Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020 were 15.9% and 11.3%, respectively. The variances from the 21% federal statutory rate was attributable to the benefits of lower tax rates on foreign earnings and U.S. tax credits. These benefits were partially offset by the impacts of foreign earnings and deemed royalties taxed in the U.S. The Company’s effective tax rate also benefited from certain discrete items, primarily related to share-based compensation.

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2019 were 14.5% and 10.5%, respectively. The variances from the 2019 federal statutory rate of 21% were each attributable to the benefits of lower tax rates on foreign earnings and U.S. tax credits. These benefits were partially offset by the impacts of foreign earnings and deemed royalties taxed in the U.S. The Company’s effective tax rate also benefited from certain discrete items, primarily related to share-based compensation.

On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into tax law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The Company does not believe any of the provisions will materially impact its 2020 effective tax rate. Management continues to monitor developments and guidance on the CARES Act and other coronavirus tax relief throughout the world for potential impacts.

The Company earns a significant amount of its operating income outside of the U.S. Pre-tax earnings outside the U.S. are primarily generated in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Luxembourg, with statutory rates of 19%, 17%, and 25%, respectively. The Company has received an incentivized tax rate by the Singapore Economic Development Board, which reduces the income tax rate to 10.5% from the statutory rate of 17%, and is effective for calendar years 2019 to 2023. The Company has committed to making additional investments in Singapore over the period 2019 to 2022. However, should the Company not make these investments in accordance with the agreement, any incentive benefit would have to be repaid to the Singapore tax authorities.

The Company is not permanently reinvested with respect to its U.S. directly-owned foreign subsidiaries. For periods after 2017, the Company is subject to U.S. income tax on substantially all foreign earnings under the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) enacted in December 2017, while any remaining foreign earnings are eligible for a dividends received deduction under the Act. As a result, future repatriations of earnings will no longer be subject to U.S. income tax but may be subject to currency gains or losses. Additionally, gains and losses on any future taxable dispositions of U.S.-owned foreign affiliates continue to be subject to U.S. tax.

Management evaluates all jurisdictions based on historical pre-tax earnings and taxable income to determine the need for valuation allowances on a quarterly basis. Based on this analysis, a valuation allowance has been recorded for any jurisdictions where, in the Company’s judgment, tax benefits are not expected to be realized.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company is currently undergoing U.S. federal income tax audits for tax years 2017 and 2018. The U.S. federal income tax audit for tax year 2016 concluded during the third quarter of 2020 and did not have a material impact to the financial statements. Additionally, fiscal years 2004 through 2018 remain open to examination by multiple foreign and U.S. state taxing jurisdictions. As of September 26, 2020, no significant uncertain tax positions are expected to be settled within the next twelve months. Due to uncertainties in any tax audit or litigation outcome, the Company’s estimates of the ultimate settlements of uncertain tax positions may change and the actual tax benefits may differ significantly from estimates.