XML 34 R20.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.1
INCOME TAXES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 related to the effects a valuation allowance against the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  To assess that likelihood, the Company uses estimates and judgment regarding future taxable income, and considers the tax consequences in the jurisdiction where such taxable income is generated, to determine whether a valuation allowance is required.  Such evidence can include current financial position, results of operations, both actual and forecasted, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies as well as current and forecasted business economics of the oil and gas industry.
In the first quarter of 2020, due to significant pricing declines and the material write-down of the carrying value of the Company’s natural gas and oil properties in addition to other negative evidence, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized and recorded a discrete tax expense of $408 million for the increase in its valuation allowance. The net change in valuation allowance is reflected as a component of income tax expense. The Company also retained a valuation allowance of $87 million related to net operating losses in jurisdictions in which it no longer operates. Management will continue to assess available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of deferred tax assets. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted based on changes in subjective estimates of future taxable income or if objective negative evidence is no longer present.
The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately (36)% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily the effect of recording the valuation allowance discussed above.
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12 (“ASU 2019-12”) in the current period. ASU 2019-12 addressed simplification to income tax accounting rules, such as removing a few exceptions to intraperiod allocation. There was no material impact to the financial statements as a result of this adoption.