
	2023		2022		2021
Current
Federal	$	26.4	$	(2.1)	$	2.3
State and local		1.6		0.6		(0.3)
Non-United States		1.6		3.0		6.0
Total Current	$	29.6	$	1.5	$	8.0

Deferred
Federal	$	(6.6)	$	6.1	$	(10.9)
State and local		3.9		2.4		(1.3)
Non-United States		(1.0)		(1.3)		(3.1)
Total Deferred	$	(3.7)	$	7.2	$	(15.3)

Total Current and Deferred	$	25.9	$	8.7	$	(7.3)

A reconciliation of the significant differences between the effective income tax rate and the federal statutory rate on Earnings (loss) before income taxes for the fiscal years ended May 31 was as follows:


	2023			2022			2021
Computed federal statutory provision		21.0	%		21.0	%		21.0	%
State income tax provision, net of federal income tax benefit		4.6			3.1			(10.4)
Difference in effective tax rates on earnings of foreign subsidiaries		0.0			(0.2)			7.0
Rate differential on net operating loss carrybacks		—			—			19.3
GILTI inclusion		0.4			—			(2.7)
Foreign derived intangible income deduction		(1.7)			—			—

Various tax credits		(1.5)			(1.9)			6.5
Valuation allowances		—			0.2			25.7
Uncertain positions		(0.8)			(8.1)			(14.6)

Equity and other compensation		2.9			1.2			(8.7)
Return to provision adjustments		(1.3)			(4.4)			—
Other, net		(0.6)			(1.2)			(3.0)
Effective tax rates		23.0	%		9.7	%		40.1	%
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	25.9		$	8.7		$	(7.3)

The Company assesses foreign investment levels periodically to determine if all or a portion of the Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries are indefinitely invested. The Company is permanently reinvested in certain foreign subsidiaries representing a portion of the Company's investments in foreign subsidiaries. Any required adjustment to the income tax provision would be reflected in the period that the Company changes this assessment. As of May 31, 2023, there have been no adjustments to the income tax provision related to unremitted earnings.


	2023		2022
Deferred tax assets:
Tax uniform capitalization	$	18.0	$	9.8
Prepublication expenses		1.4		0.6
Inventory reserves		20.7		21.3
Allowance for credit losses		2.2		4.0
Deferred revenue		3.8		2.5
Stock based compensation		4.5		8.0
Other reserves		5.9		8.4
Postretirement, post employment and pension obligations		2.2		2.3
Tax carryforwards		25.2		35.2
Lease liabilities		24.2		22.8
Other		13.6		15.7
Gross deferred tax assets	$	121.7	$	130.6
Valuation allowance		(18.1)		(23.1)
Total deferred tax assets	$	103.6	$	107.5
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization		(45.2)		(66.4)
Lease right-of-use assets		(21.8)		(20.7)
Research and development costs capitalized		(12.1)		—
Other		(3.5)		(2.5)
Total deferred tax liability	$	(82.6)	$	(89.6)
Total net deferred tax assets	$	21.0	$	17.9

The Company regularly assesses the realizability of deferred tax assets considering all available evidence including, to the extent applicable, the nature, frequency and severity of prior cumulative losses, forecasts of future taxable income, tax filing status, duration of statutory carryforward periods, tax planning strategies and historical experience. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2023, the valuation allowance decreased by $5.0 primarily due to the disposition of the direct sales business in Asia and the write-off of the related foreign net operating losses. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, there was no significant change to the valuation allowance as the release of a prior fiscal year foreign net operating loss was offset by an accrual related to foreign tax credits.

The Company has tax effected federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $0.3, $3.2 and $19.9, respectively, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2023. In addition, the Company has certain tax carryforwards related to tax credits of $1.8 for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2023. Certain state net operating loss carryforwards, if not utilized, expire at various times, primarily between fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2043. Certain foreign net operating loss carryforwards, if not utilized, also expire at various times. Approximately half of the foreign net operating loss carryforwards expire between fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2043 and the remaining carryforwards do not have an expiration date.

The benefits of uncertain tax positions are recorded in the financial statements only after determining a more likely-than-not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from taxing authorities, in which case such benefits are included in long-term income taxes payable and reduced by the associated federal deduction for state taxes and non-U.S. tax credits. The interest and penalties related to these uncertain tax positions are recorded as part of the Company’s income tax expense and constitute part of Other noncurrent liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at May 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were $2.0, excluding $0.1 accrued for interest and penalties, $3.1, excluding $0.3 accrued for interest and penalties, and $12.3, excluding $2.6 accrued for interest and penalties, respectively. Of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at May 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, $2.0, $3.1 and $12.3, respectively, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

During the years presented, the Company recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for taxes in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company recognized a benefit of $0.1, a benefit of $2.3, and an expense of $0.5 for the years ended May 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.


Gross unrecognized benefits at May 31, 2020	$	10.2
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		(0.2)
Increase related to prior year tax positions		2.6
Increases related to current year tax positions		0.2
Settlements during the period		(0.2)
Lapse of statute of limitation		(0.3)
Gross unrecognized benefits at May 31, 2021	$	12.3
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		(6.8)
Increase related to prior year tax positions		0.5
Increases related to current year tax positions		0.6
Settlements during the period		(3.5)
Lapse of statute of limitation		—
Gross unrecognized benefits at May 31, 2022	$	3.1
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		(1.7)
Increase related to prior year tax positions		0.1
Increases related to current year tax positions		0.5
Settlements during the period		—
Lapse of statute of limitation		—
Gross unrecognized benefits at May 31, 2023	$	2.0

The Company, including its domestic subsidiaries, files a consolidated U.S. income tax return, and also files tax returns in various states and other local jurisdictions. Also, certain subsidiaries of the Company file income tax returns in foreign jurisdictions. The Company is routinely audited by various tax authorities. The Company was previously under audit for the fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2020 tax years and the examination was completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 with no impact to the financial results. The fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 tax years remain subject to audit.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which, among other things, included provisions related to the carry back of net operating losses and the Employee Retention Credit. The Company applied these provisions as applicable. During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company received a federal tax refund of $63.1 primarily related to the carry back of net operating losses generated in the U.S. In fiscal 2021, the Company applied for employee retention credits in the U.S. and received all amounts as of May 31, 2023.

The Company is subject to tax examinations for sales-based taxes. A number of these examinations are ongoing and, in certain cases, have resulted in assessments from taxing authorities. The Company assesses sales tax contingencies for each jurisdiction in which it operates, considering all relevant facts including statutes, regulations, case law and experience. Where a sales tax liability in respect to a jurisdiction is probable and can be reliably estimated for such jurisdiction, the Company has made accruals for these matters which are reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. These amounts are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Future developments relating to the foregoing could result in adjustments being made to these accruals. During fiscal 2023, the Company recognized a benefit of $1.8 related to a favorable settlement of certain legacy sales tax matters.