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INCOME TAXES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense were as follows (dollars in millions):
 202420232022
Current tax expense$26.4 $68.3 $31.8 
Deferred tax expense87.9 12.0 154.1 
Total income tax expense$114.3 $80.3 $185.9 

A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate to the effective rate reflected in the consolidated statement of operations is as follows: 
 202420232022
U.S. statutory corporate rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
Non-taxable income and nondeductible benefits, net(1.4)(0.7)(0.4)
State taxes2.4 2.2 2.2 
Effective tax rate22.0 %22.5 %22.8 %

The components of the Company's income tax assets and liabilities are summarized below (dollars in millions):
20242023
Deferred tax assets:  
Net federal operating loss carryforwards$72.2 $77.1 
Net state operating loss carryforwards4.4 2.5 
Insurance liabilities330.3 322.8 
Indirect costs allocable to self-constructed real estate assets205.1 252.9 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss385.1 445.5 
Other19.4 35.6 
Gross deferred tax assets1,016.5 1,136.4 
Deferred tax liabilities: 
Investments(40.8)(36.3)
Present value of future profits and deferred acquisition costs(184.3)(163.0)
Gross deferred tax liabilities(225.1)(199.3)
Net deferred tax assets791.4 937.1 
Current income taxes prepaid (accrued)27.5 (0.9)
Income tax assets, net$818.9 $936.2 

Effective January 1, 2024, the Company elected to change its tax method of accounting for indirect costs allocable to self-constructed real estate assets. The change in accounting method would result in a current year tax deduction of certain indirect costs previously capitalized under the Company's prior method of accounting. In the second quarter of 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") revised the list of tax method accounting changes that require approval from the IRS to include tax method accounting changes related to indirect costs allocable to self-constructed real estate assets. Previously, only a taxpayer-initiated election was necessary and IRS approval was not required. The Company requested approval for its tax method change in June 2024.

The recharacterization from indirect costs allocable to self-constructed assets to net operating losses at year end was
dependent on receiving formal IRS approval of our method change request. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has not yet received formal approval from the IRS and will account for the existing assets associated with the prior tax method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company expects to recognize a tax loss of approximately $800 million related to the
change in accounting method which could be carried forward indefinitely pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, subject to limitations specified in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code").

Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and NOLs. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.  The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.

A reduction of the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets by establishing a valuation allowance is required if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, all available evidence, both positive and negative, are considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is needed. This assessment requires significant judgment and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expiring unused, and tax planning strategies.

We evaluate the need to establish a valuation allowance for our deferred income tax assets on an ongoing basis using a deferred tax valuation model. Our model is adjusted to reflect changes in our projections of future taxable income. Our estimates of future taxable income are based on evidence we consider to be objectively verifiable. At December 31, 2024, our projection of future taxable income for purposes of determining the valuation allowance is based on our estimates of such future taxable income through the date our NOLs expire. Such estimates are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and the extent to which actual impacts differ from the assumptions used in our deferred tax valuation model. Based on our assessment, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that all our net deferred tax assets of $791.4 million will be realized through future taxable earnings.
 
Recovery of our deferred tax asset is dependent on achieving the level of future taxable income projected in our deferred tax valuation model and failure to do so could result in the recognition of a valuation allowance in a future period.  The recognition of a valuation allowance would increase income tax expense and reduce shareholders' equity, and such an increase could have a significant impact upon our earnings in the future.

The Code limits the extent to which losses realized by a non-life entity (or entities) may offset income from a life insurance company (or companies) to the lesser of: (i) 35 percent of the income of the life insurance company; or (ii) 35 percent of the total loss of the non-life entities (including NOLs of the non-life entities).  There is no similar limitation on the extent to which losses realized by a life insurance entity (or entities) may offset income from a non-life entity (or entities).

Section 382 of the Code imposes limitations on a corporation's ability to use its NOLs when the company undergoes a 50 percent ownership change over a three-year period.  Future transactions and the timing of such transactions could cause an ownership change for Section 382 income tax purposes.  Such transactions may include, but are not limited to, additional repurchases under our securities repurchase program, issuances of common stock and acquisitions or sales of shares of CNO stock by certain holders of our shares, including persons who have held, currently hold or may accumulate in the future five percent or more of our outstanding common stock for their own account.  Many of these transactions are beyond our control.  If an ownership change were to occur for purposes of Section 382, we would be required to calculate an annual restriction on the use of our NOLs to offset future taxable income.  The annual restriction would be calculated based upon the value of CNO's equity at the time of such ownership change, multiplied by a federal long-term tax-exempt rate (3.43 percent at December 31, 2024).  We regularly monitor ownership change (as calculated for purposes of Section 382) and, as of December 31, 2024, we were well below the 50 percent ownership change level that could limit our ability to utilize our NOLs.

In 2009, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a Section 382 Rights Agreement designed to protect shareholder value by preserving the value of our tax assets primarily associated with tax NOLs under Section 382. The Section 382 Rights Agreement was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an ownership change occurring by deterring the acquisition of stock that would create "5 percent shareholders" as defined in Section 382. The Section 382 Rights Agreement has been
amended five times, most recently effective November 13, 2023 (the "Fifth Amended and Restated Section 382 Rights Agreement"). The Fifth Amended and Restated Section 382 Rights Agreement extended the expiration date of the Section 382 Rights Agreement to November 13, 2026, updated the purchase price of the rights described below and provided for a new series of preferred stock relating to the rights that is substantially identical to the prior series of preferred stock. The Company's shareholders approved the Fifth Amended and Restated Section 382 Rights Agreement at the Company's 2024 annual meeting.
Under the Section 382 Rights Agreement, one right was distributed for each share of our common stock outstanding as of the close of business on January 30, 2009 and for each share issued after that date. Pursuant to the Fifth Amended and Restated Section 382 Rights Agreement, if any person or group (subject to certain exemptions) becomes an owner of more than 4.99 percent of the Company's outstanding common stock (or any other interest in the Company that would be treated as "stock" under applicable Section 382 regulations) without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power and economic ownership of that person or group. Shareholders who held more than 4.99 percent of the Company's outstanding common stock as of November 13, 2023 will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares exceeding one percent of our outstanding shares without prior approval from the Board of Directors.

In 2010, our shareholders approved an amendment to CNO's certificate of incorporation designed to prevent certain transfers of common stock which could otherwise adversely affect our ability to use our NOLs (the "Original Section 382 Charter Amendment"). Subject to the provisions set forth in the Original Section 382 Charter Amendment, the transfer restrictions generally will restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our common stock that results from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if: (i) the transferor is a person or public group (as defined in the regulations under Section 382) who directly or indirectly owns or is deemed to own 4.99% or more of our common stock; (ii) the effect of the transfer would be to increase the direct or indirect ownership of our common stock by any person or public group from less than 4.99% to 4.99% or more of our common stock; or (iii) the effect of the transfer would be to increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person or public group owning or deemed to own 4.99% or more of our common stock. The Original Section 382 Charter Amendment was amended and extended in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 (the "2022 Section 382 Charter Amendment"). The expiration date for the 2022 Section 382 Charter Amendment is July 31, 2025. The Company expects to submit a renewal of the Section 382 Charter Amendment to the Company's shareholders for approval at the Company's 2025 annual meeting.

We have $343.9 million of federal NOLs as of December 31, 2024, as summarized below (dollars in millions):

Net operating loss
Year of expirationcarryforwards
2028-2035
$300.3 
No expiration date
43.6 
Total federal non-life NOLs$343.9 

Our non-life NOLs can be used to offset 35 percent of life insurance company taxable income and 100 percent of non-life company taxable income until all non-life NOLs are utilized or expire. In addition, we expect to recognize approximately $800 million of non-life NOLs on our tax return as a result of changes related to the tax accounting method for allocating indirect costs (pursuant to the Code) to self constructed real estate assets upon approval from the IRS. Such NOLs will not be subject to expiration.
We also had deferred tax assets related to NOLs for state income taxes of $4.4 million at December 31, 2024 and $2.5 million at December 31, 2023.  The related state NOLs are available to offset future state taxable income in certain states and are expected to be fully utilized prior to expiration.

There were no unrecognized tax benefits in either 2024 or 2023.

The IRS is conducting an examination of our 2016 through 2018 tax returns. The federal statute of limitations remains open with respect to tax years 2016 through 2024. The Company’s various state income tax returns are generally
open for tax years based on individual state statutes of limitation. Generally, for tax years which generate NOLs, capital losses or tax credit carryforwards, the statute remains open until the expiration of the statute of limitations for the tax year in which such carryforwards are utilized. The outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If the Company’s tax audits are not resolved in a manner consistent with management’s expectations, the Company may be required to adjust its provision for income taxes.