Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2017 | |
| Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes |
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
We apply the accounting guidance related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. At March 31, 2017, we had a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $4.9 million, primarily related to foreign operations, $4.7 million of which would favorably impact our effective tax rate upon recognition. At December 31, 2016, we had a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $4.6 million, all of which would favorably impact our effective tax rate upon recognition, and for which no payments were made in 2016. In addition, we recognize interest and penalties that could be applied to uncertain tax positions in periodic income tax expense. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had approximately $2.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
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