HERITAGE FINANCIAL CORP WA

(18)Income Taxes

Income tax expense is substantially due to Federal income taxes as the provision for the state of Oregon income taxes is insignificant and the state of Washington does not charge an income tax in lieu of a business and occupation tax. Income tax expense consisted of the following for the periods indicated:

The effective tax rate was 15.3% for the December 31, 2023 compared to an effective tax rate of 17.7% and 18.6% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate during the year ended December 31, 2023 was due primarily to the change in income before income taxes earned between the periods, including a decrease in annual pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2023 which increased the impact of favorable permanent tax items such as tax-exempt investments, investments in bank owned life insurance and low-income housing and solar tax credits.

The following table presents the reconciliation of income taxes computed at the Federal statutory income tax rate of 21% to the actual effective rate for the periods indicated:

(1) Federal tax credits are provided for under the NMTC, Solar Tax Credits and LIHTC programs as described in Note (1) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.

The following table presents major components of the deferred income tax asset (liability) resulting from differences between financial reporting and tax basis at the dates indicated:

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is required to be recognized for the portion of the deferred tax asset that will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. As of December 31, 2023, based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management expects to realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward of $691,000 and $789,000, respectively, that does not expire. The Company is limited to the amount of the net operating loss carryforward that it can deduct each year under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Due to sufficient earnings history and other positive evidence, management hasnot recorded a valuation allowance on the net operating loss carryforward as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023, the Company had a tax credit carryforward of $11,085,000 that expires in 2043.

Due to sufficient earnings history and other positive evidence, management has not recorded a valuation allowance on the tax credit carryforward as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had an insignificant amount of unrecognized tax benefits, none of which would materially affect its effective tax rate if recognized. The Company does not anticipate that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease in the next 12 months. The amount of interest and penalties accrued as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and recognized during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were immaterial.

The Company has qualified under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to compute income taxes after deductions of additions to the bad debt reserves when it was registered as a Savings Bank. At December 31, 2023, the Company had a taxable temporary difference of approximately $2.8 million that arose before 1988 (base-year amount). In accordance with FASB ASC 740, an estimated deferred tax liability of $588,000 has not been recognized for the temporary difference. Management does not expect this temporary difference to reverse in the foreseeable future.

The Company and its Bank subsidiary file a United States consolidated federal income tax return, Oregon State and local income tax returns, and Idaho State tax return. The tax years subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service are the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.