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11. Income Taxes
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
11.    INCOME TAXES
 
Our effective income tax rate was (36)% and 23% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2013 was higher than expected due to discrete items related primarily to tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and audit settlements in our foreign jurisdictions. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2013 was negative because of the pretax loss incurred in the third quarter of 2013. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to tax benefits from differences between U.S. and foreign statutory tax rates, and research and development tax credits.
 
Our effective income tax rate was 30% and 28% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 reflected a significant tax benefit related to the 2012 U.S. federal research credit, which was retroactively reinstated on January 2, 2013, as well as discrete items related primarily to our foreign operations. The effective income tax rates for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 were lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to tax benefits from differences between U.S. and foreign statutory tax rates, and research and development tax credits.

Our foreign taxes for all periods resulted primarily from taxable income earned in France and Switzerland. Switzerland's statutory tax rate is significantly lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%. Also, our effective tax rates for all periods were reduced by French tax incentives related to our research and development activities.
    
We file federal, state and foreign income tax returns in many jurisdictions in the United States and abroad. Our income tax returns are audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. We are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2009 and 2010 tax years and by various state and foreign jurisdictions. There are differing interpretations of tax laws and regulations, and as a result, significant disputes may arise with these tax authorities involving issues of the timing and amount of deductions and allocations of income among various tax jurisdictions. We periodically evaluate our exposures associated with our tax filing positions.

As of September 30, 2013, based on the expected outcome of certain examinations or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations for certain jurisdictions, we believe that within the next 12 months it is reasonably possible that our previously unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $1.4 million. Substantially all such amounts will impact our effective income tax rate.

We record liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. We do not believe any currently pending uncertain tax positions will have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements, although an adverse resolution of one or more of these uncertain tax positions in any period may have a material impact on the results of operations for that period.

In September of 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released final regulations regarding the deductibility and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. Compliance with these final regulations will be required with companies’ federal income tax returns for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, although early adoption is available. We are currently assessing these rules and the impact to the financial statements, if any. We do not anticipate that these regulations will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.