Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Income Taxes

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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

Income tax provisions for the Company's interim periods are based on the effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year. The Company's consolidated income taxes for the six months ended March 31, 2019 were an expense of $440, compared to an income tax benefit of $23,015 for the first six months of fiscal 2018. The differences between the Company’s fiscal 2019 six month effective tax rate and the fiscal 2018 six month effective tax rate primarily resulted from the implementation of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act”) during fiscal 2018. The Company’s fiscal 2019 six month effective tax rate varied from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to tax planning completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 that resulted in a discrete tax benefit. As of December 31, 2018, the Company completed its analysis of the impact of the Tax Act in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 and the amounts are no longer considered provisional.

Foreign tax effects: The Company completed the estimate for its one-time transition tax for all of its foreign subsidiaries, resulting in a decrease in income tax expense of $300 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The one-time transition tax was calculated using an estimate of the Company’s total post-1986 earnings and profits (“E&P”) that were previously deferred from U.S. income taxes. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings or any additional outside basis difference inherent in these entities, as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations.

Global intangible low taxed income ("GILTI"): The Tax Act created a new requirement that certain income earned by foreign subsidiaries must be included currently in the gross income of the U.S. shareholder. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is permitted to make an accounting policy election to either treat taxes due on future inclusions in U.S. taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred or to factor such amounts into the Company's measurement of its deferred taxes. The Company has made the election to treat taxes due on future inclusions related to GILTI as current period expense. The Company was able to make reasonable estimates to calculate a provision that is included in the current period expense. The Company will continue to evaluate and update this provision and the application of ASC 740 - Income Taxes.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits (excluding penalties and interest) of $14,473 and $14,827 on March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, of which $10,365 and $10,718 would impact the annual effective rate. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $2,092 in the next 12 months primarily due to the completion of audits and the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The Company classifies interest and penalties on tax uncertainties as a component of the provision for income taxes. Total penalties and interest accrued were $2,686 and $2,229 at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively.  These accruals may potentially be applicable in the event of an unfavorable outcome of uncertain tax positions.

The Company is currently under examination in several tax jurisdictions and remains subject to examination until the statute of limitations expires for those tax jurisdictions.  As of March 31, 2019, the tax years that remain subject to examination by major jurisdiction generally are:
United States – Federal
2015 and forward
United States – State
2014 and forward
Canada
2015 and forward
Germany
2015 and forward
United Kingdom
2017 and forward
Australia
2014 and forward
Singapore
2014 and forward