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Taxation
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Text Block [Abstract]  
Taxation
6. Taxation
6A. Income tax
Income tax on the profit for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustments to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Current tax in the consolidated income statement will differ from the income tax paid in the consolidated cash flow statement primarily because of deferred tax arising on temporary differences and payment dates for income tax occurring after the balance sheet date.
Unilever is subject to taxation in the many countries in which it operates. The tax legislation of these countries differs, is often complex and is subject to interpretation by management and the government authorities. These matters of judgement give rise to the need to create provisions for tax payments that may arise in future years with respect to transactions already undertaken. Provisions are made against individual exposures and take into account the specific circumstances of each case, including the strength of technical arguments, recent case law decisions or rulings on similar issues and relevant external advice. The provision is estimated based on one of two methods, the expected value method (the sum of the probability weighted amounts in a range of possible outcomes) or the single most likely amount method, depending on which is expected to better predict the resolution of the uncertainty.
 
   
€ million
   € million   € million 
Tax charge in income statement
  
2020
   2019   2018 
Current tax
               
Current year
  
 
(2,128
) 
   (2,098)    (2,647) 
Over/(under) provided in prior years
  
 
(154
) 
   119    (10) 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
(2,282
) 
   (1,979)    (2,657) 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Deferred tax
               
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
  
 
344
 
   (255)    5 
Changes in tax rates
  
 
(19
) 
   (59)    (12) 
Recognition of previously unrecognised losses brought forward
  
 
34
 
   30    92 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
359
 
   (284)    85 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
(1,923
) 
   (2,263)    (2,572) 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
The reconciliation between the computed weighted average rate of income tax expense, which is generally applicable to Unilever companies, and the actual rate of taxation charged is as follows:
 
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
  
% 2020
   % 2019   % 2018 
Computed rate of tax
(a)
  
 
23
 
   24    25 
Differences between computed rate of tax and effective tax rate due to:
               
Incentive tax credits
  
 
(2
) 
   (2)    (3) 
Withholding tax on dividends
  
 
2
 
   3    2 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
  
 
1
 
   1    1 
Irrecoverable withholding tax
  
 
1
 
   1    1 
Income tax reserve adjustments – current and prior year
  
 
(1
) 
   —      1 
Transfer to/(from) unrecognised deferred tax assets
  
 
—  
 
   (2)    —   
Others
  
 
(1
) 
   1    (1) 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Underlying effective tax rate
  
 
23
 
   26    26 
Non-underlying
items within operating profit
(b)
  
 
—  
 
   —      (1) 
Taxes related to the UK tax audit of intangible income and centralised services
(b)
  
 
1
 
   —      —   
Impact of Spreads disposal
(b)
  
 
—  
 
   —      (4) 
Taxes related to the reorganisation of our European business
(b)
  
 
1
 
   2    —   
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Effective tax rate
  
 
25
 
   28    21 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
(a)
The computed tax rate used is the average of the standard rate of tax applicable in the countries in which Unilever operates, weighted by the amount of underlying profit before taxation generated in each of those countries. For this reason, the rate may vary from year to year according to the mix of profit and related tax rates.
(b)
See note 3 for explanation of
non-underlying
items.
Our tax rate is reduced by incentive tax credits, the benefit from preferential tax regimes that have been legislated by the countries and provinces concerned in order to promote economic development and investment. The tax rate is increased by business expenses which are not deductible for tax, such as entertainment costs and some interest expense and by irrecoverable withholding taxes on dividends paid by subsidiary companies and on other cross-border payments such as royalties and service fees, which cannot be offset against other taxes due. Uncertain tax provisions including the related interest and penalties amounted to €879
 
million (2019: €787 million). In 2020, a provision of €186
 
million was established in respect of the tax amortisation of intangible assets, including goodwill, related to Horlicks in India. Our expectation is that we will continue to provide for this until the matter is resolved. We note that the Indian budget on 1 February 2021 includes a proposal to exclude goodwill from the definition of tax depreciable assets effective 1 April 2020. If this were enacted €59
 
million of the provision would no longer be required with no material impact on the income statement.
The Group’s future tax charge and effective tax rate could be affected by several factors, including changes in tax laws and their interpretation and the continuing OECD international tax reform work, as well as the impact of acquisitions, disposals and any restructuring of our businesses.
6B. Deferred tax
Deferred tax is recognised using the liability method on taxable temporary differences between the tax base and the accounting base of items included in the balance sheet of the Group. Certain temporary differences are not provided for as follows:
 
 • 
goodwill not deductible for tax purposes;
 
 • 
the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit; and
 
 • 
differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted, or substantively enacted, at the year end.
A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.
 
Movements in 2020 and 2019
  
€ million
As at
1 January
2020
  
€ million
Income

statement
  
€ million
Other
  
€ million

As at
31 December
2020
  € million
As at
1 January
2019		  € million
Income
statement		  € million
Other		  € million
As at
31 December
2019		 
Pensions and similar obligations
  
 
272
 
 
 
(97
) 
 
 
(95
) 
 
 
80
 
  404   (81)   (51)   272 
Provisions and accruals
  
 
756
 
 
 
38
 
 
 
(96
) 
 
 
698
 
  821   (73)   8   756 
Goodwill and intangible assets
  
 
(2,096
) 
 
 
23
 
 
 
(661
) 
 
 
(2,734
) 
  (1,911)   (31)   (154)   (2,096) 
Accelerated tax depreciation
  
 
(685
) 
 
 
9
 
 
 
35
 
 
 
(641
) 
  (679)   12   (18)   (685) 
Tax losses
  
 
184
 
 
 
32
 
 
 
(26
) 
 
 
190
 
  130   63   (9)   184 
Fair value gains
  
 
(50
) 
 
 
12
 
 
 
(14
) 
 
 
(52
) 
  155   (200)   (5)   (50) 
Fair value losses
  
 
15
 
 
 
(6
) 
 
 
36
 
 
 
45
 
  22   (2)   (5)   15 
Share-based payments
  
 
156
 
 
 
(30
) 
 
 
20
 
 
 
146
 
  175   (39)   20   156 
Lease liability
  
 
319
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
(34
) 
 
 
294
 
  428   (113)   4   319 
Right of use asset
  
 
(269
) 
 
 
(4
) 
 
 
29
 
 
 
(244
) 
  (370)   107   (6)   (269) 
Other
(a)
  
 
161
 
 
 
373
 
 
 
(8
) 
 
 
526
 
  77   73   11   161 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
(1,237
) 
 
 
359
 
 
 
(814
) 
 
 
(1,692
) 
  (748)   (284)   (205)   (1,237) 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
(a)
The deferred tax - other includes the recognition of an asset of €345
 
million relating to the impact of the expected outcome of the Mutual Agreement Procedure which Unilever applied for following the conclusion of the UK tax audit for the tax years 2011-2018.
At the balance sheet date, the Group had unused tax losses of €4,808 million (2019: €4,790 million) and tax credits amounting to €454 million (2019: €524 million) available for offset against future taxable profits. Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of unused tax losses of €4,246 million (2019: €4,272 million) and tax credits of €429 million (2019: €497 million), as it is not probable that there will be future taxable profits within the entities against which the losses and credits can be utilised. Of these losses €4,195 million (2019: €4,108 million) have expiry dates, the majority being corporate income tax losses in the Netherlands which expire between now and 2027.
Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of other deductible temporary differences of
 €1,445 million (2019: €48 million)
 as it is not expected they will be utilised. Of these differences
€1,193 million relates to limitation on the deduction of interest expenses. There is no expiry date for these differences.
At the balance sheet date, the aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with undistributed earnings of subsidiaries for which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised was €2,097 million (2019: €2,476 million). No liability has been recognised in respect of these differences because the Group is in a position to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences, and it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes relate to the same fiscal authority. The following amounts, determined after appropriate offsetting, are shown in the consolidated balance sheet:
 
   
€ million
  € million  
€ million
  € million  
€ million
  € million 
   
Assets
  Assets  
Liabilities
  Liabilities  
Total
  Total 
Movements in 2020 and 2019
  
2020
  2019  
2020
  2019  
2020
  2019 
Pensions and similar obligations
  
 
404
 
  402  
 
(324
) 
  (130)  
 
80
 
  272 
Provisions and accruals
  
 
408
 
  495  
 
290
 
  261  
 
698
 
  756 
Goodwill and intangible assets
  
 
330
 
  248  
 
(3,064
) 
  (2,344)  
 
(2,734
) 
  (2,096) 
Accelerated tax depreciation
  
 
(37
) 
  (67)  
 
(604
) 
  (618)  
 
(641
) 
  (685) 
Tax losses
  
 
161
 
  153  
 
29
 
  31  
 
190
 
  184 
Fair value gains
  
 
(1
) 
  (14)  
 
(51
) 
  (36)  
 
(52
) 
  (50) 
Fair value losses
  
 
27
 
  —    
 
18
 
  15  
 
45
 
  15 
Share-based payments
  
 
26
 
  31  
 
120
 
  125  
 
146
 
  156 
Lease liability
  
 
157
 
  170  
 
137
 
  149  
 
294
 
  319 
Right of use asset
  
 
(128
) 
  (142)  
 
(116
) 
  (127)  
 
(244
) 
  (269) 
Other
  
 
127
 
  60  
 
399
 
  101  
 
526
 
  161 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
1,474
 
  1,336  
 
(3,166
) 
  (2,573)  
 
(1,692
) 
  (1,237) 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
Of which deferred tax to be recovered/(settled) after more than 12 months
  
 
1,230
 
  1,030  
 
(3,311
) 
  (2,681)  
 
(2,081
) 
  (1,651) 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
6C. Tax on items recognised in equity or other comprehensive income
Income tax is recognised in equity or other comprehensive income for items recognised directly in equity or other comprehensive income.

Tax effects directly recognised in equity or other comprehensive income were as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
€ million
 
 
 
 
 
€ million
 
 
€ million
 
 
 
 
   
€ million
  
Tax
  
€ million
  
   Tax  € million 
   
Before
  
(charge)/
  
After
  Before   (charge)/  After 
   
tax
  
credit
  
tax
  tax   credit  tax 
Movements in 2020 and 2019
  
2020
  
2020
  
2020
  2019   2019  2019 
Gains/(losses) on:
                          
Equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income
  
 
77
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
78
 
  35    (6)   29 
Cash flow hedges
  
 
87
 
 
 
(27
) 
 
 
60
 
  198    (22)   176 
Remeasurements of defined benefit pension plans
  
 
250
 
 
 
(35
) 
 
 
215
 
  381    (28)   353 
Currency retranslation gains/(losses)
  
 
(2,646
) 
 
 
56
 
 
 
(2,590
) 
  6    (21)   (15) 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
(2,232
) 
 
 
(5
) 
 
 
(2,237
) 
  620    (77)   543