Income tax expense includes both current and deferred taxes. We recognize income tax expense in net income unless it relates to an item recognized directly in equity or other comprehensive income. We provide for income taxes based on all of the information that is currently available.

Current tax expense is tax we expect to pay or receive based on our taxable income or loss during the year. We calculate the current tax expense using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted as at the reporting date, including any adjustment to taxes payable or receivable related to previous years.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities we recognize on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and their respective tax bases. We calculate deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and they relate to income taxes levied by the same authority on:

•different taxable entities where these entities intend to settle current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis or the tax assets and liabilities will be realized and settled simultaneously.

We recognize a deferred tax asset for unused losses, tax credits, and deductible temporary differences to the extent it is probable that future taxable income will be available to use the asset.

We make significant judgments in interpreting tax rules and regulations when we calculate income tax expense. We make judgments to evaluate whether we can recover a deferred tax asset based on our assessment of existing tax laws, estimates of future profitability, and tax planning strategies.


	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2020	2019





Total current tax expense	712	269

Deferred tax (recovery) expense:
(Reversal) origination of temporary differences	(129)	466
Revaluation of deferred tax balances due to legislative changes	(3)	(23)

Total deferred tax (recovery) expense	(132)	443

Total income tax expense	580	712

Below is a summary of the difference between income tax expense computed by applying the statutory income tax rate to income before income tax expense and the actual income tax expense for the year.


	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars, except tax rates)	2020		2019

Statutory income tax rate	26.6	%	26.7	%
Income before income tax expense	2,172		2,755

Computed income tax expense	578		736
Increase (decrease) in income tax expense resulting from:

Non-deductible portion of equity losses	10		7

Income tax adjustment, legislative tax change	(3)		(23)


Non-taxable portion of capital gains	—		(2)
Other	(5)		(6)

Total income tax expense	580		712
Effective income tax rate	26.7	%	25.8	%


Deferred tax assets (liabilities) (In millions of dollars)	Property, plant and equipment and inventory	Goodwill and other intangibles	Investments	Non-capital loss carryforwards	Contract and deferred commission cost assets	Other	Total

December 31, 2019	(1,366)	(1,318)	(168)	12	(570)	(27)	(3,437)
(Expense) recovery in net income	(108)	(129)	(2)	4	387	(20)	132
Recovery in other comprehensive income	—	—	40	—	—	82	122
Acquisitions	(10)	(3)	—	—	—	—	(13)

December 31, 2020	(1,484)	(1,450)	(130)	16	(183)	35	(3,196)


Deferred tax assets (liabilities) (In millions of dollars)	Property, plant and equipment and inventory	Goodwill and other intangibles	Investments	Non-capital loss carryforwards	Contract and deferred commission cost assets	Other	Total

December 31, 2018	(1,145)	(1,192)	(66)	29	(515)	(21)	(2,910)
Effect of IFRS 16 adoption	—	—	—	—	—	9	9
(Expense) recovery in net income	(221)	(126)	2	(17)	(55)	(26)	(443)
(Expense) recovery in other comprehensive income	—	—	(104)	—	—	11	(93)


December 31, 2019	(1,366)	(1,318)	(168)	12	(570)	(27)	(3,437)


	As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2020	2019

Realized and accrued capital losses in Canada that can be applied against future capital gains	82	41
Tax losses in foreign jurisdictions that expire between 2023 and 2039	67	67
Deductible temporary differences in foreign jurisdictions	43	41

Total unrecognized temporary differences	192	149

There are taxable temporary differences associated with our investments in Canadian domestic subsidiaries. We do not recognize deferred tax liabilities for these temporary differences because we are able to control the timing of the reversal and the reversal is not probable in the foreseeable future. Reversing these taxable temporary differences is not expected to result in any significant tax implications.