9.     Income Tax

The Company’s quarterly income tax provision is calculated using an estimated annual effective income tax rate ("ETR") based on actual historical information and forward-looking estimates. The Company’s estimated annual ETR may fluctuate due to changes in forecasted annual pre-tax income, changes in the jurisdictional mix of forecasted pre-tax income, and changes to actual or forecasted permanent book to tax differences (e.g., non-deductible expenses). In addition, the Company’s ETR for a particular reporting period may fluctuate as the result of changes to the valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets, the impact of anticipated tax settlements with federal, state, or foreign tax authorities, or the impact of tax law changes. The Company identifies items that are unusual and non-recurring in nature and treats these as discrete events. The tax effect of these discrete events is booked entirely in the quarter in which they occur.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $5.5 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 31.1%, which includes an annualized effective tax provision of $31.1 million (representing an effective tax rate of 32.9%) and discrete items relating primarily to non-cash compensation (representing an effective tax rate of (0.4%)). During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $2.0 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of (77.4%). These effective tax rates differ from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to the effects of various permanent book-to-tax adjustments, foreign tax rate differences, U.S. tax on foreign operations, and U.S. state/local taxes.

A valuation allowance has been established against a small amount of foreign capital losses and certain U.S. tax loss carryforwards. All other net deferred tax assets have been determined to be more likely than not realizable. The Company regularly reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability and would establish a valuation allowance if it believed that such assets may not be recovered, taking into consideration historical operating results, expectations of future earnings, changes in its operations, and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences.

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes utilizing ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes.” ASC 740-10 clarifies whether or not to recognize assets or liabilities for tax positions taken that may be challenged by a tax authority. It prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken. This interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, and disclosures. The application of ASC 740-10 requires judgment related to the uncertainty in income taxes and could impact the Company’s effective tax rate.