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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
Consolidated pre-tax income (loss) consists of the following:
 For the Year Ended
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020		December 31,
2019
(In thousands)
U.S. operations$9,612 $(172,478)$(329,112)
Foreign operations461,152 350,135 169,457 
Consolidated pre-tax income (loss) excluding equity method$470,764 $177,657 $(159,655)
The (benefit) provision for current and deferred income taxes consists of the following:
 For the Year Ended
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020		December 31,
2019
 (In thousands)
Current
Federal$(9,819)$— $5,520 
State(4,060)(575)2,170 
Foreign81,899 78,870 68,837 
68,020 78,295 76,527 
Deferred
Federal(229,217)1,164 (2,510)
State(27,970)(481)68 
Foreign(231,214)(13,429)(15,761)
(488,401)(12,746)(18,203)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes$(420,381)$65,549 $58,324 
Deferred income taxes are provided principally for tax credit carryforwards, net operating loss carryforwards, interest expense, research and development expenses, employee compensation-related expenses, right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, and certain other reserves that are recognized in different years for financial statement and income tax reporting purposes. Mattel’s deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are composed of the following:
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
 (In thousands)
Tax credit carryforwards$100,575 $71,428 
Research and development expenses27,996 41,862 
Net operating loss carryforwards124,792 161,846 
Interest expense90,671 108,069 
Allowances and reserves102,634 92,372 
Deferred compensation66,183 60,665 
Postretirement benefits31,841 38,182 
Intangible assets219,629 231,527 
Lease liabilities 70,712 74,600 
Other46,382 42,058 
Gross deferred income tax assets881,415 922,609 
Intangible assets(189,021)(187,001)
Right-of-use assets(63,206)(66,404)
Other(40,781)(25,500)
Gross deferred income tax liabilities(293,008)(278,905)
Deferred income tax asset valuation allowances(101,489)(631,914)
Net deferred income tax assets$486,918 $11,790 
Net deferred income tax assets are reported in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
 (In thousands)
Other noncurrent assets$526,906 $72,682 
Other noncurrent liabilities(39,988)(60,892)
$486,918 $11,790 
As of December 31, 2021, Mattel had federal and foreign loss carryforwards totaling $446.2 million and federal, state and foreign tax credit carryforwards of $100.6 million, which excludes carryforwards that do not meet the threshold for recognition in the financial statements. Utilization of these loss and tax credit carryforwards is subject to annual limitations. Mattel’s loss and tax credit carryforwards expire in the following periods:
Loss
Carryforward		Tax Credit
Carryforward
 (In thousands)
2022–2026$39,420 $870 
Thereafter154,475 75,802 
No expiration date252,320 23,902 
Total$446,215 $100,574 
Evaluating the need for and the amount of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that these assets will be realizable. Mattel routinely assesses the positive and negative evidence for this realizability, including the evaluation of sustained profitability and three years of cumulative pretax income for each tax jurisdiction. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, Mattel continued to see improved and sustained profitability, which presents objective positive evidence for the realizability of certain deferred tax assets. As such, based on the overall analysis of the positive and negative evidence in each tax jurisdiction, during 2021 Mattel released the valuation allowances related to U.S. federal, state and certain foreign deferred tax assets, except for certain tax assets that are primarily expected to expire before utilization. Valuation allowance releases for the year ended December 31, 2021 resulted in recognition of a portion of these deferred tax assets and a benefit to Mattel's provision for income taxes of $540.8 million. As of December 31, 2021, Mattel’s valuation allowances on its federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $18 million and $83 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation allowance in 2020 primarily related to interest limitations and credits generated. As of December 31, 2020, Mattel's valuation allowances on its federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $319 million and $313 million, respectively.
Differences between the provision for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the provision in the consolidated statements of operations are as follows:
 For the Year Ended
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020		December 31,
2019
 (In thousands)
Provision (benefit) at U.S. federal statutory rate$101,347 $41,008 $(33,240)
Differences resulting from:
Changes in valuation allowances(540,803)14,576 8,752 
Foreign earnings taxed at different rates, including foreign losses without benefit35,468 6,203 65,101 
State and local taxes, net of U.S. federal (expense) benefit(983)(1,056)2,438 
Adjustments to previously accrued taxes(19,101)5,354 14,160 
Change in indefinite reinvestment assertion7,000 — (2,700)
Other(3,309)(536)3,813 
(Benefit) provision for income taxes$(420,381)$65,549 $58,324 
In assessing whether uncertain tax positions should be recognized in its financial statements, Mattel first determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold, Mattel presumes that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. For tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, Mattel measures the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Mattel recognizes unrecognized tax benefits in the first financial reporting period in which information becomes available indicating that such benefits will more likely than not be realized.
Mattel records a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits for U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax positions related primarily to transfer pricing, tax credits claimed, tax nexus, and apportionment. For each reporting period, management applies a consistent methodology to measure unrecognized tax benefits, and all unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed periodically and adjusted as circumstances warrant. Mattel’s measurement of its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits is based on management’s assessment of all relevant information, including prior audit experience, the status of audits, conclusions of tax audits, lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, identification of new issues, and any administrative guidance or developments.
A reconciliation of the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 For the Year Ended
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020		December 31,
2019
 (In thousands)
Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1$140,309 $137,929 $119,818 
Increases for positions taken in current year5,113 5,969 3,836 
Increases for positions taken in a prior year3,658 5,811 29,487 
Decreases for positions taken in a prior year(1,324)(3,127)(10,150)
Decreases for settlements with taxing authorities(2,852)(3,410)(1,982)
Decreases for lapses in the applicable statute of limitations(26,123)(2,863)(3,080)
Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31$118,781 $140,309 $137,929 
The $118.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 would impact the effective tax rate if recognized and there would be no impact in the valuation allowance due to reversal of valuation allowance.
Mattel recognized a decrease of interest and penalties of $1.5 million in 2021, a decrease of $2.1 million in 2020, and a decrease of $1.6 million in 2019, related to unrecognized tax benefits, which are reflected in the provision for income taxes in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2021, Mattel accrued $21.2 million in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2020, Mattel accrued $22.7 million in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized.
In January 2018, the FASB issued guidance stating that a company must make an accounting policy election of either (i) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income ("GILTI") as a current-period expense when incurred (the "period cost method") or (ii) factoring such amounts into a company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the "deferred method"). Mattel has elected the period cost method with respect to reporting taxes due on GILTI income inclusions.
In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities. Mattel remains subject to IRS examination for the 2018 through 2021 tax years. Mattel files multiple state and local income tax returns and remains subject to examination in various jurisdictions, including California for the 2017 through 2021 tax years, New York for the 2018 through 2021 tax years, and Wisconsin for the 2013 through 2021 tax years. Mattel files multiple foreign income tax returns and remains subject to examination in various foreign jurisdictions including Hong Kong for the 2015 through 2021 tax years, Brazil for the 2016 through 2021 tax years, Mexico for the 2016 through 2021 tax years, Netherlands for the 2017 through 2021 tax years, Russia for the 2019 through 2021 tax years, Cyprus for the 2019 through 2021 tax years, China for the 2010 through 2021 tax years, and United Kingdom for the 2017 through 2021 tax years. Based on the current status of federal, state, local, and foreign audits, Mattel believes it is reasonably possible that in the next 12 months, the total unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $15.0 million related to the settlement of tax audits and/or the expiration of statutes of limitations. The ultimate settlement of certain issues with the applicable taxing authority could have a material impact on Mattel’s consolidated financial statements.
Mattel has recorded a deferred tax liability of $19.0 million and $12.0 million related to undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. During 2021, Mattel recorded an approximately $7.0 million deferred tax liability on $3.5 billion of undistributed foreign earnings for which deferred taxes had not previously been recorded. Taxes have not been provided on approximately $2.8 billion of undistributed foreign U.S. GAAP retained earnings. The determination of any incremental tax liability associated with these earnings is not practicable due to the complexity of local country withholding rules and interactions with tax treaties, foreign exchange considerations, and the diversity of state income tax treatment on actual distribution. Mattel will remit reinvested earnings of its foreign subsidiaries for which a deferred tax liability has been recorded when Mattel determines that it is advantageous for business operations or cash management purposes.