Income Taxes (Text Block)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Income Taxes

Our tax provision as a percentage of income before tax typically differs from the federal statutory rate of 35%, and may vary from period to period, due to fluctuations in the forecast mix of earnings in domestic and international jurisdictions, new or revised tax legislation and accounting pronouncements, tax credits, state income taxes, adjustments to valuation allowances, and uncertain tax positions, among other items.

Our tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 differed from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to the forecasted mix of earnings in domestic and international jurisdictions and losses experienced in jurisdictions with valuation allowances on deferred tax assets.

Our tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 differed from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to the forecasted mix of earnings in domestic and international jurisdictions, estimated benefits of foreign tax credits, the benefit of certain interest expense deductions, and an election under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 338 with respect to a foreign acquisition in 2007.

We classify interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax liabilities and interest income on tax overpayments as components of income tax expense. The net interest and penalties expense recognized were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Net interest and penalties expense	$	170	$	237	$	645	$	1,476

Accrued interest and penalties recorded were as follows:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
Accrued interest	$	1,886	$	1,755
Accrued penalties	2,585		2,671

Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions and the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate were as follows:



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions	$	32,973	$	28,146
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate	31,660		26,980

At September 30, 2015, we are under examination by certain tax authorities for the 2000 to 2013 tax years. The material jurisdictions where we are subject to examination include, among others, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. No material changes have occurred to previously disclosed assessments. We believe we have appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of all tax matters and do not currently anticipate that the ultimate resolution of these examinations will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, future results of operations, or liquidity.

Based upon the timing and outcome of examinations, litigation, the impact of legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments, and the impact of these items on the statute of limitations, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognized tax benefits could change from those recorded within the next twelve months. However, at this time, an estimate of the range of reasonably possible adjustments to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits cannot be made.