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INCOME TAXES - Domestic federal statutory tax rates (Details) $ in Thousands | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 36 Months Ended | 48 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 27.00% | 27.00% | 27.00% |  |  |
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits | $ 5,101 |  | $ 5,101 | $ 4,795 |  |  | $ 5,101 | $ 4,795
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation at Federal and Provincial Income Tax Rate |  |  | 27.00% | 27.00% | 27.00% |  |  |
Tax refund, CARES Act | 62,699 |  | $ 62,699 |  |  |  | 62,699 |
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | $ 10,557 | 10,557 | $ 15,730 | $ 6,181 |  | 6,181 |
Addition for tax positions related to the current year |  |  |  | 11 | 9,806 |  |  |
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations |  |  | (1,011) |  |  |  |  |
Statue of limitations expirations |  |  |  | (5,720) |  |  |  |
Foreign exchange effect |  |  | 82 | 536 |  |  |  |
Foreign exchange effect |  |  |  |  | (257) |  |  |
Ending balance | $ 9,628 |  | $ 9,628 | $ 10,557 | $ 15,730 | $ 6,181 | $ 9,628 | $ 10,557
Canada |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 26.50% | 26.50% |  | 26.50% | 26.50% |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation at Federal and Provincial Income Tax Rate | 26.50% | 26.50% |  | 26.50% | 26.50% |  |  |
Canada | Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation at Federal and Provincial Income Tax Rate |  |  | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |  |  |
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 22.20% | 22.90% | 24.80% |  |  |
United States | Canadian Solar Energy Acquisition Co. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 26.10% | 27.90% | 25.30% |  |  |
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 31.80% | 31.80% | 32.00% |  |  |
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00% |  |  |
Vietnam | Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00%
Reduced income tax rate from 2020 to 2028 (as a percent) |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |
Thailand | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |
Number of Board of Investment certificates for tax exemption | item |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Hong Kong | HKSI |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% |  |  |
PRC | CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |
PRC | CSI Solar Technologies Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |

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