Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate was 17.2% and 18.9% during the quarters ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The provision for income taxes during interim quarterly reporting periods is based on our estimates of the effective tax rates for the full fiscal year. The effective tax rate in any quarter can also be affected positively or negatively by adjustments that are required to be reported in the specific quarter of resolution.

The effective tax rates for the quarters ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were both favorably impacted by the recording of excess tax benefits relating to stock awards. The impact is dependent upon grants of share-based compensation and the future stock price in relation to the fair value of awards on the grant date. The increase in stock price for awards that vested in December 2022 resulted in an increased net excess tax benefit for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

A provision enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act requires companies to capitalize research and experimental expenditures for tax purposes. The provision is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2021, which means that it was effective for our fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022. While this provision is not expected to have a material impact on our fiscal 2023 effective tax rate, we expect our fiscal 2023 cash tax payments and related deferred tax asset positions to increase significantly compared to fiscal 2022.

The total unrecognized tax benefit for uncertain tax positions was estimated to be $13.8 million and $13.0 million at December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2022, respectively. We recognize interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as part of the provision for income taxes in our condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. We accrued interest of $0.7 million and $0.5 million related to unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2022, respectively.