INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision for interim periods is comprised of tax on ordinary income provided at the most recent estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for the tax effect of discrete items.  We estimate the annual effective tax rate quarterly based on the forecasted pre-tax results of our U.S. and non-U.S. operations. Items unrelated to current year ordinary income are recognized entirely in the period identified as a discrete item of tax.  These discrete items generally relate to changes in tax laws, adjustments to the actual liability determined upon filing tax returns, excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation and adjustments to previously recorded reserves for uncertain tax positions. For discussion of income tax accounting policies and other income tax related information, see Notes 2 and 18 of our 2021 Form 10-K.

Effective tax rate

Our effective income tax rate of 22.4% for the six months ended March 31, 2022 was higher than the 21.7% effective tax rate for our fiscal year 2021. The higher effective income tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2022 primarily resulted from the negative impact of nondeductible valuation losses associated with our company-owned life insurance policies that were recognized during the current year-to-date period compared to fiscal year 2021 which had non-taxable gains, partially offset by the impact of a larger current year tax benefit related to share-based compensation that vested during the year.

Uncertain tax positions

Although management cannot predict with any degree of certainty the timing of ultimate resolution of matters under review by various taxing jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that our uncertain tax position liability balance may decrease within the next 12 months by up to $13 million as a result of the expiration of statutes of limitations and the completion of tax authorities’ examinations.