Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 18. Income taxes

The determination of the estimated annual effective tax rate is based upon a number of significant estimates and judgments. In addition, as a global commercial enterprise, Woodward’s tax expense can be impacted by changes in tax rates or laws, the finalization of tax audits and reviews, changes in the estimate of the amount of undistributed foreign earnings that Woodward considers indefinitely reinvested, issuance of future guidance, interpretation, and rule-making, and other factors that cannot be predicted with certainty. As such, there can be significant volatility in interim tax provisions.

The following table sets forth the tax expense and the effective tax rate for Woodward’s earnings before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Earnings before income taxes	$	120,624		$	40,241		$	230,344		$	71,990
Income tax expense		23,068			4,730			42,744			6,873
Effective tax rate		19.1	%		11.8	%		18.6	%		9.5	%

The increase in the effective tax rate for the second quarter as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year is primarily attributable to higher projected full-year earnings taxed at statutory rates ranging between approximately 19% and 35%. These higher projected earnings and higher actual quarterly earnings resulted in lower current quarter tax benefits as a percent of earnings when compared to the prior quarter. Additionally, the increase is attributable to projected future withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings.

The increase in the effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal year 2024 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year is primarily attributable to higher projected full-year earnings taxed at statutory rates ranging between approximately 19% and 35%. These higher projected earnings and higher actual year-to-date earnings resulted in lower current year-to-date tax benefits as a percent of earnings when compared to the prior year. Additionally, the increase is attributable to projected future withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings and the release of uncertain tax positions that did not recur in the current fiscal year.

Gross unrecognized tax benefits were $12,715 as of March 31, 2024, and $11,112 as of September 30, 2023. At March 31, 2024, the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact Woodward’s effective tax rate was $8,110. Woodward believes it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by as much as $2,178 in the next twelve months due to the completion of review by tax authorities, lapses of statutes, and the settlement of tax positions. Woodward’s tax expense includes accruals for potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and all other interest and penalties related to tax payments.

Woodward’s tax returns are subject to audits by U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, and these audits are at various stages of completion at any given time. Reviews of tax matters by authorities and lapses of the applicable statutes of limitation may result in changes to tax expense. Generally, Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for U.S. Federal income taxes include fiscal years 2020 and thereafter. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for significant U.S. state income tax jurisdictions include fiscal years 2019 and thereafter. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination in significant foreign jurisdictions include 2018 and thereafter.