Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

4.    Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 23.6% and 22.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared with 24.1% and 24.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The decrease in our effective income tax rate when comparing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was primarily driven by (i) an increase in federal tax credits and (ii) the reduction in the state and local income tax rate partially offset by impacts of adopting Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-02, which is discussed further below. We evaluate our effective income tax rate at each interim period and adjust it as facts and circumstances warrant.

Investments Qualifying for Federal Tax Credits 

Renewable Natural Gas — Through our subsidiaries, including our WM Renewable Energy segment, we have invested in building landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the U.S. and Canada that produce renewable electricity and RNG. We expect our new RNG facilities to qualify for federal tax credits and to realize those credits through 2027 under Sections 48 and 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recognized a reduction in our income tax expense of $37 million and $111 million, respectively, due to federal tax credits expected to be realized from our RNG investments compared with $2 million and $6 million, respectively, for the comparable prior year periods.

Low-Income Housing — We have significant financial interests in entities established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. We support the operations of these entities in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits they generate. The low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that we expect to realize through 2035 under Section 42 or Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code.

As a result of adopting ASU 2023-02, we amortize our investments in these entities using the proportional amortization method. Under the proportional amortization method, the equity investment is amortized in proportion to the income tax credits and other income tax benefits received. The amortization expense and the income tax credits are required to be presented on a net basis in income tax expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Prior to fiscal year 2024, we accounted for our investments in these entities using the equity method of accounting, recognizing our share of each entity’s results of operations and other reductions in the value of our investments in equity in net income (losses) of unconsolidated entities, within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recognized additional income tax expense of $19 million and $56 million, respectively, related to amortization under ASU 2023-02 and a reduction in our income tax expense primarily due to federal tax credits of $26 million and $76 million, respectively. In addition, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recognized interest expense of $5 million and $16 million, respectively, associated with our investments in low-income housing properties. See Note 13 for additional information related to these unconsolidated variable interest entities.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recognized $18 million and $43 million of net losses, respectively, and a reduction in our income tax expense of $28 million and $76 million, respectively, primarily due to federal tax credits realized from these investments as well as the tax benefits from the pre-tax losses realized. In addition, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recognized interest expense of $3 million and $10 million, respectively, associated with our investments in low-income housing properties. See Note 13 for additional information related to these unconsolidated variable interest entities.