25. Deferred tax assets/deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets on tax loss carry-forwards and temporary differences amount to €1,242 million before offsetting (30/9/2019: €1,188 million), an increase of €54 million compared to 30 September 2019. The carrying amounts of deferred tax liabilities decreased by €2 million to €1,057 million compared with the (30/9/2019: €1,059 million).

Deferred taxes relate to the following balance sheet items:

 

30/9/20191

30/9/2020

Change through
profit or loss

€ million

Assets

Liabilities

Assets

Liabilities

Assets

Liabilities

Goodwill

23

33

25

35

2

2

Other intangible assets

10

103

13

117

3

14

Property, plant and equipment and investment properties

75

808

80

699

5

−118

Financial investments and investments accounted for using the equity method

5

5

2

4

−3

0

Inventories

19

1

17

1

−2

0

Other financial and non-financial assets

28

52

54

89

26

38

Assets held for sale

0

0

0

0

0

0

Provisions for post-employment benefits plans and similar obligations

118

30

127

33

7

2

Other provisions

33

2

41

4

9

2

Financial liabilities

850

3

763

29

−87

27

Other financial and non-financial liabilities

49

23

124

37

38

15

Liabilities related to assets held for sale

0

0

0

0

0

0

Outside basis differences

0

0

0

8

0

8

Write-downs of temporary differences

−88

0

−76

0

12

0

Loss carry-forwards

67

0

70

0

3

0

Carrying amount of deferred taxes
before offsetting

1,188

1,059

1,242

1,057

14

−11

Offsetting

−904

−904

−990

−990

11

11

Carrying amount of deferred taxes

284

155

252

66

25

0

1

Adjustment of previous year due to full retrospective adjustment of IFRS 16 (Leases).

Of the reported balance of deferred tax assets and liabilities, €49 million (30/9/2019: €57 million) are attributable to the group of incorporated companies of METRO AG. The additional surplus of €136 million (30/9/2019: €73 million) is largely attributable to temporary differences at various foreign subsidiaries. Based on business planning, realisation of these tax assets is to be considered sufficiently likely.

In accordance with IAS 12 (Income Taxes), deferred tax liabilities relating to differences between the carrying amount of a subsidiary’s pro rata equity in the balance sheet and the carrying amount of the investment for this subsidiary in the parent company’s tax statement must be recognised (so-called outside basis differences) if the tax benefit is likely to be realised in the future. The differences can primarily be attributed to retained earnings of subsidiaries in Germany and abroad. No deferred taxes were recognised for these retained earnings as they will be reinvested over an indefinite period of time or are not subject to relevant taxation. Any dividends paid by subsidiaries would be subject to dividend tax. In addition, foreign dividends may trigger a withholding tax. As of 30 September 2020, a deferred tax liability from outside basis differences was recognised for planned dividend payments in the amount of €8 million (30/9/2019: €0 million). The sum of the amount of temporary differences in connection with investments in subsidiaries for which no deferred tax liabilities were recognised was not determined as this would have been disproportionately expensive due to the level of detail of the METRO group.

No deferred tax assets were capitalised for the following tax loss carry-forwards and interest carry-forwards or temporary differences because realisation of the assets in the short to medium term is not expected:

€ million

30/9/20191

30/9/2020

Corporate tax losses

4,883

4,686

Trade tax losses

3,679

3,752

Interest carry-forwards

83

90

Temporary differences

331

288

1

Adjustment of previous year due to full retrospective application of IFRS 16 (Leases).

The loss carry-forwards as of the closing date predominantly concern the German consolidation group. They can be carried forward without limitation.

Tax effects on components of other comprehensive income

 

2018/191

2019/20

€ million

Before taxes

Taxes

After taxes

Before taxes

Taxes

After taxes

Currency translation differences from translating the financial statements
of foreign operations

132

0

132

−468

0

−468

thereof currency translation differences from net investments in foreign operations

(40)

(0)

(40)

(−72)

(0)

(−72)

Effective portion of gains/losses from cash flow hedges

2

0

2

−2

0

−1

Effects from the fair value measurements
of equity instruments

−3

0

−3

0

0

0

Effects from the fair value measurements
of debt instruments

0

0

0

0

0

0

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension plans

−94

22

−73

7

−2

5

Remaining income tax on other comprehensive income

0

−4

−4

0

0

0

 

39

17

56

−463

−2

−466

1

Adjustment of previous year due to full retrospective application of IFRS 16 (Leases).

Deferred taxes on components of other comprehensive income primarily apply to the remeasurement of defined benefit pension plans. The other components are not tax-effective.

Previous year
Period of 12 months relating to the financial year preceding the reporting year, usually cited as reference for statements in an annual report.
Glossary