Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We use the estimated effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes in interim periods. Certain items, including those deemed to be unusual, infrequent or that cannot be reliably estimated, are excluded from the estimated annual tax rate. In these cases, the actual tax expense or benefit is reported in the same period as the related item.

As of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, our current federal income tax liability was $23 million and $21 million, respectively, which primarily relates to applying the accounting standard for uncertainty in income taxes and is included as a component of other liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As a mortgage guaranty insurer, we are eligible for a tax deduction, subject to certain limitations, under Internal Revenue Code Section 832(e) for amounts required by state law or regulation to be set aside in statutory contingency reserves. The deduction is allowed only to the extent that, in conjunction with quarterly federal tax payment due dates, we purchase non-interest bearing U.S. Mortgage Guaranty Tax and Loss Bonds issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in an amount equal to the tax benefit derived from deducting any portion of our statutory contingency reserves. As of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we held $838 million and $750 million of these bonds, respectively, which are included as prepaid federal income taxes on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The corresponding deduction of our statutory contingency reserves resulted in the recognition of a net deferred tax liability.

For additional information on our income taxes, including our accounting policies, see Notes 2 and 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2023 Form 10-K.