Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Disclosure Of Income Tax Expense Continuing Operations [Abstract]

8. INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes is:

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,		2019		2018			2019		2018
Current Tax
Canada		8		(35	)		12		(93	)
United States		3		-			5		4
Total Current Tax Expense (Recovery)		11		(35	)		17		(89	)
Deferred Tax Expense (Recovery)		(877	)	55			(836	)	(49	)
Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations		(866	)	20			(819	)	(138	)

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, current tax expense was recorded on current operations, net of prior year losses. A current tax recovery was recorded in 2018 due to the carry back of losses incurred to previous years.

On May 28, 2019, the Government of Alberta substantively enacted a reduction in the provincial corporate tax rate from 12 percent to eight percent over four years. As a result, the Company’s deferred income tax liability decreased by $658 million as at June 30, 2019. In addition, Cenovus has recorded a deferred income tax recovery of $387 million due to an internal restructuring of the Company’s U.S. operations resulting in a step-up in the tax basis of the Company’s refining assets.

The following table reconciles income taxes calculated at the Canadian statutory rate with the recorded income taxes:

	Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,		2019		2018
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax		1,075		(1,462	)
Canadian Statutory Rate		26.5	%	27.0	%
Expected Income Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations		285		(395	)
Effect on Taxes Resulting From:
Foreign Tax Rate Differential		(30	)	(23	)
Non-Taxable Capital (Gains) Losses		(52	)	131
Non-Recognition of Capital (Gains) Losses		(52	)	131
Reduction of Alberta Corporate Tax Rate		(658	)	-
Recognition of U.S. Tax Basis		(387	)	(1	)
Other		75		19
Total Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations		(819	)	(138	)
Effective Tax Rate		(76.2	)%	9.4	%