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INCOME TAXES
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period during which such rates are enacted.
The Company considers all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become realizable. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryback and carry-forward periods) and projected taxable income in assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified.

As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could affect its view of the future realization of deferred tax assets. Prior to September 30, 2019, the Company had recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of net deferred tax assets in the United States, as the realization of deferred tax assets was uncertain. Since September 30, 2019, the Company has not maintained a valuation allowance except for a partial valuation allowance on certain U.S. and foreign deferred tax assets. In order to recognize the remaining U.S. deferred tax assets that continue to be subject to a valuation allowance, the Company will need to generate sufficient U.S. taxable income in future periods before the expiration of the deferred tax assets governed by the tax code.
ACM Shanghai has shown a three-year historical cumulative profit and has projections of future income. As a result, the Company does not maintain a valuation allowance.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the authoritative guidance on income taxes under which the Company may only recognize or continue to recognize tax positions that meet a more likely than not threshold. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.
The Company’s effective tax rate differs from statutory rates of 21% for U.S. federal income tax purposes and 15% to 25% for Chinese income tax purposes due to the effects of the valuation allowance and certain permanent differences from book-tax differences, including stock based compensation, deemed dividend income under Subchapter F of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Subpart F), and global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) inclusions, and R&D super deduction. As a result, the Company recorded income tax expense of $11,235 and $14,138 during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in the Company's effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period of the prior year was primarily due to an increased benefit from the specified deduction to the GILTI inclusion as a result of reduced net operating loss utilization which partially limited the specified deduction in the prior year, and reduced GILTI inclusion related to the amount of capitalized R&D expenses relative to pre-tax income.

Under the change in Section 174 made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which became effective on January 1, 2022, the Company is required to capitalize, and subsequently amortize R&D expenses over fifteen years for research activities conducted outside of the U.S. The capitalization of overseas R&D expenses results in a significant increase in the Company’s global intangible low-taxed income inclusion. Congress is considering legislation, but legislation has not passed, that would defer the capitalization requirement to later years.

The Company had total unrecognized tax benefits of $8,448 as of both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. If recognized, the net impact to effective rate, after indirect offset, would be $6,178. The Company did not expect any reversal of unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. The Company will recognize interest and penalties, when they occur, related to uncertain tax provisions as a component of tax expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, $853 and $142 of interest and penalties was recognized, respectively.
The Company files income tax returns in the United States and state and foreign jurisdictions. The federal, state and foreign income tax returns are under the statute of limitations subject to tax examinations for the tax years ended December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2022. To the extent the Company has tax attribute carry-forwards, the tax years in which the attribute was generated may still be adjusted upon examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, state or foreign tax authorities to the extent utilized in a future period.

The Company’s four principal mainland China subsidiaries, ACM Shanghai, ACM Wuxi, ACM Beijing and ACM Lingang, are liable for mainland China corporate income taxes at the rates of 15%, 25%, 25% and 15%, respectively. Pursuant to the Corporate Income Tax Law of mainland China, ACM’s mainland China subsidiaries generally would be liable for mainland China corporate income taxes as a rate of 25%. According to Guoshuihan 2009 No. 203, an entity certified as an “advanced and new technology enterprise” is entitled to a preferential income tax rate of 15%. ACM Shanghai was certified as an “advanced and new technology enterprise” in 2012 and again in 2016, 2018, and 2021, with an effective period of three years. In 2021, ACM Shanghai was certified as an eligible integrated circuit production enterprise and was entitled to a preferential income tax rate of 12.5% from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. Certain entities which meet requirements according to the Policy of the Lingang New area in China(Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone are entitled to a preferential income tax rate of 15%. ACM Lingang was certified for this in 2021, and this preferential income tax rate is valid from January 1, 2020 until December 31, 2024.
Income tax expense was as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023202220232022
Total income tax expense$(718)$(10,470)$(11,235)$(14,138)