ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC. Income Taxes Disclosure
8. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31 consists of the following:
(thousands) | | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||
Current: |
| |
| |
| | |||
Federal | $ | 14,859 | $ | (8,586) | $ | 33,832 | |||
State |
| 4,837 |
| 3,352 |
| 16,108 | |||
International |
| 164,720 |
| 200,912 |
| 299,031 | |||
$ | 184,416 | $ | 195,678 | $ | 348,971 | ||||
Deferred: |
| |
| |
| | |||
Federal | $ | (22,831) | $ | (50,305) | $ | (59,342) | |||
State |
| 655 |
| (8,348) |
| (11,960) | |||
International |
| (14,006) |
| (41,213) |
| (22,678) | |||
| (36,182) |
| (99,866) |
| (93,980) | ||||
$ | 148,234 | $ | 95,812 | $ | 254,991 | ||||
The principal causes of the difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21% and effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
(thousands) | | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||
United States | $ | (68,852) | $ | (234,972) | $ | (38,848) | |||
International |
| 786,780 |
| 724,291 |
| 1,203,202 | |||
Income before income taxes | $ | 717,928 | $ | 489,319 | $ | 1,164,354 | |||
2025 | |||||||
(thousands) | | Amount | | Percent | |||
U.S. Federal statutory tax rate |
| $ | 150,765 |
| 21.0 | % | |
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax effect* | 4,306 | 0.6 | % | ||||
Foreign tax effects | |||||||
Germany | |||||||
Foreign exchange difference | (11,536) | (1.6) | % | ||||
Other | 3,809 | 0.5 | % | ||||
Cayman Islands | |||||||
Statutory tax rate difference between Cayman Islands and United States | (12,170) | (1.7) | % | ||||
Taiwan | |||||||
Foreign exchange difference | (7,930) | (1.1) | % | ||||
Other | 807 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Other foreign jurisdictions | 11,743 | 1.6 | % | ||||
Effect of cross-border tax laws | 13,281 | 1.8 | % | ||||
Tax credits | |||||||
Research and development tax credits | (9,635) | (1.3) | % | ||||
Changes in valuation allowances | |||||||
Nontaxable or nondeductible items | 1,358 | 0.2 | % | ||||
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits | 1,452 | 0.2 | % | ||||
Other adjustments | 1,984 | 0.3 | % | ||||
Effective tax rate | $ | 148,234 | 20.6 | % | |||
* State taxes in Ohio, California, District of Columbia, New York, Minnesota, and Virginia made up the majority (greater than 50 percent) of the tax effect in this category.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
(thousands) | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
United States | $ | (234,972) | $ | (38,848) | ||
International | 724,291 | 1,203,202 | ||||
Income before income taxes | $ | 489,319 | $ | 1,164,354 | ||
Provision at statutory tax rate | $ | 102,757 | $ | 244,514 | ||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | (3,279) | 2,379 | ||||
International effective tax rate differential | 8,958 | 27,993 | ||||
Change in valuation allowance | 333 | (7,755) | ||||
Other non-deductible expenses | (585) | 2,993 | ||||
Changes in tax accruals | (9,419) | 1,153 | ||||
Tax credits | (10,786) | (7,666) | ||||
U.S. tax (benefit) on foreign earnings | 6,801 | (10,075) | ||||
Other | 1,032 | 1,455 | ||||
Provision for income taxes | $ | 95,812 | $ | 254,991 | ||
The company is subject to taxation of GILTI on foreign subsidiaries and a tax provision to deduct a portion of FDII of U.S. corporations. GILTI tax expense, accounted for as a current period cost, net of FDII benefit, resulted in a net tax expense of $5.2 million, $4.7 million, and $23.0 million during 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
At December 31, 2025, a short-term tax payable of $7.6 million was recorded in the consolidated balance sheets for a one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated unremitted earnings related to the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
At December 31, 2025, the company had a liability for unrecognized tax positions of $50.5 million. The timing of the resolution of these uncertain tax positions is dependent on the tax authorities’ income tax examination processes. Material changes are not expected; however, it is possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits with respect to uncertain tax positions could increase or decrease during 2026. Currently, the company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of when cash settlement would occur and how it would impact the effective tax rate.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
(thousands) | | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 63,953 | $ | 82,808 | $ | 75,666 | |||
Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period |
| 7,710 |
| 4,537 |
| 7,466 | |||
Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period |
| (10,242) |
| (20,245) |
| (4,448) | |||
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period |
| 5,930 |
| 7,943 |
| 5,505 | |||
Reductions based on tax positions taken during the current period |
| (1,575) |
| — |
| — | |||
Reductions related to settlement of tax matters |
| (15,265) |
| (11,090) |
| — | |||
Reductions related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations |
| — |
| — |
| (1,381) | |||
Balance at end of year | $ | 50,511 | $ | 63,953 | $ | 82,808 | |||
Interest costs related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as a component of “Interest and other financing expense, net” in the company’s consolidated statements of operations. In 2025, 2024, and 2023, the company recognized $7.3 million, $5.9 million, and $4.0 million, respectively, of interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the company had accrued a liability of $24.2 million and $23.5 million, respectively, for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits.
In many cases the company’s uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by tax authorities. The following describes the open tax years, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2025:
United States - Federal | | 2016 - present | |
United States - States |
| 2015 - present | |
China and Hong Kong |
| 2018 - present | |
Germany (a) |
| 2020 - present | |
Italy (a) |
| 2013 - present | |
Netherlands |
| 2019 - present | |
Sweden |
| 2020 - present | |
Taiwan |
| 2020 - present | |
United Kingdom |
| 2021 - present |
| (a) | Includes national as well as local jurisdictions. |
Deferred income taxes are provided for the effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the consolidated balance sheets. These temporary differences result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following at December 31:
(thousands) | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
Deferred tax assets: |
| |
| | ||
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ | 35,971 | $ | 16,567 | ||
Inventory adjustments |
| 119,898 |
| 110,370 | ||
Allowance for credit losses |
| 24,918 |
| 20,475 | ||
Accrued expenses |
| 100,853 |
| 81,951 | ||
Interest carryforward |
| 4,612 |
| 21,923 | ||
Foreign tax credit carryforward | 9,194 | — | ||||
Intangibles | 10,499 | 4,939 | ||||
Stock-based compensation awards |
| 6,345 |
| 5,490 | ||
Lease liability |
| 65,130 |
| 65,718 | ||
Research and experimentation costs (a) |
| 83,305 |
| 73,971 | ||
Other |
| 1,921 |
| 1,066 | ||
| 462,646 |
| 402,470 | |||
Valuation allowance | (16,011) | (16,165) | ||||
Total deferred tax assets | $ | 446,635 | $ | 386,305 | ||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
| |
| | ||
Goodwill | $ | (165,985) | $ | (157,786) | ||
Depreciation |
| (42,175) |
| (42,540) | ||
Lease right-of-use assets |
| (61,493) |
| (61,685) | ||
Other comprehensive income items |
| (20,328) |
| (15,615) | ||
Total deferred tax liabilities | $ | (289,981) | $ | (277,626) | ||
Total net deferred tax assets | $ | 156,654 | $ | 108,679 | ||
| (a) | At December 31, 2025, and 2024, the company recorded deferred tax asset of $83.3 million and $74.0 million, respectively, related to capitalized U.S. based research and experimental (“R&E”) costs, pursuant to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 174, as amended by the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. |
At December 31, 2025, the company had international tax loss carryforwards of approximately $147.9 million, of which $3.8 million have expiration dates ranging from 2026 to 2045, and the remaining $144.1 million have no expiration date. Deferred tax assets related to these international tax loss carryforwards were $25.8 million with a corresponding valuation allowance of $0.8 million.
At December 31, 2025, the company had deferred tax assets of approximately $10.2 million with a corresponding valuation allowance of $7.4 million, related to U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards. Valuation allowances are needed when deferred tax assets may not be realized due to the uncertainty of the timing and the ability of the company to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions.
At December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $5.4 billion in undistributed foreign earnings which it deems to be indefinitely reinvested. The company recognizes that if it reverses its indefinite reinvestment assertion on foreign earnings, it may be subject to additional foreign taxes and U.S. state income taxes. It is not practicable to determine the income tax liability that would be payable if these earnings were distributed and not reinvested indefinitely.
Income taxes paid, net of income taxes refunded, for the year ended December 31 were:
(thousands) | | 2025 | |
U.S. federal |
| $ | 12,354 |
U.S. state and local | 5,287 | ||
17,641 | |||
Foreign | |||
Spain | 16,184 | ||
Italy | 15,581 | ||
Canada | 14,937 | ||
United Kingdom | 11,116 | ||
France | 11,045 | ||
China | 10,087 | ||
Other | 98,609 | ||
Total Foreign | 177,559 | ||
Total | $ | 195,200 | |
Income taxes paid, net of income taxes refunded, amounted to $195.2 million, $230.5 million, and $538.4 million in 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 11, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 11, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 13, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 9, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 11, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 11, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 13, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 7, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 6, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 7, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 5, 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.