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Income Tax
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Income tax [Abstract]  
Income Tax
11. Income Tax
Income Tax should be booked using the liability method, recognizing (as credit or debt) the tax effect of temporary differences between the accounting valuation and the tax valuation of assets and liabilities, and its subsequent charge to profit or loss for the year in which its reversion occurs, also considering the possibility of taking advantage of tax losses in the future.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities
 
 
In the consolidated financial statements, the (current and deferred) income tax assets of a Group entity will not be offset with the (current and deferred) income tax liabilities of another Group entity because they are related to income tax amounts borne by different taxpayers and also because they do not have legal rights before tax authorities to pay or receive any amounts to settle the net position.
 
 
The evolution of assets and liabilities for deferred income tax are reported below:
 
Account
        
Changes recognized in
   
As of December 31, 2022
 
  
As of

December 31,

2021
   
Consolidated
statement of
profit or loss
   
Other
comprehensive
income
   
Deferred tax
asset
   
Deferred tax
liabilities
 
                                
Allowance for loan losses
     12,503,754       (538,189     —         11,965,565       —    
Provisions
     8,026,878       4,587,586       —         12,614,464       —    
Loan Commissions
     989,255       231,779       —         1,221,034       —    
Expenses capitalized for tax purpose
     (4,260,076     (578,506     —         —         (4,838,582
Property and equipment
     (27,473,603     14,461,807       —         —         (13,011,796
Investments in debt securities and equity instruments
     (11,162,121     (2,165,174     (713,714     —         (14,041,009
Derivatives
     25,456       (25,456     —         —         —    
Inflation adjustment (see Note 11.4)
     7,193,904       (4,708,826     —         2,485,078       —    
Tax loss
     297,126       584,936       —         882,062       —    
Others
     1,584       (36,123     —         —         (34,539
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Balance
  
 
(13,857,843
 
 
11,813,834
 
 
 
(713,714
 
 
29,168,203
 
 
 
(31,925,926
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Offsetting
                          
 
(27,648,039
 
 
27,648,039
 
                            
 
 
   
 
 
 
Net
                          
 
1,520,164
 
 
 
(4,277,887
                            
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Account
        
Changes recognized in
   
As of December 31, 2021
 
  
As of
December 31,
2020
   
Consolidated
statement of
profit or loss 
(1)
   
Other
comprehensive
income
   
Deferred tax
asset
   
Deferred tax
liabilities
 
                              
 
Allowance for loan losses
     13,471,482       (967,728     —         12,503,754       —    
Provisions
     7,382,224       644,654       —         8,026,878       —    
Loan Commissions
     809,036       180,219       —         989,255       —    
Expenses capitalized for tax purpose
     (2,482,901     (1,777,175     —         —         (4,260,076
Property and equipment
     (19,689,540     (7,784,063     —         —         (27,473,603
Investments in debt securities and equity instruments
     (7,832,155     1,784,440       (5,114,406     —         (11,162,121
Derivatives
     32,934       (7,478     —         25,456       —    
Inflation adjustment (see Note 11.4)
     25,597,408       (18,403,504     —         7,193,904       —    
Tax loss
     —         297,126       —         297,126       —    
Others
     1,802       (218     —         1,584       —    
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Balance
  
 
17,290,290
 
 
 
(26,033,727
 
 
(5,114,406
 
 
29,037,957
 
 
 
(42,895,800
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Offsetting
                          
 
(26,156,319
 
 
26,156,319
 
                            
 
 
   
 
 
 
Net
                          
 
2,881,638
 
 
 
(16,739,481
                            
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
(1)
It includes a decrease of deferred tax asset of 14,798,341 due to the tax inflation adjustment mechanism described in note 11.
4
 – “Income tax – inflation adjustment for fiscal year 2020” and 634,823 of over deferred tax from prior year.
 
 
11.2. Income tax expense
Below are the main components of the income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income:
 
    
 December 31, 
2022
    
 December 31, 
2021
    
 December 31, 
2020
 
                      
Current Tax
     (9,290,084      (353,039      (35,770,730
Deferred Tax
     11,813,834        (10,600,563      11,184,736  
Over/under income tax from prior year (see Note 11.4)
(1)
     —          1,951,077        963,830  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Income tax recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss
  
 
2,523,750
 
  
 
(9,002,525
  
 
(23,622,164
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
The reconciliation of the effective tax rate is set forth below:
 
    
December 31,
2022
   
December 31,
2021
   
December 31,
2020
 
                    
Profit before income tax
     55,436,928       27,226,764       53,225,468  
Income tax rate
     35     35     30
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Income tax using the Bank’s income tax rate
  
 
19,402,925
 
 
 
9,529,367
 
 
 
15,967,640
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Tax -exempt income
     (148,549     (553,799     (965,545
Non-deductible
expenses
     152,789       284,293       354,740  
Change in tax rate (see Note 11.3)
     —         2,876,256       (1,307,603
Other
     (217,250     125,248       573,718  
Net monetary inflation adjustment
     60,738,634       38,561,719       24,721,705  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Subtotal
  
 
79,928,549
 
 
 
50,823,084
 
 
 
39,344,655
 
Inflation adjustment for tax purposes (see Note 11.4)
     (82,362,333     (39,869,482     (14,758,661
Over/under income tax from prior year (see Note 11.4)
(1)
     (89,966     (1,951,077     (963,830
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Income tax expense
  
 
(2,523,750
 
 
9,002,525
 
 
 
23,622,164
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Effective tax rate
     (5 )%      33     44
 
(1)
It includes an income tax charge of 1,897,285 corresponding to the tax inflation mechanism applied for fiscal year 2020 – see note 11.4 “Income tax – inflation adjustment for fiscal year 2020”.
The income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was calculated considering the position presented by the Entity before AFIP, as stated under “Inflation adjustment for tax purposes. Fiscal year 2021” to this Note.
11.3. Income Tax Corporate Rate
Law 27,630, enacted on June 16, 2021 through Decree 387/2021, set forth for fiscal years starting on or after January 1, 2021, a tax rate scale scheme of 25%, 30% and 35% to be progressively applied according to the level of taxable net income accumulated as of each fiscal year end. In these consolidated financial statements, the Entity and its subsidiaries have determined the current income tax using the progressive tax rate that is expected to be applicable to the total expected income for the year, while deferred income tax balances were measured using the progressive tax rate that is expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are reversed.
 
 
11.4. Inflation adjustment for tax purposes
Law 27,430 of Tax Reform, as amended by Laws 27,468 and 27,541, sets forth the following as regards the inflation adjustment for tax purposes, effective for fiscal years started on or after January 1, 2018:
 
  i.
Such adjustment will be applicable in the tax year in which the percentage variation of the general consumer price index at national level (CPI) exceeds 100% in the
thirty-six
months prior to the end of the reporting fiscal year;
 
  ii.
Regarding the first, second and third fiscal years as from January 1, 2018, the procedure will be applicable in the event that the variation of such index, calculated from the beginning and until the closing of each of those fiscal years, exceeds 55%, 30% and 15% for the first, second and third years of application, respectively;
 
  iii.
The effect of the positive or negative inflation adjustment for tax purposes, as the case may be, corresponding to the first, second and third fiscal years started on or after January 1, 2018, is charged one third in that tax period and the remaining two thirds, in equal parts, in the two immediately following tax periods;
 
  iv.
The effect of the positive or negative inflation adjustment corresponding to the first and second tax years starting on or after January 1, 2019, is charged
one-sixth
in the tax year in which the adjustment is determined and the remaining five-sixths in the immediately following tax periods; and
 
  v.
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, 100% of the adjustment may be deducted in the year in which it is determined.
As of December 31, 2022, the parameters established by the income tax law to apply the inflation adjustment for tax purposes were met and the effects arising from the application of such adjustment as provided by law have been included when booking current and deferred income tax.
 
   
Inflation adjustment for tax purposes. Fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018
On May 10, 2017, May 10, 2018 and May 13, 2019, and based on related case law, the Entity’s Board of Directors approved the filing of actions for declaratory judgment of unconstitutionality of section 39 of Law 24073, section 4 of Law 25,561, section 5 of Decree 214/02 issued by the Argentine Executive, Law 27,468 and any other regulation whereby the inflation adjustment mechanism provided for under Law 20,628, as amended, is considered not applicable due to the confiscatory effect in the specific case, for fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Consequently, the Entity filed its income tax returns for those fiscal years taking into consideration the effect of those restatement mechanisms.
The net impact of this measure on nominal values was an adjustment to the income tax assessed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 in the amount of 1,185,800 (in nominal values), for fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, in the amount of 1,021,519 (in nominal values), and for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, in the amount of 3,239,760 (in nominal values).
On June 8, 2020, the Federal Court on Administrative Matters (JCAF
12-23)
ruled upon the action for declaratory judgment filed on May 12, 2017, upholding the complaint and thus declaring that the prohibition to apply the inflation adjustment mechanism for the purposes of the income tax return filed by the Bank for fiscal period 2016 is not applicable to the case.
 
The appeals filed against the judgment were granted on August 6, 2020, and the case was submitted to the Appellate Court for consideration. On December 9, 2020, the Federal Appellate Court on Administrative Matters (Courtroom II) dismissed the appeals, thus confirming the judgment rendered by the court of original jurisdiction. The tax authority
Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos
(“AFIP” or the “Tax Authority” or the “National Tax Authority”) filed an extraordinary appeal against the judgment, but then withdrew it through a motion filed on February 1, 2021. Accordingly, the judgment rendered by the Appellate Court in favor of the Bank’s interests became final.
On June 14, 2021, the Court of First Instance rendered judgment in respect of the action for declaratory judgment of unconstitutionality for fiscal year 2017 in favor of the Bank’s position. After appealing the judgment to the Appellate Court, the Bank filed the basis for the appeal but on September 3, 2021 the tax authority filed a brief withdrawing the appeal filed. Although the Appellate Court did not accept the withdrawal because the documentation submitted did not fulfill the necessary conditions, since no basis for the appeal was finally filed, we understand that the appeal will be declared void.
On September 30, 2021, the Court determined that the proceedings were set for the agreement to be entered. On November 2, 2021, AFIP filed a motion ratifying the withdrawal of the appeal filed with respect to the merits of the case. On November 3, 2021 the Court ordered to proceed with the case for an agreement to be entered. Finally, on May 10, 2022, the Appellate Court considered that AFIP had withdrawn its appeal with respect to the judgment on the merits.
On October 5, 2022, the Court of First Instance rendered judgment in respect of the action for declaratory judgment of unconstitutionality for fiscal year 2018 in favor of the Bank’s position. On October 6, 2022, the tax authorities appealed the sentence.
Based on the foregoing, as of December 31, 2022, the Entity had no liabilities for the items referred to above.
 
   
Inflation adjustment for tax purposes. Fiscal year 2019
As concerns fiscal year 2019, the Entity assessed its income tax liability applying the inflation adjustment for tax purposes according to the terms of the Public Emergency Law, which maintains the inflation adjustment mechanism set out under Title VI of the Income Tax Law. Nevertheless, one sixth of the resulting inflation adjustment amount should be recognized during that fiscal year, with the remaining five sixths being computed, in equal parts, over the five immediately following fiscal years. Such deferral has been recognized as a deferred tax asset.
On August 21, 2020, the Bank filed a request for refund at the administrative stage pursuant to the provisions of the first paragraph of section 81 of Law 11,683 (as compiled in 1998 and as amended) to recover the amount of 4,528,453 (in nominal values).
Upon no response from the tax authorities, on June 17, 2021 the Entity filed a motion for expedited proceedings and on November 18, 2021 a legal action was filed before the National Court on Federal Administrative Matters No. 10 (Court Clerk’s Office No. 24)
The Entity does not record assets in relation to contingent assets derived from the action filed.
 
   
Inflation adjustment for tax purposes. Fiscal year 2020
In relation to fiscal year 2020, the Entity determined the income tax as of December 31, 2020 by applying the inflation adjustment for tax purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Public Emergency Law.
On May 26, 2021, and based on related case law, the Entity’s Board of Directors approved the filing of an action against the federal tax authorities
(AFIP-DGI)
for declaratory judgment of unconstitutionality of section 194 of the Income Tax Law (as compiled in 2019) and/or of such rules that prohibit the full application of the inflation adjustment for tax purposes, on the grounds that they would lead to the assessment of a confiscatory income tax liability for fiscal year 2020; therefore allowing the full application of the mechanism set forth in section 106, paragraphs a) through e), Title VI of the Income Tax Law in that fiscal year.
 
 
Consequently, as of December 31, 2021, the Entity accounted for an adjustment in nominal values to the income tax liability assessed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 in the amount of 5,817,000 (16,695,615 in restated values), with the ensuing impact on deferred tax assets by 5,033,000 (decrease) (14,798,331 in restated values) and on the income tax expense of 784,000 (1,897,285 in restated values).
 
   
Inflation adjustment for tax purposes. Fiscal year 2021
On June 30, 2022, the Bank filed an administrative claim before the AFIP in order to obtain the recognition of the corrective tax return filed on June 30, 2022 with respect to the Income Tax for the 2021 tax period for 309,000 (in nominal values), on the grounds that the partial application of the correction mechanisms of the inflation adjustment under the provisions of Section 93 of the Income Tax Law is unconstitutional, since it affects the principle of reasonableness, equality, contributive capacity and confiscatory nature.
 
   
Requests for refund. Fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015
Regarding fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Entity assessed income tax without applying the inflation adjustment for tax purposes, consequently a higher tax was paid in the amounts of 264,257, 647,945 and 555,002 for those periods in nominal values.
Based on the grounds stated in the first paragraph “Inflation Adjustment for Tax Purposes. Fiscal Years 2016, 2017 and 2018,” on November 19, 2015, an administrative action requesting a refund for periods 2013 and 2014 was filed, and the related judicial action was filed on September 23, 2016 for both periods, given that no answer was received from AFIP.
In turn, on April 4, 2017, a request for refund was filed in relation to the higher amount of tax paid for fiscal year 2015. Likewise, on December 29, 2017, the related judicial action was filed for this fiscal year.
On October 21, 2020, the Entity was notified that the Court of First Instance on Administrative Matters No. 1 rendered judgment upholding the request for refund for fiscal year 2014. AFIP filed an appeal against such judgment before the Appellate Court.
On November 10, 2020, the Court of First Instance rendered judgment sustaining BBVA Argentina’s complaint, thereby ordering the tax authorities to refund the amount of 264,257 (nominal values) paid in excess of the income tax liability for fiscal year 2013, plus accrued interest. The National Tax Authority filed an appeal against the judgment. Finally, on May 6, 2021, the Federal Appellate Court on Administrative Matters (Courtroom I) confirmed the appealed judgment on the merits, therefore dismissing the appeal brought by the national tax authorities.
On April 27, 2021, the Appellate Court rendered judgment in favor of the Bank concerning the refund of income tax for fiscal year 2014. In its judgment, the Appellate Court substantially confirmed the judgment rendered by the Court of First Instance on the merits, upholding the confiscatory nature of the tax.
The National Tax Authority brought extraordinary appeals against both judgments, and the Appellate Court has rejected such appeal with respect to the claims of arbitrariness and serious institutional implications. The proceedings are being handled by the Supreme Court.
On June 28, 2022, the Federal Appellate Court on Administrative Matters (Courtroom VII) rendered judgment in favor of the Bank as regards the recovery of the income tax for tax period 2015 and AFIP appealed such judgment.
The Entity does not record assets in relation to contingent assets derived from the action filed.