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INCOME TAXES
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
Our income tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items.
Provision (benefit) for income taxes and Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024202320242023
Provision (benefit) for income taxes$2,321 $817 $17,802 $4,258 
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes$16,843 $(39,989)$11,406 $(77,165)
Our U.S. Federal income tax rate is 21%. The primary factor impacting the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was the pretax losses incurred in jurisdictions that have valuation allowances against their net deferred tax assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against all U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. We expect that our consolidated effective tax rate in future periods will continue to differ significantly from the U.S. federal income tax rate as a result of our tax obligations in jurisdictions with profits and valuation allowances in jurisdictions with losses.
We are currently under audit by several foreign jurisdictions. It is likely that the examination phase of some of those audits will conclude in the next 12 months. There are many factors, including factors outside of our control, which influence the progress and completion of those audits. We are subject to claims for tax assessments by foreign jurisdictions, including a proposed assessment for $125.4 million, inclusive of estimated incremental interest from the original Assessment. The subsidiary subject to the Assessment is Groupon S.r.l., one of the Company's Italian subsidiaries with operations relating specifically to the local voucher business in Italy. In December 2023, Groupon S.r.l. received an unfavorable ruling at the lowest court level, but lodged a second-level appeal, based on what it believes to be meritorious defenses to the Assessment. The hearing was held on September 24, 2024. On October 1, 2024, the second-level court indicated that it intends to issue an unfavorable
ruling on the appeal and in favor of the Italian tax authorities. The court has not yet issued a full opinion with its rationale. When the decision of the second-level court is ultimately issued, Groupon S.r.l. will have six months from that date to appeal that decision to the Italian Supreme Court. The Company continues to believe that the Assessment is without merit and Groupon S.r.l. intends to pursue a prompt appeal to the Italian Supreme Court. If Groupon S.r.l. loses that appeal, Groupon S.r.l. plans to further challenge the Assessment and seek relief in an international Mutual Agreement Procedure that involves the tax authorities of Ireland and Italy.
Under Italian tax court procedures, taxpayers are required to deposit “provisional payments” while tax appeals are pending, which are held in trust by tax authorities and returned to the taxpayer if the taxpayer prevails on the appeal. At present, Groupon S.r.l. would be required to deposit provisional amounts equal to two-thirds of the assessed amount. However, Groupon S.r.l. has sought and obtained approval of installment plans whereby the provisional payments may be deposited in monthly installments over seventy-two months. To date, Groupon S.r.l. has made all monthly installment payments. However, contemporaneous with its appeal to the Supreme Court, Groupon S.r.l. intends to seek a full stay of the provisional payment obligations.

Additionally, unrelated to the tax matter above, in July 2024, Groupon S.r.l. received final assessments of approximately $33.1 million related to a 2017 distribution made to its parent entity. On October 18, 2024, Groupon S.r.l. lodged an appeal to the first-tier court. We do not expect the hearing to occur in 2024. We believe this assessment is also without merit and Groupon S.r.l. intends to vigorously defend against such assessment.

No liability has been recorded for either Groupon S.r.l. tax assessment matter discussed above. In addition to any potential increases in our liabilities for uncertain tax positions from the ultimate resolution of these assessments, we believe it is reasonably possible that reductions of up to $6.3 million in unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the 12 months following September 30, 2024 upon closing of income tax audits or the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations.

In general, it is our practice and intention to reinvest the earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations or remit such earnings in a tax-efficient manner. Additionally, an actual repatriation from our non-U.S. subsidiaries could be subject to foreign and U.S. state income taxes. Aside from limited exceptions for which the related deferred tax liabilities recognized as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are immaterial, we do not intend to distribute earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which we have an excess of the financial reporting basis over the tax basis of our investments and therefore have not recorded any deferred taxes related to such amounts. The actual tax cost resulting from a distribution would depend on income tax laws and circumstances at the time of distribution. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the excess of the financial reporting basis over the tax basis of our foreign subsidiaries is not practical due to the complexities associated with the calculation.