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INCOME TAXES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between book and tax treatment of assets and liabilities and carryforwards to the extent they are realizable. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. In the event that we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, a reduction of the valuation allowance would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the future, a reduction to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

We record a liability for uncertain tax positions that do not meet the more likely than not standard as prescribed by the authoritative guidance for income tax accounting. We record tax benefits for only those positions that we believe will more likely than not be sustained. Unrecognized tax benefits are the differences between tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in tax returns, and the benefits recognized for accounting purposes. We classify uncertain tax positions as long-term liabilities.

Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and our income tax filings are regularly under audit by tax authorities. Any audit result differing from amounts recorded would increase or decrease income in the period that we determine such adjustment is likely. Interest expense and penalties associated with the underpayment of income taxes are included in income tax expense.

Earnings before income taxes were as follows:
(in thousands)For the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
   
Domestic$889,133 $684,661 $689,994 
International172,043 175,311 212,660 
$1,061,176 $859,972 $902,654 
The provision (benefit) for income taxes comprised the following:
(in thousands)For the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Current   
Federal$191,274 $150,099 $112,811 
State40,369 30,529 19,147 
International32,797 35,138 29,288 
264,440 215,766 161,246 
Deferred
Federal(36,501)(31,663)(7,019)
State(6,462)(5,735)(503)
International(5,343)2,515 4,086 
(48,306)(34,883)(3,436)
$216,134 $180,883 $157,810 

The provision for income taxes differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
   
U.S. federal statutory rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit2.7 2.3 2.1 
Taxation on international earnings(0.1)0.6 (0.8)
Foreign derived intangible income(1.4)(1.7)(1.2)
Share-based compensation from settlements(1.3)(1.5)(3.6)
Research and development credit(1.2)(1.1)(0.7)
Other, net0.7 1.4 0.7 
Effective tax rate20.4 %21.0 %17.5 %

Our effective income tax rate was 20.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023, and 21.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023, was lower primarily due to the release of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets in certain international and state jurisdictions where we determined, due to changes in circumstances during the current period, that it is more likely than not that we will realize the associated deferred tax assets.

Income taxes paid, net of refunds received, for the periods ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, were $192.5 million, $239.8 million, and $161.7 million, respectively.

Prior to January 1, 2022, we received benefits from a tax ruling in the Netherlands that documented our mutual understanding of how prior tax laws applied to our circumstances. Primarily as a result of this tax ruling, our net income was higher by $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The benefits from these tax rulings are reflected within the overall benefits received from taxation on international earnings during 2021 in the table above. On December 31, 2021, the Netherlands adopted legislation eliminating the tax benefits related to this tax ruling for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. The year ending December 31, 2021 was the final year that tax benefits were received as a benefit from the tax ruling.

We have determined that unremitted earnings are not indefinitely reinvested to the extent they can be distributed without incurring a significant tax liability. As such, we have recorded a deferred tax liability for foreign withholding tax that will be incurred with respect to the unremitted earnings upon repatriation. We consider all other outside basis differences to be indefinitely reinvested to the extent reversal would incur a significant tax liability. It is not practicable to calculate a deferred tax liability related to such outside basis differences.
The components of the net deferred tax assets (liabilities) included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
(in thousands)December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
  
Assets  
Accrued expenses$44,043 $38,457 
Accounts receivable reserves2,700 2,447 
Deferred revenue6,427 4,671 
Inventory basis differences24,500 9,062 
Property-based differences18,036 20,157 
Intangible asset basis differences47,089 44,196 
Share-based compensation12,061 11,324 
Other2,267 1,273 
Net operating loss carryforwards9,007 8,956 
Tax credit carryforwards12,824 13,370 
Unrealized losses on foreign currency exchange contracts and investments821 227 
Research and development expenditure differences66,705 29,997 
Total assets246,480 184,137 
Valuation allowance(34,793)(39,726)
Total assets, net of valuation allowance211,687 144,411 
Liabilities
Customer acquisition costs(39,318)(37,223)
Property-based differences(52,235)(44,295)
Intangible asset basis differences(6,335)(2,379)
Other(11,639)(8,958)
Unrealized gains on foreign currency exchange contracts and investments(1,813)(4,491)
Total liabilities(111,340)(97,346)
Net deferred tax assets$100,347 $47,065 

As of December 31, 2023, we recorded valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets related to temporary differences, including intangible asset basis differences and net operating loss (“NOL”) and tax credit carryforwards, as it is more likely than not that they will not be realized or utilized within the carryforward period.

The following table summarizes the changes in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets:

(in thousands)For the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
   
Balance at beginning of year$39,726 $39,280 $40,262 
Charges to costs and expense
21 2,200 1,464 
Write-off/cash payments(7,846)(1,537)(1,182)
Foreign currency translation2,892 (217)(1,264)
Balance at the end of the year$34,793 $39,726 $39,280 

As of December 31, 2023, we have NOLs in certain state and international jurisdictions of approximately $39.3 million available to offset future taxable income. Most of these NOLs will expire at various dates between 2024 and 2030 and the remainder have indefinite lives.
The following table summarizes the changes in unrecognized tax positions:
(in thousands)For the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
   
Total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period$22,547 $21,789 $22,484 
Gross increases in unrecognized tax positions as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period
6,366 342 443 
Gross increases in unrecognized tax positions as a result of tax positions taken in the current period3,987 3,197 2,414 
Decreases in unrecognized tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities
(7,535)(1,544)(537)
Decreases in unrecognized tax positions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statutes of limitations(3,045)(1,237)(3,015)
Total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, end of period$22,320 $22,547 $21,789 

Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2023 and 2022, $21.2 million and $20.9 million, respectively, comprise unrecognized tax positions that would, if recognized, affect our effective tax rate. Unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $8.9 million are subject to the lapse in the statutes of limitations during 2024 in various U.S. and international tax jurisdictions.

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we recorded interest expense and penalties related to income taxes, of $2.9 million, $1.3 million, and $1.1 million, respectively, as income tax expense in our consolidated statement of income. At December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we had $3.8 million, $4.2 million, and $3.8 million, respectively, of estimated interest expense and penalties accrued in our consolidated balance sheets.

In the ordinary course of our business, our income tax filings are regularly under audit by tax authorities. While we believe we have appropriately provided for all uncertain tax positions, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater or less than our accrued position. Accordingly, additional provisions on income tax matters, or reductions of previously accrued provisions, could be recorded in the future as we revise our estimates due to changing facts and circumstances or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved. We are currently under tax examinations in various jurisdictions. We anticipate that these examinations will be concluded within the next two years. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations for years before 2015 in any jurisdiction in which we conduct significant taxable activities.