19. INCOME TAXES 

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We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes. We evaluate deferred tax assets to determine whether it is more likely than not that they will be realized. Valuation allowances are reviewed on an individual tax jurisdiction basis to analyze whether there is sufficient positive or negative evidence to support a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax assets. These conclusions require significant judgment. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, we consider the cyclicality of our businesses and cumulative income or losses during the applicable period. Cumulative losses incurred over the applicable period limits our ability to consider other subjective evidence such as our projections for the future. Changes in expected future income in applicable jurisdictions could affect the realization of deferred tax assets in those jurisdictions.

We and Huntsman International recorded income tax (expense) benefit from continuing operations of $(22) million and $7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We are required to calculate our interim income tax provision using the estimated annual effective tax rate (“AETR”) method prescribed by Accounting Standards Codification 740-270. However, due to current economic conditions resulting in low marginal pre-tax income, negative global AETR and significant losses in jurisdictions with full valuation allowances, starting with the second quarter of 2025 we expanded our AETR method to exclude loss jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized in that jurisdiction (as opposed to no benefit can be realized in any jurisdiction) from the overall computation of the estimated AETR and a separate estimated AETR is computed and applied to these loss jurisdictions. We believe that this method provides a more reliable forecast of the AETR.

During the second quarter of 2025, we recorded a discrete release of valuation allowances of approximately $8 million following the announced closure of our Moers, Germany facility. As a result of our Moers facility closure, there is sufficient positive evidence that the Germany tax filing group (without our Moers facility) is more likely than not to realize the group deferred tax assets. The losses from our Moers facility closure will not be available to the continuing German tax filing group and we continue to have a full valuation allowance against these net deferred tax assets. Through the second quarter of 2025, we also recorded discrete establishments of valuation allowances of approximately $13 million. During the first quarter of 2025, we recorded a discrete tax expense of $8 million resulting from income associated with the Praxair litigation. During the first quarter of 2024, we recorded a discrete tax benefit of $18 million resulting from the write-off of certain prepaid assets related to operating agreements with SLIC and other joint venture partners concurrent with the separation and acquisition of assets of SLIC. Our tax expense is significantly affected by the mix of income and losses in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, as impacted by the presence of valuation allowances in certain tax jurisdictions. In particular, we recognize tax expense in jurisdictions with pre-tax income but do not recognize a tax benefit from pre-tax losses in jurisdictions with valuation allowances.

On July 4, 2025, the U.S. enacted tax reform legislation through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”). Included in this legislation are provisions that allow for the immediate expensing of domestic U.S. research and development expenses, immediate expensing of certain capital expenditures, changes to the interest expense limitation and other changes to the U.S. taxation of profits derived from foreign operations. We are currently evaluating OBBBA; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.