15. Deferred tax

At 31 December 2018 UNIQA had deferred tax assets amounting to €153,059 thousand (2017: €172,783 thousand). The deferred tax assets result from tax loss carryforwards, from impairment in accordance with Section 12 of the Austrian Corporation Tax Act, and from deductible temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position and their tax values.

An assessment of the ability to realise deferred tax assets for tax losses not yet used, tax credits not yet used and deductible temporary differences requires an estimate of the amount of future taxable profits. The resulting forecasts are based on business plans that are prepared, reviewed and approved using a uniform procedure throughout the company. Especially convincing evidence regarding the value and future chance of realisation of deferred tax assets is required under internal Group policies if the relevant Group company has suffered a loss in the current or a prior period.

The calculation of deferred tax is based on the specific tax rates of each country, which were between 5 and 25 per cent in the financial year (2017: between 5 and 25 per cent). Changes in tax rates in effect at 31 December 2018 are taken into account.

The differences between the tax carrying amounts and the carrying amounts in the IFRS consolidated statement of financial position have the following effect:

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Deferred tax assets (gross)

 

 

Technical items

54,249

48,526

Investments

26,678

44,409

Actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit obligations

45,316

56,151

Loss carried forward

14,043

14,428

Other items

12,773

9,269

Total

153,059

172,783

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities (gross)

 

 

Technical items

–298,358

–278,243

Investments

–60,737

–136,949

Actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit obligations

–1

–246

Other items

–43,203

–44,747

Total

–402,300

–460,186

Net deferred tax

–249,241

–287,403

The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities stated in the consolidated statement of financial position performed as follows:

Net deferred tax

In € thousand

 

At 1 January 2017 adjusted

–274,046

Changes recognised in profit/(loss)

–26,930

Changes recognised in other comprehensive income

25,046

Changes due to changes in basis of consolidation

–10,788

Foreign exchange differences

–685

At 31 December 2017 adjusted

–287,403

At 1 January 2018

–287,403

Changes recognised in profit/(loss)

–27,324

Changes recognised in other comprehensive income

63,957

Reclassifications held for sale

1,088

Foreign exchange differences

441

At 31 December 2018

–249,241

Changes recorded in other comprehensive income essentially relate to measurements of financial instruments available for sale and revaluation of defined benefit obligations.

The deferred tax assets stated include €14,043 thousand (2017: €14,428 thousand) attributable to tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets from loss carryforwards in the amount of €11,922 thousand (2017: €24,808 thousand) were not recognised, as a realisation of these in the near future cannot be assumed, taking maturities into account.

These tax assets from loss carryforwards are forfeited as follows:

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

Up to 1 year

4,784

1,434

2 to 5 years

13,275

63,757

More than 5 years

136,578

174,365

Total

154,637

239,556