Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

For the three month period ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $6,337 (effective tax rate of 46.9 percent) compared to $3,451 (effective tax rate of 27.8 percent) for the same period in 2018. The 2019 three month period provision for income taxes is calculated using a forecasted multi-jurisdictional annual effective tax rate to determine a blended annual effective tax rate. The effective tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21 percent primarily due to net discrete tax expense of $2,417 recorded during the quarter, the projected mix of earnings in international jurisdictions with differing tax rates, and jurisdictions where valuation allowances are recorded. The discrete tax items primarily consist of additional 2017 transition tax and unrecognized tax benefits accrued of $1,655 and $670, respectively, as a result of final U.S. federal tax guidance issued during the quarter pertaining to the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation under the 2017 Tax Act.

The Company continues to maintain valuation allowances pursuant to ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” against portions of its U.S. and non-U.S. deferred tax assets at March 31, 2019 as it cannot assure the future realization of the associated tax benefits prior to their reversal or expiration. In the U.S., the Company has offset a portion of its deferred tax asset relating primarily to a loss carryforward by a valuation allowance of $1,402. In addition, the Company has recorded valuation allowances of $23,735 relating to non-U.S. net operating losses and other deferred tax assets for a total valuation allowance of $25,137. In conjunction with the Company’s ongoing review of its actual results and anticipated future earnings, the Company will continue to reassess the possibility of releasing all or part of the valuation allowances currently in place when the associated deferred tax assets are deemed to be realizable.

The Company maintains an ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to permanent differences. At March 31, 2019, the Company’s liability, exclusive of penalty and interest, totals approximately $7,103. The Company accrued an additional net $870 for unrecognized tax benefits and an immaterial amount of interest expense during the three month period ended March 31, 2019. Based upon the outcome of tax examinations, judicial proceedings, or expiration of statutes of limitations, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the tax liabilities.

The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world. The Company has effectively settled U.S. federal tax examinations for tax years before 2015 and state and local examinations for tax years before 2013, with limited exceptions. Furthermore, the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are generally no longer subject to income tax examinations in major foreign taxing jurisdictions for tax years prior to 2015. Certain of the Company's state income tax returns in various jurisdictions are currently under examination and it is possible that these examinations will conclude within the next twelve months. However, it is not possible to estimate net increases or decreases in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months.