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Income Taxes
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
12. Income Taxes

The Company used the Annual Effective Tax Rate ("ETR") approach of ASC 740-270, Interim Reporting, to calculate its 2021 interim tax provision.

Income tax expense was $1.1 million and an income tax benefit of $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The income tax expense recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2021 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities. Additionally, the tax benefits associated with losses generated by the HC2 Holdings, Inc. U.S. consolidated income tax return and certain other businesses have been reduced by a full valuation allowance as we do not believe it is more-likely-than-not that the losses will be utilized prior to expiration. The income tax benefit recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2020 primarily relates to a one-time, discrete tax benefit from the carryback of net operating losses at the Insurance segment as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. Additionally, the tax benefits associated with losses generated by the HC2 Holdings, Inc. U.S. consolidated income tax return and certain other businesses have been reduced by a full valuation allowance as we do not believe it is more-likely-than-not that the losses will be utilized prior to expiration.
Net Operating Losses

At December 31, 2020, the Company had gross U.S. net operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future taxable income in the amount of $170.3 million, of which a portion is subject to annual limitation under IRC Sec. 382. Based on estimates as of March 31, 2021, the Company expects that approximately $96.0 million of the gross U.S. net operating loss carryforwards would be available to offset taxable income in 2021. This estimate may change based on changes to the quarterly forecasts and actual results reported on the 2021 U.S. tax return.

Additionally, at December 31, 2020, the Company had $112.6 million of gross U.S. net operating loss carryforwards from its subsidiaries that do not qualify to be included in the HC2 Holdings, Inc. U.S. consolidated income tax return. This balance includes $29.3 million from ANG which was sold during the first quarter of 2021.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The Company follows the provision of ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, which prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. The Company is subject to challenge from various taxing authorities relative to certain tax planning strategies, including certain intercompany transactions as well as regulatory taxes.

The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020 related to uncertain tax positions that would impact the effective income tax rate if recognized. The Company has reduced the net operating loss carryforward by $69.6 million for uncertain tax positions based on our interpretation of tax laws and regulations that are subject to varied interpretation by the IRS.

Examinations

The Company conducts business globally, and as a result, the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. The open tax years contain matters that could be subject to differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, character, timing or inclusion of revenue and expenses or the applicability of income tax credits for the relevant tax period. Given the nature of tax audits there is a risk that disputes may arise. Tax years 2002 - 2020 remain open for examination.