Note 12. Income Taxes

The Company calculates its interim income tax provision in accordance with ASC 270, “Interim Reporting,” and ASC 740 “Accounting for Income Taxes” (together, “ASC 740”). In general, at the end of each interim period, the Company estimates the annual effective tax rate for foreign operations and applies that rate to its ordinary foreign quarterly earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and consistent with prior quarters, the discrete method was used to calculate the Company's U.S. interim tax expense as the annual effective rate was not considered a reliable estimate of year-to-date income tax expense. Under the discrete method, the Company determines its U.S. tax expense based upon actual results as if the interim period were an annual period. The Company's full U.S. valuation allowance position and the seasonality of the Company's business create results with significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and pre-tax income for the interim periods. As a result, the use of the discrete method is more appropriate than the annual effective tax rate method.

The realization of deferred tax assets, including loss and credit carry forwards, is subject to the Company generating sufficient taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences become realizable. Due to the Company's taxable losses in the United States over the last few years, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. At each quarter end that a valuation allowance is maintained, as the U.S. deferred tax assets are adjusted upwards or downwards, the associated valuation allowance and income tax expense will be adjusted. If sufficient positive evidence arises in the future, such as a sustained return to profitability in the U.S. business, any existing valuation allowance could be reversed as appropriate, decreasing income tax expense in the period that such conclusion is reached.

The provision for income taxes is primarily comprised of taxes related to the Company's foreign operations. The income tax provision for the third quarter of 2013 and 2012 was $1,037,000 and $750,000, respectively. This increase was primarily due to the release of certain unrecognized tax benefit liabilities in the third quarter of 2012 due to the lapse of statutes of limitation. The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was $4,941,000 and $2,654,000, respectively. This increase resulted primarily from the sale of indefinite lived assets relating to the Top-Flite and Ben Hogan brands in the first quarter of 2012.

At September 30, 2013, the liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions was $8,484,000. This amount could be reduced by $2,798,000 of offsetting tax benefits associated with the correlative effects of potential transfer pricing adjustments as well as $3,063,000 of deferred taxes. The net amount of $2,623,000, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements and effective income tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefit liabilities are expected to decrease approximately $1,904,000 during the next 12 months.

The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company's provision for income taxes includes charges of $58,000 and a benefit of $61,000, respectively, related to interest and penalties. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company's provision for income taxes includes a benefit of $150,000 and charges of $29,000, respectively, related to interest and penalties. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the gross amount of accrued interest and penalties included in income taxes payable in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets was $920,000 and $1,245,000, respectively.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities in the following major jurisdictions:



Tax Jurisdiction	Years No Longer Subject to Audit
U.S. federal	2008 and prior
California (United States)	2007 and prior
Canada	2005 and prior
Japan	2006 and prior
South Korea	2008 and prior
United Kingdom	2008 and prior

Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, use of the Company's NOL and credit carry-forwards may be limited significantly if the Company were to experience a cumulative change in ownership of the Company's stock by “5-percent shareholders” that exceeds 50% over a rolling three-year period. The Company does not believe there has been a cumulative change in ownership in excess of 50% during that period. The Company continues to monitor changes in ownership. If such a cumulative change did occur in any three year period and the Company was limited in the amount of losses it could use to offset taxable income, the Company's results of operations and cash flows would be adversely impacted.