INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2025

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

NOTE 5 — INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate was 15.7% and 15.6% for the nine months ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, respectively. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate was primarily due to decreased benefits from stock-based compensation and one-time benefits recognized in the first nine months of fiscal 2024 including the impact of temporary relief provided by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") relating to U.S. foreign tax credit regulations. On July 21, 2023, the IRS issued Notice 2023-55 which specifically delayed the application of certain U.S. foreign tax credit regulations that had previously limited the Company's ability to claim credits on certain foreign taxes for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2023. As a result of this guidance, the Company recognized a one-time tax benefit related to fiscal 2023 tax positions in the first three months of fiscal 2024.

These impacts were largely offset by a one-time, non-cash deferred tax benefit recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 provided by recently finalized U.S. tax regulations. On December 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury published final regulations related to Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 987 foreign currency gains and losses derived from translation of the operations, assets and liabilities of non-U.S. qualified business units. While these regulations are effective for the Company beginning June 1, 2025, they require computation of a pre-transition foreign currency gain or loss to be included in the determination of future taxable income or loss. Based on the Company’s current analysis of the regulations and recognition of temporary differences impacting U.S. taxation of foreign earnings under Subpart F of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company recognized a non-cash deferred income tax benefit of $133 million related to pre-transition foreign currency losses expected to reduce taxable income in future periods.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the "Inclusive Framework") have put forth Pillar Two proposals that ensure a minimal level of taxation. Several countries in which the Company operates, including several European Union member states, have adopted domestic legislation to implement the Inclusive Framework's global corporate minimum tax rate of fifteen percent. This legislation became effective for the Company beginning June 1, 2024. Based on the Company's current analysis of Pillar Two provisions, these tax law changes did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 and are not expected to for fiscal 2025.

As of February 28, 2025, total gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest and penalties, were $1,004 million, $737 million of which would affect the Company's effective tax rate if recognized in future periods. 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, 2024, total gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest and penalties, were $990 million. As of February 28, 2025 and May 31, 2024, accrued interest and penalties

related to uncertain tax positions were $363 million and $332 million, respectively, (excluding federal benefit) and included within Deferred income taxes and other liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S., 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 2023. 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 2011 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 $226 million within the next 12 months primarily as a result of the expected resolution with the IRS of certain U.S. federal income tax matters for fiscal years 2017 through 2019 related to transfer pricing adjustments, research and development credits and other items.

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 prior periods, and the Company's income taxes related to prior periods in the Netherlands could increase.