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Note 12 - Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

12. INCOME TAXES


The income tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 was $2.4 million, or 23.7% of the pre-tax income, and $3.0 million, or 17.7% of the pre-tax income, respectively. The Company recorded a one-time net charge of $2.7 million to the income tax provision related to the resolution of the income tax audits in the second quarter of 2015 (see “Income Tax Audits” below for further discussion). In addition to the impact of this charge, the effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate primarily because the foreign income was taxed at lower rates, and because of the benefit that the Company realized from stock option exercises and the release of RSUs, and from the release of an income tax reserve where the statute of limitations expired. In addition, the effective tax rate was impacted by changes in the valuation allowance.


The income tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 was $0.5 million, or 7.3% of pre-tax income, and $0.8 million, or 4.7% of the pre-tax income, respectively. The effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate primarily because the Company’s foreign income was taxed at lower rates, and because of the benefit that the Company realized as a result of stock option exercises and the release of RSUs. In addition, the effective tax rate was impacted by changes in the valuation allowance.


Unrecognized Tax Benefits


As of June 30, 2015, the Company had $11.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $2.2 million of which would affect its effective tax rate if recognized after considering the valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $16.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $4.8 million of which would affect its effective tax rate if recognized after considering the valuation allowance.


Uncertain tax positions relate to the allocation of income and deductions among the Company’s global entities and to the determination of the research and development tax credit. It is reasonably possible that over the next twelve-month period, the Company may experience increases or decreases in its unrecognized tax benefits. However, it is not possible to determine either the magnitude or the range of increases or decreases at this time.


The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in its income tax provision. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company has approximately $0.1 million and $0.5 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions, respectively, which were recorded in long-term tax liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.


Income Tax Audits


The Company is subject to examination of its income tax returns by the IRS and other tax authorities. The Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2007 were under examination by the IRS. In April 2011, the Company received from the IRS a Notice of Proposed Adjustment ("NOPA") relating to a cost-sharing agreement entered into by the Company and its international subsidiaries on January 1, 2004. In the NOPA, the IRS objected to the Company’s allocation of certain litigation expenses between the Company and its international subsidiaries and the amount of "buy-in payments" made by the international subsidiaries to the Company in connection with the cost-sharing agreement, and proposed to increase the Company’s U.S. taxable income according to a few alternative methodologies. In February 2012, the Company received a revised NOPA from the IRS (“Revised NOPA”). In this Revised NOPA, the IRS raised the same issues as in the NOPA issued in April 2011 but under a different methodology. Under the Revised NOPA, the largest potential federal income tax payment, if the IRS were to prevail on all matters in dispute, was $10.5 million, plus interest and penalties, if any. The Company responded to the IRS Revised NOPA in May 2012. In June 2013, the IRS responded and continued to disagree with the Company’s rebuttal. The Company met with the IRS Office of Appeals in 2014 and both parties had been in continuous discussions for a resolution of the matter in the first quarter of 2015. Meanwhile, the Company granted the IRS an extension of the statute of limitations for taxable years 2005 through 2007 to September 30, 2015. 


The IRS also audited the research and development credits carried forward into year 2005 and the credits generated in the years 2005 through 2007. The Company received a NOPA from the IRS in February 2011, proposing to reduce the research and development credits generated in years 2005 through 2007 and the carryforwards, which would then reduce the value of such credits carried forward to subsequent tax years.


In April 2015, the Company reached a final resolution with the IRS in connection with the income tax audits for the years 2005 through 2007. Under the agreement, the Company made a one-time buy-in payment of $1.2 million for taxes related primarily to the revaluation of a license for certain intellectual property rights of the Company to one of its international subsidiaries.  This buy-in payment is final and no additional payment will be required with respect to the intellectual property license for the years under examination or for a previous or subsequent tax year. In addition, the Company expects to make a $1.1 million related interest payment in the next few months as well as a $0.2 million tax payment for the years 2008 to 2013.  There were no penalties assessed on the Company as a result of the audits.


For the second quarter of 2015, the Company's income tax provision included a one-time net charge of approximately $2.7 million reflecting the taxes and interest, partially offset by the reversal of previously accrued tax liabilities and valuation allowances. Of the $2.7 million charge, approximately $1.6 million relates to taxes and $1.1 million to interest.