NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES

 

The Company will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its REIT taxable income to the extent that it distributes its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and satisfies the ongoing REIT requirements, including meeting certain asset, income and stock ownership tests. A REIT must generally distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deductions for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, to its stockholders annually to maintain REIT status. An amount equal to the sum of 85% of its REIT ordinary income and 95% of its REIT capital gain net income, plus certain undistributed income from prior taxable years, must be distributed within the taxable year in order to avoid the imposition of a 4% excise tax. The remaining balance may be distributed up to the end of the following taxable year, provided the REIT elects to treat such amount as a prior year distribution and meets certain other requirements.

 

REIT taxable income (loss) is computed in accordance with the Code, which is different than the Company’s financial statement net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP. Book to tax differences primarily relate to the recognition of interest income on RMBS, unrealized gains and losses on RMBS, and the amortization of losses on derivative instruments that are treated as hedges for tax purposes.

 

As of December 31, 2025, we had distributed all of our estimated REIT taxable income through fiscal year 2025. Accordingly, no income tax provision was recorded for 20252024 and 2023.

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 20, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 21, 2025
2023Feb 23, 2024
2022Mar 3, 2023
2021Feb 25, 2022
2020Feb 26, 2021
2019Feb 21, 2020
2018Feb 22, 2019
2017Feb 15, 2018
2016Feb 17, 2017
2015Feb 25, 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.