Operating Activities

(15) Income tax

Accounting and measurement policies

Current income taxes

Current income taxes for the reporting period and, where applicable, for prior periods are calculated in the amounts that the tax authorities are expected to demand or reimburse. The calculation is based on the company-specific tax rate applicable in the relevant tax year.

Uncertain income tax assets and liabilities

Factual assessments are made to calculate uncertain income tax assets and liabilities. Uncertain income tax matters are recognized depending on the likelihood that the responsible tax authorities will accept the respective income tax treatment. If there is uncertainty about recognition by the tax authorities, the respective uncertain tax asset or uncertain tax liability is measured at the most likely amount. Uncertain income tax liabilities are reported within income tax liabilities. Expected income tax-related penalties and interest that do not fall within the scope of IAS 12 are treated as provisions in line with IAS 37 (see Note (27) “Other provisions”).

Deferred taxes

Deferred tax assets resulting from deductible temporary differences that exceed deferred tax liabilities relating to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity are recognized if it is considered probable that taxable profit will be available against which they can be utilized. This corresponds to the procedure for recognizing deferred tax assets on unused tax credits and tax loss and interest carryforwards.

The recognition of deferred tax assets requires an estimate of the probability of future use. The influencing factors considered as part of this assessment include the following:

  • Temporary differences relating to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity that will be subject to taxation in the future
  • Results history
  • Results planning
  • Existing tax planning of the respective Group company.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for planned dividend payments of profits already generated by subsidiaries within the next 12 months.

Significant discretionary decisions and sources of estimation uncertainty

Income tax

The calculation of the reported assets and liabilities from current and deferred income taxes requires extensive discretionary judgments, assumptions and estimates.

When assessing income tax assets and liabilities, the interpretation of tax provisions may be subject to particular uncertainty. The possibility that the relevant tax authorities will take a differing view concerning the application and interpretation of tax standards cannot be ruled out. Changes to the assumptions underlying the interpretation of tax standards, for example as a result of changes in legislation, are recognized in the balance sheet when the change comes into force.

With regard to deferred tax items, there is uncertainty as to when an asset will be realized or a liability settled. This applies in particular to deferred taxes recognized in the course of company acquisitions. Assessing the recoverability, particularly of tax credits and tax loss and interest carryforwards, requires assumptions and estimates concerning the future taxable income of the respective Group company. Furthermore, the amount and timing of planned dividend distributions by subsidiaries are discretionary.

Income taxes in the consolidated income statement were broken down as follows:

Income taxes

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

Current income taxes in the period

 

-1,146

 

-1,140

Income taxes for previous periods

 

138

 

167

Deferred taxes in the period

 

257

 

323

thereof: from temporary differences

 

229

 

290

thereof: from changes in tax rates

 

17

 

-7

thereof: from tax loss carryforwards

 

11

 

40

Income taxes

 

-751

 

-650

Tax reconciliation

The following table presents the reconciliation from the theoretical income tax expense to the income tax expense according to the consolidated income statement. The theoretical income tax expense is determined by applying the statutory tax rate of a corporation headquartered in Darmstadt of 31.9% (2023: 31.7%).

Tax reconciliation

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

Profit before income tax

 

3,536

 

3,484

 

 

 

 

 

Tax rate

 

31.9%

 

31.7%

Theoretical income tax expense

 

-1,128

 

-1,105

Tax rate differences

 

454

 

495

Tax effect of global minimum taxation (Pillar II)

 

-28

 

Tax effect of companies with a negative contribution to consolidated profit

 

-36

 

-7

Income tax for previous periods

 

138

 

167

Tax credits

 

69

 

-103

Tax effect on tax loss carryforwards

 

10

 

32

Tax effect for expected unrecoverable temporary differences and other interest carryforwards

 

-209

 

-82

Tax effect of non-deductible expenses/Tax-free income/Other tax effects

 

-20

 

-47

Income tax expense according to consolidated income statement

 

-751

 

-650

 

 

 

 

 

Tax ratio according to consolidated income statement

 

21.2%

 

18.7%

Income taxes consisted of corporation and trade taxes for the German companies and comparable income taxes for non-German companies. Income taxes relating to previous periods recognized in fiscal 2024 resulted in particular from completed tax audits, changes in income tax liabilities for risks from tax audits, and tax assessments for previous years.

In the previous year, a non-recurring deferred tax income in other tax effects had a reducing effect on the tax rate.

Global minimum taxation (Pillar II)

The legislation on global minimum tax was published in the German Federal Law Gazette on December 27, 2023, and came into force on January 1, 2024. Although the tax rules apply to the ultimate parent company of the Group, E. Merck Kommanditgesellschaft, Darmstadt, Germany, supplementary taxes could be payable in a number of jurisdictions, and this could have an impact on the Group.

Under the regulations on global minimum taxation, the Group is obliged to determine the effective tax rate for each country in which its business units operate within the meaning of the legislation and, where the effective tax rate is lower than the minimum tax rate of 15%, to pay a supplementary tax in the amount of the difference. In fiscal 2024, the Group took all of the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the reporting obligations and tax compliance requirements arising from the legislation.

As in the previous year, the Group applied the exception provided by IAS 12.88A for the recognition and disclosure of information about deferred tax assets and liabilities in connection with income taxes relating to global minimum taxation. Income taxes of € 28 million were recognized under the global minimum tax rules in fiscal 2024, primarily in connection with operating activities in Ireland and Switzerland.

Deferred taxes

The allocation of deferred tax assets and liabilities to the balance sheet items and the reconciliation of deferred taxes in the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet are presented in the following table:

Deferred taxes income statement 2023

 

 

Jan 1, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2023

€ million

 

Deferred tax assets/liabilities (net)

 

Deferred taxes (consolidated income statement)

 

Deferred taxes credited/debited to equity

 

Changes in scope of consolidation/Currency translation/Other changes

 

Deferred tax assets/liabilities (net)

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

Intangible assets

 

-1,261

 

235

 

 

47

 

-979

 

111

 

1,090

Property, plant and equipment

 

-129

 

5

 

 

5

 

-119

 

103

 

222

Current and non-current financial assets

 

-32

 

13

 

-17

 

 

-36

 

2

 

38

Inventories

 

823

 

42

 

 

-44

 

821

 

835

 

15

Current and non-current receivables/Other assets

 

51

 

9

 

 

-1

 

59

 

92

 

33

Current and non-current provisions

 

475

 

-10

 

50

 

-6

 

510

 

633

 

122

Current and non-current liabilities

 

122

 

-6

 

9

 

-6

 

119

 

181

 

62

Tax loss carryforwards

 

30

 

40

 

 

-3

 

67

 

67

 

Tax refund claims/Other

 

-55

 

-5

 

 

3

 

-57

 

117

 

174

Deferred taxes (before offsetting)

 

23

 

323

 

42

 

-3

 

385

 

2,142

 

1,757

Offset deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-627

 

-627

Deferred taxes
(consolidated balance sheet)

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

385

 

1,514

 

1,130

Deferred taxes income statement 2024

 

 

Jan. 1, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2024

€ million

 

Deferred tax assets/liabilities (net)

 

Deferred taxes (consolidated income statement)

 

Deferred taxes credited/debited to equity

 

Changes in scope of consolidation/Currency translation/Other changes

 

Deferred tax assets/liabilities (net)

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

Intangible assets

 

-979

 

258

 

 

-114

 

-835

 

86

 

921

Property, plant and equipment

 

-119

 

-15

 

 

-8

 

-142

 

64

 

207

Current and non-current financial assets

 

-36

 

10

 

5

 

 

-21

 

3

 

24

Inventories

 

821

 

6

 

 

-8

 

819

 

835

 

16

Current and non-current receivables/Other assets

 

59

 

-20

 

 

 

38

 

55

 

18

Current and non-current provisions

 

510

 

-62

 

-88

 

-7

 

353

 

404

 

50

Current and non-current liabilities

 

119

 

-23

 

-2

 

4

 

98

 

179

 

81

Tax loss carryforwards

 

67

 

11

 

 

1

 

80

 

80

 

Tax refund claims/Other

 

-57

 

92

 

 

-4

 

31

 

133

 

102

Deferred taxes (before offsetting)

 

385

 

257

 

-85

 

-137

 

420

 

1,839

 

1,419

Offset deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-527

 

-527

Deferred taxes
(consolidated balance sheet)

 

385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

420

 

1,312

 

892

Thereof: Reclassification to assets held for sale

 

 

 

 

-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

The item “Changes in scope of consolidation/Currency translation/Other changes” mainly comprised deferred tax effects resulting from the acquisition of Mirus Bio LLC, United States (see Note (6) “Acquisitions and divestments”) and effects from reclassifications to assets held for sale. As in the previous year, there were also exchange rate effects, mainly resulting from items translated from U.S. dollars to the reporting currency (euro).

Deferred taxes for “Tax refund claims/Other” in the consolidated income statement primarily resulted from adjustments for deferred tax liabilities for planned dividend payouts (outside basis differences).

Given the positive earnings forecasts, it was assumed that it will be possible to realize recognized deferred tax assets of € 381 million (December 31, 2023: € 597 million), which exceeded deferred tax liabilities relating to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, even though there was a loss in the current or previous period.

No deferred tax assets were recognized in the balance sheet for deductible temporary differences and other interest carryforwards in the amount of € 11,915 million (December 31, 2023: € 13,220 million). The majority of these differences can only be utilized until 2029. Their utilization for tax purposes is not expected during this period.

Deferred tax liabilities from outside basis differences for planned dividend payouts were recognized in the amount of € 88 million (December 31, 2023: € 157 million). Retained earnings of subsidiaries for which no deferred taxes are recognized amounted to € 12,124 million as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: € 10,627 million). The resulting temporary differences taxable in future periods in the event of dividend payments would amount to € 659 million as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: € 603 million).

Changes in tax loss carryforwards

Tax loss carryforwards were structured as follows:

Tax loss carryforwards

 

 

Dec. 31, 2024

 

Dec. 31, 2023

€ million

 

Germany

 

Outside Germany

 

Total

 

Germany

 

Outside Germany

 

Total

Tax loss carryforwards

 

355

 

499

 

854

 

257

 

536

 

793

Tax loss carryforwards for which a deferred tax asset is recognized

 

155

 

133

 

288

 

156

 

95

 

251

Tax loss carryforwards for which no deferred tax asset is recognized

 

200

 

366

 

566

 

101

 

441

 

542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potential deferred tax assets
for tax loss carryforwards

 

108

 

124

 

232

 

78

 

124

 

202

Recognized deferred tax assets on tax loss carryforwards

 

48

 

32

 

80

 

49

 

18

 

67

Not recognized deferred tax assets on tax loss carryforwards

 

60

 

92

 

152

 

29

 

106

 

135

The majority of the tax loss carryforwards either had no expiration date or can be utilized for up to 20 years. This also applies to losses for which no deferred taxes were recognized.

Deferred tax assets resulting from tax loss carryforwards that exceed deferred tax liabilities relating to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity are not recognized if it is not considered probable that taxable profit will be available against which they can be utilized.

Income tax receivables and income tax liabilities

Income tax receivables amounted to € 520 million as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: € 482 million) and mainly resulted from tax prepayments that exceeded the actual amount of tax payable for the past fiscal year and earlier fiscal years, from refund claims for previous years and from withholding tax claims. As of December 31, 2024, income tax liabilities, including liabilities for uncertain tax obligations, totaled € 1,564 million (December 31, 2023: € 1,473 million).

Allocation of taxing rights (Pillar I)

Based on the information currently available, the Group expects the continued efforts to achieve international convergence on tax rules as part of the OECD’s Inclusive Framework to also have an impact on the Group’s taxation.

The planned allocation of taxing rights between jurisdictions as part of the OECD rules is currently still being negotiated. An analysis of the available drafts found that the rules are likely to apply to the Group. Due to the status of the negotiations and the lack of clarity concerning the participation of key nations, it is not currently possible to make a reliable statement about the expected impact.

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