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Income Taxes | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
Income Taxes | 11. Income Taxes The components of (loss) income before income tax for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Domestic operations |  | $ | (173.0 | ) |  | $ | (124.8 | ) |  | $ | (80.1 | )
Foreign operations |  |  | 85.7 |  |  |  | 111.7 |  |  |  | 95.0 |
Total |  | $ | (87.3 | ) |  | $ | (13.1 | ) |  | $ | 14.9 |
The reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21 percent to our effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Income tax at U.S. statutory rate; 21% |  | $ | (18.3 | ) |  | $ | (2.7 | ) |  | $ | 3.1 |
Unrecognized tax expense (benefits) |  |  | (2.8 | ) |  |  | 1.0 |  |  |  | (7.6 | )
Statutory tax rate changes |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.4 |  |  |  | 0.6 |
Statutory tax law changes |  |  | — |  |  |  | (3.6 | ) |  |  | — |
State, local and other tax, net of federal benefit |  |  | (2.0 | ) |  |  | (1.3 | ) |  |  | 1.6 |
Impact from foreign inclusions |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | (0.7 | ) |  |  | 4.0 |
U.S. effect of foreign dividends and withholding taxes |  |  | 4.1 |  |  |  | 3.9 |  |  |  | 1.8 |
Foreign income taxed at a higher effective rate |  |  | 4.3 |  |  |  | 4.2 |  |  |  | 3.1 |
Brazilian Tax Assessments impact |  |  | (1.6 | ) |  |  | (13.3 | ) |  |  | 1.9 |
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance |  |  | 2.4 |  |  |  | 5.4 |  |  |  | 3.4 |
General business credit |  |  | (0.4 | ) |  |  | (2.2 | ) |  |  | (1.9 | )
Excess expense from stock-based compensation |  |  | 1.3 |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | 0.5 |
Impairment of non-deductible goodwill |  |  | 26.8 |  |  |  | 18.8 |  |  |  | 20.7 |
Impact of legal entity rationalization |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (4.1 | )
Prior period tax return adjustment |  |  | 0.1 |  |  |  | (1.0 | ) |  |  | (0.1 | )
Other (decrease) increase |  |  | (0.2 | ) |  |  | (0.8 | ) |  |  | 1.1 |
Income taxes as reported |  | $ | 14.3 |  |  | $ | 8.7 |  |  | $ | 28.1 |
Effective tax rate |  |  | (16.4 | )% |  |  | (66.4 | )% |  |  | 188.6 | %
For 2024, we recorded income tax expense of $14.3 million on loss before taxes of $87.3 million, for an effective rate of (16.4) percent. The increase in the effective rate versus 2023 was primarily due to a larger non-cash impairment charge related to goodwill in 2024 compared to 2023. In addition, the release of certain unrecognized tax benefits related to the Brazil Tax Assessments in 2023 which did not repeat in 2024, partially offset by a reduction in pretax book income. For 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $8.7 million on a loss income before taxes of $13.1 million, for an effective rate of (66.4) percent. The decrease in the effective rate versus 2022 was primarily due to the reduction in pretax book income, tax law changes allowing Brazilian taxes paid to be creditable for U.S. tax purposes and the release of certain unrecognized tax benefits related to the Brazil Tax Assessments. For 2022, we recorded income tax expense of $28.1 million on income before taxes of $14.9 million, for an effective rate of 188.6 percent. The components of the income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Current expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and other |  | $ | (3.2 | ) |  | $ | 0.2 |  |  | $ | 1.8 |
Foreign |  |  | 24.4 |  |  |  | 28.6 |  |  |  | 25.0 |
Total current income tax expense |  |  | 21.2 |  |  |  | 28.8 |  |  |  | 26.8 |
Deferred expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and other |  | $ | (7.0 | ) |  | $ | (16.7 | ) |  | $ | 6.8 |
Foreign |  |  | 0.1 |  |  |  | (3.4 | ) |  |  | (5.5 | )
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense |  |  | (6.9 | ) |  |  | (20.1 | ) |  |  | 1.3 |
Total income tax expense |  | $ | 14.3 |  |  | $ | 8.7 |  |  | $ | 28.1 |
The components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Deferred tax assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensation and benefits |  | $ | 20.3 |  |  | $ | 23.0 |
Pension |  |  | 14.4 |  |  |  | 23.4 |
Inventory |  |  | 8.1 |  |  |  | 10.4 |
Other reserves |  |  | 13.9 |  |  |  | 18.9 |
Accounts receivable |  |  | 5.1 |  |  |  | 7.4 |
Foreign tax credit carryforwards |  |  | 6.8 |  |  |  | 6.4 |
Net operating loss carryforwards |  |  | 74.8 |  |  |  | 76.7 |
Interest expense carryforwards |  |  | 34.1 |  |  |  | 26.3 |
Section 174 capitalization |  |  | 16.1 |  |  |  | 17.3 |
General business tax credit carryforwards |  |  | 1.8 |  |  |  | 3.4 |
Other |  |  | 2.1 |  |  |  | 5.2 |
Gross deferred income tax assets |  |  | 197.5 |  |  |  | 218.4 |
Valuation allowance |  |  | (60.3 | ) |  |  | (59.2 | )
Net deferred tax assets |  |  | 137.2 |  |  |  | 159.2 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  |  | (3.8 | ) |  |  | (5.7 | )
Unremitted non-U.S. earnings accrual |  |  | (4.1 | ) |  |  | (4.0 | )
Identifiable intangibles |  |  | (151.9 | ) |  |  | (170.4 | )
Other |  |  |  |  |  | — |
Gross deferred tax liabilities |  |  | (159.8 | ) |  |  | (180.1 | )
Net deferred tax liabilities |  | $ | (22.6 | ) |  | $ | (20.9 | )
A valuation allowance of $60.3 million and $59.2 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, has been established for deferred income tax assets. The $1.1 million increase in the valuation allowance in 2024 reflects the increase in our existing valuation by $2.4 million, partly offset by a $1.3 million decrease resulting from foreign currency translation. The valuation allowance is primarily related to net operating loss (the "NOL") carryforwards that may not be realized. Realization of the net deferred income tax assets is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of the applicable carryforward periods. Although realization is not certain, management believes that it is more likely than not that the net deferred income tax assets will be realized. However, the amount of net deferred tax assets considered realizable could change in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the applicable carryforward periods fluctuate. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has state NOL tax benefits of $13.9 million which will expire between December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2034. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has $1.8 million of federal general business credit carryforwards which will expire on December 31, 2044. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $6.8 million of foreign tax credit carryforwards of which $4.9 million will expire on December 31, 2027 and $1.9 million will expire on December 31, 2034. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has foreign NOLs of $266.2 million and tax benefits of $60.9 million, most of which have unlimited carryforward periods. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has recorded $4.1 million of deferred taxes on approximately $330.7 million of unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries that may be remitted to the U.S. The Company has approximately $319.5 million of additional unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries, which are indefinitely reinvested and for which no deferred taxes have been provided. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 28.0 |  |  | $ | 39.1 |  |  | $ | 43.3 |
Additions for tax positions of prior years |  |  | 3.5 |  |  |  | 3.6 |  |  |  | 2.5 |
Reductions for tax positions of prior years |  |  | (5.6 | ) |  |  | (17.7 | ) |  |  | (8.3 | )
Increase (decrease) resulting from foreign currency translation |  |  | (5.2 | ) |  |  | 3.0 |  |  |  | 1.6 |
Balance at end of year |  | $ | 20.7 |  |  | $ | 28.0 |  |  | $ | 39.1 |
As of December 31, 2024, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits decreased to $20.7 million, all of which would impact our effective tax rate, if recognized. We expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change within the next twelve months including releases of previously recorded reserves of approximately $2.4 million. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized within "Income tax expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2024, we have accrued a cumulative $13.0 million for interest and penalties on the unrecognized tax benefits primarily related to the Brazil Tax Assessments. As of December 31, 2024, the U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for the year 2021 and forward. Foreign and U.S. state jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging from 2 to 6 years. As of December 31, 2024, years still open to examination by foreign tax authorities in major jurisdictions include Australia (2020 forward), Brazil (2019 forward), Canada (2019 forward), Germany (2020 forward), Sweden (2023 forward) and the U.K. (2023 forward). We are currently under examination in the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (Pillar Two) Legislatures and taxing authorities in many jurisdictions in which we operate may enact changes to, or seek to enforce, novel interpretations of their tax rules. These changes may include modifications that can be temporary or permanent. For example, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (the "OECD"), the European Union and other countries (including countries in which we operate) have committed to enacting substantial changes to numerous long-standing tax principles impacting how large multinational enterprises are taxed. In particular, the OECD's Pillar Two initiative introduces a 15% global minimum tax (the "Global Minimum Tax") applied on a country-by-country basis and some jurisdictions have enacted a Global Minimum Tax effective January 1, 2024 while others are still evaluating the situation. As of December 31, 2024, there was no impact to our effective tax rate resulting from the enactment of a Global Minimum Tax in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Management will continue to assess the impact and materiality of these potential new rules as well as any other changes in domestic and international tax rules and regulations. Brazil Tax Assessments In connection with our May 1, 2012, acquisition of the Mead Consumer and Office Products business ("Mead C&OP"), we assumed all of the tax liabilities for the acquired foreign operations including ACCO Brazil. In December of 2012, the Federal Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil ("FRD") issued a tax assessment against ACCO Brazil, challenging the tax deduction of goodwill from ACCO Brazil's taxable income for the year 2007 (the "First Assessment"). A second assessment challenging the deduction of goodwill from ACCO Brazil's taxable income for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 was issued by FRD in October 2013 (the "Second Assessment" and together with the First Assessment, the "Brazil Tax Assessments"). The final administrative appeal of the Second Assessment was decided against the Company in 2017. In 2018, we challenged this decision to the first judicial level. In the fourth quarter of 2022, this case was decided against the Company by the first level judicial court. We have appealed this decision to the second judicial level. In the event we do not prevail at the judicial level, we will be required to pay an additional penalty representing attorneys' costs and fees. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2019, the Company recorded an additional reserve in the amount of $5.6 million. In connection with the judicial challenge, we were required to provide security to guarantee payment of the Second Assessment should we not prevail. In the third quarter of 2020, the final administrative appeal of the First Assessment was decided against the Company and we determined that we would challenge this decision. In 2022, we challenged this adverse decision in the tax authority's lawsuit at the judicial level seeking to collect the tax. In connection with the judicial challenge, we were required to provide security to guarantee payment of the First Assessment should we not prevail. We believe we have meritorious defenses and intend to vigorously contest both of the Brazil Tax Assessments; however, there can be no assurances that we will ultimately prevail. The ultimate outcome will not be determined until the Brazilian judicial process is complete. It is possible we could have a final decision regarding the Second Assessment in the next two years. If the FRD's initial position is ultimately sustained, payment of the amount assessed would materially and adversely affect our cash flow in the year of settlement. Because there is no settled legal precedent on which to base a definitive opinion as to whether we will ultimately prevail, we consider the outcome of this dispute to be uncertain. Since it is not more likely than not that we will prevail, in 2012, we recorded a reserve in the amount of $44.5 million (at December 31, 2012 exchange rates) in consideration of this contingency, of which $43.3 million was recorded as an adjustment to the purchase price and which included the 2007-2012 tax years plus penalties and interest through December 2012. During the third quarter of 2023, there was a change in Brazilian law which allowed us to seek cancellation of the 75 percent standard penalty that would be payable in the event we do not prevail in our actions challenging the Brazil Tax Assessments. Following completion of the necessary administrative procedures, during the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company reduced its reserve for this contingency by $13.3 million, representing the amount of the cancelled penalties, as well as interest and other fees related to those penalties. We will continue to actively monitor administrative and judicial court decisions and evaluate their impact, if any, on our legal assessment of the ultimate outcome of our disputes. In addition, we will continue to accrue interest related to this contingency until such time as the outcome is known or until evidence is presented that we are more likely than not to prevail. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we accrued additional interest as a charge to current income tax expense of $0.6 million, $0.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Our accrual through December 31, 2024, including tax, penalties and interest, is $17.8 million (at December 31, 2024 exchange rates, reported in "Other non-current liabilities").

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