19.

Income Taxes

Mattel’s benefit for income taxes was $40.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to a provision for income taxes of $11.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, Mattel recognized net discrete tax benefits of $40.1 million and $36.4 million, respectively, primarily related to reassessments of prior years’ tax liabilities based on the status of audits and tax filings in various jurisdictions around the world, settlements, and enacted tax law changes. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Mattel recognized net discrete tax benefits of $11.2 million and $15.2 million, respectively, primarily related to reassessments of prior years’ tax liabilities based on the status of audits and tax filings in various jurisdictions around the world, settlements, and enacted tax law changes.

In the first quarter of 2014, Mattel adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which generally requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. However, to the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the applicable tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. Mattel reclassified unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $44 million, primarily recorded within other noncurrent liabilities, against its noncurrent deferred tax assets upon adoption in the first quarter of 2014. There was no impact on Mattel’s operating results.

In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by federal, state, and foreign tax authorities. In May 2014, the IRS completed its audit of Mattel’s 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns. Additionally, the statutes of limitations lapsed with respect to other domestic and foreign jurisdictions. As a result of these events, Mattel recognized net discrete tax benefits of $40.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Based on the current status of federal, 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 $38 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.