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INCOME TAXES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
INCOME TAXES | INCOME TAXES INCOME TAX RATE RECONCILIATION
Year ended December 31, | 2020 | 2019 | 2018
(millions of Canadian dollars) |  |  |
Earnings before income taxes | 4,190 |  | 7,535 |  | 3,570 |
Canadian federal statutory income tax rate | 15 | % | 15 | % | 15 | %
Expected federal taxes at statutory rate | 629 |  | 1,130 |  | 536 |
Increase/(decrease) resulting from: |  |  |
Provincial and state income taxes 1 | 288 |  | 415 |  | (24) |
Foreign and other statutory rate differentials 2 | (53) |  | 129 |  | 94 |
Impact of US tax reform | — |  | — |  | (2) |
Effects of rate-regulated accounting 3 | (145) |  | (63) |  | (163) |
Foreign allowable interest deductions 4 | (4) |  | (29) |  | (134) |
Part VI.1 tax, net of federal Part I deduction 5 | 76 |  | 78 |  | 76 |
Impairment of goodwill | — |  | — |  | 192 |
US BEAT | 44 |  | 67 |  | 43 |
Non-taxable portion of gain on sale of investment to unrelated party 6 | — |  | — |  | 31 |
Valuation allowance 7 | (6) |  | 26 |  | (172) |
Intercorporate investments 8 | — |  | (14) |  | (149) |
Noncontrolling interests | (8) |  | (13) |  | (47) |
Other | (47) |  | (18) |  | (44) |
Income tax expense | 774 |  | 1,708 |  | 237 |
Effective income tax rate | 18.5 | % | 22.7 | % | 6.6 | %
1.The change in provincial and state income taxes from 2019 to 2020 reflects the decrease in earnings from operations and the impact of state tax apportionment and rate changes in both the US and Canada. 2.The change in foreign and other statutory rate differentials from 2019 to 2020 reflects the decrease in earnings from US operations. 3.The amount in 2019 included the federal component of the tax benefit of the write-off of regulatory assets. 4.The decrease in foreign allowable interest deductions in 2019 was due to changes in the related loan portfolio and tax legislative changes in Canada, the US, and Europe. 5.Part VI.1 tax is a tax levied on preferred share dividends paid in Canada. 6.The amount represents the federal component of the non-taxable portion of the gain on the sales of the Canadian Natural Gas Gathering and Processing Businesses in 2018. 7.The decrease in 2020 is due to the federal component of the tax effect of a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets that, in 2019, were not more likely than not to be realized. 8.The amounts in 2019 and 2018 relate to the federal component of changes in assertions regarding the manner of recovery of intercorporate investments such that deferred tax related to outside basis temporary differences was required to be recorded for MATL and for Renewable Assets, respectively. COMPONENTS OF PRETAX EARNINGS AND INCOME TAXES
Year ended December 31, | 2020 | 2019 | 2018
(millions of Canadian dollars) |  |  |
Earnings before income taxes |  |  |
Canada | 2,789 |  | 3,560 |  | 118 |
US | 407 |  | 3,115 |  | 2,582 |
Other | 994 |  | 860 |  | 870 |
| 4,190 |  | 7,535 |  | 3,570 |
Current income taxes |  |  |
Canada | 165 |  | 347 |  | 311 |
US | 64 |  | 107 |  | 66 |
Other | 98 |  | 98 |  | 8 |
| 327 |  | 552 |  | 385 |
Deferred income taxes |  |  |
Canada | 378 |  | 490 |  | (598) |
US | 66 |  | 672 |  | 439 |
Other | 3 |  | (6) |  | 11 |
| 447 |  | 1,156 |  | (148) |
Income tax expense | 774 |  | 1,708 |  | 237 |
COMPONENTS OF DEFERRED INCOME TAXES Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Major components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
December 31, | 2020 | 2019
(millions of Canadian dollars) |  |
Deferred income tax liabilities |  |
Property, plant and equipment | (7,786) |  | (7,290) |
Investments | (4,649) |  | (4,620) |
Regulatory assets | (1,156) |  | (1,052) |
Other | (127) |  | (40) |
Total deferred income tax liabilities | (13,718) |  | (13,002) |
Deferred income tax assets |  |
Financial instruments | 518 |  | 679 |
Pension and OPEB plans | 251 |  | 206 |
Loss carryforwards | 2,005 |  | 1,693 |
Other | 1,461 |  | 1,641 |
Total deferred income tax assets | 4,235 |  | 4,219 |
Less valuation allowance | (79) |  | (84) |
Total deferred income tax assets, net | 4,156 |  | 4,135 |
Net deferred income tax liabilities | (9,562) |  | (8,867) |
Presented as follows: |  |
Total deferred income tax assets | 770 |  | 1,000 |
Total deferred income tax liabilities | (10,332) |  | (9,867) |
Net deferred income tax liabilities | (9,562) |  | (8,867) |
A valuation allowance has been established for certain loss and credit carryforwards, and outside basis temporary differences on investments that reduce deferred income tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized the benefit of unused tax loss carryforwards of $2.6 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively, in Canada which expire in 2026 and beyond. As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized the benefit of unused tax loss carryforwards of $5.8 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively, in the US which expire in 2023 and beyond. We have not provided for deferred income taxes on the difference between the carrying value of substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries and their corresponding tax basis as the earnings of those subsidiaries are intended to be permanently reinvested in their operations. As such these investments are not anticipated to give rise to income taxes in the foreseeable future. The difference between the carrying values of the investments and their tax bases is largely a result of unremitted earnings and currency translation adjustments. The unremitted earnings and currency translation adjustment for which no deferred taxes have been recognized in respect of foreign subsidiaries were $5.5 billion and $5.3 billion for the period December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. If such earnings are remitted, in the form of dividends or otherwise, we may be subject to income taxes and foreign withholding taxes. The determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities on such amounts is not practicable. Enbridge and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to taxation in Canada, the US and other foreign jurisdictions. The material jurisdictions in which we are subject to potential examinations include the US (Federal) and Canada (Federal, Alberta and Ontario). We are open to examination by Canadian tax authorities for the 2013 to 2020 tax years and by US tax authorities for the 2017 to 2020 tax years. We are currently under examination for income tax matters in Canada for the 2014 to 2017 tax years. We are not currently under examination for income tax matters in any other material jurisdiction where we are subject to income tax. UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS
Year ended December 31, | 2020 | 2019
(millions of Canadian dollars) |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year | 129 |  | 139 |
Gross increases for tax positions of current year | 1 |  | 1 |
Gross decreases for tax positions of prior year | (1) |  | (1) |
Change in translation of foreign currency | (3) |  | (4) |
Lapses of statute of limitations | (5) |  | (6) |
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year | 121 |  | 129 |
The unrecognized tax benefits as at December 31, 2020, if recognized, would impact our effective income tax rate. We do not anticipate further adjustments to the unrecognized tax benefits during the next 12 months that would have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income taxes. Interest and penalties included in income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $3 million expense and $3 million expense, respectively, of interest and penalties. As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, interest and penalties of $17 million and $15 million, respectively, have been accrued.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32857-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.C) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330215-122817 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32809-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.5.Q1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32705-109319 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 270 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6424409&loc=d3e44925-109338 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144680 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6424122&loc=d3e41874-109331 + Details
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