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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
 
The Company is incorporated in Switzerland but operates in various countries with differing tax laws and rates. Further, a portion of the Company’s income before taxes and the provision for (benefit from) income taxes are generated outside of Switzerland.

The income tax provision for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $14.5 million based on an effective income tax rate of 11.0% of pre-tax income, compared to an income tax provision of $9.3 million based on an effective income tax rate of 7.6% of pre-tax income for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The
income tax provision for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 was $18.4 million based on an effective income tax rate of 7.2% of pre-tax income, compared to an income tax provision of $10.3 million based on an effective income tax rate of 4.6% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended December 31, 2018.

On May 19, 2019, the Swiss electorate approved the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AHV Financing ("TRAF"), a major reform to better align the Swiss tax system with international tax standards. The legislation was subsequently published in the federal register on August 6, 2019 to take effect on January 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, TRAF has not been enacted in all cantons, including the canton of Vaud, as the cantonal legislative procedures are in process. The Company anticipates TRAF to take effect as of January 1, 2020 when enactment occurs in the canton of Vaud.

The change in the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same periods ended December 31, 2018, was primarily due to the mix of income and losses in the various tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the transitional income tax impact in Switzerland. The Company has benefited from a longstanding tax ruling from the canton of Vaud through December 31, 2019. The transitional income tax impact represents income tax provision at the current full statutory income tax rate of 13.67% without taking account of other elements of the tax reform yet to be enacted. Furthermore, there was a discrete tax benefit of $1.7 million from adjusting deferred tax assets and liabilities in Switzerland in the nine months ended December 31, 2019. There were discrete tax benefits of $6.0 million and $2.7 million from the recognition of net excess tax benefits in the United States and reversal of uncertain tax positions from the expiration of statutes of limitations, respectively, in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2019, compared with $9.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2018.

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits due to uncertain tax positions was $85.0 million and $76.5 million, respectively, all of which would affect the effective income tax rate if recognized.

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, the Company had $38.2 million and $36.4 million, respectively, in non-current income taxes payable including interest and penalties, related to the Company's income tax liability for uncertain tax positions.
 
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax provision. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, the Company had $2.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
 
Although the Company has adequately provided for uncertain tax positions, the provisions on these positions may change as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved. During fiscal year 2020, the Company continues to review its tax positions and provide for or reverse unrecognized tax benefits as they arise. During the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could increase or decrease significantly due to changes in tax law in various jurisdictions, new tax audits and changes in the U.S. dollar as compared to other currencies. Excluding these factors, uncertain tax positions may decrease by as much as $4.1 million from the lapse of the statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions during the next twelve months.