Note 16. Income taxes

Income taxes consisted of the following:



		Year Ended September 30,
		2016		2015		2014
Current:
	Federal	$	81,127	$	23,923	$	48,327
	State		6,067		3,108		5,752
	Foreign		9,689		18,343		16,594
Deferred:
	Federal		(40,801)		19,236		(4,378)
	State		(9,054)		751		(2,966)
	Foreign		(1,380)		(5,864)		(1,929)
		$	45,648	$	59,497	$	61,400

Earnings before income taxes by geographical area consisted of the following:



	Year Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2014
United States	$	175,146	$	172,315	$	148,837
Other countries		51,340		68,634		78,407
	$	226,486	$	240,949	$	227,244

Significant components of deferred income taxes presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are related to the following:



		At September 30,
		2016		2015
Deferred tax assets:
	Defined benefit plans, other postretirement	$	13,017	$	12,878
	Foreign net operating loss carryforwards		5,255		6,537
	Inventory		27,332		21,651
	Deferred and stock-based compensation		34,388		31,310
	Defined benefit plans, pension		8,955		4,217
	Deferred revenue		92,213		-
	Other reserves		13,968		9,289
	Tax credits and incentives		7,744		9,162
	Other		7,411		5,963
	Valuation allowance		(3,317)		(6,804)
	Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance		206,966		94,203
Deferred tax liabilities:
	Goodwill and intangibles - net		(99,030)		(98,906)
	Property, plant and equipment		(88,986)		(34,625)
	Other		(2,533)		(3,981)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(190,549)		(137,512)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)		$	16,417	$	(43,309)

Woodward has recorded a net operating loss (“NOL”) deferred tax asset of $5,255 as of September 30, 2016 and $6,537 as of September 30, 2015. A portion of these carryforwards will start to expire in 2018 and are currently offset by a valuation allowance, while the remaining portion has an indefinite carryforward period and has no valuation allowance against it.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Both positive and negative evidence are considered in forming Woodward’s judgment as to whether a valuation allowance is appropriate, and more weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. Valuation allowances are reassessed whenever there are changes in circumstances that may cause a change in judgment. The change in the valuation allowance was primarily the result of current year earnings and projected future earnings in a wholly-owned subsidiary that had net operating losses that are no longer subject to a full valuation allowance.

At September 30, 2016, Woodward has not provided for taxes on undistributed foreign earnings of $335,881 that it considered indefinitely reinvested. These earnings could become subject to income taxes if they are remitted as dividends, are loaned to Woodward or any of Woodward’s subsidiaries located in the United States, or if Woodward sells its stock in the foreign subsidiaries. Any additional U.S. taxes could be offset, in part or in whole, by foreign tax credits. The amount of such taxes and application of tax credits would be dependent on the income tax laws and other circumstances at the time these amounts are repatriated. Based on these variables, it is impractical to determine the income tax liability that might be incurred if these funds were to be repatriated.

On October 14, 2016, the U.S. Treasury issued final regulations that could potentially affect the classification of debt and equity investments within a controlled group of companies (referred to as the Section 385 Regulations). At this time, Woodward does not anticipate that these rules will have a significant impact on Woodward’s tax rate.

The following is a reconciliation of the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate of 35 percent to Woodward’s effective income tax rate:



	Year Ending September 30,
Percent of pretax earnings	2016		2015		2014
Statutory tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	0.4		1.2		1.3
Taxes on international activities	(2.2)		(3.8)		(3.7)
Research credit	(3.6)		(0.8)		(0.7)
Retroactive extension of research credit	(3.2)		(2.4)		-
Net excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(2.6)		-		-
Domestic production activities deduction	(2.1)		(1.6)		(1.3)
Adjustments of prior period tax items	(0.2)		(2.1)		(2.9)
Other items, net	(1.3)		(0.8)		(0.7)
Effective tax rate	20.2	%	24.7	%	27.0	%

In determining the tax amounts in Woodward’s financial statements, estimates are sometimes used that are subsequently adjusted in the actual filing of tax returns or by updated calculations. In addition, Woodward occasionally has resolutions of tax items with tax authorities related to prior years due to the conclusion of audits and the lapse of applicable statutes of limitations. Such adjustments are included in the “Adjustments of prior period tax items” line in the above table. The majority of these adjustments are related to the conclusion of audits, effective settlement, and lapse of applicable statutes of limitations in various tax jurisdictions.

On December 18, 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 was enacted, which permanently extended the R&E Credit. As a result, income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2016 included a net benefit related to the retroactive impact from the last three quarters of fiscal year 2015 of the R&E Credit pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act. In addition, income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2016 included a net benefit related to the full year impact of fiscal year 2016 of the R&E Credit.

On December 19, 2014, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 was enacted, which retroactively extended the R&E Credit through December 31, 2014. As a result, income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2015 included a net benefit related to the retroactive impact from the last three quarters of fiscal year 2014 of the R&E Credit pursuant to the Tax Increase Prevention Act.

As disclosed in Note 2, New accounting standards, Woodward adopted ASU 2016-09 in its second quarter of fiscal year 2016 resulting in the recognition through earnings of a net excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits follows:



	Year Ending September 30,
	2016		2015		2014
Beginning balance	$	21,469	$	22,687	$	22,694
Additions to current year tax positions		3,588		2,234		8,830
Reductions to prior year tax positions		(2,292)		(7,785)		(9,684)
Additions to prior year tax positions		761		5,124		1,844
Lapse of applicable statute of limitations		-		(791)		(997)
Ending balance	$	23,526	$	21,469	$	22,687

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits were $11,426 as of September 30, 2016 and $10,494 as of September 30, 2015 of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. At this time, Woodward estimates that it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by as much as $8,433 in the next twelve months due to the completion of reviews by tax authorities, lapses of statutes, and the settlement of tax positions. Woodward accrues for potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and all other interest and penalties related to tax payments in tax expense. Woodward had accrued gross interest and penalties of $1,273 as of September 30, 2016 and $859 as of September 30, 2015.

Woodward’s tax returns are subject to audits by U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, and these audits are at various stages of completion at any given time. Reviews of tax matters by authorities and lapses of the applicable statutes of limitations may result in changes to tax expense. Fiscal years remaining open to examination in significant foreign jurisdictions include 2008 and forward. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination in the United States include fiscal years 2013 and thereafter. Woodward is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for fiscal year ended September 30, 2014. Woodward has concluded U.S. federal income tax examinations through fiscal year 2012. Woodward is generally subject to U.S. state income tax examinations for fiscal years 2012 and the periods thereafter.