INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 15.1 percent and 21.8 percent, respectively, and our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 17.3 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was lower than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to the tax impact of share-based payment awards, which reduced the effective tax rate by 3.8 percentage points and 4.1 percentage points, respectively. Foreign tax impacts also contributed to a lower federal income tax rate, reducing our effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 by 5.2 percentage points and 3.1 percentage points, respectively. This impact on the tax rate was partially offset by state income tax expense, which increased the effective income tax rate. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate due to state income taxes, net of federal benefit, and foreign income taxes, but was partially offset by the tax impact of share-based payment awards and the combined tax impact of Global Intangible Low-tax Income ("GILTI") and Foreign Derived Intangible Income ("FDII").

In 2019, we removed our assertion that the unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries were permanently reinvested with limited exceptions. If we repatriated all foreign earnings that are still considered to be permanently reinvested, the estimated effect on income taxes payable would be an increase of approximately $2.3 million as of September 30, 2020.

On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act allows for a deferral of the employer share of federal payroll taxes otherwise due through December 31, 2020. 50 percent of the deferred amount is due December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50 percent is due December 31, 2022. This provision allows us to defer certain federal payroll deposits and invest this cash back into the business without any interest cost. The CARES Act also provides for a tax credit of up to $5,000 related to wages and health benefits provided to an employee whose work from March 17, 2020 through December 31, 2020 was impacted by COVID-19. Through September 30, 2020, we have recognized a payroll deferral and tax credit of $19.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively, under the CARES Act. We will continue evaluating the impact of the CARES Act over the remainder of 2020.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including but not limited to, reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and adding new rules for GILTI and FDII. We have included the tax impact of both GILTI and FDII in our income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019. The Treasury Department issued final regulatory guidance related to both GILTI and FDII on July 15, 2020. The effective date of these regulations is generally January 1, 2021, absent an election to apply these rules retroactively to a 2018 effective date. We are reviewing these regulations and the potential to elect a 2018 effective date. The impact of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on full-year 2020 results.

On September 29, 2020, the Treasury Department issued final and proposed regulations on determining the foreign tax credit, and allocating and apportioning deductions, under the Internal Revenue Code. We are still completing our review of these regulations, but they did not have a material impact on the third quarter of 2020 and we do not expect them to have a material impact on full-year 2020 results.

As of September 30, 2020, we have $39.0 million of unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties. It is possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could change in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities. The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits is expected to decrease by approximately $2.1 million in the next 12 months due to the lapsing of statutes of limitations. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to audits of U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax returns before 2013. We are currently under an Internal Revenue Service audit for 2015, 2016 and 2017 tax years.