2.2.0.25falsefalse0208 - Disclosure - Income Taxestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000929008duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseIncome Taxes [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>8. INCOME TAXES</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was 28.4% and 29.5%, respectively. WESCO’s effective tax rate is lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to benefits resulting from the recapitalization of Canadian operations, which are partially offset by nondeductible expenses, state taxes and foreign rate differences. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2011 reflects discrete benefits totaling $1.4 million related to state taxes and an adjustment for uncertain tax positions, partially offset by a discrete adjustment of $0.4 million related to an increase in state tax rates. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 included discrete adjustments of $0.5 million related to foreign taxes partially offset by favorable tax positions. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits were $2.4 million and $3.4 million as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. If these tax benefits were recognized in the consolidated financial statements, the portion of these amounts that would reduce WESCO’s effective tax rate would be $0.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively. During the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change by $2.7 million due to the resolution of federal, state and foreign tax examinations. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     WESCO records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of interest expense in the consolidated statement of income. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, WESCO had an accrued liability for interest related to uncertain tax positions of $9.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively. Penalties are recognized as part of income tax expense. There were no penalties recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2011 or 2010. </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire income tax disclosure. Examples include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 falsefalseINCOME TAXES12Income TaxesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue