Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We utilize our estimated annual effective tax rate to determine our provision for income taxes for interim periods. The income tax provision is computed by taking the estimated annual effective rate and multiplying it by the year-to-date pre-tax book income.

We recorded income tax expense of $3.4 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We recorded income tax expense of $8.3 million and $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily due to a loss without benefit related to the sale of our Argentina subsidiary. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized a reversal of uncertain tax positions related to our Guangzhou entity, which was sold in June 2018. The indemnification agreement related to the sale of our Guangzhou entity expired in June 2020.

At December 31, 2020, we assessed the realizability of our deferred tax assets by considering whether it is "more likely than not" some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We considered taxable income in carryback years, the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, tax planning strategies and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. At December 31, 2020, we had a three-year cumulative operating loss for our U.S. operations and accordingly, have provided a full valuation allowance on our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, there was no change to our valuation allowance position.

At September 30, 2021, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $3.2 million, including interest and penalties, which, if not for the state Research and Experimentation income tax credit valuation allowance, would affect the annual effective tax rate if these tax benefits are realized. Further, we are unaware of any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase within the next twelve months. Based on federal, state and foreign statute expirations in various jurisdictions, we do not anticipate a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. We have classified uncertain tax positions as non-current income tax liabilities unless they are expected to be paid within one year.

We have elected to classify interest and penalties as a component of tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties are immaterial at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and are included in the unrecognized tax benefits.