Axalta Coating Systems Ltd

(11)INCOME TAXES

On December 27, 2023, the Government of Bermuda enacted the Bermuda Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 (“Bermuda CITA”), which imposes a 15% corporate income tax effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The Bermuda CITA is applicable to Bermuda businesses that are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more. The Company has evaluated the Bermuda CITA and recorded $27 million of net deferred tax benefits as of December 31, 2024. The net deferred tax benefits primarily relate to a provision in the law which allows for the recognition of an opening tax loss carryforward for the five years preceding the effective date of Bermuda CITA (2020-2024).

For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the corporate income tax rate in Bermuda is 0%. The effective tax rate reconciliation presented below reflects the differences between the US federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate for the Company. We believe using the U.S. federal income tax rate is more meaningful to readers given the significance of our U.S. operations.

The Company's operations in Switzerland are subject to reduced tax rates through December 31, 2026, as long as certain conditions are met. The tax benefit attributable to this tax holiday was $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The tax effect of the holiday on diluted net income per common share was $0.02 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and $0.01 for the years ended December 2023 and 2022.

Domestic and Foreign Components of Income Before Income Taxes

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

Reconciliation to U.S. Statutory Rate

(1)In 2024, the Company recorded a tax expense of $26 million in the Netherlands related to the write off of an expired net operating loss carryforward, which is fully offset by a tax benefit of $26 million for the decrease to the valuation allowance. In 2022, the Company recorded a tax expense of $23 million in the Netherlands related to a historical impairment charge, which is fully offset by a tax benefit of $23 million for the decrease to the valuation allowance.

Deferred Tax Balances

At December 31, 2024 and 2023, deferred income taxes of approximately $14 million and $13 million, respectively, have been provided on unremitted earnings of all subsidiaries and related companies to the extent that such earnings are not deemed to be permanently reinvested and cannot be repatriated in a tax-free manner. At December 31, 2024, and 2023, we have not recorded a deferred tax liability related to withholding taxes of approximately $95 million and $38 million, respectively, on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries that are permanently invested.

(1) Net of unrecognized tax benefits

Utilization of our tax loss, tax credit and interest carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code and similar state and foreign provisions. Such annual limitations could result in the expiration of the tax loss, tax credit and interest carryforwards before their utilization.

Valuation allowance

Valuation allowances relate primarily to the tax loss, tax credit and interest carryforwards, as well as equity investment in foreign jurisdictions, where the Company does not believe the associated net deferred tax assets will be realized, due to expiration, limitation or insufficient future taxable income. The non-U.S. valuation allowance primarily relates to tax loss carryforwards and interest carryforwards from operations in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, of $240 million and $220 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The U.S. valuation allowance primarily relates to state net deferred tax assets.

Total Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits

(1) Accrued interest and penalties are included within Other accrued liabilities and Other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company is subject to income tax in approximately 47 jurisdictions outside the U.S. The Company's significant operations outside the U.S. are located in Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction with 2014 being the oldest tax year still open in significant jurisdictions. Certain German subsidiaries are under tax examination for calendar years 2014 to 2020. The review by the German Tax Authorities (“GTA”) encompasses various tax aspects, including but not limited to intercompany transactions and the establishment of our European headquarters in Basel, Switzerland in 2016. During 2024, the GTA issued proposed adjustments that, when resolved, could have a material impact on our results of operations and cash flows in future periods. We are fully engaged in ongoing discussions with the GTA and are working towards resolutions on certain matters. We believe that adequate amounts have been reserved at December 31, 2024, for any adjustments that may ultimately result from the examination. The Company is also under audit in other jurisdictions outside of Germany. The result of all open examinations may lead to ordinary course adjustments or proposed adjustments to our taxes or our net operating losses with respect to years under examination as well as subsequent periods.

The Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible its unrecognized benefits will decrease by $46 million, exclusive of interest and penalties, of its current unrecognized tax benefits within 2025 mainly due to the expiration of statute of limitations in various countries and the expected final assessment from the 2010-2013 German income tax audit which concluded in 2021.