31 Income taxes

Income taxes in the consolidated income statement

A tax expense of EUR 2.0 billion was recorded in the 2019 financial year. The effective tax rate of 27 percent essentially reflects the shares of the different countries in profit before income taxes and their respective national tax rates. Impairment losses on non-current assets in the Europe operating segment that had no tax effect were offset by factors including positive effects from changes in tax law in the Europe operating segment.

In the prior year, a tax expense of EUR 1.8 billion was recorded, giving rise to an effective tax rate of 35 percent. The main reason for the comparatively high tax burden was impairment losses on goodwill in the Europe operating segment that had no tax effect.

The following table provides a breakdown of income taxes in Germany and internationally:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

CURRENT TAXES

883

592

569

Germany

488

217

219

International

395

375

350

DEFERRED TAXES

1,110

1,232

(1,127)

Germany

314

334

116

International

796

898

(1,243)

 

1,993

1,824

(558)

Deutsche Telekom’s combined income tax rate for 2019 amounts to 31.4 percent (2018: 31.4 percent, 2017: 31.4 percent). It consists of corporate income tax at a rate of 15.0 percent, the solidarity surcharge of 5.5 percent on corporate income tax, and trade tax at an average multiplier of 445 percent (2018: 445 percent, 2017: 445 percent).

Reconciliation of the effective tax rate. Income taxes of EUR -1,993 million (as expense) in the reporting year (2018: EUR -1,824 million (as expense), 2017: EUR 558 million (as benefit)) are derived as follows from the expected income tax expense/benefit that would have arisen had the statutory income tax rate of the parent company (combined income tax rate) been applied to profit/loss before income taxes:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

7,260

5,153

4,994

Expected income tax expense (benefit)
(income tax rate applicable to Deutsche Telekom AG: 2019: 31.4%, 2018: 31.4%, 2017: 31.4%)

 

2,280

1,618

1,568

ADJUSTMENTS TO EXPECTED TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)

 

 

 

 

Effect of changes in statutory tax rates

 

(41)

39

(2,738)

Tax effects from prior years

 

(18)

158

(132)

Tax effects from other income taxes

 

258

114

(141)

Non-taxable income

 

(26)

(16)

(329)

Tax effects from equity investments

 

(46)

(112)

(81)

Non-deductible expenses

 

140

170

591

Permanent differences

 

(23)

(57)

83

Goodwill impairment losses

 

(14)

186

620

Tax effects from loss carryforwards

 

43

22

(11)

Tax effects from additions to and reductions of local taxes

 

71

189

72

Adjustment of taxes to different foreign tax rates

 

(633)

(489)

(59)

Other tax effects

 

2

2

(1)

INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) ACCORDING TO THE CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

1,993

1,824

(558)

Effective income tax rate

%

27

35

(11)

Current income taxes in the consolidated income statement

The following table provides a breakdown of current income taxes:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

CURRENT INCOME TAXES

883

592

569

Of which: current tax expense

803

571

741

Of which: prior-period tax expense

80

21

(172)

Deferred taxes in the consolidated income statement

Deferred taxes developed as follows:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

DEFERRED TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)

1,110

1,232

(1,127)

Of which: from temporary differences

446

1,217

(765)

Of which: from loss carryforwards

654

49

(381)

Of which: from tax credits

10

(34)

19

Income taxes in the consolidated statement of financial position

Current income taxes in the consolidated statement of financial position

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Recoverable taxes

481

492

Tax liabilities

(463)

(328)

Current taxes recognized in other comprehensive income:

 

 

Hedging instruments

(252)

(252)

Deferred taxes in the consolidated statement of financial position

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Deferred tax assets

2,704

2,949

Deferred tax liabilities

(8,954)

(8,240)

 

(6,249)

(5,291)

Of which: recognized in other comprehensive income:

 

 

Gains (losses) from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans

1,448

1,315

Revaluation surplus

167

141

Hedging instruments

199

106

RECOGNIZED IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BEFORE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

1,814

1,562

Non-controlling interests

(8)

(10)

 

1,806

1,552

Development of deferred taxes

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Deferred taxes recognized in the statement of financial position

(6,249)

(5,291)

Difference to prior year

(959)

(2,237)

Of which: Recognized in income statement

(1,110)

(1,232)

Recognized in other comprehensive income

330

89

Recognized in capital reserves

0

10

Acquisitions (disposals)
(including assets and disposal groups held for sale)

(75)

(970)

Currency translation adjustments

(104)

(234)

Development of deferred taxes on loss carryforwards

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Deferred taxes on loss carryforwards before allowances

1,291

1,917

Difference to prior year

(626)

(334)

Of which: Recognition (derecognition)

(660)

(131)

Acquisitions (disposals)
(including assets and disposal groups held for sale)

0

(279)

Currency translation adjustments

34

76

Deferred taxes relate to the following key items in the statement of financial position, loss carryforwards, and tax credits:

millions of €

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

CURRENT ASSETS

1,623

(1,142)

1,602

(974)

Trade receivables

881

(1,549)

823

(213)

Inventories

75

0

120

0

Other assets

661

2,719

655

(140)

Contract assets

6

(717)

4

(621)

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

2,911

(17,846)

2,726

(12,701)

Intangible assets

567

(7,956)

588

(7,499)

Property, plant and equipment

811

(4,445)

748

(4,205)

Other financial assets

1,532

(5,096)

1,390

(657)

Capitalized contract costs

1

(349)

0

(340)

CURRENT LIABILITIES

1,543

(790)

992

(706)

Financial liabilities

506

(375)

311

(386)

Trade and other payables

58

(13)

69

(30)

Other provisions

274

(82)

252

(103)

Other liabilities

490

(245)

127

(88)

Contract liabilities

215

(75)

233

(99)

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

8,978

(2,891)

4,575

(2,753)

Financial liabilities

1,986

(1,252)

1,172

(1,319)

Provisions for pensions and other employee benefits

1,843

(1,392)

1,653

(1,242)

Other provisions

783

(212)

737

(186)

Other liabilities

4,234

(22)

877

(4)

Contract liabilities

132

(13)

136

(2)

RETAINED EARNINGS

18

(155)

0

(118)

TAX CREDITS

270

0

274

0

LOSS CARRYFORWARDS

1,010

0

1,608

0

INTEREST CARRYFORWARDS

221

0

184

0

TOTAL

16,574

(22,824)

11,961

(17,252)

Of which: non-current

13,547

(20,948)

9,608

(15,620)

Netting

(13,870)

13,870

(9,012)

9,012

RECOGNITION

2,704

(8,954)

2,949

(8,240)

The loss carryforwards amount to:

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

LOSS CARRYFORWARDS FOR CORPORATE INCOME TAX PURPOSES

3,968

6,564

Expiry within

 

 

1 year

9

31

2 years

395

28

3 years

38

25

4 years

10

571

5 years

59

69

After 5 years

792

4,005

Unlimited carryforward period

2,665

1,835

Loss carryforwards and temporary differences for which no deferred taxes were recorded amount to:

millions of €

 

 

 

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

LOSS CARRYFORWARDS FOR CORPORATE INCOME TAX PURPOSES

968

865

Expiry within

 

 

1 year

6

30

2 years

6

9

3 years

8

8

4 years

1

12

5 years

35

30

After 5 years

148

100

Unlimited carryforward period

764

676

TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES IN CORPORATE INCOME TAX

747

507

In addition, no deferred taxes are recognized on trade tax loss carryforwards of EUR 58 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 20 million) and on temporary differences for trade tax purposes in the amount of EUR 0 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 7 million). Furthermore, apart from corporate income tax loss carryforwards, no deferred taxes amounting to EUR 112 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 164 million) were recognized for other foreign income tax loss carryforwards and, apart from temporary differences for trade tax purposes, no deferred taxes amounting to EUR 0 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 0 million) were recognized for other foreign income taxes.

No deferred tax assets were recognized on the aforementioned tax loss carryforwards and temporary differences as it is not probable that taxable profit will be available in the foreseeable future against which these tax loss carryforwards can be utilized.

A positive tax effect in the amount of EUR 6 million (2018: EUR 31 million, 2017: EUR 25 million) attributable to the utilization of tax loss carryforwards on which deferred tax assets had not yet been recognized, was recorded in the reporting year.

No deferred tax liabilities were recognized on temporary differences in connection with equity interests in subsidiaries amounting to EUR 920 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 840 million) as it is unlikely that these differences will be recognized in the near future.

Disclosure of tax effects relating to each component of other comprehensive income

millions of €

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before tax amount

Tax (ex­pense) benefit

Net of tax amount

Before tax amount

Tax (ex­pense) benefit

Net of tax amount

Before tax amount

Tax (ex­pense) benefit

Net of tax amount

Items not subsequently reclassified to profit or loss (not recycled)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains (losses) from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans

(603)

134

(469)

127

37

164

116

(19)

97

Gains (losses) from the remeasurement of equity instruments

99

0

99

(619)

(1)

(620)

 

 

 

Share of profit (loss) of investments accounted for using the equity method

0

0

0

 

 

 

0

0

0

 

(504)

134

(369)

(492)

36

(456)

116

(19)

97

Items subsequently reclassified to profit or loss (recycled), if certain reasons are given

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

(8)

0

(8)

(1)

0

(1)

0

0

0

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

463

0

463

1,033

0

1,033

(2,196)

0

(2,196)

Gains (losses) from the remeasurement of available-for-sale financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

7

(2)

5

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

27

0

27

Gains (losses) from the remeasurement of debt instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

(47)

0

(47)

(75)

(3)

(78)

 

 

 

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

34

(9)

25

84

0

84

 

 

 

Gains (losses) from hedging instruments (IAS 39 until December 2017, designated risk component)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

(148)

46

(102)

(32)

10

(22)

450

(141)

309

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

(483)

115

(368)

(382)

61

(321)

(270)

85

(185)

Gains (losses) from hedging instruments (IFRS 9 from January 2018, hedging costs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

2

(1)

1

3

(1)

2

 

 

 

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

(9)

3

(6)

56

20

76

 

 

 

Share of profit (loss) of investments accounted for using the equity method

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of other comprehensive income in income statement

(7)

0

(7)

0

0

0

0

0

0

Change in other comprehensive income (not recognized in income statement)

11

0

11

7

0

7

0

0

0

 

(192)

154

(38)

693

87

780

(1,982)

(58)

(2,040)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(696)

289

(407)

201

123

323

(1,866)

(77)

(1,943)

Profit (loss)

 

 

5,268

 

 

3,328

 

 

5,551

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

4,861

 

 

3,652

 

 

3,608