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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
We utilize our estimated annual effective tax rate to determine our provision for income taxes for interim periods. The income tax provision is computed by taking the estimated annual effective rate and multiplying it by the year-to-date pre-tax book income.

We recorded income tax expense of $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and an income tax benefit of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 increased primarily due to the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets, partly offset by a tax refund received, both resulting from tax incentives at one of our China manufacturing facilities.

At December 31, 2018, we assessed the realizability of the Company's deferred tax assets by considering whether it is "more than likely not" some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We considered taxable income in carryback years, the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, tax planning strategies and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. At December 31, 2018, we had a three year cumulative operating loss for our U.S. operations and accordingly, provided a full valuation allowance on our U.S. and state deferred tax assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, there has been no change to the Company's valuation allowance position.
At March 31, 2019, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $4.6 million, including interest and penalties, of which approximately $4.3 million of this amount, if not for the state Research and Experimentation income tax credit valuation allowance, would affect the annual effective tax rate, if these tax benefits are realized. Further, we are unaware of any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within the next twelve months. However, based on federal, state and foreign statute expirations in various jurisdictions, we anticipate a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits of $0.2 million within the next twelve months. We have classified uncertain tax positions as non-current income tax liabilities unless expected to be paid within one year.
We have elected to classify interest and penalties as a component of tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties of $0.5 million and $0.5 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, are included in the unrecognized tax benefits.