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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The components of income before income taxes are presented below:
202520242023
 (in millions)
U.S.$248.2 $176.1 $83.2 
Non-U.S.6.0 (12.7)25.8 
Income before income taxes$254.2 $163.4 $109.0 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) imposed a one-time transition tax on the undistributed, previously untaxed, post-1986 foreign “earnings and profits” as defined by the Internal Revenue Services (“IRS”) of certain United States-owned corporations. As of September 30, 2025, the remaining balance of our transition obligation is $1.7 million, which will be paid in full by January 2026, as provided in the Act. Other than for Krausz’s investment in its United States subsidiary and other anticipated distributions which result cumulatively in immaterial income tax, we have not recorded income taxes for unrepatriated foreign earnings that may be subject to withholding tax or any outside cost basis differences inherent in our foreign subsidiaries, as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. We have a foreign tax credit carryforward of $4.7 million, expiring in our fiscal year 2028, for which we have recorded a valuation allowance as we do not expect to utilize it prior to expiration.
The federal income tax returns for Mueller Water Products, Inc. are closed for years prior to our fiscal year 2022. We remain liable for any taxes related to U.S. Pipe income for periods prior to 2012 pursuant to the terms of the sale agreement with the purchaser of the business.
Our state income tax returns are generally closed for years prior to our fiscal year 2022, except with regard to our state net operating loss carryforwards. Our Canadian income tax returns are generally closed for years prior to our fiscal year 2018. We do not have any material unpaid assessments.
The components of income tax expense are as follows:
202520242023
 (in millions)
Current:
U.S. federal$56.0 $53.4 $28.4 
U.S. state and local11.7 14.8 6.0 
Non-U.S.1.8 0.8 3.5 
Total current income tax expense69.5 69.0 37.9 
Deferred:
U.S. federal(5.2)(20.7)(11.2)
U.S. state and local(0.5)(1.1)(3.3)
Non-U.S.(1.3)0.3 0.1 
Total deferred income tax benefit(7.0)(21.5)(14.4)
Income tax expense$62.5 $47.5 $23.5 

The reconciliation between income tax expense at the United States federal statutory income tax rate and reported income tax expense is presented below:

202520242023
(in millions)
Expense at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate$53.4 $34.3 $22.9 
Adjustments to reconcile to income tax expense:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit9.0 9.6 1.5 
Uncertain tax positions0.2 (2.3)0.5 
Nondeductible compensation4.0 2.1 1.8 
Nondeductible expenses, other than compensation0.7 0.6 0.9 
Valuation allowances0.3 3.0 (0.6)
Basis difference in foreign investment— 0.1 0.1 
Foreign income taxes(1.6)(0.8)(2.0)
Excess tax (benefit) deficit related to stock compensation(2.0)(0.6)0.3 
Tax credits(2.9)(3.3)(3.5)
Goodwill impairment— 1.9 — 
Other1.4 2.9 1.6 
Income tax expense$62.5 $47.5 $23.5 

The following table summarizes information concerning our gross unrecognized tax benefits:

20252024
 (in millions)
Balance at beginning of year$3.0 $5.0 
Increase related to current year positions0.8 0.8 
Decrease as a result of statute of limitations lapse(0.6)(2.8)
Balance at end of year$3.2 $3.0 

Substantially all unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, impact the effective tax rate. We recognize interest related to uncertain tax positions as interest expense and recognize any penalties incurred as a component of Selling, general and administrative expense within our consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2025, and 2024, we had $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of accrued interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits.
Deferred income tax balances are presented below:
 September 30,
 20252024
 (in millions)
Deferred income tax assets:
Accrued expenses$18.0 $19.3 
Lease liabilities9.1 7.5 
Inventories7.9 5.0 
State net operating losses1.4 1.9 
Net operating losses and credit carryovers16.7 15.9 
Stock-based compensation4.8 4.3 
Section 174 research and development capitalization
30.4 23.1 
Other3.0 5.3 
Total deferred income tax assets91.3 82.3 
Valuation allowance(18.0)(18.0)
Total deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowance73.3 64.3 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Intangible assets67.4 68.2 
Lease assets7.9 6.7 
Basis difference in foreign investment7.0 6.0 
Pension4.5 3.0 
Property, plant and equipment36.4 34.7 
Other1.1 1.1 
Total deferred income tax liabilities124.3 119.7 
Net deferred income tax liabilities$51.0 $55.4 
We evaluate the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets each quarter considering results to date, projections of taxable income, tax planning strategies and reversing taxable temporary differences.
Our state net operating loss carryforwards, which expire between our fiscal years 2025 and 2027, remain available to offset future taxable earnings; however, we currently do not expect full utilization of certain state net operating loss carryforwards before their expiration. Consequently, we have recorded a valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset which is reflected in the table above.
On July 4, 2025, the United States government enacted H.R.1, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”). OBBBA includes significant provisions, such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017, modifications to the international tax framework and the restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions. For fiscal year 2025, OBBBA did not have a material impact on our financial statements. We continue to evaluate the impact of OBBBA on future years.