NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD Income Taxes Disclosure
Note 10 Income Taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
| 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| ||||
(In thousands) |
| |||||||||
Bermuda (Domestic) | $ | (149,154) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Foreign | ||||||||||
United States | 462,873 | 33,302 | 215,306 | |||||||
Other jurisdictions |
| 223,809 |
| (64,342) |
| (86,182) | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | $ | 537,528 | $ | (31,040) | $ | 129,124 | ||||
The Company has elected to prospectively adopt the guidance in ASU 2023-09. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09, the Company disaggregated income (loss) between the United States and other jurisdictions. For the years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023, Bermuda is presented in Other foreign jurisdictions.
Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
| 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| ||||
(In thousands) |
| |||||||||
Current: | ||||||||||
Bermuda (Domestic) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Foreign | ||||||||||
United States - Federal | (3,696) | 1,175 | 4,783 | |||||||
United States - State |
| 8,818 |
| 32,326 |
| 55,769 | ||||
Other foreign jurisdictions |
| 60,829 |
| 1,762 |
| 2,787 | ||||
Total current | $ | 65,951 | $ | 35,263 | $ | 63,339 | ||||
Deferred: | ||||||||||
Bermuda (Domestic) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Foreign |
|
| ||||||||
United States - Federal | 91,884 | 6,408 | 16,886 | |||||||
United States - State | 11,586 | 13,854 | (1,898) | |||||||
Other foreign jurisdictions |
| (6,326) |
| 1,422 |
| 893 | ||||
Total deferred | $ | 97,144 | $ | 21,684 | $ | 15,881 | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 163,095 | $ | 56,947 | $ | 79,220 | ||||
The Company has elected to prospectively adopt the guidance in ASU 2023-09. Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2023-09, the Company disaggregated income tax expense (benefit) between the United States, U.S. states and other jurisdictions. For the 2024 and 2023 years, Bermuda is presented in Other foreign jurisdictions.
The following table is a reconciliation of the Bermuda national statutory tax rate of 15%, that became effective on January 1, 2025, to the Company’s effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2025 in accordance with the guidance in ASU 2023-09:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||
2025 | |||||
(In thousands, except percentages) | |||||
Amount | Percent | ||||
Bermuda national statutory tax rate | $ | 80,629 | 15.0% | ||
Foreign tax effects: | |||||
Argentina | |||||
Effect of rates different than statutory | 4,182 | 0.8% | |||
Foreign withholding tax | 4,774 | 0.9% | |||
Valuation allowance | (5,940) | (1.1%) | |||
Other reconciling items | (1,372) | (0.3%) | |||
Luxembourg | |||||
Internal restructuring | (26,502) | (4.9%) | |||
Valuation allowance | 26,722 | 5.0% | |||
Other reconciling items | 1,260 | 0.2% | |||
Netherlands | |||||
Tax credits | (3,960) | (0.7%) | |||
Other reconciling items | 2,009 | 0.4% | |||
Russia | |||||
Valuation allowance | 5,638 | 1.0% | |||
Other reconciling items | (2,375) | (0.4%) | |||
Saudi Arabia | |||||
Foreign withholding tax | 3,722 | 0.7% | |||
Effect of rates different than statutory | 7,787 | 1.4% | |||
Interest on shareholder loan | (5,834) | (1.1%) | |||
Other reconciling items | (2,646) | (0.5%) | |||
United States | |||||
State and local income taxes | 16,120 | 3.0% | |||
Effect of rates different than statutory | 28,233 | 5.3% | |||
Nontaxable or nondeductible items | 3,194 | 0.6% | |||
Other reconciling items | 205 | 0.0% | |||
Other jurisdictions | 11,018 | 2.0% | |||
Valuation allowance | 21,518 | 4.0% | |||
Other reconciling items | 855 | 0.2% | |||
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits | (6,142) | (1.1%) | |||
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 163,095 | 30.3% | ||
The following table is a reconciliation of the Bermuda national statutory tax rate of 0% to our worldwide effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 in accordance with the guidance prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09:
Year Ended December 31, |
| ||||||
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| |||
(In thousands) |
| ||||||
Income tax provision at statutory (Bermuda rate of 0%) | $ | — | $ | — | |||
Taxes (benefit) on U.S. and other international earnings (losses) at greater than the Bermuda rate |
| 51,433 |
| 74,581 | |||
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance |
| 10,094 |
| 22,533 | |||
Impact of foreign exchange rates |
| (9,145) |
| (28,484) | |||
Prior year adjustments to provision |
| 2,540 |
| (3,513) | |||
Uncertain tax positions | (1,828) | 5,854 | |||||
Audit settlements | (646) | 12,464 | |||||
State income taxes (benefit) | 1,698 | 3,838 | |||||
Other |
| 2,801 |
| (8,053) | |||
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 56,947 | $ | 79,220 | |||
Effective tax rate |
| (183.5%) |
| 61.4% | |||
Our worldwide income tax expense for 2025 was $163.1 million compared to $56.9 million for 2024. The increase in tax expense was primarily attributable to the Parker acquisition and sale of Quail Tools, as well as the change in amount and geographic mix of our pre-tax earnings (losses).
The following table lists the components of the income taxes paid (net of refunds received):
Year Ended December 31, | |||
| 2025 | ||
(In thousands) | |||
Bermuda (Domestic) | $ | — | |
Foreign |
| ||
Argentina | 8,130 | ||
Colombia | 6,939 | ||
Mexico | 6,199 | ||
Saudi Arabia |
| 26,351 | |
United States - Federal | 7,185 | ||
United States - State | 4,795 | ||
Foreign Other |
| 14,139 | |
Net cash paid (refunds received) for income taxes | $ | 73,738 | |
The components of our net deferred taxes consisted of the following:
December 31, |
| ||||||
| 2025 | | 2024 |
| |||
(In thousands) |
| ||||||
Deferred tax assets: | |||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ | 3,934,828 | $ | 3,870,614 | |||
Tax credit and other attribute carryforwards |
| 76,314 |
| 86,188 | |||
Disallowed interest carryforward |
| 16,642 |
| 33,907 | |||
Property, plant and equipment | 11,798 | — | |||||
Other |
| 93,287 |
| 88,644 | |||
Subtotal |
| 4,132,869 |
| 4,079,353 | |||
Valuation allowance |
| (3,944,634) |
| (3,825,551) | |||
Deferred tax assets: | $ | 188,235 | $ | 253,802 | |||
Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment | $ | — | $ | 34,089 | |||
Other | 6,137 | 5,903 | |||||
Deferred tax liability | $ | 6,137 | $ | 39,992 | |||
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) | $ | 182,098 | $ | 213,810 | |||
Balance Sheet Summary: | |||||||
Net noncurrent deferred tax asset | $ | 189,224 | $ | 216,296 | |||
Net noncurrent deferred tax liability |
| (7,126) |
| (2,486) | |||
Net deferred tax asset (liability) | $ | 182,098 | $ | 213,810 | |||
As of December 31, 2025, we had U.S. federal, U.S. state, and non-US net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $355.4 million, $937.6 million and $16.9 billion, respectively. Of those amounts, $8.3 billion will expire between 2026 and 2046 if not utilized. We provide a valuation allowance against NOL carryforwards in various tax jurisdictions based on our consideration of existing temporary differences and expected future earning levels in those jurisdictions. A valuation allowance of approximately $3.8 billion as of December 31, 2025 has been recognized related to certain NOL carryforwards as we believe it is more likely than not that the benefit of these NOL carryforwards will not be realized.
The following is a reconciliation of our uncertain tax positions:
| 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| |||||
(In thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Balance as of January 1 | $ | 23,324 | $ | 34,016 | $ | 45,452 | |||||
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
| 2,745 |
| 322 |
| 2,207 | |||||
Reductions for tax positions for prior years |
| — |
| (1,046) |
| (256) | |||||
Settlements | (8,781) | (9,968) | (13,387) | ||||||||
Balance as of December 31 | $ | 17,288 | $ | 23,324 | $ | 34,016 | |||||
If the unrecognized tax positions of $17.3 million are realized, this would favorably impact the worldwide effective tax rate by $15.9 million. As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, we had approximately $9.5 million, $8.2 million and $11.1 million, respectively, of interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. During 2025, 2024 and 2023, we accrued and recognized estimated interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of approximately $1.3 million, $(2.9) million and $(6.0) million, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2025, we settled tax audits for which we had accrued an uncertain tax position of $8.8 million with no interest and penalties. Upon settlement, we reversed the uncertain tax position accrual. We include potential interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions within our global operations in the income tax expense (benefit) line item in our consolidated statements of income (loss).
We conduct business globally and, as a result, we file numerous income tax returns in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including major jurisdictions such as Colombia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. We are no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for years before 2022 and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2007.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) was signed into law in the United States. Among other provisions, the IRA includes a 15% corporate minimum tax rate applied to certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on corporate stock repurchases made after December 31, 2022. We do not expect the IRA to have a material impact to the Company.
The Organization Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) introduced Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Pillar 2 rules that impose a global minimum tax rate of 15%. Numerous countries, including European Union member states, have enacted or are expected to enact legislation. Pillar 2 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
On December 18, 2023, Bermuda enacted a 15% corporate income tax regime (the “Bermuda CIT”) that applies to Bermuda businesses that are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more and is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. As a result of the Bermuda CIT, the Company’s exemption from Bermuda corporate income taxes ceased in 2025. With the enactment of the Bermuda CIT in 2023, the Company underwent an analysis to determine the tax impacts to its consolidated financial statements. Bermuda CIT allows for a beginning net operating loss balance related to the five years preceding the effective date of Bermuda CIT. As of December 31, 2025, we have recorded a deferred tax asset of $206.9 million for the Bermuda net operating losses generated from 2020 through 2024 with an offsetting valuation allowance of $206.9 million.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was signed into law on July 4, 2025. OBBBA included many provisions such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, modification to the international tax framework and the restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions. The legislation has multiple effective dates, with certain provisions already in effect and others implemented through fiscal year 2027. We do not expect the legislation to have a material impact on our effective tax rate.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 13, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 13, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 12, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 9, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 18, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 24, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 25, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 28, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Mar 1, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 28, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 26, 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.