Vistra Corp

5. INCOME TAXES

Vistra files a U.S. federal income tax return that includes the results of its consolidated subsidiaries. Vistra serves as the corporate parent of the Vistra consolidated group. Pursuant to applicable U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations and published guidance of the IRS, corporations that are members of a consolidated group have joint and several liability for the taxes of such group.

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

The components of our income tax (expense) benefit are as follows:

We evaluate and update our annual effective income tax rate on an interim basis based on current and forecasted earnings and tax laws. The mix and timing of our actual earnings compared to annual projections, as well as the amount of pre-tax earnings in comparison to the required discrete items, can cause interim effective tax rate fluctuations.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the effective tax rate of 1,000.0% was higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due primarily to the level of pre-tax earnings during the period and permanent differences recorded discretely related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by mark-to-market losses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the effective tax rate of 20.3% was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due primarily to state income taxes.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)

In August 2022, the U.S. enacted the IRA, which, among other things, implements substantial new and modified energy tax credits, including recognizing the value of existing carbon-free nuclear power by providing for a nuclear PTC, a solar PTC, a first-time stand-alone battery storage investment tax credit, a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) on book income of certain large corporations, and a 1% excise tax on net stock repurchases. The section 45U nuclear PTC provides a federal tax credit of up to $15/MWh, subject to phase out as power prices increase above $25/MWh, to existing nuclear facilities from 2024 through 2032. Treasury regulations are expected to further define the scope of the legislation in many important respects over the next twelve months, including critical guidance interpreting the nuclear PTC. The Company accounts for transferable ITCs and PTCs we expect to receive by analogy to the grant model within IAS 20, as U.S. GAAP does not address how to account for these tax credits. We do not expect Vistra to be subject to the CAMT in the 2024 tax year as it applies only to corporations with a three-year average annual adjusted financial statement income in excess of $1 billion. We have taken the CAMT and relevant extensions or expansions of existing tax credits applicable to projects in our immediate development pipeline into account when forecasting cash taxes.

Transferable ITCs

In June 2023, our 350 MW battery ESS at our Moss Landing Power Plant site (Moss Landing Phase III) commenced commercial operations. As a result of Moss Landing Phase III reaching commercial operations, in 2023 we recognized $154 million of transferable ITCs associated with the project within other noncurrent assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Final Section 163(j) Regulations

The final Section 163(j) regulations, which limits qualified deductions for business interest expense, were issued in July 2020 and provided a critical correction to the proposed regulations regarding the computation of adjusted taxable income. As of January 1, 2022, certain provisions in the final Section 163(j) regulations have sunset, including the addback of depreciation and amortization to adjusted taxable income. As a result, under the law as currently enacted, Vistra's deductible business interest expense was significantly limited for the 2023 tax year and will continue to be so limited under current law going forward. Vistra remains active in legislative monitoring and advocacy efforts to support a legislative solution to reinstate and make permanent the addback of depreciation and amortization to adjusted taxable income.

Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions

Vistra and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions and are, at times, subject to examinations by the IRS and other taxing authorities. There wereno uncertain tax positions as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.