Income Taxes

The Group recognizes the current and deferred tax consequences of transactions that have been included in the consolidated financial statements using the provisions of the respective jurisdictions’ tax laws. Current and deferred taxes are charged or credited to equity if the tax relates to items that are charged or credited directly to equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, unused tax losses and unused tax credits. Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available against which those unused tax losses, unused tax credits and deductible temporary differences can be utilized.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period that the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Current tax assets and liabilities are offset when (i) they arise from the same tax reporting entity or tax group of reporting entities, (ii) they relate to the same tax authority, (iii) the legally enforceable right to offset exists and (iv) they are intended to be settled net or realized simultaneously.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities exists and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxing authority on either the same tax reporting entity or tax group of reporting entities.

Deferred tax liabilities are provided on taxable temporary differences arising from investments in subsidiaries, branches and associates and interests in jointly controlled entities except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred income tax assets are provided on deductible temporary differences arising from such investments only to the extent that it is probable that the differences will reverse in the foreseeable future and sufficient taxable income will be available against which those temporary differences can be utilized.

Deferred tax related to fair value re-measurement of available for sale investments and cash flow hedges, which are charged or credited directly to equity, is also credited or charged directly to equity and subsequently recognized in the income statement once the gain or loss is realized.

For share-based payment transactions, the Group may receive a tax deduction related to the compensation paid in shares. The amount deductible for tax purposes may differ from the cumulative compensation expense recorded. At any reporting date, the Group must estimate the expected future tax deduction based on the current share price.

If the amount deductible, or expected to be deductible, for tax purposes exceeds the cumulative compensation expense, the excess tax benefit is recognized in equity. If the amount deductible, or expected to be deductible, for tax purposes is less than the cumulative compensation expense, the shortfall is recognized in the Group’s income statement for the period.

The Group’s insurance business in the United Kingdom (Abbey Life Assurance Company Limited) is subject to income tax on the policyholder’s investment returns (policyholder tax). This tax is included in the Group’s income tax expense/benefit even though it is economically the income tax expense/benefit of the policyholder, which reduces the Group’s liability to the policyholder.