AST SpaceMobile, Inc. Income Taxes Disclosure
The Company, organized as a C corporation, owns an equity interest in AST LLC in what is commonly referred to as an “Up-C” structure. For U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, AST LLC has elected to be treated as a partnership and does not pay any income taxes since its income and losses are included in the returns of the members. The portion of the Company’s taxable income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests of AST LLC is taxed directly to such members. Consequently, no provision for income taxes, has been included in the financial statements related to this portion of taxable income. Certain foreign wholly-owned entities are taxed as corporations in the jurisdictions in which they operate, and accruals for such taxes are included in the
consolidated financial statements. The Company has operations in India, Scotland, Spain, Israel and Lithuania (through September 6, 2022) with tax filings in each foreign jurisdiction.
Income Tax Expense
The components of income (loss) before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|||
United States |
$ |
(529,258 |
) |
|
$ |
(230,487 |
) |
|
$ |
(98,774 |
) |
Foreign |
|
4,256 |
|
|
|
9,491 |
|
|
|
(3,722 |
) |
Total |
$ |
(525,002 |
) |
|
$ |
(220,996 |
) |
|
$ |
(102,496 |
) |
The income tax expense was as follows (in thousands):
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|||
Current: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Federal |
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
State |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Foreign |
|
1,997 |
|
|
|
2,576 |
|
|
|
617 |
|
Total current |
|
1,997 |
|
|
|
2,576 |
|
|
|
617 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Deferred: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Federal |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
State |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Foreign |
|
(669 |
) |
|
|
(895 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Total deferred |
|
(669 |
) |
|
|
(895 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Total income tax provision |
$ |
1,328 |
|
|
$ |
1,681 |
|
|
$ |
617 |
|
The differences between the effective income tax rate and the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate are as follows:
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|||
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate |
|
21 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest and non taxable income (loss) |
|
(4 |
%) |
|
|
(13 |
%) |
|
|
(16 |
%) |
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities |
|
(11 |
%) |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
4 |
% |
Change in valuation allowance |
|
(7 |
%) |
|
|
(10 |
%) |
|
|
(10 |
%) |
Research and development credit |
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
Other |
|
0 |
% |
|
|
(1 |
%) |
|
|
(2 |
%) |
Effective income tax rate |
|
(0 |
%) |
|
|
(1 |
%) |
|
|
(1 |
%) |
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of tax carryovers and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the balances for income tax purposes. Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
|
As of December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|||
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net operating loss carryforwards |
$ |
56,006 |
|
|
$ |
21,965 |
|
|
$ |
11,788 |
|
Basis difference in the equity of AST LLC |
|
140,668 |
|
|
|
95,170 |
|
|
|
79,396 |
|
Research and development credit |
|
13,223 |
|
|
|
6,524 |
|
|
|
3,172 |
|
Other |
|
3,829 |
|
|
|
635 |
|
|
|
508 |
|
Total deferred tax assets |
|
213,726 |
|
|
|
124,294 |
|
|
|
94,864 |
|
Valuation allowance |
|
(212,127 |
) |
|
|
(123,399 |
) |
|
|
(94,864 |
) |
Net deferred tax assets |
$ |
1,599 |
|
|
$ |
895 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
As of December 31, 2024 the Company had unused federal net operating loss carryforwards (gross) for federal income tax purposes of approximately $260.3 million, which can be carried forward indefinitely and may be used to offset future taxable income. In addition, the Company had unused net operating loss carryforwards (gross) for state income tax purposes of approximately $15.3 million, $0.7 million of which expire in 2041. The remaining $14.6 million state net operating loss can be carried forward indefinitely. The Company also had unused net operating loss carryforwards (gross) for foreign income tax purposes of approximately $2.9 million, which can be carried forward indefinitely.
Management assesses the need for a valuation allowance in each tax paying component or jurisdiction based upon the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient taxable income will exist to permit realization of the deferred tax assets. On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 the Company's valuation allowance was $212.1 million and $123.4 million, respectively. The change from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 was primarily driven by the basis difference in the equity of AST LLC and an increase in the net operating loss carryforward in the U.S. jurisdiction. The change from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 was primarily driven by the basis difference in the equity of AST LLC and an increase in the net operating loss carryforward in the U.S. jurisdiction. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 there was no valuation allowance recorded against the foreign deferred tax assets of $1.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively, as it was more likely than not that the foreign deferred tax assets would be fully realized. The foreign deferred tax asset is subject to foreign exchange risk, which could reduce the amount the Company may ultimately realize. Additionally, future changes in tax laws or interpretations of such tax laws may limit the Company’s ability to fully utilize the foreign net operating loss carryforwards.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2024. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with the Closing, the Company entered into the Tax Receivable Agreement. Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Company is generally required to pay the TRA Holders 85.0% of the amount of savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign taxes that are based on, or measured with respect to, net income or profits, and any interest related thereto that the Company and any applicable consolidated, unitary, or combined Subsidiaries (the “Tax Group”) realize, or are deemed to realize, as a result of certain “Tax Attributes,” which include:
Some circumstances, such as the Company’s election to terminate early the TRA or certain changes of control of the Company or AST LLC (as described in the A&R Operating Agreement), may require the Company to make lump-sum cash payments based on certain assumptions to all the TRA Holders equal to the present value of all forecasted future payments that would have otherwise been made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be the obligations of the Company and not obligations of AST LLC. Any payments made by the Company under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to the Company.
As of December 31, 2024, there have been no TRA liabilities recorded.
U.S. federal income tax returns for tax years 2021 and forward remain open to examination. The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to income tax in multiple state, local and foreign jurisdictions. Substantially all significant state, local and foreign income tax returns for the years 2021 and forward are open to examination.
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Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mar 3, 2025 | Showing above |
| 2022 | Mar 31, 2023 | |
About Income Taxes Disclosures
The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.
Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.