Note 15. Income Taxes

The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Federal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

50,400

 

 

$

21,710

 

 

$

5,572

 

Deferred

 

 

3,074

 

 

 

(4,530

)

 

 

70

 

Provision for Federal income tax

 

 

53,475

 

 

 

17,180

 

 

 

5,642

 

State:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

10,894

 

 

 

4,264

 

 

 

1,086

 

Deferred

 

 

(699

)

 

 

(308

)

 

 

(30

)

Provision for State income tax expense

 

 

10,196

 

 

 

3,956

 

 

 

1,056

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

63,670

 

 

$

21,136

 

 

$

6,698

 

 

The income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of as indicated below to pretax income as a result of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

United States

 

$

221,348

 

 

 

 

 

$

94,899

 

 

 

 

 

$

(10,555

)

 

 

 

Foreign

 

 

37,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,223

)

 

 

 

 

 

62,560

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before tax

 

 

259,264

 

 

 

 

 

 

82,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

52,005

 

 

 

 

U.S. federal statutory tax rate

 

 

54,445

 

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

17,362

 

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

10,921

 

 

 

21.0

%

State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax effect

 

 

7,908

 

 

 

3.1

%

 

 

3,061

 

 

 

3.7

%

 

 

828

 

 

 

1.6

%

Foreign tax effects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bermuda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Tax Statutory Exemption

 

 

(7,962

)

 

 

-3.1

%

 

 

2,567

 

 

 

3.1

%

 

 

(13,138

)

 

 

25.3

%

Effect of cross-border tax laws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US tax on foreign insurance income

 

 

7,962

 

 

 

3.1

%

 

 

(2,567

)

 

 

-3.1

%

 

 

13,138

 

 

 

-25.3

%

Changes in valuation allowances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,671

)

 

 

10.9

%

Nontaxable or nondeductible items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Compensation 162(m)

 

 

1,568

 

 

 

0.6

%

 

 

925

 

 

 

1.1

%

 

 

308

 

 

 

0.6

%

Others

 

 

(193

)

 

 

-0.1

%

 

 

(214

)

 

 

-0.3

%

 

 

326

 

 

 

0.6

%

Other Adjustments

 

 

(58

)

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

 

Total tax expense

 

$

63,670

 

 

 

24.6

%

 

$

21,136

 

 

 

25.6

%

 

$

6,698

 

 

 

12.9

%

 

 

The provision for income taxes was $63.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $21.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025 was 24.6% compared to 25.6% in the prior year. The effective tax rate for 2025 was slightly below than the statutory rate, driven by higher pre-tax income compared to the prior year which had a dilutive effect on permanent tax differences, whereas the effective tax rate for 2024 was slightly higher than the statutory rate.

The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

(in thousands)

 

Unearned premiums

 

$

19,342

 

 

$

18,617

 

Net operating loss

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

Tax-related discount on loss reserve

 

 

4,399

 

 

 

5,079

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,323

 

 

 

669

 

Property and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

1,366

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

1,533

 

 

 

1,536

 

Note discount

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

Leases

 

 

924

 

 

 

959

 

Unrealized losses

 

 

4,185

 

 

 

9,813

 

Other

 

 

488

 

 

 

459

 

Total deferred tax asset

 

 

32,194

 

 

 

38,506

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted deferred tax asset

 

 

32,194

 

 

 

38,506

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

$

15,379

 

 

$

15,028

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

152

 

 

 

191

 

Property and equipment

 

 

2,738

 

 

 

 

Note discount

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

Basis in purchased investments

 

 

2

 

 

 

6

 

Basis in purchased intangibles

 

 

6,652

 

 

 

8,027

 

Other

 

 

1,379

 

 

 

1,378

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

26,339

 

 

 

24,630

 

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

5,855

 

 

$

13,876

 

 

The Company had no capital loss carryforward as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

In assessing the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize some portion or all of the deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company has a gross operating loss carryforward for state income tax purposes (FL State only) of $0 and 10.0 million, respectively. The statute of limitations related to the Company's federal and state income tax returns generally remains open from the Company's filings for 2022 through 2024. Additionally, federal tax return filings for 2019 and 2021 remain to the extent of carryback refunds of 2022 capital and net operating losses. There are currently no tax years under examination.

The Company's reinsurance affiliate, Osprey, which is based in Bermuda, made an irrevocable election under section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to be treated as a domestic insurance company for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. As a result of this election, the Company's reinsurance subsidiary is subject to United States income tax as if it were a U.S. corporation.

On December 31, 2023, the Government of Bermuda enacted the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 (Bermuda CIT), which will apply a 15% corporate income tax to certain Bermuda businesses in fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The Company currently meets an exception which would delay Bermuda taxation until 2030. Prior to December 31, 2023, the Company had an undertaking from Bermuda that exempted it from any local profits, income or capital gains taxes until the year 2035.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has issued Pillar Two model rules introducing a new global minimum tax of 15%, which was effective on January 1, 2024. While it is uncertain whether the United States will enact legislation to adopt Pillar Two rules, various other governments around the world have enacted legislation. As currently designed, Pillar Two will ultimately apply to the Company’s worldwide operations. Considering the Company does not have material operations in jurisdictions with tax rates lower than the Pillar Two minimum, these rules have not materially impacted the Company’s global tax costs in 2024 or 2025 and the impact is not expected to be material in future periods. Management will continue to monitor both United States and global legislative action related to Pillar Two for potential impacts.

On July 4, 2025, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" ("OBBBA") was signed into law in the United States. The Act makes permanent many of the tax provisions enacted in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that were set to expire at the end of 2025. In addition, the OBBBA makes changes to certain U.S. corporate tax provisions, but many are generally not effective until 2026. Certain changes include the immediate expensing of acquired business assets and a temporary suspension of the requirement to capitalize and amortize U.S. R&D expenditures. The tax effects of the enacted legislation are reflected in the 2025 financials and there was no material impact to the effective tax rate. The Company will continue to monitor the impact of the OBBBA on future financial statements.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 12, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 13, 2025
2023Mar 13, 2024
2022Mar 13, 2023
2021Mar 14, 2022
2020Mar 9, 2021
2017Mar 15, 2018
2015Mar 8, 2016

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.