XML 46 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2014
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, benefit from employee stock option activity     $ 800,000us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition $ 1,300,000us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition $ 1,300,000us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition  
Impairment charges 58,900,000powi_ImpairmentChargesAndWriteOffOfAssetsRelatedToClosure          
Tax benefit recorded due to impairment charge 8,000,000powi_IncomeTaxBenefitAssetImpairmentAndWriteOff          
Interest from examination   5,700,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationInterestExpense        
Provision and interest expense net of reversal of unrecognized tax benefits   18,100,000powi_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentfromSettlementwithTaxingAuthorityNetofRecognitionofUnrecognizedTaxBenefits        
U.S. and foreign components of income before income taxes [Abstract]            
U.S. operations     (5,064,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic 1,936,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic (36,178,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic  
Foreign operations     61,878,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 53,491,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 15,396,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign  
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES     56,814,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 55,427,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (20,782,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments  
Current provision:            
Federal     (1,234,000)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit (558,000)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 9,813,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit  
State     (137,000)us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 2,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit (2,083,000)us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit  
Foreign     3,094,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 3,049,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 1,892,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit  
Current provision     1,723,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 2,493,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 9,622,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred provision (benefit):            
Federal     (3,279,000)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (3,633,000)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 2,647,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
State     (284,000)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 0us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 3,109,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Foreign     (890,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (699,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (1,756,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred provision (benefit)     (4,453,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits (4,332,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits 4,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits  
Total     (2,730,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (1,839,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 13,622,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Effective income tax rate reconciliation [Abstract]            
Provision computed at Federal statutory rate     35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate  
State tax provision, net of Federal benefit     0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 8.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes  
Business tax credits     (5.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits (8.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits 4.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits  
Stock-based compensation     (2.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost (2.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost 2.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost  
Foreign income taxed at different rate     (28.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (29.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential 25.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential  
IRS audit settlement     (5.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements (87.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements  
Valuation allowance     2.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (0.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (48.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Other     1.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 2.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (7.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments  
Total     (4.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations (3.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations (65.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations  
Components of deferred income tax asset [Abstract]            
Other reserves and accruals     3,928,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther 6,893,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther    
Tax credit carry-forwards     19,602,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards 12,453,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards    
Stock compensation     5,429,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost 5,964,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost    
Capital losses     11,401,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards 10,307,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards    
Net operating loss     3,680,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards 1,014,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards    
Valuation allowance     (25,828,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (19,271,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance    
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance     18,212,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 17,360,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet    
Depreciation     (3,320,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment (4,226,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment    
Acquired intangibles     (3,502,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets (4,303,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets    
Unremitted earnings     (5,182,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings (2,432,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings    
Other     (1,072,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther (1,107,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther    
Deferred tax liabilities     (13,076,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities (12,068,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities    
Net deferred tax asset     5,136,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet 5,292,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet    
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]            
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Balance at beginning of period     12,694,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 10,813,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 34,855,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 12,694,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Gross Increases for Tax Positions of Current Year     2,117,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 1,881,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 1,110,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions  
Gross Increases for Tax Positions of Prior Years     710,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions   9,344,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions  
Gross Increases for Tax Positions of Prior Years       0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions    
Settlements   (26,900,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (4,361,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (34,496,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities  
Lapse of Statute of Limitations     0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Balance at end of period     11,160,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 12,694,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 10,813,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits  
Unrecognized tax benefits [Abstract]            
Undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries     144,000,000us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries      
Unrecognized tax benefits     11,160,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 12,694,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 10,813,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits  
Income tax benefit that would be recorded if unrecognized tax benefits are recognized     4,900,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate      
Income tax interest and penalties accrued     100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued    
Income tax interest and penalties expense     10,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense      
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority 42,600,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		          
Income tax provision due to examination   44,800,000powi_IncomeTaxProvisionResultingFromExamination
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		        
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax provision due to examination   35,000,000powi_IncomeTaxProvisionResultingFromExamination
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember		        
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority   4,100,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		        
Decrease in valuation allowance   2,200,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		        
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | California Taxing Authority [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards     31,500,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis
= powi_CaliforniaTaxingAuthorityMember		      
Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Tax credit carryforward, amount     10,800,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchMember		      
Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | California Taxing Authority [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Tax credit carryforward, amount     14,900,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis
= powi_CaliforniaTaxingAuthorityMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchMember		      
Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | New Jersey Division of Taxation [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Tax credit carryforward, amount     400,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis
= powi_NewJerseyDivisionofTaxationMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchMember		      
Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Tax credit carryforward, amount     2,300,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchMember		      
Long-term Deferred Tax Assets [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2013-07 [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Effect of adoption of new accounting principle           4,300,000us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
/ us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis
= us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201307Member
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= powi_LongtermDeferredTaxAssetsMemberMember
2007 through 2009 [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority     (3,300,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= powi_TaxYears2007through2009Member		      
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]            
Settlements     (4,100,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= powi_TaxYears2007through2009Member		      
2007 through 2009 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority     (2,800,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= powi_TaxYears2007through2009Member		      
2007 through 2009 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]            
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]            
Income tax liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority     $ (500,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= powi_TaxYears2007through2009Member