19.

Income Taxes

Mattel’s provision for income taxes was $102.5 million and $118.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, Mattel recognized net discrete tax benefits of $17.0 million and $32.2 million, respectively, primarily related to reassessments of prior years’ tax liabilities based on the status of current audits and tax filings in various jurisdictions, settlements, and enacted tax law changes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, Mattel recognized net discrete tax benefits of $5.5 million and $16.0 million, primarily related to reassessments of prior years’ tax liabilities based on the status of audits and tax filings in various jurisdictions, settlements, and enacted tax law changes.

In August of 2013, Mattel reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Office of Appeals regarding all unresolved issues in the IRS’s examination of Mattel’s 2008 and 2009 federal income tax returns. As a result, Mattel’s total unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $190.0 million. A majority of the decrease related to a capital loss for which Mattel recognized no financial statement benefit.

In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by the IRS. The IRS is currently auditing Mattel’s 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns. The IRS audit plan calls for the completion of the current examination in the first quarter of 2014. While it is reasonably possible that a significant increase or decrease in Mattel’s unrecognized tax benefits may occur in the next twelve months related to this IRS audit, a current estimate of the range of reasonably possible outcomes cannot be made at this time.

Mattel is also regularly audited by state and foreign tax authorities. Based on the current status of state and foreign audits, Mattel believes it is reasonably possible that in the next twelve months, the total unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $5 million related to the settlement of tax audits and/or the expiration of statutes of limitations. The ultimate settlement of any particular issue with the applicable taxing authority could have a material impact on Mattel’s consolidated financial statements.