Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 18.  Income taxes

The determination of the estimated annual effective tax rate is based upon a number of significant estimates and judgments.  In addition, as a global commercial enterprise, Woodward’s tax expense can be impacted by changes in tax rates or laws, the finalization of tax audits and reviews, changes in the estimate of the amount of undistributed foreign earnings that Woodward considers indefinitely reinvested, issuance of future guidance, interpretation, and rule-making, and other factors that cannot be predicted with certainty.  As such, there can be significant volatility in interim tax provisions.

The following table sets forth the tax expense and the effective tax rate for Woodward’s earnings before income taxes:

	Three-Months Ended March 31,						Six-Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021			2022			2021
Earnings before income taxes	$	54,096		$	78,487		$	91,842		$	126,071
Income tax expense		6,190			10,174			13,631			16,188
Effective tax rate		11.4	%		13.0	%		14.8	%		12.8	%

The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three-months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three-months ended March 31, 2021, is primarily attributable to increased stock-based compensation tax benefit as a percent of quarterly pre-tax earnings and a reduction in U.S. tax on international activities. These favorable impacts to the effective tax rate were partially offset by a smaller research and development credit relative to full-year projected earnings.

The increase in the effective tax rate for the six-months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the six-months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily attributable to decreased stock-based compensation tax benefit as a percent of year-to-date pre-tax earnings. As well as smaller research and development credit and increased state income taxes relative to full-year projected earnings. These unfavorable impacts to the effective tax rate were partially offset by a reduction in the U.S. tax on international activities.

Gross unrecognized tax benefits were $13,423 as of March 31, 2022, and $15,199 as of September 30, 2021.  At March 31, 2022, the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact Woodward’s effective tax rate was $8,588.  At this time, Woodward believes it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by as much as $4,345 in the next twelve months due to the completion of review by tax authorities, lapses of statutes, and the settlement of tax positions.  Woodward’s tax expense includes accruals for potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and all other interest and penalties related to tax payments.

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 limitation may result in changes to tax expense.  Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for U.S. Federal income taxes include fiscal years 2018 and thereafter.  Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for significant U.S. state income tax jurisdictions include fiscal years 2017 and thereafter.  Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination in significant foreign jurisdictions include 2017 and thereafter.