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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES
At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date earnings or loss. The income tax provision or benefit related to significant, unusual, or extraordinary items, if applicable, that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effects are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which they occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates, tax status, judgment on the realizability of a beginning-of-the-year deferred tax asset in future years or unrecognized tax benefits is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs.
The computation of the annual expected effective income tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected pre-tax income (or loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income (and/or loss) earned and taxed in foreign jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision or benefit for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained or our tax environment changes. To the extent that the expected annual effective income tax rate changes during a quarter, the effect of the change on prior quarters is included in income tax provision in the quarter in which the change occurs.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax benefit, despite pre-tax income, of $18.2 million and $15.9 million, due primarily to excess tax benefits generated by the exercise and vesting of stock-based awards, a reduction in the Transition Tax described below, and research credits. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit, despite pre-tax income, of $279.5 million and $322.8 million, respectively, due primarily to excess tax benefits generated by the exercise and vesting of stock-based awards.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act subjected to U.S. taxation certain previously deferred earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 (“Transition Tax”) and implemented a number of changes that took effect on January 1, 2018, including but not limited to, a reduction of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and a new minimum tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by foreign subsidiaries. The Company was able to make a reasonable estimate of the Transition Tax and recorded a provisional tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company finalized this calculation, which resulted in a $9.2 million reduction in the Transition Tax. The net reduction in the Transition Tax was due primarily to the utilization of additional foreign tax credits and a reduction in state taxes, partially offset by additional taxable earnings and profits of our foreign subsidiaries based on recently issued Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") guidance. The adjustment of the Company’s provisional tax expense was recorded as a change in estimate in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is also included in the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which was issued and adopted by the Company in March 2018. Despite the completion of the Company’s accounting for the Tax Act under SAB 118, many aspects of the law remain unclear and we expect ongoing guidance to be issued at both the federal and state levels. We will continue to monitor and assess the impact of any new developments.
The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision. Accruals for interest and penalties are not material.
The Company is routinely under audit by federal, state, local and foreign authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. The IRS is currently auditing the Company’s federal income tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2010 through 2016. The statute of limitations for the years 2010 through 2012 has been extended to December 31, 2019, and the statute of limitations for the years 2013 and 2014 has been extended to March 31, 2019. Various other jurisdictions are open to examination for tax years beginning with 2009. Income taxes payable include unrecognized tax benefits considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes and, therefore, may require periodic adjustments. Although management currently believes changes in unrecognized tax benefits from period to period and differences between amounts paid, if any, upon resolution of issues raised in audits and amounts previously provided will not have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future.
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, are $43.7 million and $39.7 million, respectively. If unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2018 are subsequently recognized, $40.6 million, net of related deferred tax assets and interest, would reduce income tax expense. The comparable amount as of December 31, 2017 was $37.2 million. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $14.6 million by September 30, 2019, due to expirations of statutes of limitations; $14.3 million of which would reduce the income tax provision.
The Company regularly assesses the realizability of deferred tax assets considering all available evidence including, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of prior cumulative losses, forecasts of future taxable income, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, available tax planning and historical experience, to the extent these items are applicable. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has a gross deferred tax asset of $149.0 million that the Company expects to fully utilize on a more likely than not basis.