Income taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Income taxes [Abstract]

Income taxes

16. Income taxes

As a result of the Company’s up-C structure effective with the Business Combinations, the Company expects to be a tax-paying entity. However, as the Company has historically been loss-making, any deferred tax assets created as a result of net operating losses and other deferred tax assets for the excess of tax basis in the Company’s investment in Opal Fuels would be offset by a full valuation allowance. Prior to the Business Combination, OPAL Fuels was organized as a limited liability company, with the exception of one partially-owned subsidiary which filed income tax returns as a C-Corporation. The Company accounts for its income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Judgment is required in determining the provisions for income and other taxes and related accruals, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of business, there are transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Additionally, the Company’s various tax returns are subject to audit by various tax authorities. Although the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded zero income tax expense. The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was 0%. The difference between the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% was primarily due to a full valuation allowance recorded on the Company’s net U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company did not record a tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 primarily due to OPAL Fuels’ status as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company evaluates the realizability of the deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset may not be realized.