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Income Taxes
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
We determine the interim tax benefit (provision) by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate to the year-to-date pretax book income (loss) and adjusting for discrete items during the reporting period, if any. Tax jurisdictions with losses for which tax benefits cannot be realized, as well as significant unusual or infrequently occurring items that are separately reported, are excluded from the annual effective tax rate.

Our tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 of 21% was in line with the federal statutory rate of 21% and overall was impacted by the effect of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, the forecasted mix of earnings in domestic and international jurisdictions, the effect of cross-border tax laws, nondeductible executive compensation, a benefit related to stock-based compensation, tax credits, state taxes, and uncertain tax positions.

While our tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 of 21% was in line with the federal statutory rate of 21%, it was overall impacted by the effect of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, the forecasted mix of earnings in domestic and international jurisdictions, U.S. taxation of foreign earnings including GILTI (Global Intangible Low Taxed Income) tax, net of Section 250 deduction (largely driven by research and development capitalization), Subpart F income, a benefit related to stock-based compensation, tax credits, state taxes, and uncertain tax positions.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidance under the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative aims to minimize perceived tax abuses and modernize global tax policy, including the implementation of a global minimum effective tax rate of 15%. In December 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted OECD Pillar 2 for implementation by European Union member states by December 31, 2023. The resulting legislation in most countries where Itron has significant operations took effect for calendar year 2024. The OECD continues to release more guidance on these rules and framework and we are evaluating the impact to our financial position. These enactments or amendments could adversely affect our tax rate and ultimately result in a negative impact on our operating results and cash flows. Consistent with calculations for calendar year 2024, the Company anticipates it will meet the safe harbors in most jurisdictions in 2025, and any remaining top-up tax should be immaterial.

We classify interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and interest income on tax overpayments as components of income tax expense. The net interest and penalties expense recognized were as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands20252024
Net interest and penalties expense$1,142 $474 

Accrued interest and penalties recognized were as follows:
In thousandsMarch 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Accrued interest$7,580 $6,418 
Accrued penalties300 293 
Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions and the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate were as follows:
In thousandsMarch 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions$107,024 $106,132 
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate
107,012 106,122 

At March 31, 2025, we are under examination by certain tax authorities. We believe we have appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of all tax matters and do not currently anticipate that the ultimate resolution of these examinations will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, future results of operations, or cash flows.
We file income tax returns in various jurisdictions. The material jurisdictions where we are subject to examination include, among others, the United States, France, Germany, India, Italy, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom.