Income taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Income taxes

Income taxes

14. INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, the effective tax rate on pre-tax continuing operations was 50.0% and 0.7%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, the effective tax rate on pre-tax continuing operations was 0.0% and 2.6%, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 differ from the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to the estimated Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax, state income taxes, estimated permanent differences and changes in valuation allowance. The Company does not anticipate a significant change to the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The Company assesses the deferred tax assets for recoverability on a quarterly basis. Based upon all available positive and negative evidence, the Company has established a valuation allowance to reduce the net deferred tax asset to the amount that is more-likely-than-not realizable.

The Company computes an estimated annual effective tax rate (“AETR”) each quarter based on the current and forecasted continuing operating results. The income tax expense or benefit associated with the interim period is computed using the most recent estimated AETR applied to the year-to-date ordinary income or loss, plus the tax effect of any significant or infrequently occurring items recorded during the interim period. Due to the early adoption of ASU 2019-12, Maxar is able to determine the tax effect of the loss from continuing operations without incorporating the gain on disposal of discontinued operations. The computation of the estimated AETR at each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgments including, but not limited to, the expected operating income (loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income earned and taxed in various jurisdictions, permanent differences and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is obtained, and additional information becomes known or as the tax environment changes.