Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.20.4
Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
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 three months ended December 31, 2020 were an expense of $3,980, compared to a benefit of $5,397 for the first three months of fiscal 2020. The differences between the Company’s consolidated income taxes for the first three months of fiscal 2021 versus the same period for fiscal 2020 primarily resulted from the fiscal 2021 first quarter having consolidated pre-tax income while the first quarter of fiscal 2020 had a pre-tax loss. Additionally, fiscal 2021 included discrete tax expenses related to foreign operating losses while fiscal 2020 included discrete tax benefits resulting from the closure of several tax audits. The Company’s fiscal 2021 three-month effective tax rate varied from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to discrete tax expenses recognized in the quarter. The Company’s fiscal 2020 three-month effective tax rate varied from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to state taxes, foreign statutory rate differentials, tax credits, and discrete tax benefits recognized in the quarter.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits (excluding penalties and interest) of $10,771 and $10,483 on December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively, of which $7,557 and $7,066 would impact the annual effective rate at December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $7,803 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 $2,442 and $2,172 at December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively.  These accruals may potentially be applicable in the event of an unfavorable outcome of uncertain tax positions.
Note 12.   Income Taxes (continued)

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 December 31, 2020, the tax years that remain subject to examination by major jurisdiction generally are:

United States – Federal 2017 and forward
United States – State 2016 and forward
Canada 2016 and forward
Germany 2019 and forward
United Kingdom 2019 and forward
Singapore 2017 and forward
Australia 2015 and forward