INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes

As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits totaled $9,153, of which $8,912 would impact the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2018, accrued interest and penalties totaled $1,176 and $939, respectively. The Company expects to continue accruing interest expense related to the unrecognized tax benefits described above. The Company may be subject to fluctuations in the unrecognized tax benefit due to currency exchange rate movements.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2018, the Company reached an income tax settlement with the Kenyan Revenue Authority for $1,166. An uncertain tax position had previously been recorded of $2,692, which resulted in a favorable adjustment to tax expense (as the amount was settled for less than it was accrued) which totaled $1,526. Furthermore, the Company recorded additional unrecognized tax benefits of $1,987 for a return position taken in Kenya related to currency exchange losses on its amended Kenyan tax return for years 2013 - 2015. In addition, the Company entered into negotiations with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority during its amnesty program to settle asserted issues. The Company has thus far paid $2,988 and has accrued another $964 in anticipation of the settlement. These amounts have not previously been accrued as an uncertain tax position.

The Company does not currently foresee any changes in the amount of its unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months but acknowledges circumstances can change due to unexpected developments in the law. In certain jurisdictions, tax authorities have challenged positions that the Company has taken that resulted in recognizing benefits that are material to its financial statements. The Company believes it is more likely than not that it will prevail in these situations and accordingly has not

3. INCOME TAXES (continued)

recorded liabilities for these positions. The Company expects the challenged positions to be settled at a time greater than twelve months from its balance sheet date.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a U.S. federal consolidated income tax return as well as returns in several U.S. states and a number of foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s earliest open tax year for U.S. federal income tax purposes is its fiscal year ended March 31, 2015; however, the Company's net operating loss carryovers from prior periods remain subject to adjustment. Open tax years in state and foreign jurisdictions generally range from three to six years.

Enactment of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”)

In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under ASC Topic 740—Income Taxes. As a result of the Tax Act, and in accordance with SAB 118, the Company recorded provisional tax expense in the three months ended December 31, 2017 related to the deemed repatriation tax, the revaluation of deferred tax assets, and adjustments to liabilities related to the repatriation of foreign earnings.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded adjustments to the provisional tax expense initially recorded in the December 31, 2017 financial statements upon adoption of the Tax Act. An adjustment of $1,827 was made, increasing the deemed repatriation tax liability. As a result of this adjustment, deferred taxes related to future remittances of foreign earnings were impacted by an immaterial amount. The changes were a result of additional regulatory guidance that was issued, as well as further analysis of the Tax Act and the Company’s facts and circumstances. Additionally, the Company will continue to be impacted by the expanded interest limitation and the tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”), which the Company has elected to treat as a period cost if and when incurred. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has completed the accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act.

Provision for the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2018 

The effective tax rate used for the nine months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was (65.3)% and 396.4%, respectively. The primary difference in the effective tax rate this year compared to last year is the impact of U.S. tax reform, which resulted in a change in the taxability of operations, principally due to the impact of the new section 163(j) interest addback and GILTI. The impact was accentuated by the net foreign exchange effects. The significant difference in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended December 31, 2018 from the U.S. federal statutory rate is primarily due to the impact of U.S. tax reform and changes resulting from net foreign exchange effects.

The Company's quarterly provision for income taxes has historically been calculated using the annual effective tax rate method (“AETR method”), which applies an estimated annual effective tax rate to pre-tax income or loss. Consistent with the period ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded its interim income tax provision using the discrete method as of December 31, 2018, as allowed under ASC 740-270, Accounting for Income Taxes - Interim Reporting. The Company utilized the discrete method, rather than the AETR method, due to significant variations in income tax expense, primarily driven by U.S. tax reform, relative to projected annual pre-tax income (loss) that would have resulted in a disproportionate and unreliable effective tax rate under the AETR method. Using the discrete method, the Company determined current and deferred income tax expense as if the interim period were an annual period.