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10. Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
10.    INCOME TAXES
 
Our effective income tax rate was 35% and 29% for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our effective income tax rate was 40% and 25% for the first half of 2014 and 2013, respectively. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2014 was higher due to an increase in tax liabilities, losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions for which no income tax benefit is expected, and due to adjustments principally related to filings of foreign tax returns. The effective income tax rate for the first half of 2014 does not include a benefit of the U.S. federal research credit as it has not been extended beyond 2013. In addition, the effective tax rate for the first half of 2014 includes adjustments principally related to state taxes. The effective tax rate for the first half of 2013 reflected a significant tax benefit related to the 2012 U.S. federal research credit, which was retroactively reinstated on January 2, 2013.

Our foreign taxes for all periods resulted primarily from taxable income earned in France and Switzerland. Switzerland's statutory tax rate is significantly lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%. Also, our effective tax rates for all periods are generally reduced by French tax incentives related to our research and development activities.
    
We file federal, state and foreign income tax returns in many jurisdictions in the United States and abroad. Our income tax returns are audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. We are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2009 and 2010 tax years and by various state and foreign jurisdictions. There are differing interpretations of tax laws and regulations, and as a result, significant disputes may arise with these tax authorities involving issues of the timing and amount of deductions and allocations of income among various tax jurisdictions. We evaluate our exposures associated with our tax filing positions on a quarterly basis.

We record liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. We do not believe any currently pending uncertain tax positions will have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements, although an adverse resolution of one or more of these uncertain tax positions in any period may have a material impact on the results of operations for that period.

As of June 30, 2014, based on the expected outcome of certain examinations or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations for certain jurisdictions, we believe that within the next 12 months it is reasonably possible that our previously unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $1.4 million. Substantially all such amounts will impact our effective income tax rate.