Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

13. Income Taxes

We operate on a global basis and are subject to numerous and complex tax laws and regulations. Additionally, tax laws continue to undergo rapid changes in both application and interpretation by various countries, including state aid interpretations and initiatives led by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD"). Our income tax filings are subject to examinations by taxing authorities throughout the world. Income tax audits may require an extended period of time to reach resolution and may result in significant income tax adjustments when interpretation of tax laws or allocation of company profits is disputed. Although ultimate timing is uncertain, the net amount of tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits may change within the next twelve months due to changes in audit status, expiration of statutes of limitations, settlements of tax assessments and other events. Management’s best estimate of such change is within the range of a $400 million decrease to a $20 million increase.

We are under continuous audit by the IRS and have disputes with the IRS and other foreign taxing authorities in the jurisdictions where we operate. In addition, some jurisdictions in which we operate require payment of disputed taxes to petition a court or taxing authority, or we may elect to make such payments prior to final resolution. We record any prepayments as income tax receivables when we believe our position is more likely than not to be upheld. We assess our position on these disputes at each reporting period. During the course of these audits and disputes, we receive proposed adjustments from taxing authorities that may be material. Therefore, there is a possibility that an adverse outcome in these audits or disputes could have a material effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Our U.S. federal income tax returns have been audited through 2015 and are currently under audit for years 2016-2019.

The IRS has proposed adjustments for tax years 2010-2012, primarily related to reallocating profits between certain of our U.S. and foreign subsidiaries, which remain unsettled. We have disputed these adjustments and intend to continue to vigorously defend our positions as we pursue resolution through the administrative process with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals.

The IRS has proposed adjustments for tax years 2013-2015 relating to transfer pricing involving our cost sharing agreement between the U.S. and Switzerland affiliated companies and reallocating profits between certain of our U.S. and foreign subsidiaries. This includes a proposed increase to our U.S. federal taxable income, which would result in additional tax expense related to 2013 of approximately $370 million, subject to interest and penalties related to our cost sharing agreement. We strongly believe that the position of the IRS, with regard to this matter, is inconsistent with the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing our cost sharing agreement. We intend to vigorously contest the adjustment, and we will pursue all available administrative and, if necessary, judicial remedies. If we pursue judicial remedies in the U.S. Tax Court for years 2013-2015, a number of years will likely elapse before such matters are finally resolved. No payment of any amount related to this matter is required to be made, if at all, until all applicable proceedings have been completed.

In the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2023, our effective tax rate (“ETR”) was 24.2 percent and 21.5 percent, respectively, compared to 22.8 percent and 24.5 percent in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The 24.2 percent and 21.5 percent ETR in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2023, respectively, was primarily driven by reorganizing the ownership structure of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries in the second quarter of 2023. The 22.8 percent and 24.5 percent ETR in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, respectively, was primarily driven by the loss on our investment in ZimVie which is not deductible for tax purposes. Absent discrete tax events, we expect our future ETR will be lower than the U.S. corporate income tax rate of 21.0 percent due to our mix of earnings between U.S. and foreign locations, which have lower corporate income tax rates. Our ETR in future periods could also potentially be impacted by: changes in our mix of pre-tax earnings; changes in tax rates, tax laws or their interpretation; the outcome of various federal, state and foreign audits; the expiration of certain statutes of limitations; and implementation of the OECD Pillar Two rules. Currently, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact of these items on our financial results.