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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Mattel’s provision for income taxes was $614.4 million and $26.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Mattel recognized net discrete tax expense of $561.5 million and $558.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and net discrete tax benefits of $9.0 million and $12.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, primarily related to the establishment of a valuation allowance and reassessments of prior years’ tax liabilities based on the status of audits and tax filings in various jurisdictions around the world.
Mattel regularly assesses the need for a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. In making that assessment, Mattel considers both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets to determine, based on the weight of available evidence, whether it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, Mattel considered its recent operating results which resulted in a cumulative net operating loss in the U.S. for the 36-month period ending September 30, 2017. The 36-month cumulative U.S. loss from operations is considered strong negative evidence and outweighs other positive subjective evidence, such as projections of future income. As a result, in the third quarter Mattel established a valuation allowance on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. This results in a discrete charge to the quarter of $561.9 million for the balance of these net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2016. Further, Mattel has provided zero tax benefit in the year-to-date tax expense for items such as the year-to-date U.S. operating loss and other effects occurring in the current year. The valuation allowance does not impact Mattel's actual ability under applicable tax laws to utilize deferred tax assets such as loss carryforwards and tax credits to reduce future cash tax payments if and when sufficient income is earned prior to the expiration of the deferred tax assets. Mattel will continue to assess the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realizable at each period end.
In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by federal, state, and foreign tax authorities. Based on the current status of federal, state, and foreign audits, Mattel believes it is reasonably possible that in the next twelve months, the total unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $27 million related to the settlement of tax audits and/or the expiration of statutes of limitations. The ultimate settlement of any issue with the applicable taxing authority could have a material impact on Mattel’s consolidated financial statements.