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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded tax expense of $2.6 million and tax benefit of $5.1 million, respectively. The Company’s income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 is primarily related to an increase in the domestic valuation allowance for U.S. foreign tax credits that are not expected to provide a U.S. tax benefit in future years. The Company’s income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2013 is primarily related to a decrease in deferred tax liabilities reduced by foreign taxes assessable on the dividends of Wynn Macau, S.A. and foreign tax provisions related to international marketing offices. Since June 30, 2010, the Company no longer considers its portion of the tax earnings and profits of Wynn Macau, Limited to be permanently invested. No additional U.S. tax provision has been made with respect to amounts not considered permanently invested as the Company anticipates that U.S. foreign tax credits should be sufficient to eliminate any U.S. tax provision relating to such repatriation. The Company has not provided deferred U.S. income taxes or foreign withholding taxes on temporary differences as these amounts are permanently reinvested. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized income tax benefits related to excess tax deductions associated with stock compensation costs of $2.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Wynn Macau, S.A. has received a 5-year exemption from Macau’s 12% Complementary Tax on casino gaming profits through December 31, 2015. Accordingly, the Company was exempted from the payment of $31.6 million and $26.5 million in such taxes during each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The Company’s non-gaming profits remain subject to the Macau Complementary Tax and casino winnings remain subject to the Macau Special Gaming tax and other levies together totaling 39% in accordance with its concession agreement.
In December 2013, the Company received notification that for the 2014 tax year it had been accepted for the Compliance Maintenance phase of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”), which accelerates IRS examination of key transactions with the goal of resolving any issues before the taxpayer files its return. In the Compliance Maintenance phase, the IRS, at its discretion, may reduce the level of review of the taxpayer’s tax positions based on the complexity and number of issues, and the taxpayer’s history of compliance, cooperation and transparency in the CAP.
In February 2014, the Company received notification that the IRS completed its examination of the Company’s 2012 U.S. income tax return and had no changes. 
In March 2013, the Financial Services Bureau commenced an examination of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Macau income tax returns of Wynn Macau, S.A. Since the examination is in its initial stages, the Company is unable to determine if it will conclude within the next 12 months. The Company believes that its liability for uncertain tax positions is adequate with respect to these years.