the appropriate appeals process, and if necessary, intends to continue to contest any alleged tax deficiency through appropriate litigation. Accordingly, no income tax provision has been recorded as of March 31, 2024.

On November 8, 2022, the Company’s affiliate in the Netherlands received an assessment from the Luxembourg Tax Authorities as successor in interest to its affiliate in Luxembourg for tax years 2018 – 2019 for €272 million. The Company is vigorously defending its position and has not recorded any reserves for this assessment.

Certain affiliates of the Company in regions outside of Canada, the U.S., Germany and Luxembourg are currently under examination by relevant taxing authorities, and all necessary accruals have been recorded, including uncertain tax benefits. At this time, the Company does not expect that proposed adjustments, if any, would be material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.