Provision for Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for Income Taxes	11. Provision for Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, calculated using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be reflected in the tax return. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In addition, the Company accounts for uncertain tax positions that have reached a minimum recognition threshold. The income tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $20.0 million and $21.7 million, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 26.6% and 26.1%, respectively. The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $30.0 million and $40.0 million, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 25.0% and 23.6%, respectively. The Company's effective tax rate may change over time as the amount or mix of income and taxes changes among the jurisdictions in which the Company is subject to tax. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, excluding penalties and interest, of approximately $19.9 million and $15.9 million which, if recognized, would result in a reduction of the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company recognizes penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately $1.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions was included in other long-term liabilities on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Penalties and interest of $0.1 million were recorded in the provision for income taxes for unrecognized tax benefits during each of the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Penalties and interest of $0.4 million and $0.1 million were recorded in the provision for income taxes for unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company files tax returns in the United States, which includes federal, state and local jurisdictions, and many foreign jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The Company considers Germany, the United States and Switzerland to be its significant tax jurisdictions. The majority of the Company’s earnings are derived in Germany and Switzerland. Accounting for the various federal and local taxing authorities, the statutory rates for 2020 are approximately 30.0% and 18.0% for Germany and Switzerland, respectively. The mix of earnings in those two jurisdictions resulted in an increase of 2.9% from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The tax years 2013 to 2019 are open to examination in Germany and Switzerland. Tax years 2013 to 2019 remain open for examination in the United States. On March 27, 2020 the House passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (The CARES Act), also known as the Third COVID-19 Supplemental Relief bill, and the president of the United States signed the legislation into law. The Company does not expect the provisions of the legislation to have a significant impact on the effective tax rate or the income tax payable and deferred income tax positions of the Company.

Provision for Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

11. Provision for Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, calculated using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be reflected in the tax return. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In addition, the Company accounts for uncertain tax positions that have reached a minimum recognition threshold.

The income tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $20.0 million and $21.7 million, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 26.6% and 26.1%, respectively. The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $30.0 million and $40.0 million, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 25.0% and 23.6%, respectively. The Company's effective tax rate may change over time as the amount or mix of income and taxes changes among the jurisdictions in which the Company is subject to tax.

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, excluding penalties and interest, of approximately $19.9 million and $15.9 million which, if recognized, would result in a reduction of the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company recognizes penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately $1.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions was included in other long-term liabilities on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Penalties and interest of $0.1 million were recorded in the provision for income taxes for unrecognized tax benefits during each of the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Penalties and interest of $0.4 million and $0.1 million were recorded in the provision for income taxes for unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company files tax returns in the United States, which includes federal, state and local jurisdictions, and many foreign jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The Company considers Germany, the United States and Switzerland to be its significant tax jurisdictions. The majority of the Company’s earnings are derived in Germany and Switzerland. Accounting for the various federal and local taxing authorities, the statutory rates for 2020 are approximately 30.0% and 18.0% for Germany and Switzerland, respectively. The mix of earnings in those two jurisdictions resulted in an increase of 2.9% from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The tax years 2013 to 2019 are open to examination in Germany and Switzerland. Tax years 2013 to 2019 remain open for examination in the United States.

On March 27, 2020 the House passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (The CARES Act), also known as the Third COVID-19 Supplemental Relief bill, and the president of the United States signed the legislation into law. The Company does not expect the provisions of the legislation to have a significant impact on the effective tax rate or the income tax payable and deferred income tax positions of the Company.