v3.26.1
Tax Receivable Agreement
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Receivables [Abstract]  
Tax Receivable Agreement
15. Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with the Business Combination, Alight entered into a tax receivable agreement (the "Tax Receivable Agreement" or the "TRA") with certain owners of Alight Holdings prior to the Business Combination. Pursuant to the TRA, the Company will pay holders of TRA interests, as applicable, 85% of any savings that we realize, calculated using certain assumptions, as a result of (i) tax basis adjustments from sales and exchanges of Alight Holdings equity interests in connection with or following the Business Combination and certain distributions with respect to Alight Holdings equity interests, (ii) our utilization of certain tax attributes, and (iii) certain other tax benefits related to entering into the TRA.
Actual tax benefits realized by Alight may differ from tax benefits calculated under the TRA as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the TRA, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits. While the amount of existing tax basis, the anticipated tax basis adjustments and the actual amount and utilization of tax attributes, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the TRA, will vary depending upon a number of factors, we expect that the payments that Alight may make under the TRA will be substantial.
The Company’s TRA liability established upon completion of the Business Combination is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The TRA liability balance at March 31, 2026 assumes: (i) a blended U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate of 26.6%; (ii) the latest estimates in taxable income inclusive of the OBBBA, which was enacted into law in the U.S. in July 2025; (iii) the ability to utilize tax attributes based on current tax forecasts; and (iv) future payments under the TRA are made when due under the TRA. The amount of the expected future payments under the TRA has been discounted to its present value using a discount rate of 8.2%.
Subsequent to the Business Combination, we record additional liabilities under the TRA as and when Class A units of Alight Holdings are exchanged for Class A Common Stock. Liabilities resulting from these exchanges will be recorded on a gross undiscounted basis and are not remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, there were no significant exchanges. As such, no material additional TRA liability was established as a result of the exchanges. As of March 31, 2026, $297 million of the TRA liability was measured at fair value on a recurring basis and $212 million was undiscounted and not remeasured at fair value. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company received an Objection Notice from the TRA Party Representative with respect to certain methodology used to prepare a portion of the Tax Benefit Schedule that calculates our 2026 Tax Benefit Payments to the TRA Parties (all capitalized terms as defined in the TRA). The Company disagrees with the TRA Party Representative’s assertions and is proceeding through the dispute mechanisms as set forth in the TRA agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, consistent with the TRA agreement, the Company paid $136 million, representing what it considered the undisputed amount. The Company intends to vigorously contest the TRA Party Representative's assertions in the Objection Notice. If the TRA Party Representative nonetheless prevails in its position or the Company resolves the dispute consensually, the Company currently estimates that a resolution could increase the 2026 Tax Benefit Payments by up to $40 million above the undisputed amount paid during the three months ended March 31, 2026, plus interest as further detailed in the TRA. The Objection Notice does not address the Company's current 2027 Tax Benefit Payments estimate.
The following table summarizes the changes in the TRA liabilities (in millions):
Tax Receivable
Agreement Liability
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2025$664 
Fair value remeasurement(19)
Payments(136)
Ending balance as of March 31, 2026509 
Less: current portion included in other current liabilities(20)
Total long-term tax receivable agreement liability$489