Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company is a corporation and, as a result, is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. OneWater LLC is treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal tax purposes and in most state and local jurisdictions. As such, OneWater LLC’s members, including the Company, are liable for federal and state income taxes on their respective shares of OneWater LLC’s taxable income.

Our effective tax rates of 22.8% and 23.2% for the three months ending March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 22.8% and 21.2% for the six months ending March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, differ from statutory rates primarily due to earnings allocated to non-controlling interests.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent it believes these assets are more-likely-than-not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent results of operations. Based on our cumulative earnings history and forecasted future sources of taxable income, we believe that we will fully realize our deferred tax asset in the future. The Company has not recorded a valuation allowance.

As of March 31, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Company has not recognized any uncertain tax positions, penalties, or interest as management has concluded that no such positions exist. The Company is subject to examination in the US Federal and certain state tax jurisdictions for the tax years beginning with the year ended September 30, 2020. In November 2022, the Company received notification that the IRS intends to commence an audit of the federal income tax return of OneWater LLC’s partnership for the tax year ended December 31, 2020. Audit outcomes and the timing of settlements of asserted income tax liabilities, if any, are subject to significant uncertainty.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with certain of the owners of OneWater LLC. As of March 31, 2023 and September 30, 2022, our liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement was $46.4 million, representing 85% of the calculated net cash savings in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax that OneWater Inc. anticipates realizing in future years from the result of certain increases in tax basis and certain tax benefits attributable to imputed interest as a result of OneWater Inc.’s acquisition of OneWater LLC Units pursuant to an exercise of the Redemption Right or the Call Right (each as defined in the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OneWater LLC (the “OneWater LLC Agreement”)).

The projection of future taxable income involves significant judgment. Actual taxable income may differ from our estimates, which could significantly impact our ability to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We have determined it is more-likely-than-not that we will be able to utilize all of our deferred tax assets subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement; therefore, we have recorded a liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement related to the tax savings we may realize from certain increases in tax basis and certain tax benefits attributable to imputed interest as a result of OneWater Inc.’s acquisition of OneWater LLC Units pursuant to an exercise of the Redemption Right or Call Right (each as defined in the OneWater LLC Agreement). If we determine the utilization of these deferred tax assets is not more-likely-than-not in the future, our estimate of amounts to be paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement would be reduced. In this scenario, the reduction of the liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement would result in a benefit to our consolidated statements of operations.