v3.22.0.1
Income Tax
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax [Abstract]  
Income Tax
Note 18.- Income Tax

All the companies of Atlantica file income taxes according to the tax regulations in force in each country on an individual basis or under consolidation tax regulations.

The consolidated income tax has been calculated as an aggregation of income tax expenses/income of each individual company. In order to calculate the taxable income of the consolidated entities individually, the accounting result is adjusted for temporary and permanent differences, recording the corresponding deferred tax assets and liabilities. At each consolidated income statement date, a current tax asset or liability is recorded, representing income taxes currently refundable or payable. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates.

Income tax payable is the result of applying the applicable tax rate in force to each tax-paying entity, in accordance with the tax laws in force in the country in which the entity is registered. Additionally, tax deductions and credits are available to certain entities, primarily relating to inter-company trades and tax treaties between various countries to prevent double taxation.

The Company offsets deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities in each entity where the latter has a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority.

As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, the analysis of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is as follows:

Deferred tax assets
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
from
 
2021
   
2020
 
Net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL´s”)
   
323,115
     
497,184
 
Temporary tax non-deductible expenses
   
128,186
     
115,063
 
Derivatives financial instruments
   
55,217
     
83,847
 
Other
   
4,225
     
3,021
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
510,743
     
699,115
 

Deferred tax liabilities
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
from
 
2021
   
2020
 
Accelerated tax amortization
   
465,219
     
652,600
 
Other difference between tax and book value of assets
   
180,218
     
154,969
 
Other
   
1,897
     
179
 
Total deferred tax liabilities
   
647,334
     
807,748
 

After offsetting deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, where applicable, the resulting net amounts presented on the consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

Consolidated balance sheets classifications
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
   
2021
   
2020
 
Deferred tax assets
   
172,268
     
152,290
 
Deferred tax liabilities
   
308,859
     
260,923
 
Net deferred tax liabilities
   
136,591
     
108,633
 

Most of the NOL´s recognized as deferred tax assets corresponds to the entities in the U.S., South Africa, Peru, Chile and Spain as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

As of December 31, 2021, deferred tax assets for non-deductible expenses are primarily due to the temporary limitation of financial expenses deductibles for tax purposes in the solar plants in Spain for $97 million ($110 million as of December 31, 2020).

Deferred tax assets for derivatives financial instruments as of December 31, 2021 mainly relate to ACT for $14 million and to solar plants in Spain for $33 million ($22 million and $51 million as of December 31, 2020, respectively).

As of December 31, 2021, deferred tax liabilities for accelerated tax amortization are primarily in the solar plants in Spain for $186 million, Solana and Mojave for $184 million and Kaxu for $76 million ($202 million, $361 million and $90 million as of December 31, 2020, respectively).

Deferred tax liabilities for other temporary differences between the tax and book value of contracted concessional assets relate primarily to ACT for $72 million, the Peruvian entities for $34 million, U.S. entities for $28 million, and the Chilean entities for $27 million as of December 31, 2021 ($75 million, $32 million, $2 million and $29 million as of December 31, 2020, respectively).

In relation to tax losses carryforwards and deductions pending to be used recorded as deferred tax assets, the entities evaluate their recoverability projecting forecasted taxable result for the upcoming years and taking into account their tax planning strategy. Deferred tax liabilities reversals are also considered in these projections, as well as any limitation established by tax regulations in force in each tax jurisdiction.

In addition, the Company has $259 million unrecognized net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2021 ($290 million as of December 31, 2020), as it considers it is not probable that future taxable profits will be available against which these unused tax losses can be utilized.

The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

Deferred tax assets
 
Amount
 
As of December 31, 2019
   
147,966
 
Increase/(decrease) through the consolidated income statement
   
6,003
 
Increase/(decrease) through other consolidated comprehensive income (equity)
   
(8,698)
 
Currency translation differences and other
   
7,019
As of December 31, 2020
   
152,290
 
         
Increase/(decrease) through the consolidated income statement
   
46,855
 
Increase/(decrease) through other consolidated comprehensive income (equity)
   
(23,712
)
Business combinations (Note 5)
    4,410  
Currency translation differences and other
   
(7,575)
 
As of December 31, 2021
   
172,268
 

Deferred tax liabilities
 
Amount
 
As of December 31, 2019
   
248,996
 
Increase/(decrease) through the consolidated income statement
   
9,675
 
Currency translation differences and other
   
2,252
 
As of December 31, 2020
   
260,923
 
         
Increase/(decrease) through the consolidated income statement
   
32,059
 
 Business combinations (Note 5)     4,910  
Currency translation differences and other
   
10,967
 
As of December 31, 2021
   
308,859
 

Details of income tax for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

   
For the year ended December 31,
 

 
2021
   
2020
   
2019
 
Current tax
   
(51,016
)
   
(21,205
)
   
(5,081
)
Deferred tax
   
14,796
   
(3,672
)
   
(25,869
)
-    relating to the origination and reversal of temporary differences
   
14,796
   
(3,672
)
   
(25,869
)
Total income tax expense
   
(36,220
)
   
(24,877
)
   
(30,950
)

The reconciliation between the theoretical income tax resulting from applying an average statutory tax rate to profit before income tax and the actual income tax expense recognized in the consolidated income statements for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, is as follows:

   
For the year ended December 31,
 

 
2021
   
2020
   
2019
 
Consolidated income before taxes
   
25,302
     
41,751
     
105,558
 
Average statutory tax rate
   
25
%
   
25
%
   
25
%
Corporate income tax at average statutory tax rate
   
(6,326
)
   
(10,438
)
   
(26,390
)
Income tax of associates, net
   
3,076
     
128
     
1,808
 
Differences in statutory tax rates
   
(3,359
)
   
(94
)
   
(7,076
)
Unrecognized NOLs and deferred tax assets
   
(11,232
)
   
(37,183
)
   
(14,161
)
Purchase of Liberty Interactive’s equity interest in Solana
   
-
     
36,352
     
-
 
Other permanent differences
   
(4,052
)
   
(8,895
)
   
11,220
 
Other non-taxable income/(expense)
   
(14,327
)
   
(4,747
)
   
3,649
 
Corporate income tax
   
(36,220
)
   
(24,877
)
   
(30,950
)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the overall effective tax rate was different than the average statutory rate of 25% primarily due to unrecognized tax losses carryforwards, mainly in the UK entities and to provisions recorded for potential tax contingencies in some jurisdictions.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the overall effective tax rate was different than the average statutory rate of 25% primarily due to unrecognized tax losses carryforwards, mainly in the UK entities, partially offset by the non-taxable gain recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements on the purchase of Liberty Interactive’s equity interest in Solana (Note 21).

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the overall effective tax rate was different than the average statutory rate of 25%, primarily due to unrecognized tax losses carryforwards, mainly in the UK and US entities.

Any uncertain tax positions identified by the Company as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 has been provided for in these Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with IFRIC 23, uncertainty over income tax treatments.