Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31 consists of the following:



	2014			2013			2012
Current:
Federal	$	101,857		$	85,173		$	134,276
State	20,123			15,845			22,072
International	88,707			81,052			52,708
	210,687			182,070			209,056
Deferred:
Federal	(1,097		)	22,973			9,690
State	(2,071		)	2,438			2,572
International	(22,576		)	(25,138		)	(17,676		)
	(25,744		)	273			(5,414		)
	$	184,943		$	182,343		$	203,642

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The principal causes of the difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% and effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31 are as follows:



	2014			2013			2012
United States	$	317,400		$	326,990		$	441,526
International	365,933			255,229			268,833
Income before income taxes	$	683,333		$	582,219		$	710,359

Provision at statutory tax rate	$	239,166		$	203,777		$	248,626
State taxes, net of federal benefit	11,734			11,885			16,019
International effective tax rate differential	(56,865		)	(22,059		)	(43,008		)
Change in valuation allowance	(7,803		)	(8,253		)	(6,266		)
Other non-deductible expenses	4,040			2,840			2,764
Changes in tax accruals	1,335			(1,336		)	(10,613		)
Other	(6,664		)	(4,511		)	(3,880		)
Provision for income taxes	$	184,943		$	182,343		$	203,642

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31 is as follows:



	2014			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of year	$	45,987		$	46,980		$	63,498
Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period	3,792			22,170			448
Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period	(7,737		)	(3,684		)	(11,824		)
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period	5,518			7,593			8,014
Reductions related to settlement of tax matters	(317		)	(24,450		)	(8,288		)
Reductions related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations	(2,542		)	(2,622		)	(4,868		)
Balance at end of year	$	44,701		$	45,987		$	46,980

Summary of Open Tax Years by Major Jurisdiction [Table Text Block]

In many cases the company's uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by tax authorities. The following describes the open tax years, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2014:



United States - Federal		2011 - present
United States - States		2008 - present
Germany (a)		2010 - present
Hong Kong		2008 - present
Italy (a)		2008 - present
Sweden		2008 - present
United Kingdom		2012 - present

(a) Includes federal as well as local jurisdictions.

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

The significant components of the company's deferred tax assets and liabilities, included primarily in "Other current assets," "Other assets," "Accrued expenses," and "Other liabilities" in the company's consolidated balance sheets, consist of the following at December 31:



	2014			2013
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	113,414		$	112,584
Inventory adjustments	42,635			43,009
Allowance for doubtful accounts	16,055			16,513
Accrued expenses	56,178			52,664
Interest carryforward	34,558			44,917
Stock-based compensation awards	11,010			11,507
Other comprehensive income items	19,885			6,206
Other	1,083			1,470
	294,818			288,870
Valuation allowance	(8,353		)	(16,156		)
Total deferred tax assets	$	286,465		$	272,714

Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill	$	(81,716	)	$	(54,261	)
Depreciation	(78,151		)	(65,309		)
Intangible assets	(30,372		)	(66,919		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(190,239	)	$	(186,489	)
Total net deferred tax assets	$	96,226		$	86,225