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Income tax and deferred taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Disclosure of income tax [Abstract]  
Disclosure of income tax [text block]
Note 25
 
Tax receivables as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, are as follows:
 
25.1
 
(a)       Current
 
Current tax assets
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Monthly provisional income tax payments, Chilean companies     435       37,123  
Monthly provisional income tax payments, foreign companies     62       1,265  
Corporate tax credits (1)     674       1,566  
1st category tax absorbed by tax losses (2)     26,848       2,322  
Taxes in recovery process     129,523       89,948  
Total
 
 
157,542
 
 
 
132,224
 
 
(b) Non-current
 
Non-current tax assets
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Monthly provisional income tax payments, Chilean companies compensated by the specific tax on mining activity (Lithium)     6,398       6,398  
Specific tax on mining activities (IEAM) paid by Lithium (on consignment)     83,966       83,966  
Total
 
 
90,364
 
 
 
90,364
 
 
(1) These credits are available for companies and are related to corporate tax payments in April of the following year. These credits include, among others, credits for training expenses (SENCE), credits for acquisition of fixed assets, donations and credits in Chile for taxes paid abroad.
 
(2) This concept corresponds to the tax loss absorptions determined by the company at the end of the year, which must be attributed to the dividends received during the year.
25.2
 
Current tax liabilities
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
1st Category income tax     139,842       14,736  
Foreign company income tax     27,055       7,838  
Article 21 single tax     38       69  
Total
 
 
166,935
 
 
 
22,643
 
 
Income tax is calculated based on the profit or loss for tax purposes that is applied to the effective tax rate applicable in Chile. As established by Law No. 20,780 is 27%.
 
The royalty is determined by applying the taxable rate to the net operating income obtained, according to the chart in force. The Company currently provisioned 6.51% for mining royalties that involve operations in the Salar de Atacama and 5.22% for caliche extraction operations.
 
The income tax rate for the main countries where the Company operates is presented below:
 
 
 
Income tax
 
 
Income tax
 
Country
 
2021
 
 
2020
 
Spain     25 %     25 %
Belgium     25 %     25 %
Mexico     30 %     30 %
United States    
21% + 3.51
%    
21% + 3.36
%
South Africa     28 %     28 %
China    
25%+12% (1)
      25 %
 
(1) Additional 12% tax over the VAT calculation
25.3
 
(a) Deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021
 
 
 
Net liability position
 
Description of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021
 
Assets
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Unrealized loss     144,181       -  
Property, plant and equipment and capitalized interest     -       (189,073 )
Restoration and rehabilitation provision     6,567       -  
Manufacturing expenses     -       (108,181 )
Employee benefits and unemployment insurance     -       (7,485 )
Vacation accrual     6,039       -  
Inventory provision     20,557       -  
Materials provision     10,554       -  
Others employee benefits     929       -  
Research and development expenses     -       (5,387 )
Bad debt provision     2,708       -  
Provision for legal complaints and expenses     334       -  
Loan acquisition expenses     -       (8,967 )
Financial instruments recorded at market value     5,242       -  
Specific tax on mining activity     -       (4,545 )
Tax loss benefit     7,113       -  
Other     8,862       -  
Foreign items (other)     136       -  
Balances to date
 
 
213,222
 
 
 
(323,638
)
Net balance
       
 
 
(110,416
)

(b) Deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2020
 
 
 
Net liability position
 
Description of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2020
 
Assets
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Unrealized loss     90,585       -  
Property, plant and equipment and capitalized interest     -       (187,168 )
Restoration and rehabilitation provision     6,598       -  
Manufacturing expenses     -       (107,215 )
Employee benefits and unemployment insurance     -       (6,669 )
Vacation accrual     6,138       -  
Inventory provision     22,200       -  
Materials provision     8,812       -  
Research and development expenses     -       (3,580 )
Bad debt provision     5,072       -  
Provision for legal complaints and expenses     19,637       -  
Loan acquisition expenses     -       (5,212 )
Financial instruments recorded at market value     -       (3,929 )
Specific tax on mining activity     -       (3,014 )
Tax loss benefit     844       -  
Other     1,454       -  
Foreign items (other)     -       (654 )
Balances to date
 
 
161,340
 
 
 
(317,441
)
Net balance
       
 
 
(156,101
)
 
(c) Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax liabilities (assets) as of December 31, 2021
 
Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax liabilities (assets)
 
Deferred tax
liability (asset)
at beginning of
period
 
 
Deferred tax
(expense)
benefit
recognized in
profit (loss) for
the year
 
 
Deferred taxes
related to items
credited
(charged)
directly to
equity
 
 
Total increases
(decreases) in
deferred tax
liabilities
(assets)
 
 
Deferred tax
liability (asset)
at end of
period
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Unrealized loss     (90,585 )     (53,596 )     -       (53,596 )     (144,181 )
Property, plant and equipment and capitalized interest     187,168       1,905       -       1,905       189,073  
Restoration and rehabilitation provision     (6,597 )     30       -       30       (6,567 )
Manufacturing expenses     107,215       966       -       966       108,181  
Employee benefits and unemployment insurance     6,669       687       130       817       7,486  
Vacation accrual     (6,138 )     99       -       99       (6,039 )
Inventory provision     (22,200 )     1,643       -       1,643       (20,557 )
Materials provision     (8,812 )     (1,742 )     -       (1,742 )     (10,554 )
Derivative financial instruments     -       14,246       (14,246 )     -       -  
Others employee benefits     -       (929 )     -       (929 )     (929 )
Research and development expenses     3,581       1,806       -       1,806       5,387  
Bad debt provision     (5,072 )     2,364       -       2,364       (2,708 )
Provision for legal complaints and expenses     (19,637 )     19,303       -       19,303       (334 )
Loan approval expenses     5,212       3,755       -       3,755       8,967  
Financial instruments recorded at market value     3,929       (5,354 )     (3,818 )     (9,172 )     (5,243 )
Specific tax on mining activity     3,012       1,521       12       1,533       4,545  
Tax loss benefit     (844 )     (6,269 )     -       (6,269 )     (7,113 )
Others     (1,454 )     (7,408 )     -       (7,408 )     (8,862 )
Foreign items (other)     654       (790 )     -       (790 )     (136 )
Total temporary differences, unused losses and unused tax credits
 
 
156,101
 
 
 
(27,763
)
 
 
(17,922
)
 
 
(45,685
)
 
 
110,416
 
 
(d) Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax liabilities (assets) as of December 31, 2020
 
Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax liabilities (assets)
 
Deferred tax
liability (asset)
at beginning of
period
 
 
Deferred tax
(expense)
benefit
recognized in
profit (loss) for
the year
 
 
Deferred taxes
related to items
credited
(charged)
directly to
equity
 
 
Total increases
(decreases) in
deferred tax
liabilities
(assets)
 
 
Deferred tax
liability (asset)
at end of
period
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Unrealized loss     (82,076 )     (8,509 )     -       (8,509 )     (90,585 )
Property, plant and equipment and capitalized interest     197,167       (9,999 )     -       (9,999 )     187,168  
Facility closure provision     (7,311 )     714       -       714       (6,597 )
Manufacturing expenses     106,420       795       -       795       107,215  
Employee benefits and unemployment insurance     6,000       514       155       669       6,669  
Vacation accrual     (5,591 )     (547 )     -       (547 )     (6,138 )
Inventory provision     (23,885 )     1,685       -       1,685       (22,200 )
Materials provision     (7,982 )     (830 )     -       (830 )     (8,812 )
Derivative financial instruments     -       1,001       (1,001 )     -       -  
Others employee benefits     (2,689 )     2,689       -       2,689       -  
Research and development expenses     3,535       46       -       46       3,581  
bad debt provision     (3,542 )     (1,530 )     -       (1,530 )     (5,072 )
Provision for legal complaints and expenses     (2,546 )     (17,091 )     -       (17,091 )     (19,637 )
Loan approval expenses     3,856       1,356       -       1,356       5,212  
Financial instruments recorded at market value     1,287       -       2,642       2,642       3,929  
specific tax on mining activity     1,354       1,668       (10 )     1,658       3,012  
Tax loss benefit     (2,296 )     1,452       -       1,452       (844 )
Others     2,021       (3,475 )     -       (3,475 )     (1,454 )
Foreign items (other)     (311 )     965       -       965       654  
Total temporary differences, unused losses and unused tax credits
 
 
183,411
 
 
 
(29,096
)
 
 
1,786
 
 
 
(27,310
)
 
 
156,101
 
 
 
(e)Deferred taxes related to benefits for tax losses
 
The Company’s tax loss carryforwards were mainly generated by losses in Chile, which in accordance with current Chilean tax regulations have no expiration date.
 
As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, tax loss carryforwards are detailed as follows:
 
Deferred taxes related to benefits for tax losses
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Chile  7,113   818 
Foreign  -   26 
Total
 
 
7,113
 
 
 
844
 
 
The tax losses as of December 31, 2021, which are the basis for these deferred taxes correspond mainly to SQM S.A., SQM Potasio S.A., Comercial Hydro S.A., Orcoma SpA., Orcoma Estudio SpA y SCM Bufalo.
(f)Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities
 
Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are detailed as follows:
 
 
 
Assets (liabilities)
 
Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities, net opening balance  (156,101)  (183,411)
Increase (decrease) in deferred taxes in profit or loss  27,763   29,096 
Increase (decrease) deferred taxes in equity  17,922   (1,786)
Total
 
 
(110,416
)
 
 
(156,101
)
(g)Disclosures on income tax (expenses) benefits
 
Current and deferred tax (expenses) benefits are detailed as follows:
 
 
 
(Expense) Income
 
Disclosures on income tax (expense) benefit
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
As of
December 31,
2019
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Current income tax (expense) benefit
            
Current tax (expense)  (279,105)  (97,374)  (116,483)
Adjustments to prior year current income tax (expense) benefit  2,326   (1,901)  12,222 
Current income tax expense, net, total
 
 
(276,779
)
 
 
(99,275
)
 
 
(104,261
)
Deferred tax (expense) benefit
            
Deferred tax benefits relating to the creation and reversal of temporary differences  28,445   26,219   2,551 
Tax adjustments related to the creation and reversal of temporary differences from the previous year  (682)  2,877   (8,309)
Total deferred tax benefits, net
 
 
27,763
 
 
 
29,096
 
 
 
(5,758
)
Income tax expense
 
 
(249,016
)
 
 
(70,179
)
 
 
(110,019
)
Tax (expenses) benefit for foreign and domestic parties are detailed as follows:
 
 
 
(Expense) Income
 
Income tax (expense) benefit
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
As of
December 31,
2019
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Current income tax benefit (expense) by foreign and domestic parties, net
            
Current income tax expenses, foreign parties, net  (46,748)  (9,782)  (7,394)
Current income tax expenses, domestic, net  (230,031)  (89,493)  (96,867)
Current income tax expense, net, total
 
 
(276,779
)
 
 
(99,275
)
 
 
(104,261
)
Deferred tax benefit (expense) by foreign and domestic parties, net
            
Current income tax (expense) benefit, foreign parties, net  (6,679)  10,284   2,370 
Current income tax benefits, domestic, net  34,442   18,812   (8,128)
Deferred tax expense, net, total
 
 
27,763
 
 
 
29,096
 
 
 
(5,758
)
Income tax expense
 
 
(249,016
)
 
 
(70,179
)
 
 
(110,019
)
(h)Disclosures on the tax effects of other comprehensive income components:
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2021
 
Income tax related to other income and expense components with a charge
or credit to net equity
 
Amount before taxes
(expense) gain
 
 
(Expense) income for
income taxes
 
 
Amount after taxes
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Gains (losses) from defined benefit plans  4,679   (142)  4,537 
Cash flow hedges  (52,762)  14,246   (38,516)
Reserve for (losses) gains from financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income  (12,072)  3,818   (8,254)
Total
 
 
(60,155
)
 
 
17,922
 
 
 
(42,233
)
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2020
 
Income tax related to other income and expense components with a charge
or credit to net equity
 
Amount before taxes
(expense) gain
 
 
(Expense) income for
income taxes
 
 
Amount after taxes
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Gains (losses) from defined benefit plans  974   (145)  829 
Cash flow hedges  (3,706)  1,001   (2,705)
Reserve for gains (losses) from financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income  9,784   (2,642)  7,142 
Total
 
 
7,052
 
 
 
(1,786
)
 
 
5,266
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2019
 
Income tax related to other income and expense components with a charge
or credit to net equity
 
Amount before taxes
(expense) gain
 
 
(Expense) income for
income taxes
 
 
Amount after taxes
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Gains (losses) from defined benefit plans  (3,310)  702   (2,608)
Cash flow hedges  1,908   (2,683)  (775)
Reserve for gains (losses) from financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income  1,152   (311)  841 
Total
 
 
(250
)
 
 
(2,292
)
 
 
(2,542
)
 
(i) Explanation of the relationship between (expense) benefit for tax purposes and accounting income.
 
Based on IAS 12, paragraph 81, letter “c”, the company has estimated that the method that discloses the most significant information for users of the financial statements is the numeric conciliation between the tax benefit (expense) and the result of multiplying the accounting profit by the current rate in Chile. The aforementioned choice is based on the fact that the Company and subsidiaries established in Chile generate a large part of the Company’s tax benefit (expense). The amounts provided by subsidiaries established outside Chile have no relative importance in the overall context.
 
Reconciliation between the tax benefit (expense) and the tax calculated by multiplying income before taxes by the Chilean corporate income tax rate.
 
 
 
(Expense) Benefit
 
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
As of
December 31,
2021
 
 
As of
December 31,
2020
 
 
As of
December 31,
20219
 
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
 
ThUS$
 
Consolidated income before taxes     841,221       238,538       390,622  
Statutory income tax rate in Chile     27 %     27 %     27 %
Tax expense using the statutory tax rate
 
 
(227,130
)
 
 
(64,405
)
 
 
(105,468
)
Net effect of royalty tax payments     (13,350 )     (4,659 )     (4,314 )
Effect of other additional taxes affected by article 21 and passive income     (2,617 )     (1,804 )     (724 )
Tax effect of revenue from regular activities exempt from taxation     (260 )     1,786       2,376  
Tax rate effect of non-tax-deductible expenses for determining taxable profit (loss)     (2,226 )     (2,987 )     (2,128 )
Tax effect of tax rates supported abroad     (3,016 )     (2,077 )     (252 )
Effects of changes resulting from classifying a permanent item as a temporary one     -       4,826       -  
Other tax effects     (417 )     (859 )     491  
Tax expense using the effective tax rate
 
 
(249,016
)
 
 
(70,179
)
 
 
(110,019
)
 
(j)
Tax periods potentially subject to verification:
 
The Group’s Companies are potentially subject to income tax audits by tax authorities in each country These audits are limited to a number of interim tax periods, which, in general, when they elapse, give rise to the expiration of these inspections.
 
Tax audits, due to their nature, are often complex and may require several years. Below, we provide a summary of tax periods that are potentially subject to verification, in accordance with the tax regulations in force in the country of origin:
 
(i)
Chile
 
According to article 200 of Decree Law No 830, the taxes will be reviewed for any deficiencies in terms of payment and to generate any taxes that might arise. There is a 3-year prescriptive period for such review, dating from the expiration of the legal deadline when payment should have been made. This prescriptive period can be extended to 6 years for the revision of taxes subject to declaration, when such declaration has not been filed or has been presented with maliciously false information.
 
(ii)
United States
 
In the United States, the tax authority may review tax returns for up to 3 years from the expiration date of the tax return. In the event that an omission or error is detected in the tax return of sales or cost of sales, the review can be extended for a period of up to 6 years.
 
(iii)
Mexico:
 
In Mexico, the tax authority can review tax returns up to 5 years from the expiration date of the tax return.
 
(iv)
Spain:
 
In Spain, the tax authority can review tax returns up to 4 years from the expiration date of the tax return.
 
A subsidiary of the Company, SQM Iberian S.A., is being reviewed by the Spanish Tax Authority. This audit could involve adjustments to tax returns filed in Spain.
 
 
(v)
Belgium:
 
In Belgium, the tax authority may review tax returns for up to 3 years from the expiration date of the tax return if no tax losses exist. In the event of detecting an omission or error in the tax return, the review can be extended for a period of up to 5 years.
 
(vi)
South Africa:
 
In South Africa, the tax authority may review tax returns for up to 3 years from the expiration date of the tax return. In the event that an omission or error in the tax return is detected, the review can be extended for a period of up to 5 years.
 
A subsidiary of the Company, SQM Africa Pty., is being reviewed by the South African Tax Authority. This audit could involve adjustments to tax returns filed in South Africa.