The estimated annual effective rate is applied to the year-to-date ordinary income at the end of each quarter to compute the estimated year-to-date tax applicable to ordinary income. The tax expense or benefit related to ordinary income in each quarter is equal to the difference between the most recent year-to-date and the prior quarter year-to-date computations.

The determination of the annual effective tax rate is based upon a number of significant estimates and judgments. In addition, as a global commercial enterprise, Woodward’s tax expense can be impacted by changes in tax rates or laws, the finalization of tax audits and reviews, changes in the estimate of the amount of undistributed foreign earnings that Woodward considers indefinitely reinvested, and other factors that cannot be predicted with certainty. As such, there can be significant volatility in interim tax provisions.

Within the calculation of Woodward’s annual effective tax rate, Woodward has used assumptions and estimates that may change as a result of future guidance, interpretation, and rule-making from the IRS, the SEC, and the FASB and/or various other tax jurisdictions. Changes in corporate tax rates, the net deferred tax assets and/or liabilities relating to Woodward’s U.S. operations, the taxation of foreign earnings, and the deductibility of expenses contained in the Tax Act or other future tax reform legislation could have a material impact on Woodward’s future income tax expense.

The following table sets forth the tax expense and the effective tax rate for Woodward’s earnings before income taxes:

	Three-Months Ended						Nine-Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Earnings before income taxes	$	45,016		$	92,314		$	213,763		$	243,997
Income tax expense		6,551			26,207			30,607			51,191
Effective tax rate		14.6	%		28.4	%		14.3	%		21.0	%

The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three-months ended June 30, 2020, compared to the three-months ended June 30, 2019 is primarily attributable to (i) the additional income tax expense resulting from Transition Tax regulations issued by the IRS on June 14, 2019 which did not repeat in the current quarter and (ii) increased foreign earnings in a lower tax jurisdiction resulting from the net gain on the termination of the cross-currency interest rate swaps. This decrease was partially offset by a reduction in certain state tax credits and a smaller favorable net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine-months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine-months ended June 30, 2019 is primarily attributable to (i) the additional income tax expense resulting from Transition Tax regulations issued by the IRS on June 14, 2019 which did not repeat in the current fiscal year (ii) increased foreign earnings in a lower tax jurisdiction resulting from the net gain on the termination of the cross-currency interest rate swaps, and (iii) the tax benefit associated with the impairment of assets sold. This decrease was partially offset by a smaller favorable increase in the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

Gross unrecognized tax benefits were $11,907 as of June 30, 2020, and $10,305 as of September 30, 2019. At June 30, 2020, the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact Woodward’s effective tax rate was $5,159. At this time, Woodward does not believe it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease in the next twelve months. Woodward accrues for potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and all other interest and penalties related to tax payments in tax expense. Woodward had accrued gross interest and penalties of $605 as of June 30, 2020 and $437 as of September 30, 2019.

In March 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security Act” (the “CARES Act”). The CARES Act provides relief from the certain economic impacts of COVID-19 to companies and individuals. Non-income tax impacts of the CARES Act include (i) extension of payment deadliness for certain U.S. payroll taxes and (ii) tax credits for certain qualifying costs incurred by the Company in connection with certain facility closures due to COVID-19. Non-income tax credits are generally recognized as a reduction to costs in the period in which the related costs the credits are intended to compensate are incurred. The non-income tax impacts of the CARES Act were insignificant to the results of operations for the three and nine-months ended June 30, 2020.

Woodward’s tax returns are subject to audits by U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, and these audits are at various stages of completion at any given time. Reviews of tax matters by authorities and lapses of the applicable statutes of limitation may result in changes to tax expense. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for U.S. Federal income taxes include fiscal years 2017 and thereafter. Woodward is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for fiscal year 2017, which included a foreign tax credit carryback to fiscal year 2016. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination for significant U.S. state income tax jurisdictions include fiscal years 2016 and thereafter. Woodward’s fiscal years remaining open to examination in significant foreign jurisdictions include 2016 and thereafter.