Tax benefit

[Table of Contents](#i9e3d7fad53bb42b083be8286e4319cd4_10) Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) CarryforwardsAt December 31, 2021, Evergy and Evergy Kansas Central had $1.6 million of federal AMT carryforwards.Valuation AllowancesEvergy is required to assess the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets using a "more likely than not" assessment threshold.  This assessment takes into consideration tax planning strategies within Evergy's control.  As a result of this assessment, Evergy has established a partial valuation allowance for federal and state tax NOL carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. During 2021, $1.5 million of tax benefit was recorded in continuing operations primarily related to utilization or expiration of certain state NOL carryforwards. Uncertain Tax PositionsEvergy is considered open to U.S. federal examination for years after 2009 due to the carryforward of net operating losses and general business income tax credits. With few exceptions, Evergy is no longer subject to state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2016. As of December 31, 2021, Evergy does not have any significant income tax issues under examination.Kansas Tax ReformIn May 2020, the state of Kansas exempted certain public utilities, including Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Metro, from Kansas corporate income tax beginning in 2021 and authorized the KCC to approve changes in rates related to increases or decreases in federal or state income tax rates.As a result of the exemption from Kansas corporate income tax, the Evergy Companies revalued their deferred income tax assets and liabilities in May 2020. Evergy decreased its net deferred income tax liabilities by $233.8 million, primarily consisting of a $400.4 million adjustment for the revaluation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities included in rate base and a $31.7 million tax gross-up adjustment on this amount for ratemaking purposes and $13.8 million of income tax expense primarily related to the revaluation of deferred income taxes that will not be recovered from customers in future rates; partially offset by a decrease to unamortized investment tax credits of $183.6 million due to the revaluation of certain Kansas income tax credits and a $16.9 million tax gross-up adjustment on this amount for ratemaking purposes.Evergy Kansas Central decreased its net deferred income tax liabilities by $17.6 million, primarily consisting of a $293.7 million adjustment for the revaluation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities included in rate base and a $17.3 million tax gross-up adjustment on this amount for ratemaking purposes; partially offset by a decrease to unamortized investment tax credits of $183.6 million due to the revaluation of certain Kansas income tax credits and a $16.9 million tax gross-up adjustment on this amount for ratemaking purposes and $109.0 million of income tax expense primarily related to the revaluation of deferred income taxes that will not be recovered from customers in future rates.Evergy Metro decreased its net deferred income tax liabilities by $152.9 million, primarily consisting of a $106.7 million adjustment for the revaluation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities included in rate base and a $14.4 million tax gross-up adjustment on this amount for ratemaking purposes and $32.2 million of income tax benefit primarily related to the revaluation of deferred income taxes that will not be refunded to customers in future rates.The changes to the Evergy Companies' net deferred income tax liabilities included in rate base were offset by corresponding changes in regulatory liabilities. The net regulatory liabilities will be refunded to customers in future rates by amortizing the amounts related to plant assets over the remaining useful life of the assets, and amortizing the amounts related to other items over a period to be determined in a future rate case. The changes to the Evergy Companies' unamortized investment tax credits were related to the portion of certain Kansas income tax credits that are not expected to be used after December 31, 2020. The amounts of income tax expense (benefit) recognized by the Evergy Companies related to the revaluation of deferred income taxes that will not be recovered from or refunded to customers in future rates primarily pertain to deferred tax adjustments related to the difference between Evergy's consolidated tax rate and the statutory tax rates used for setting rates at Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West as well as deferred income tax adjustments related to non-regulated operations.149
