NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES three-year cumulative loss position in 2018 to a three-year cumulative income position in 2019, commencing commercial delivery on 13 of our long- term customer SPAs and forecasts of sustained future profitability. At December 31, 2020, we had federal and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $15.0 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively. Approximately $10.6 billion of these NOLs have an indefinite carryforward period. All other NOLs will expire between 2026 and 2040. At December 31, 2020, we had federal and state tax credit carryforwards of $93 million and $2 million, respectively. The federal tax credit carryforwards include investment tax credit carryforwards of $52 million related to capital equipment placed in service at our Liquefaction Projects. We account for our federal investment tax credits under the flow-through method. The federal tax credit carryforwards also include $37 million of foreign tax credits related to tax years 2014 through 2020. The federal and state tax credit carryforwards will expire between 2024 and 2039. We experienced an ownership change within the provisions of U.S. IRC Section 382 in 2008, 2010 and 2012. An analysis of the annual limitation on the utilization of our NOLs was performed in accordance with IRC Section 382. It was determined that IRC Section 382 will not limit the use of our NOLs over the carryover period. We continue to monitor trading activity in our shares which may cause an additional ownership change which could ultimately affect our ability to fully utilize our existing NOL carryforwards. We are subject to tax in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions and we remain subject to periodic audits and reviews by taxing authorities. Federal and state tax returns for the years after 2016 remain open for examination. Tax authorities may have the ability to review and adjust carryover attributes that were generated prior to these periods if utilized in an open tax year. At December 31, 2020, we had unrecognized tax benefits of $62 million. If recognized, $53 million of unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate in future periods. Currently, we do not recognize any accrued liabilities, interest and penalties associated with the unrecognized tax benefits provided in our Consolidated Statements of Operations or our Consolidated Balance Sheets because any settlement of uncertain tax positions would result in an adjustment to our NOL carryforward. We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as part of income tax expense. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of our unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, is as follows (in millions):  Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Audits NOL and tax credit carryforwards NOTE 16—SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION We have granted restricted stock shares, restricted stock units, performance stock units and phantom units to employees and non-employee directors under the 2011 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2011 Plan”) and the 2020 Incentive Plan, which was approved by our shareholders in May 2020. The 2011 Plan and the 2020 Incentive Plan provide for the issuance of Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 Balance at beginning of the year $ 61  $ 61  Additions based on tax positions related to current year 1  —  Additions for tax positions of prior years —  —  Reductions for tax positions of prior years —  —  Settlements —  —  U.S. tax reform rate change —  —  Balance at end of the year $ 62  $ 61  109