Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Note 15. Income Taxes

Net deferred tax assets relate to net operating loss carryforwards, interest expense carryforwards, tax credits, and other temporary differences expected to produce tax deductions in future periods. The realization of these assets depends on recognition of sufficient future taxable income in specific federal and state tax jurisdictions in which those temporary differences are deductible. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets, the Company followed GAAP guidance to consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion of or all our deferred tax assets will not be realized. On December 31, 2022, our valuation allowance was $284.9 million, which offset all net deferred tax assets as of such date.

As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative in accordance with GAAP guidance, that could affect its view of the future realization of deferred tax assets. The assessment considers all available information including historical and forecasted taxable income and operating history. The three months ended March 31, 2023 marks the first time that the Company has achieved three years of cumulative book income. Furthermore, management determined that the Company’s ability to maintain long-term profitability despite near-term changes in commodity prices and capital and operating costs demonstrated that there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that all net deferred tax asset is realizable. As a result of the Company’s assessment, during the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company released substantially all of its valuation allowance previously recorded. The result of the valuation allowance released during the three months ended March 31, 2023 was a tax benefit of $269.5 million.

The Company’s current income tax expense was $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. No current income tax expense was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company’s deferred income tax benefit was $259.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. No deferred income tax benefit was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 were (233.4%) and 0%, respectively. The item that had the most significant impact on the difference between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% and the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was the release of the valuation allowance. The items that had the most significant impact on the difference between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% and the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was primarily due to our recorded valuation allowances.