NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

Readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Quarterly Report") should refer to the audited financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K ("2023 Annual Report"), filed with the SEC and also available on our website (nxdt.nexpoint.com), since we have omitted from this Quarterly Report certain footnote disclosures which would substantially duplicate those contained in such audited financial statements. You should also refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2023 Annual Report for further discussion of our significant accounting policies and estimates. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into and does not constitute a part of this Quarterly Report or any other report or documents we file or furnish with the SEC.

Income Taxes

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code"), and expects to continue to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute annually at least 90% of its “REIT taxable income,” as defined by the Code, to its shareholders. As a REIT, the Company will be subject to federal income tax on its undistributed REIT taxable income and net capital gain and to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on any amount by which distributions it pays with respect to any calendar year are less than the sum of (1) 85% of its ordinary income, (2) 95% of its capital gain net income and (3) 100% of its undistributed income from prior years. The Company intends to operate in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT, but no assurance can be given that the Company will operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT. Taxable income from certain non-REIT activities is managed through a TRS and is subject to applicable federal, state, and local income and margin taxes.

If the Company fails to meet these requirements, it could be subject to federal income tax on all of the Company’s taxable income at regular corporate rates for that year. The Company would not be able to deduct distributions paid to shareholders in any year in which it fails to qualify as a REIT. Additionally, the Company will also be disqualified from electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless the Company is entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions. As of March 31, 2024, the Company believes it is in compliance with all applicable REIT requirements.

As a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company may deduct earnings distributed to shareholders against the income generated by our REIT operations. The Company continues to be subject to income taxes on the income of its taxable REIT subsidiaries. Our consolidated net loss before income taxes was $21.0 million and $18.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2024 consists of a $4.5 million net deferred tax asset at NHF TRS, LLC and a $1.6 million net deferred tax liability at NREO TRS, Inc. for a consolidated net Deferred Tax asset of $2.9 million. The Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 consisted of a $4.5 million net deferred tax asset at NHF TRS, LLC and a $1.6 million net deferred tax liability at NREO TRS, Inc. for a consolidated net Deferred Tax asset of $2.9 million.

The Company’s tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual current and deferred effective tax rates, adjusted for discrete items. Our effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were (2.62)% and (4.31)%, respectively. Our effective tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to our REIT operations generally not being subject to federal income taxes.

The Company recognizes its tax positions and evaluates them using a two-step process. First, the Company determines whether a tax position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Second, the Company will determine the amount of benefit to recognize and record the amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.

The Company had no material unrecognized tax benefit or expense, accrued interest or penalties as of March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to federal income tax as well as income tax of various state and local jurisdictions. The 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 tax years remain open to examination by tax jurisdictions to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject. When applicable, the Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions on its consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The Company has not recorded any uncertain tax positions for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax provisions to the effective income tax provisions for the periods indicated is as follows (in thousands):