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Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

NOTE H — INCOME TAXES

 

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Act”).  The income tax effects of changes in tax laws are recognized in the period when enacted.  Generally, the more significant provisions of the Act that impacted us for the year ended May 31, 2018 included the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and the creation of a territorial tax system (with a one-time mandatory tax on previously unremitted foreign earnings).  The corporate tax rate reduction was effective for RPM as of January 1, 2018 and, accordingly, reduced our fiscal year 2018 federal statutory tax rate to a blended rate of 29.2%.  The significant provisions of the Act that impact us for fiscal 2019, and

thereafter, include the full federal statutory rate reduction to 21%, the repeal of the domestic production activities deduction and the provisions of the Act that subject us to current U.S. tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries and allows a benefit for foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”).  

Subsequent to the enactment of the Act, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Act.  In accordance with SAB 118 and based on the information available as of May 31, 2018, we recorded a net provisional income tax expense of $7.3 million in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act. The net provisional income tax expense was comprised of a benefit of $15.7 million related to the provisional re-measurement of our U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities at the reduced U.S. corporate tax rates, a provisional expense of $67.9 million for the transition tax on unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries, and a provisional benefit of $44.9 million for the partial reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities recorded for the estimated tax cost associated with unremitted foreign earnings not considered permanently reinvested.  

During fiscal 2019, we completed our assessment of the accounting for the impact of Act.  As a result of this assessment, we recorded an income tax benefit of $8.1 million, which was comprised of a $6.3 million benefit for the re-measurement of certain U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities and a $1.8 million benefit resulting from the reduction of the transition tax on unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries.    

For the year ended May 31, 2020, the provision for income taxes is calculated in accordance with ASC 740, which requires the recognition of deferred income taxes using the asset and liability method.

Income before income taxes as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income is summarized below for the periods indicated.

 

Year Ended May 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

317,290

 

 

$

215,201

 

 

$

228,976

 

Foreign

 

 

90,474

 

 

 

124,644

 

 

 

188,072

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

$

407,764

 

 

$

339,845

 

 

$

417,048

 

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following for the periods indicated:

 

Year Ended May 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. federal

 

$

65,195

 

 

$

20,388

 

 

$

27,206

 

State and local

 

 

17,743

 

 

 

8,623

 

 

 

8,617

 

Foreign

 

 

31,894

 

 

 

37,713

 

 

 

52,658

 

Total Current

 

 

114,832

 

 

 

66,724

 

 

 

88,481

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. federal

 

 

(19,212

)

 

 

15,298

 

 

 

(8,054

)

State and local

 

 

(3,031

)

 

 

1,414

 

 

 

4,832

 

Foreign

 

 

10,093

 

 

 

(11,278

)

 

 

(7,468

)

Total Deferred

 

 

(12,150

)

 

 

5,434

 

 

 

(10,690

)

Provision for Income Taxes

 

$

102,682

 

 

$

72,158

 

 

$

77,791

 

 

The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of May 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income tax assets related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

$

12,341

 

 

$

8,970

 

Allowance for losses

 

 

4,294

 

 

 

7,524

 

Accrued compensation and benefits

 

 

14,686

 

 

 

14,364

 

Accrued other expenses

 

 

15,107

 

 

 

17,036

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

22,030

 

 

 

15,947

 

Credit and net operating and capital loss carryforwards

 

 

65,994

 

 

 

63,395

 

Net unrealized loss on securities

 

 

16,892

 

 

 

12,391

 

Pension and other postretirement benefits

 

 

76,147

 

 

 

42,991

 

Total Deferred Income Tax Assets

 

 

227,491

 

 

 

182,618

 

Less: valuation allowances

 

 

(66,855

)

 

 

(55,274

)

Net Deferred Income Tax Assets

 

 

160,636

 

 

 

127,344

 

Deferred income tax (liabilities) related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

(70,588

)

 

 

(72,387

)

Amortization of intangibles

 

 

(109,926

)

 

 

(116,097

)

Unremitted foreign earnings

 

 

(8,781

)

 

 

(18,795

)

Total Deferred Income Tax (Liabilities)

 

 

(189,295

)

 

 

(207,279

)

Deferred Income Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net

 

$

(28,659

)

 

$

(79,935

)

 

At May 31, 2020, we had U.S. capital loss carryforwards of approximately $47.0 million, of which $43.4 million will expire if not used by the end of our fiscal year 2022, with the balance expiring if unused by the end of our fiscal year 2025. Also, as of May 31, 2020, we had foreign tax credit carryforwards of $23.4 million, which expire through fiscal 2030.  Additionally, as of May 31, 2020, we had approximately $6.1 million of tax benefits associated with state net operating loss carryforwards and state tax credit carryforwards, which expire at various dates beginning in fiscal 2021. Also, as of May 31, 2020, we had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $152.5 million, of which approximately $8.3 million will expire at various dates beginning in fiscal 2021 and approximately $144.2 million that have an indefinite carryforward period. Additionally, as of May 31, 2020, we had foreign capital loss carryforwards of approximately $29.0 million that can be carried forward indefinitely.

When evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, we consider, among other items, whether a jurisdiction has experienced cumulative pretax losses and whether a jurisdiction will generate the appropriate character of income to recognize a deferred income tax asset.  More specifically, if a jurisdiction experiences cumulative pretax losses for a period of three years, including the current fiscal year, or if a jurisdiction does not have sufficient income of the appropriate character in the relevant carryback or projected carryforward periods, we generally conclude that it is more likely than not that the respective deferred tax asset will not be realized unless factors such as expected operational changes, availability of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, reversal of taxable temporary differences or other information exists that would lead us to conclude otherwise.  If, after we have evaluated these factors, the deferred income tax assets are not expected to be realized within the carryforward or carryback periods allowed for that jurisdiction, we would conclude that a valuation allowance is required.  

Total valuation allowances of approximately $66.9 million and $55.3 million have been recorded as of May 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  These recorded valuation allowances relate primarily to U.S. capital losses, state net operating losses and certain foreign net operating losses, net foreign deferred tax assets and foreign tax credit carryforwards. The year-over-year increase in valuation allowances is primarily attributable to foreign tax credit carryforwards.

The following table reconciles income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate against income (loss) before income taxes to the provision (benefit) for income taxes:

 

Year Ended May 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

(In thousands, except percentages)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense at the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate

 

$

85,630

 

 

$

71,367

 

 

$

121,812

 

Impact of foreign operations

 

 

3,433

 

 

 

(1,571

)

 

 

(16,276

)

State and local income taxes, net

 

 

11,651

 

 

 

7,224

 

 

 

9,520

 

Impact of GILTI provisions

 

 

3,051

 

 

 

5,772

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic manufacturing deduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(4,839

)

Nondeductible business expense

 

 

2,005

 

 

 

2,259

 

 

 

2,473

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

14,008

 

 

 

7,021

 

 

 

(5,235

)

Deferred tax liability for unremitted foreign earnings

 

 

(5,527

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(77,970

)

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits

 

 

1,292

 

 

 

(8,480

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

(3,351

)

 

 

1,195

 

 

 

737

 

FY19 GILTI impact of issued regulations

 

 

(4,348

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

(5,162

)

 

 

(4,496

)

 

 

(4,652

)

Transition tax liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,868

)

 

 

67,899

 

Remeasurement of U.S. deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,265

)

 

 

(15,678

)

Provision for Income Tax Expense

 

$

102,682

 

 

$

72,158

 

 

$

77,791

 

Effective Income Tax Rate

 

 

25.2

%

 

 

21.2

%

 

 

18.7

%

 

Uncertain income tax positions are accounted for in accordance with ASC 740.  The following table summarizes the activity related to unrecognized tax benefits:

 

(In millions)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Balance at June 1

 

$

8.1

 

 

$

14.1

 

 

$

13.2

 

Additions based on tax positions related to current year

 

 

-

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

5.1

 

Additions for tax positions of prior years

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

-

 

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(7.9

)

 

 

(4.5

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

0.3

 

Balance at May 31

 

$

9.0

 

 

$

8.1

 

 

$

14.1

 

 

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, was $8.6 million at May 31, 2020, $7.7 million at May 31, 2019 and $13.6 million at May 31, 2018.

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At May 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the accrual for interest and penalties was $2.9 million, $3.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, have been classified as other long-term liabilities unless expected to be paid in one year.  

We file income tax returns in the U.S. and in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service has completed examinations of our 2015 and 2016 federal income tax returns which resulted in an inconsequential reduction to our 2015 federal income tax liability and no changes to our 2016 federal income tax liability.  Although not currently under examination, the statutory audit period for our 2014 federal tax return remains open. Further, with limited exceptions, we are generally subject to state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for the fiscal years 2013 through 2019.

We are currently under examination, or have been notified of an upcoming tax examination, for various non-U.S. and domestic state and local jurisdictions.  Although it is possible that certain tax examinations could be resolved during the next 12 months, the timing and outcomes are uncertain.

Our deferred tax liability for unremitted foreign earnings was adjusted to $18.8 million as of May 31, 2019. The $18.8 million deferred tax liability represented our estimate of the foreign tax cost associated with the remittance of $413.3 million of foreign earnings that were not considered to be permanently reinvested. As of May 31, 2020, the amount of these earnings has decreased to approximately $407.4 million and the related deferred tax liability, which represents the estimated tax cost to repatriate these earnings, was adjusted to $12.1 million.  The reduction to the deferred tax liability is primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange and the elimination of withholding taxes on certain of our foreign earnings not considered permanently reinvested.  

We have not provided for U.S. income taxes or foreign withholding taxes on the remaining $905.1 million of foreign unremitted earnings because such earnings have been retained and reinvested by the foreign subsidiaries as of May 31, 2020. Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. income taxes or foreign withholding taxes, which may become payable if the remaining unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries were distributed to the U.S. Due to the uncertainties and complexities involved in the various options for repatriation of foreign earnings, it is not practical to calculate the deferred taxes associated with the remaining foreign earnings.