Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

Our tax provision is based on (1) our earnings for the period and other factors affecting the tax provision and (2) the operations of foreign branches and subsidiaries that are subject to local income and withholding taxes. Factors that affect our tax rate include our profitability levels in general and the geographical mix of our results. The effective tax rate for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was different than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the geographical mix of revenue and earnings, changes in valuation allowances and uncertain tax positions, and other discrete items; therefore, we do not believe a discussion of the effective tax rate is meaningful. We continue to make an assertion to indefinitely reinvest the unrepatriated earnings of any foreign subsidiary that would incur incremental tax consequences upon the distribution of such earnings.

On March 27, 2020, the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law in the United States. In accordance with the rules and procedures under the CARES Act, we filed certain refund claims to carry back a portion of our U.S. net operating loss. Prior to enactment of the CARES Act, such net operating losses could only be carried forward. As a result, we expect to receive combined refunds of approximately $33 million, of which we have received $10 million as of June 30, 2022. The remaining refunds are classified as accounts receivable, net, in our consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2022. While the exact timing for the receipt of these refunds remains uncertain, we do not anticipate receiving any portion of these refunds in 2022.

We conduct our international operations in jurisdictions that have varying laws and regulations regarding income and other taxes, some of which are subject to interpretation. We recognize the expense or benefit for an uncertain tax position if it is more likely than not to be sustainable upon audit by the applicable taxing authority. If this threshold is met, the uncertain tax position is then measured and recognized at the largest amount that we believe is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

We have accrued a net total of $12 million and $15 million in other long-term liabilities on our balance sheet for worldwide unrecognized tax liabilities as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. We account for any applicable interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of our provision for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. Changes in our management's judgment related to those liabilities would affect our effective income tax rate in the periods of change.

Our tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities in multiple jurisdictions. These audits often take years to complete and settle. The following table lists the earliest tax years open to examination by tax authorities where we have significant operations:

Jurisdiction	Periods
United States	2014
United Kingdom	2019
Norway	2017
Angola	2013
Brazil	2017
Australia	2017

We have ongoing tax audits and judicial tax appeals in various jurisdictions. The outcome of these tax audits and judicial tax appeals may have an impact on uncertain tax positions for income tax returns subsequently filed in those jurisdictions.