v3.19.3.a.u2
Income tax
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure Of Income Tax [Abstract]  
Income tax

10.

Income tax

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Current tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

 

45

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

6

 

Changes in estimates in respect to prior year

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

44

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

7

 

Deferred tax expense/(benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary differences

 

 

27

 

 

 

(123

)

 

 

(5

)

Change in recognition of deferred tax

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(14

)

 

 

 

Change in tax rates

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

(136

)

 

 

(5

)

Income tax expense/(benefit)

 

 

55

 

 

 

(95

)

 

 

2

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Group recorded an income tax (benefit)/expense of €(31) million, €147 million, and €0 million, respectively, in other comprehensive (loss)/income related to components of other comprehensive (loss)/income.

The Group believes that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open tax years based on its assessment of many factors, including interpretations of tax law and prior experience.

In 2019, the Group did not recognize current income tax expense for uncertain tax positions and have cumulatively recorded liabilities of €1 million for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2019, of which none is reasonably expected to be resolved within twelve months.

A reconciliation between the reported tax expense for the year, and the theoretical tax expense that would arise when applying the statutory tax rate in Luxembourg of 24.94%, 26.01%, and 27.08%, and on the consolidated loss before taxes for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, is shown in the table below:

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Loss before tax

 

 

(131

)

 

 

(173

)

 

 

(1,233

)

Tax using the Luxembourg tax rate

 

 

(33

)

 

 

(45

)

 

 

(334

)

Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions

 

 

2

 

 

 

(11

)

 

 

(10

)

Permanent differences

 

 

58

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

15

 

Change in unrecognized deferred taxes

 

 

29

 

 

 

(43

)

 

 

329

 

Deferred tax on foreign exchange differences

 

 

1

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

(2

)

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

Income tax expense/(benefit)

 

 

55

 

 

 

(95

)

 

 

2

 

 

​In 2019 and 2018, the Group recognized deferred tax expense of €0 million and €8 million, respectively, as a result of foreign exchange differences on its investment in TME. The Group will be subject to deferred tax in future periods as a result of foreign exchange movements between USD, EUR, and SEK, primarily related to its investment in TME.

 

The major components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following:

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Intangible assets

 

 

(42

)

 

 

(1

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

14

 

 

 

6

 

Tax losses carried forward

 

 

78

 

 

 

147

 

Property and equipment

 

 

79

 

 

 

5

 

Unrealized gains

 

 

(126

)

 

 

(154

)

Other

 

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

Net tax

 

 

7

 

 

 

6

 

 

A reconciliation of net deferred tax is shown in the table below:

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

At January 1

 

 

6

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

3

 

Movement recognized in consolidated statement of

   operations

 

 

(11

)

 

 

136

 

 

 

5

 

Movement recognized in consolidated statement of

   changes in equity and other comprehensive income

 

 

18

 

 

 

(136

)

 

 

2

 

Movement due to acquisition

 

 

(6

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

At December 31

 

 

7

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

6

 

 

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

 

Reconciliation to consolidated statement of financial position

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

9

 

 

 

8

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

Deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of the following items, because it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the Group can use the benefits.

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Intangible assets

 

 

77

 

 

 

72

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

58

 

 

 

34

 

Tax losses carried forward

 

 

192

 

 

 

148

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

Other

 

 

49

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

379

 

 

 

276

 

 

At December 31, 2019, no deferred tax liability had been recognized on investments in subsidiaries. The Company has concluded it has the ability and intention to control the timing of any distribution from its subsidiaries and will only do so in a tax advantageous manner. It is not practicable to calculate the unrecognized deferred tax liability on investments in subsidiaries.

Tax loss carry-forwards as at December 31, 2019 were expected to expire as follows:

 

Expected expiry

 

2020-2029

 

 

2030 and

onwards

 

 

Unlimited

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(in € millions)

 

Tax loss carry-forwards

 

 

 

 

 

509

 

 

 

996

 

 

 

1,505

 

Research and development credit carryforward

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

Foreign tax credits

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

The Group has significant net operating loss carry-forwards in the United States and Sweden. In certain jurisdictions, if the Group is unable to earn sufficient income or profits to utilize such carry-forwards before they expire, they will no longer be available to offset future income or profits.

In Sweden, utilization of these net operating loss carry-forwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation if there is an ownership change within the meaning of Chapter 40, paragraphs 10-14, of the Swedish Income Tax Act (the “Swedish Income Tax Act”). In general, an ownership change, as defined by the Swedish Income Tax Act results from a transaction or series of transactions over a five-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50% of the outstanding stock of a company by certain categories or individuals, businesses or organizations.

In addition, in the United States, utilization of these net operating loss carry-forwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation if there is an ownership change within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”). In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50% of the outstanding stock of a company by certain stockholders or public groups. Since the Group formation, the Group has raised capital through the issuance of capital stock on several occasions, and the Group may continue to do so, which, combined with current or future shareholders’ disposition of ordinary shares, may have resulted in such an ownership change. Such an ownership change may limit the amount of net operating loss carry-forwards that can be utilized to offset future taxable income.

The Group’s most significant tax jurisdictions are Sweden and the U.S. (both at the federal level and in various state jurisdictions). Because of its tax loss and tax credit carry-forwards, substantially all of the Group’s tax years after 2012 remain open to federal, state, and foreign tax examination. Certain of the Group’s subsidiaries are currently under examination by the Swedish, U.S. and other foreign tax authorities for tax years from 2013-2017. These examinations may lead to adjustments to the Group’s taxes.

The Group has initiated and are in negotiations of an Advanced Pricing Agreement (“APA) between Sweden and the United States governments for the tax years 2014 through 2020 covering various transfer pricing matters. These transfer pricing matters may be significant to the consolidated financial statements.