Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

On a quarterly basis, the Company estimates the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year and makes changes, if necessary, based on new information or events. The estimated annual effective tax rate is forecasted based on actual historical information and forward-looking estimates and is used to provide for income taxes in interim reporting periods. The Company also recognizes the tax impact of certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, such as the effects of changes in tax laws or rates and impacts from settlements with tax authorities, discretely in the quarter in which they occur.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $5.7 million at an effective income tax rate of 30.2%. The annual effective tax rate differs from the statutory U.S. Federal tax rate due to the impacts of state and local taxes, as well as, foreign earnings and non-deductible compensation. For the three months ended March 31,

2020, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.5 million at an effective income tax rate of 2.8%.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 differs from the statutory U.S. Federal tax rate due to the portion of losses of non-controlling interests that cannot be benefited offset by tax benefits of net operating loss carrybacks as a result of the CARES Act. The increase in effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the same period last year is primarily attributable to the portion of losses of non-controlling interests that cannot be offset by tax benefits of net operating loss carrybacks as a result of the CARES Act that significantly impacted the effective tax rate in 2020.The 2021 effective tax rate can be affected by variances in the estimates and amounts of taxable income among the various states, entities and activity types, realization of tax credits, adjustments from resolution of tax matters under review, valuation allowances and the Company’s assessment of its liability for uncertain tax positions. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions was $44.4 million and $25.4 million as of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively. The unrecognized tax benefits of $44.4 million include $40.6 million recorded as a reduction of the deferred tax asset and refundable credits associated with the Federal Research and Development Credits.