INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2025

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

An income tax provision of $5 million and $11 million was recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively, and the reported effective income tax rate was 25% and 21%, respectively. An income tax provision of $30 million and $47 million was recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, and the reported effective income tax rate was 27% and 27%, respectively.

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was enacted in the U.S. The OBBBA makes permanent key elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act including accelerated tax expensing of qualifying domestic research costs, 100% bonus depreciation on qualifying capital expenditures, and enhancements to the business interest expense limitation. We are evaluating the full effects of the legislation on our estimated annual effective tax rate and cash tax position, but our current understanding of the legislation is that the provisions may have a beneficial impact on our current year results and cash flows.

The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service has challenged the deductibility of goodwill amortization generated in a 2007 acquisition by International Paper do Brasil Ltda., now named Sylvamo do Brasil Ltda. (“Sylvamo Brasil”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Brazil Tax Dispute”). Sylvamo Brasil received assessments for the tax years 2007-2015 totaling approximately $108 million in tax, and $278 million in interest, penalties and fees as of June 30, 2025 (adjusted for variation in currency exchange rates and a law change pursuant to which the Brazil tax authority agreed to cancel a portion of the interest, penalties, and fees). International Paper challenged and is managing the litigation of this matter pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement between us and International Paper. After a previous favorable ruling challenging the basis for these assessments, Sylvamo Brasil received other subsequent unfavorable decisions from the Brazilian Administrative Council of Tax Appeals. These decisions are being appealed. The appeal involves several separate cases. In October 2024, at the first level of appeal in the Brazilian federal court system, the court ruled in favor of Sylvamo Brasil in cases covering approximately two thirds of the disputed amounts. The remaining one third of the disputed amounts is still under challenge at the Brazilian administrative court level and was not part of the ruling. The Brazilian tax authorities have appealed the October 2024 ruling. This tax litigation matter may take many years to resolve. The Company believes that the transaction underlying these assessments was appropriately evaluated, and that the Company’s tax position would be sustained, based on Brazilian tax law.

Pursuant to the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement, International Paper will pay 60%, and Sylvamo will pay 40% on up to $300 million of any assessment related to this matter, and International Paper will pay all amounts of the assessment over $300 million. Also in connection with this agreement, all decisions concerning the conduct of the litigation related to this matter, including settlement strategy, pursuit and abandonment, will continue to be made by International Paper, which is vigorously defending Sylvamo Brasil’s historic tax position against the current assessments and any similar assessments that may be issued for tax years subsequent to 2015.