Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2020


NOTE 6 — INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate was 12.7% and 11.7% for the six months ended November 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in the proportion of earnings taxed in the U.S. and the recognition of a reserve in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 related to Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, where the taxpayer was denied a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court on June 22, 2020, thereby ratifying the Ninth Circuit Court's decision and requiring the inclusion of stock-based compensation in intercompany cost-sharing arrangements. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate was partially offset by discrete items which included a more favorable impact from stock-based compensation.

As of November 30, 2020, total gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest and penalties, were $872 million, $587 million of which would affect the Company's effective tax rate if recognized in future periods. During the six months ended November 30, 2020, the Company recognized $77 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits related to Altera Corp. v. Commissioner discussed above, of which $71 million impacted the effective tax rate. The majority of the total gross unrecognized tax benefits are long-term in nature and included within Deferred income taxes and other liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of May 31, 2020, total gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest and penalties, were $771 million. The liability for payment of interest and penalties increased by $33 million during the six months ended November 30, 2020. As of November 30, 2020 and May 31, 2020, accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions were $191 million and $158 million, respectively (excluding federal benefit).

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States, as well as various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently under audit by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") for fiscal years 2017 through 2019. The Company has closed all U.S. federal income tax matters through fiscal 2016, with the exception of certain transfer pricing adjustments.

Tax years after 2009 remain open in certain major foreign jurisdictions. Although the timing of resolution of audits is not certain, the Company evaluates all domestic and foreign audit issues in the aggregate, along with the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations, and estimates that it is reasonably possible the total gross unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $60 million within the next 12 months. In January 2019, the European Commission opened a formal investigation to examine whether the Netherlands has breached State Aid rules when granting certain tax rulings to the Company. The Company believes the investigation is without merit. If this matter is adversely resolved, the Netherlands may be required to assess additional amounts with respect to current and prior periods, and the Company's Netherlands income taxes in the future could increase.