Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the company’s effective income tax rate was 0.0% which differs from the statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to changes in, and continued need of, our full valuation allowance, changes in the warrant liability valuation, and state income taxes.

We concluded that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will not be realized and has recorded a full valuation allowance, reducing the net deferred tax asset to zero. We maintained this conclusion as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. We will continue to evaluate whether the valuation allowance is needed in future reporting periods and it will remain until we can conclude that the net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. Future events or new evidence which may lead us to conclude that it is more likely than not its net deferred tax assets will be realized include, but are not limited to, cumulative historical pre-tax earnings, sustained significant improvements in commodity prices, a sustained significant increase in rig utilization and/or rates, a material and sizable asset acquisition or disposition, and taxable events that could result from one or more future potential transactions. The valuation allowance does not prohibit the company from utilizing the tax attributes if the company recognizes taxable income. As long as we continue to conclude that the valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets is necessary, the company will not have significant deferred income tax expense or benefit.

As of December 31, 2021, the company has an expected federal net operating loss carryforward of $385.5 million after consideration of the tax attribute reductions of IRC Section 108, finalization of the company’s 2020 federal income tax return, and pending finalization of the company's 2021 federal income tax return of which $190.5 million is subject to expiration between 2036 and 2037. As of December 31, 2021, our tax basis in UPC's properties was approximately $475.0 million