INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

For interim financial statement purposes, U.S. GAAP income tax expense/benefit related to ordinary income is determined by applying an estimated annual effective income tax rate against a company’s ordinary income, subject to certain limitations on the benefit of losses. Income tax expense/benefit related to items not characterized as ordinary income is recognized as a discrete item when incurred. The estimation of Bausch + Lomb’s income tax provision requires the use of management forecasts and other estimates, application of statutory income tax rates, and an evaluation of valuation allowances. The Company’s estimated annual effective income tax rate may be revised, if necessary, in each interim period.

Provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $43 million. The difference between the statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to jurisdictional mix of earnings and discrete tax effects of establishing a valuation allowance in Canada, the impact of a change in tax attributes, and a change in the deduction for stock compensation. The Provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 was reduced by $7 million due to an immaterial out of period correction. This out of period correction related to an understatement of Deferred tax assets, as included in the December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 Consolidated Balance Sheets, which management corrected during the three months ended June 30, 2023. Provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2022

was $26 million. The difference between the statutory tax rate and effective tax rate was primarily attributable to jurisdictional mix of earnings and discrete tax effects of internal restructurings.

The Company records a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets to reduce the net carrying value to an amount that it believes is more likely than not to be realized. When the Company establishes or reduces the valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, the provision for income taxes will increase or decrease, respectively, in the period such determination is made. The valuation allowance against deferred tax assets was $132 million and $54 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The increase is related to the valuation allowance established against the prior deferred tax assets in Canada as well as certain attributes the Company acquired during the year that are expected to expire prior to their utilization.

The Company’s U.S. affiliates remain under examination for various state tax audits in the U.S. for years 2015 through 2022.

The Company’s subsidiaries in Germany are under audit for tax years 2014 through 2019. At this time, the Company does not expect that proposed adjustments, if any, would be material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Any liability to arise from this audit would be indemnified by BHC pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement.

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $70 million and $70 million of unrecognized tax benefits, which included $10 million and $9 million of interest and penalties, respectively. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2023, $62 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2023 could decrease by an immaterial amount in the next 12 months as a result of the resolution of certain tax audits and other events.