Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

9.    Income Taxes

At the end of each interim period, the Company estimates the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year. The estimate reflects, among other items, management’s best estimate of operating results. It does not include the estimated impact of foreign exchange rates or unusual and/or infrequent items, which may cause significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and income before income taxes.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, income tax benefit was $9.3 million compared to an income tax expense of $36.2 million for the same period in 2022. The effective tax rate was 25% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 17% in the first quarter of 2022. A higher tax rate was observed in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 primarily due to a higher tax deduction for PSU and RSU share unit expenses that exceeded the related compensation expense, a benefit on the revaluation of opening deferred liabilities and a benefit related to Foreign-Derived Intangible Income that increased our income tax benefit. Partially offsetting these increases were a higher estimate of non-deductible expenses and the non-recurrence of the non-taxable gain portion on the sale of a parcel of land including all buildings in Bolton, Ontario in 2022.

The Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) has been conducting audits of the Company’s 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 taxation years. If the CRA challenges the manner in which the Company has filed its tax returns and reported its income with respect to any of the audits, the Company will have the option to appeal any such decision. While the Company believes it is, and has been, in full compliance with Canadian tax laws and expects to vigorously contest any proposed assessments or any notice of assessments or reassessments received from the CRA, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these audits and the final disposition of any appeals pertaining to such audits. If the CRA makes an adverse determination and the Company is unsuccessful in appealing such determination reflected in any assessment or reassessment, then the Company could incur additional income taxes, penalties, and interest, which could have a material negative effect on its operations. 

On February 13, 2023, the CRA issued a proposal letter to Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (International) Ltd. asserting that one of its Luxembourg subsidiaries was resident in Canada from 2010 through 2015 and that its worldwide income should be subject to Canadian income taxation. The Luxembourg subsidiary was in operation from 2010 until 2020. In the event that the CRA issues a notice of assessment or reassessment, the Company expects to vigorously contest such notice as the Company disagrees with the assertion regarding Canadian residency. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction makes a final determination that the income of the Luxembourg subsidiary for 2010 through 2015 was subject to Canadian income tax laws, the Company may ultimately be liable for additional total Canadian federal and provincial income tax of approximately $26.0 million - $30.0 million, exclusive of interest and penalties, for the period specified in the proposal letter. The CRA may also challenge the manner in which the Company has filed its tax returns and reported its income with respect to 2016 to 2020 taxation years and may assert that the income of the Luxembourg subsidiary was subject to Canadian income tax because the Luxembourg subsidiary was also resident in Canada during these years. The Company could then incur additional income taxes, penalties and interest which could have a material negative effect on its operations. 

The Company is expected to initially reply to the CRA’s proposal letter by June 13, 2023; however, the discussions with CRA could take numerous years to be ultimately resolved.