Sohu.com (SOHU)

Current Income Tax Position and Valuation Allowance against Deferred Tax Assets

We estimate income tax expense in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate for each period presented, including estimating current tax exposure as well as assessing realizable deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.

As of September 30, 2007, the majority of our deferred tax assets are related to net operating losses that would apply to United States income taxes. As substantially all of our income is earned in China, and we do not intend in the foreseeable future to repatriate this income to the United States where it would be taxable, it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets resulting from these net operating losses will not be realized. The remaining deferred tax assets are related to China-based subsidiaries and VIEs, resulting from net operating losses and temporary differences between accounting and tax bases. We believe that it is more likely than not that the balance will not be realized. We have recorded a valuation allowance against our gross deferred tax assets in order to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. If events were to occur in the future that would allow us to realize more of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax assets that would increase income for the period when those events occurred. If events were to occur in the future that would require us to realize less of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that would decrease income for the period when those events occurred.

Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense, and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

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Current Income Tax Position and Valuation Allowance against Deferred Tax Assets

We estimate income tax expense in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate for each period presented, including estimating current tax exposure as well as assessing realizable deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.

As of June 30, 2007, the majority of our deferred tax assets are related to net operating losses that would apply to United States income taxes. As substantially all of our income is earned in China, and we do not intend in the foreseeable future to repatriate this income to the United States where it would be taxable, it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets resulting from these net operating losses will not be realized. The remaining deferred tax assets are related to China-based subsidiaries and VIEs, resulting from net operating losses and temporary differences between accounting and tax bases. We believe that it is more likely than not that the balance will not be realized. We have recorded a valuation allowance against our gross deferred tax assets in order to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. If events were to occur in the future that would allow us to realize more of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax assets that would increase income for the period when those events occurred. If events were to occur in the future that would require us to realize less of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that would decrease income for the period when those events occurred.

Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense, and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Current Income Tax Position and Valuation Allowance against Deferred Tax Assets

We estimate income tax expense in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate for each period presented, including estimating our current tax exposure as well as assessing realizable deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.

As of March 31, 2007, the majority of our deferred tax assets are related to net operating losses that would apply to United States income taxes. As substantially all of our income is earned in China, and we do not intend in the foreseeable future to repatriate this income to the United States where it would be taxable, it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses will not be realized. The remaining deferred tax assets are related to China-based subsidiaries and VIEs, resulting from net

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operating losses and temporary differences between accounting and tax base. We believe that it is more likely than not that the balance will not be realized. We have recorded a valuation allowance against our gross deferred tax assets in order to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. If events were to occur in the future that would allow us to realize more of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax assets that would increase income for the period when those events occurred. If events were to occur in the future that would require us to realize less of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that would decrease income for the period when those events occurred.

Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense, and deferred tax assets and liabilities.