INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

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 2023 Form 10-K.

Effective tax rate

Our effective income tax rate of 22.1% for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 was lower than the 23.7% effective tax rate for our fiscal year 2023. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to a larger tax benefit recognized during the current period related to nontaxable valuation gains associated with our company-owned life insurance policies compared to that for the fiscal year 2023, as well as a change in the amount of nondeductible fines and penalties compared to fiscal year 2023.

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 $6 million due to expiration of statutes of limitations of federal and state tax returns.