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INCOME TAXES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
NOTE 3—INCOME TAXES
U.S. and foreign earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows:
 Years Ended December 31,
 202420232022
 (In thousands)
U.S. $677,842 $708,333 $651,406 
Foreign26,214 68,448 (273,915)
        Total$704,056 $776,781 $377,491 
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows:
 Years Ended December 31,
 202420232022
 (In thousands)
Current income tax provision:  
Federal$106,510 $54,523 $5,703 
State18,039 16,136 4,069 
Foreign43,146 28,038 35,542 
      Current income tax provision167,695 98,697 45,314 
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision:   
Federal(2,672)33,267 76,185 
State(5,916)(669)6,076 
Foreign(6,364)(5,986)(112,214)
      Deferred income tax (benefit) provision (14,952)26,612 (29,953)
      Income tax provision$152,743 $125,309 $15,361 
On December 15, 2022, the European Union (“EU”) Member State formally adopted the EU’s Pillar Two Directive, which generally provides for a minimum effective tax rate of 15% as established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Pillar Two Framework (“OECD Pillar Two Framework”). The EU effective dates are January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025, for different aspects of the directive. A significant number of other countries have enacted or are currently drafting legislation to implement the OECD Pillar Two
Framework. The Company analyzed the impact of enacted legislation and determined it does not have a material impact to the tax provision.
The tax effects of cumulative temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below. The valuation allowance is primarily related to deferred tax assets for foreign net operating losses.
 December 31,
 20242023
 (In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:  
Net operating loss carryforwards$165,959 $177,740 
Tax credit carryforwards71,222 89,737 
Capitalized research expenses127,428 89,979 
Disallowed interest carryforwards6,837 31,531 
Stock-based compensation30,671 27,448 
Accrued expenses19,963 21,382 
Exchangeable notes28,821 36,891 
Other30,295 34,822 
Total deferred tax assets481,196 509,530 
Less valuation allowance(156,710)(159,675)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance324,486 349,855 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Intangible assets(45,769)(65,349)
Right-of-use assets(19,981)(22,657)
Property and equipment(4,403)(22,738)
Other(3,546)(5,610)
Total deferred tax liabilities(73,699)(116,354)
Net deferred tax assets$250,787 $233,501 
Deferred income tax balances reflect the effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases and are stated at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid or recovered.
At December 31, 2024, the Company has federal and state net operating losses (“NOLs”) of $5.9 million and $117.5 million, respectively. While subject to limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue code and other separate return limitations, federal NOLs of $5.5 million are expected to be used through 2037. Of the state NOLs, $1.3 million can be carried forward indefinitely and $116.2 million will expire at various times between 2025 and 2044. State NOLs of $104.1 million can be used against future taxable income without restriction and the remaining NOLs are subject to separate return limitations under applicable state law. At December 31, 2024, the Company has foreign NOLs of $662.8 million available to offset future income. Of these foreign NOLs, $133.2 million can be carried forward indefinitely and $529.6 million will expire at various times between 2025 and 2041. Foreign NOLs of $558.4 million can be used against future taxable income without restriction and the remaining NOLs are subject to limitation under each respective taxing jurisdiction’s law. During 2024, the Company recognized tax benefits related to NOLs of $2.8 million. At December 31, 2024, the Company has foreign disallowed interest carryforwards of $24.2 million that can be carried forward indefinitely and can be used against future taxable income.
At December 31, 2024, the Company has tax credit carryforwards of $84.7 million. Of this amount, $59.9 million relates to state and foreign tax credits for research activities, of which $7.6 million will expire at various times between 2030 and 2044. Our credit carryforwards also include $22.7 million of domestic foreign tax
credits, which will expire at various times between 2027 and 2033. Additionally, the Company has $2.1 million of other credits, primarily consisting of foreign employment tax credits which expire at various times between 2030 and 2032.
The Company regularly assesses the realizability of deferred tax assets considering all available evidence, including, to the extent applicable, the nature, frequency, and severity of prior cumulative losses, forecasts of future taxable income, tax filing status, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, available tax planning and historical experience.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a $3.0 million net decrease to the valuation allowance, primarily related to a reduction in the deferred tax rate applied in certain jurisdictions, which was partially offset by an increase related to foreign disallowed interest carryforwards, net operating losses, and other deferred tax assets for which we do not believe a tax benefit is more likely than not to be realized. At December 31, 2024, the Company had a valuation allowance of $156.7 million related to the portion of NOLs, credits, and other deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that the tax benefit will not be realized.
A reconciliation of the income tax provision to the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to earnings before income taxes is shown as follows:
 Years Ended December 31,
 202420232022
 (In thousands)
Income tax provision at the federal statutory rate of 21%
$147,852 $163,124 $79,273 
State income taxes, net of effect of federal tax benefit16,466 15,689 14,454 
Stock-based compensation29,248 32,270 (27,941)
Research credits(17,194)(10,373)(12,611)
Foreign-derived intangible income deduction(41,730)(40,296)(12,646)
Change in valuation allowance8,860 (39,015)(22,621)
Foreign income taxed at a different statutory rate4,637 6,680 (4,104)
Withholding taxes302 891 8,922 
Change in uncertain tax positions(1,376)(5,804)(10,694)
Other, net5,678 2,143 3,329 
Income tax provision$152,743 $125,309 $15,361 
The 2024 income tax provision was impacted by nondeductible stock-based compensation and state income taxes partially offset by benefits from a lower tax rate on U.S. income derived from foreign sources and research credits.
The 2023 income tax provision benefited primarily from (i) the release of a valuation allowance associated with U.S. foreign tax credits that we now expect to utilize, (ii) a lower tax rate on U.S. income derived from foreign sources, and (iii) the generation of federal and state research credits. These benefits were partially offset by state income taxes and nondeductible stock-based compensation.
The 2022 income tax provision benefited primarily from (i) excess tax benefits generated by the exercise and vesting of stock-based awards, (ii) the release of a valuation allowance on certain foreign deferred tax assets that we now expect to utilize, (iii) favorable outcomes of tax audits, and (iv) a lower tax rate on U.S. income derived from foreign sources. The benefits were partially offset by higher state income taxes due to higher taxable income in the U.S.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties but excluding interest, is as follows:
 December 31,
 202420232022
 (In thousands)
Balance at January 1$45,047 $43,340 $50,830 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year13,166 7,397 5,781 
Additions for tax positions of prior years921 4,532 1,938 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years(58)(615)(12,287)
Settlements(9,615)(852)(2,139)
Expiration of applicable statute of limitations(797)(8,755)(783)
Balance at December 31$48,664 $45,047 $43,340 
The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision. Our income tax provision for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, includes an increase (decrease) of interest and penalties of $0.7 million, $(0.3) million, and $(0.3) million, respectively. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, noncurrent income taxes payable include accrued interest and penalties of $1.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
Match Group is routinely under audit by federal, state, local, and foreign authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has substantially completed its audit of the Company’s federal income tax returns for years through December 31, 2019. Although the 2020 tax year is closed to assessment, adjustments to taxable income may still be made if it impacts net operating loss or credit carryforwards coming out of that year. Returns filed in various other jurisdictions are open to examination for tax years beginning with 2013. Although we believe that we have adequately reserved for our uncertain tax positions, the final tax outcome of these matters may vary significantly from our estimates.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, were $50.3 million and $45.8 million, respectively. If unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2024 are subsequently recognized, $46.6 million, net of related deferred tax assets and interest, would reduce income tax expense. The comparable amount as of December 31, 2023 was $41.0 million. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $0.1 million by December 31, 2025, primarily due to settlements and expirations of statutes of limitations.
Generally, our ability to distribute the $260.0 million cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries at December 31, 2024 is limited to that subsidiary’s distributable reserves and after considering other corporate legal restrictions. The remaining excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis of investments in foreign subsidiaries is indefinitely reinvested, and the determination of any deferred tax liability on this amount is not practicable.