ACCO BRANDS Corp Income Taxes Disclosure
12. Income Taxes
The components of income (loss) before income tax for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
Domestic operations |
|
$ |
(25.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(173.0 |
) |
|
$ |
(124.8 |
) |
Foreign operations |
|
|
74.8 |
|
|
|
85.7 |
|
|
|
111.7 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
49.1 |
|
|
$ |
(87.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(13.1 |
) |
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, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
Income tax at U.S. statutory rate; 21% |
|
$ |
10.3 |
|
|
$ |
(18.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.7 |
) |
Unrecognized tax (benefits) expense |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
|
(2.8 |
) |
|
|
1.0 |
|
Statutory tax rate changes |
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
Statutory tax law changes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(3.6 |
) |
State, local and other tax, net of federal benefit |
|
|
(1.5 |
) |
|
|
(2.0 |
) |
|
|
(1.3 |
) |
Impact from foreign inclusions |
|
|
4.9 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
U.S. effect of foreign dividends and withholding taxes |
|
|
5.0 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
4.3 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
Global Minimum Tax |
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Brazilian Tax Assessments impact |
|
|
(12.4 |
) |
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
|
|
(13.3 |
) |
Increase in valuation allowance |
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
General business credit |
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
Excess expense from stock-based compensation |
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
Impairment of non-deductible goodwill |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
26.8 |
|
|
|
18.8 |
|
Loss on derivatives |
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Prior period tax return adjustment |
|
|
(1.3 |
) |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
(1.0 |
) |
Other decrease |
|
|
(1.4 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
Income taxes as reported |
|
$ |
7.8 |
|
|
$ |
14.3 |
|
|
$ |
8.7 |
|
Effective tax rate |
|
|
15.9 |
% |
|
|
(16.4 |
)% |
|
|
(66.4 |
)% |
Under ASU 2023-09 for which the Company is adopting on a prospective basis, 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 year ended December 31, 2025 was as follows:
|
|
2025 |
|
|||||
(in millions) |
|
Value |
|
|
Percent |
|
||
Income tax at U.S. statutory rate; 21% |
|
$ |
10.3 |
|
|
|
21.0 |
% |
Domestic federal income taxes, net of prior period tax return adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Tax credits, net of prior period tax return adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current year foreign tax credit carried forward |
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
|
|
(4.5 |
)% |
Other |
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
|
|
(0.6 |
)% |
Nontaxable and nondeductible items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other |
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
% |
Effect of cross-border tax laws, net of prior tax return adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Global intangible low-taxed income, net of current year foreign tax credits |
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
|
(4.7 |
)% |
Subpart F, net of current year foreign tax credits |
|
|
7.6 |
|
|
|
15.5 |
% |
Loss on derivatives |
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
|
(4.7 |
)% |
Other |
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
|
|
(0.6 |
)% |
Other adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Excess expense from stock-based compensation |
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
% |
Other |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
% |
Domestic state and local income taxes, net of federal benefit and prior period tax return adjustments(1) |
|
|
(1.5 |
) |
|
|
(3.1 |
)% |
Foreign tax effects, net of prior period tax return adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest on net equity |
|
|
(2.7 |
) |
|
|
(5.5 |
)% |
Withholding tax |
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
1.6 |
% |
Other |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
)% |
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Withholding tax |
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
% |
China |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Change in valuation allowance |
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
% |
Other |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
)% |
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
(1.6 |
)% |
Trade tax |
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
% |
Tax rate change |
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
9.4 |
% |
Mexico |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
% |
Netherlands |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
1.6 |
% |
Other |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
% |
Sweden |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign income tax rate differential |
|
|
(3.9 |
) |
|
|
(7.9 |
)% |
Global Minimum Tax |
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
% |
Change in valuation allowance |
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
% |
Other foreign jurisdictions |
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
% |
Worldwide changes in unrecognized tax benefits |
|
|
(14.2 |
) |
|
|
(28.9 |
)% |
Income taxes as reported |
|
$ |
7.8 |
|
|
|
15.9 |
% |
For 2025, we recorded income tax expense of $7.8 million on income before taxes of $49.1 million, for an effective rate of 15.9 percent. After removing the impacts of the 2024 non-cash impairment charges, the decrease in the effective rate versus 2024 was primarily due to a reduction of income before income tax, the tax benefit from the settlement of the Brazil Tax Assessments, offset by the tax expense for a foreign statutory tax rate change.
For 2024, we recorded income tax expense of $14.3 million on a 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 and the release of certain unrecognized tax benefits related to the Brazil Tax Assessments in 2023 which did not repeat in 2024.
For 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $8.7 million on loss before taxes of $13.1 million, for an effective rate of (66.4) percent.
The components of the income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
Current expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Federal and other |
|
$ |
(0.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(3.2 |
) |
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
Foreign |
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
24.4 |
|
|
|
28.6 |
|
Total current income tax expense |
|
|
11.3 |
|
|
|
21.2 |
|
|
|
28.8 |
|
Deferred expense (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Federal and other |
|
$ |
(5.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.0 |
) |
|
$ |
(16.7 |
) |
Foreign |
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
(3.4 |
) |
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
|
|
(3.5 |
) |
|
|
(6.9 |
) |
|
|
(20.1 |
) |
Total income tax expense |
|
$ |
7.8 |
|
|
$ |
14.3 |
|
|
$ |
8.7 |
|
The components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Compensation and benefits |
|
$ |
19.3 |
|
|
$ |
20.3 |
|
Pension |
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
14.4 |
|
Inventory |
|
|
7.9 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
Other reserves |
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
13.9 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
5.7 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
Foreign tax credit carryforwards |
|
|
9.4 |
|
|
|
6.8 |
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
|
84.9 |
|
|
|
74.8 |
|
Interest expense carryforwards |
|
|
43.3 |
|
|
|
34.1 |
|
Section 174 capitalization |
|
|
15.1 |
|
|
|
16.1 |
|
General business tax credit carryforwards |
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
Gross deferred income tax assets |
|
|
210.7 |
|
|
|
197.5 |
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
(67.9 |
) |
|
|
(60.3 |
) |
Net deferred tax assets |
|
|
142.8 |
|
|
|
137.2 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(3.8 |
) |
Unremitted non-U.S. earnings accrual |
|
|
(3.6 |
) |
|
|
(4.1 |
) |
Identifiable intangibles |
|
|
(155.2 |
) |
|
|
(151.9 |
) |
Gross deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
(158.8 |
) |
|
|
(159.8 |
) |
Net deferred tax liabilities |
|
$ |
(16.0 |
) |
|
$ |
(22.6 |
) |
A valuation allowance of $67.9 million and $60.3 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, has been established for deferred income tax assets. The $7.6 million increase in the valuation allowance in 2025 reflects the increase in
our existing valuation by $3.3 million and a $4.3 million increase 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, 2025, the Company has state NOL tax benefits of $15.3 million which will expire between December 31, 2026 and December 31, 2045. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has $2.2 million of federal general business credit carryforwards which will expire between December 31, 2042 and December 31, 2045. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $9.4 million of foreign tax credit carryforwards of which $7.2 million will expire on December 31, 2027 and $2.2 million will expire on December 31, 2035. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has foreign NOLs of $304.2 million and tax benefits of $69.5 million, most of which have unlimited carryforward periods.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company has recorded $3.6 million of deferred taxes on approximately $313.4 million of unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries that may be remitted to the U.S.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
Balance at beginning of year |
|
$ |
20.7 |
|
|
$ |
28.0 |
|
|
$ |
39.1 |
|
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
Reductions for tax positions of prior years |
|
|
(22.1 |
) |
|
|
(5.6 |
) |
|
|
(17.7 |
) |
Increase (decrease) resulting from foreign currency translation |
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
(5.2 |
) |
|
|
3.0 |
|
Balance at end of year |
|
$ |
1.2 |
|
|
$ |
20.7 |
|
|
$ |
28.0 |
|
As of December 31, 2025, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits decreased to $1.2 million, all of which would impact our effective tax rate, if recognized.
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized within "Income tax expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2025, we have accrued a cumulative $0.4 million for interest and penalties on the unrecognized tax benefits.
As of December 31, 2025, 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, 2025, years still open to examination by foreign tax authorities in major jurisdictions include Australia ( forward), Brazil ( forward), Canada ( forward), Germany ( forward), Sweden ( forward), and the U.K. ( forward). We are currently under examination in the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions.
Under ASU 2023-09 for which the Company is adopting on a prospective basis, the reconciliation of cash income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2025 was as follows:
(in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
U.S. federal |
|
$ |
6.2 |
|
U.S. state and local |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
Foreign |
|
|
|
|
Brazil |
|
$ |
11.2 |
|
Canada |
|
|
1.9 |
|
Mexico |
|
|
2.0 |
|
Spain |
|
|
1.9 |
|
Germany |
|
|
3.0 |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
1.9 |
|
Other |
|
|
7.7 |
|
Total foreign tax payments |
|
|
29.6 |
|
Total income tax payments (net of refunds) |
|
$ |
35.7 |
|
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 percent 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, 2025, we have recorded $1.1 million of tax expense related to Global Minimum Tax. 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.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OB3")
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OB3") was enacted into law. The OB3 includes significant provisions, such as allowing for accelerated tax deductions for qualified property and research expenditures, and reinstating the use of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in determining tax deductions related to business interest expense. In addition to the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the OB3 also modifies the international tax framework and restores favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions. The legislation has multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective in 2025 and others implemented through 2027.
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").
ACCO Brazil challenged both the foregoing assessments at the administrative level in the Brazilian Administrative Court of Tax Appeals ("BACTA"). Following adverse decisions from the BACTA concerning the deductibility of goodwill, ACCO Brazil appealed the decisions to the Brazilian judicial courts. Although we believed we had meritorious defenses, because there is no settled legal precedent on which to base a definitive opinion as to whether we would ultimately prevail, we considered the outcome of these disputes to be uncertain. Since it was not more likely than not that we would prevail, in 2012 we recorded an initial 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. Between the time we recorded this initial reserve and June 13, 2025, we adjusted the reserve for various developments affecting the contingency, and on that date, we had reserved $20.5 million in tax, penalties, and interest (at June 13, 2025 exchange rates and reported in "Other non-current liabilities").
While the judicial appeals were pending, in January 2025, the Attorney General's Office of the Brazilian National Treasury ("Brazilian Treasury") offered an amnesty program in which it agreed to dismiss with prejudice any pending goodwill cases in exchange for the payment of at least 35 percent of the outstanding assessment principal, interest, and legal fees on or before June 30, 2025. After considering this offer and to avoid further expense and uncertainty, ACCO Brazil decided to participate in the amnesty program. In June 2025, the Brazilian Treasury accepted ACCO Brazil's intent to participate in the amnesty program. The total amount of the settlement under this program was determined to be $7.4 million. The Company paid an initial installment of $2.0 million on June 30, 2025, and under the terms of the settlement, the remaining $5.4 million will be paid in monthly installments, including interest, through June 2026. Upon completion of these payments, the pending cases will be dismissed with prejudice, thereby resolving the matter.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 9, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 21, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 23, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 24, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 23, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 26, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 27, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 27, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 28, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 27, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 24, 2016 | |
About Income Taxes Disclosures
The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.
Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.