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INCOME TAXES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
11. INCOME TAXES
The following table sets forth the components of income before income taxes by jurisdiction:
 Year Ended December 31,
 202320222021
  (In millions) 
United States$739.4 $859.4 $396.8 
Foreign252.6 277.3 185.1 
  Income before income taxes$992.0 $1,136.7 $581.9 
The following table sets forth the components of the provision for income taxes:
 Year Ended December 31,
 202320222021
  (In millions) 
Current income taxes:   
  Federal$124.8 $166.1 $107.9 
State34.6 43.0 30.2 
Foreign74.4 66.7 55.7 
Total current income taxes233.8 275.8 193.8 
Deferred income taxes:   
Federal(1.0)(7.5)(62.3)
State2.7 0.7 (12.3)
Foreign(9.6)5.6 (3.7)
Total deferred income taxes(7.9)(1.2)(78.3)
 Provision for income taxes$225.9 $274.5 $115.5 

The following table sets forth the reconciliation between the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective tax rate:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Federal statutory rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit3.0 3.1 2.0 
Tax effect of intercompany financing(0.9)(1.2)(3.2)
Unrecognized tax benefits— 0.3 2.5 
Nondeductible expenses— 0.3 0.6 
Change in valuation allowance(0.9)(0.9)(2.8)
Effect of cross-border tax laws
1.4 1.4 (1.1)
Other(0.8)0.2 0.9 
Effective tax rate22.8 %24.2 %19.9 %
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was enacted into U.S. law, which includes implementation of a new corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”), among other provisions. The CAMT imposes a minimum tax of 15% on the adjusted financial statement income (“AFSI”) of certain corporations with average annual AFSI over a three-year period in excess of $1 billion, so-called “applicable corporations”. CAMT is effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. The Company was not subject to CAMT in 2023 and does not expect to be subject to it in 2024.
The undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $2,194.1 million as of December 31, 2023. Most of these earnings have been taxed in the U.S. under either the one-time transition tax or the GILTI tax regime imposed by the TCJA. Wesco has elected to pay the transition tax in installments over an eight year period ending in 2026. As of December 31, 2023, the Company's remaining liability for the transition tax was $53.8 million, which is recorded as components of other current and noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company continues to assert that the remaining undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries are indefinitely reinvested. The distribution of earnings by Wesco's foreign subsidiaries in the form of dividends, or otherwise, may be subject to additional taxation. The Company estimates that additional taxes of approximately $119.3 million would be payable upon the remittance of all previously undistributed foreign earnings as of December 31, 2023, based upon the laws in effect on that date. The Company believes that it is able to maintain sufficient liquidity for its domestic operations and commitments without repatriating cash from Wesco's foreign subsidiaries.
The following table sets forth deferred tax assets and liabilities:
 As of December 31,
 20232022
  (In millions) 
 AssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
Accounts receivable$23.3 $— $21.0 $— 
Inventories45.9 — 23.9 — 
Depreciation of property, buildings and equipment— 41.0 — 46.9 
Operating leases201.8 192.0 169.3 165.2 
Amortization of intangible assets— 564.5 — 575.4 
Employee benefits21.5 — 36.5 — 
Stock-based compensation11.2 — 14.1 — 
Prepaid royalty payments— — 14.0 — 
Disallowed business interest expense1.9 — 4.8 — 
Net operating loss carryforwards
36.7 — 32.0 — 
Foreign tax credit carryforwards41.1 — 52.2 — 
Other38.3 10.3 37.3 10.5 
Deferred income taxes before valuation allowance421.7 807.8 405.1 797.9 
Valuation allowance(23.5)— (33.7)— 
Total deferred income taxes$398.2 $807.8 $371.4 $797.9 
Wesco had deferred tax assets of $31.4 million and $27.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards. These net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2026 through 2043, while some may be carried forward indefinitely. The Company has determined that certain foreign net operating loss carryforwards will not be realized before they expire. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $12.9 million and $16.7 million against deferred tax assets related to certain foreign net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, these foreign jurisdictions had deferred tax assets of $6.1 million and $10.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to other future deductible temporary differences. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against these amounts as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Wesco had deferred tax assets of $3.0 million and $4.4 million, respectively, related to state net operating loss carryforwards. These net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2024 through 2041, while some may be carried forward indefinitely. The Company has determined that certain state net operating loss carryforwards will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $1.0 million against deferred tax assets related to certain state net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Wesco had deferred tax assets of $1.9 million and $4.8 million, respectively, related to disallowed business interest expense for state income tax purposes. The carryforward period for disallowed business interest expense is indefinite. The Company has determined that certain state disallowed business interest expense carryforwards will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $0.5 million against deferred tax assets related to certain state disallowed business interest expense carryforwards as of December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Wesco had deferred tax assets of $41.1 million and $52.2 million, respectively, related to foreign tax credit carryforwards. The foreign tax credit carryforwards expire beginning in 2027 through 2033. The Company has determined that certain foreign tax credit carryforwards will not be realized before they expire. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $2.9 million and $6.1 million against these deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Wesco’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets related to foreign tax credit carryforwards may be impacted by U.S. tax legislation, our ability to generate sufficient foreign source taxable income, and tax planning strategies that the Company may implement. The impact of these items, if any, on Wesco's assessment of the realizability of these deferred tax assets will be recorded as a discrete item in the period in which the Company's assessment changes.
The Company is under examination by tax authorities in various jurisdictions and remains subject to examination until the applicable statutes of limitation expire. The statutes of limitation for the material jurisdictions in which the Company files income tax returns remain open as follows:
United States — Federal2020 and forward
United States — Material States2017 and forward
Canada2012 and forward
UK2018 and forward
Australia2018 and forward
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits:
 As of December 31,
 202320222021
 (In millions)
Beginning balance January 1$109.3 $107.3 $68.1 
Additions for current year tax positions29.2 14.4 39.8 
Additions for prior year tax positions6.6 0.9 8.4 
Additions for acquired tax positions0.9 5.5 — 
Reductions for prior year tax positions(6.7)(1.8)(3.9)
Settlements(2.5)— (0.1)
Lapse in statute of limitations(15.8)(14.5)(3.8)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes0.3 (2.6)(1.2)
Ending balance December 31$121.3 $109.3 $107.3 
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate if recognized in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $40.1 million, $40.6 million, and $36.1 million, respectively. Within the next twelve months, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits is expected to decrease by $16.5 million due to the expiration of statutes of limitation. Such change would result in a $7.6 million reduction in income tax expense.
The Company classifies interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The Company recognized interest income on unrecognized tax benefits of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company recognized interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits of $2.3 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Wesco had a liability of $8.9 million and $9.6 million, respectively, for interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company classifies penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of income tax expense. Penalties recorded in income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 , 2022 and 2021 were immaterial. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Wesco had a liability of $4.7 million and $4.8 million, respectively, for penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.
On October 22, 2021, one of the Company's Mexican affiliates received a tax assessment from the Mexican tax authorities in the amount of approximately $26.0 million related to its 2012 income tax return. This amount, updated for adjustments required under Mexican law, was approximately $33.0 million as of December 31, 2023. The Company believes the assessment is without merit and has filed an annulment lawsuit in the Mexican Federal Court of Administrative Justice. The Company expects to prevail in this litigation and, accordingly, has not recognized a liability for this assessment in its consolidated financial statements.
In July 2022, one of the Company's Canadian affiliates received tax assessments from the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) totaling approximately $11.0 million, including tax and interest, related to its 2012 through 2014 income tax returns. The Company's Canadian affiliate received a related penalty assessment of approximately $2.7 million in May 2023. The Company believes these assessments are without merit and has appealed to the Tax Court of Canada. The Company intends to avail itself of all avenues to appeal, as necessary to overturn the assessments and expects to prevail. Therefore, the Company has not recognized a liability for these assessments in its consolidated financial statements. The CRA continues to audit the 2015 and 2016 tax years of Wesco's Canadian affiliates and has made inquiries into their 2017 through 2019 income tax returns. The Company expects to eventually receive similar assessments for these tax years.