Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

Income Taxes

v3.25.1
Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
Income (loss) before income taxes was generated as follows:
For the Years Ended
February 28,
2025		 February 29,
2024		 February 28,
2023
(in millions)
Domestic $ (2,633.0) $ (140.2) $ (1,441.6)
Foreign 2,550.2  2,362.0  1,825.2 
$ (82.8) $ 2,221.8  $ 383.6 

The income tax provision (benefit) consisted of the following:
For the Years Ended
February 28,
2025		 February 29,
2024		 February 28,
2023
(in millions)
Current
Federal $ 16.7  $ 152.6  $ (54.3)
State 25.9  16.4  15.5 
Foreign 116.0  139.7  253.1 
Total current 158.6  308.7  214.3 
For the Years Ended
February 28,
2025		 February 29,
2024		 February 28,
2023
(in millions)
Deferred
Federal (436.4) 27.7  82.6 
State (73.1) (19.0) 29.9 
Foreign 299.2  139.2  95.3 
Total deferred (210.3) 147.9  207.8 
Income tax provision (benefit) $ (51.7) $ 456.6  $ 422.1 

A reconciliation of the total tax provision (benefit) to the amount computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes is as follows:
For the Years Ended
February 28, 2025 February 29, 2024 February 28, 2023
Amount % of
Pretax
Income (Loss)		 Amount % of
Pretax
Income (Loss)		 Amount % of
Pretax
Income (Loss)
(in millions, except % of pretax income (loss) data)
Income tax provision (benefit) at statutory rate $ (17.4) 21.0  % $ 466.6  21.0  % $ 80.6  21.0  %
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax provision (benefit) (1)
(31.2) 37.7  % 35.9  1.6  % 3.4  0.9  %
Net income tax benefit from the realization of tax losses related to a prior period divestiture —  —  % —  —  % (166.4) (43.4  %)
Net income tax benefit from a tax entity classification change
 —  —  % (31.2) (1.4  %) —  —  %
Earnings taxed at other than U.S. statutory rate (2)
(241.0) 291.1  % (75.9) (3.4  %) (49.2) (12.8  %)
Net income tax provision (benefit) from legislative changes (3)
—  —  % (9.6) (0.4  %) 10.9  2.8  %
Wine and Spirits-related impairments including the non-deductible portion of the wine and spirits goodwill impairment
 253.3  (306.0  %) —  —  % —  —  %
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards (4)
(5.3) 6.4  % (8.0) (0.4  %) (5.2) (1.4  %)
Net income tax provision (benefit) recognized for adjustment to valuation allowance (5)
24.1  (29.1  %) 86.2  3.9  % 557.6  145.4  %
Net income tax provision (benefit) in connection with sale of the remaining assets at the canceled Mexicali Brewery
 (22.2) 26.8  % —  —  % —  —  %
Net income tax provision (benefit) for various U.S. income tax credits
 (14.1) 17.0  % —  —  % —  —  %
Net income tax provision (benefit) in connection with the SVEDKA Divestiture
 6.0  (7.2  %) —  —  % —  —  %
Miscellaneous items, net (3.9) 4.7  % (7.4) (0.3  %) (9.6) (2.5  %)
Income tax provision (benefit) at effective rate $ (51.7) 62.4  % $ 456.6  20.6  % $ 422.1  110.0  %
(1)Includes differences resulting from adjustments to the current and deferred state effective tax rates.
(2)Consists of the following (i) difference between the U.S. statutory rate and local jurisdiction tax rates, (ii) the provision for incremental U.S. taxes on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries offset by foreign tax credits,
(iii) the non-U.S. portion of tax provision (benefit) recorded on the unrealized net gain (loss) from the changes in fair value of our investment in Canopy, and (iv) the non-U.S. portion of tax benefits recorded on the Canopy equity in earnings (losses) and related activities.
(3)The years ended February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, represent a net income tax provision resulting from the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets in connection with a legislative update in Switzerland.
(4)Represents the recognition of the income tax effect of stock-based compensation awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled.
(5)The year ended February 28, 2025, consists primarily of valuation allowances related to net operating losses and the years ended February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, consists primarily of valuation allowances related to our investment in Canopy.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the future income tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income. Additionally, we have provided deferred income taxes, consisting primarily of foreign withholding and state taxes, on all applicable unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, except for those earnings that we consider to be indefinitely reinvested.

Significant components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following:
February 28,
2025		 February 29,
2024
(in millions)
Deferred tax assets
Intangible assets $ 1,716.1  $ 1,872.3 
Loss carryforwards 619.3  719.4 
Stock-based compensation 20.7  20.1 
Inventory 33.1  23.8 
Lease liabilities 102.3  117.5 
Investments in unconsolidated investees 652.2  635.2 
Other accruals 280.1  238.2 
Gross deferred tax assets 3,423.8  3,626.5 
Valuation allowances (1,170.0) (1,140.4)
Deferred tax assets, net 2,253.8  2,486.1 
Deferred tax liabilities
Intangible assets (264.9) (644.0)
Property, plant, and equipment (122.7) (161.2)
Right-of-use assets (88.3) (106.5)
Provision for unremitted earnings (26.8) (29.2)
Other accruals (38.4) (81.7)
Total deferred tax liabilities (541.1) (1,022.6)
Deferred tax assets (liabilities), net $ 1,712.7  $ 1,463.5 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this assessment, we consider the projected reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income as well as tax planning strategies. Based upon this assessment, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of any valuation allowances.
As of February 28, 2025, operating loss carryforwards, which are primarily state and foreign, totaling $3.2 billion are being carried forward in a number of jurisdictions where we are permitted to use tax operating losses from prior periods to reduce future taxable income. Of these operating loss carryforwards, $1.7 billion will expire by fiscal 2032, $850.0 million will expire between fiscal 2033 and fiscal 2045, and $650.0 million may be carried forward indefinitely in certain jurisdictions. Additionally, as of February 28, 2025, federal capital losses totaling $1.4 billion are being carried forward in multiple jurisdictions; and will expire, if unused, between Fiscal 2029 and fiscal 2034.

We have recognized valuation allowances for operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets when we believe it is more likely than not that these items will not be fully realized. The increase in our valuation allowances as of February 28, 2025, primarily related to operating loss carryforwards.

The liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions, excluding interest and penalties, and a reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefit liabilities is as follows:
For the Years Ended
February 28,
2025		 February 29,
2024		 February 28,
2023
(in millions)
Balance as of March 1 $ 416.1  $ 344.3  $ 279.0 
Increases as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period 51.8  48.1  51.5 
Decreases as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period (124.7) (2.5) (3.4)
Increases as a result of tax positions taken during the current period 28.0  31.5  36.8 
Decreases related to settlements with tax authorities (43.9) (2.8) (15.2)
Decreases related to lapse of applicable statute of limitations (8.4) (2.5) (4.4)
Balance as of last day of February $ 318.9  $ 416.1  $ 344.3 

As of February 28, 2025, and February 29, 2024, we had $438.4 million and $488.5 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefit liabilities, including interest and penalties, recognized on our balance sheets. These liabilities are primarily recorded as non-current as of the balance sheet date.

As of February 28, 2025, we had $318.9 million of unrecognized tax benefit liabilities, of which $183.4 million if recognized would decrease the effective tax rate in the year of resolution. As of February 29, 2024, we had $416.1 million of unrecognized tax benefit liabilities that if recognized would decrease the effective tax rate in the year of resolution.

We file U.S. federal income tax returns and various state, local, and foreign income tax returns. Major tax jurisdictions where we are subject to examination by tax authorities include Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the U.S. Various U.S. state and foreign income tax examinations are currently in progress. It is reasonably possible that the liability associated with our unrecognized tax benefit liabilities will increase or decrease within the next 12 months as a result of these examinations or the expiration of statutes of limitation. As of February 28, 2025, we estimate that unrecognized tax benefit liabilities could change by a range of $100 million to $250 million. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign income tax examinations for fiscal years prior to February 28, 2022.

We provide for additional tax expense based on probable outcomes of ongoing tax examinations and assessments in various jurisdictions. While it is often difficult to predict the outcome or the timing of resolution of any tax matter, we believe the reserves reflect the probable outcome of known tax contingencies. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require the use of cash.