Note 6. Income Taxes

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, we had $2 million, $3 million and $5 million of unrecognized tax benefits, respectively, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized.

The table below summarizes the changes in gross unrecognized tax benefits:

 

(In millions)

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2023

 

$

 

5

 

Decreases in tax positions for current year

 

 

 

(2

)

Balance as of December 31, 2024

 

 

 

3

 

Decreases in tax positions for current year

 

 

 

(1

)

Balance as of December 31, 2025

 

$

 

2

 

 

Interest and penalties accrued on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and recognized as income tax expense are less than $1 million as of December 31, 2025.

We are subject to taxation in the United States, various states and foreign jurisdictions. Due to expired statutes, the majority of our U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns for the years prior to 2022 are no longer subject to examination by tax authorities. Substantially all of our income before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was generated in the United States.

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2025

U.S. federal statutory tax

 

$

 

71

 

 

 

21.0

 

 

%

State and local income tax, net of federal income tax effects(1)

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

3.3

 

 

 

Tax credits

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

Nontaxable or nondeductible items

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

Changes in valuation allowances

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

Total tax provision and effective tax rate

 

$

 

84

 

 

 

24.7

 

 

%

 

(1)
State taxes in Virginia, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, Georgia and Maryland make up the majority of the effect of the state and local tax category.

As previously disclosed for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09, the reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to our effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

2024

 

2023

Tax at U.S. federal statutory rate

 

 

21.0

 

%

 

 

21.0

 

%

State and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal benefit

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

2.4

 

 

Other permanent items

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

0.9

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax credits

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

 

(0.7

)

 

Uncertain tax positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

Effective rate

 

 

24.1

 

%

 

 

25.0

 

%

 

Income tax expense is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. federal

 

$

 

63

 

 

$

 

63

 

 

$

 

60

 

State and local

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

10

 

Total current income taxes

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

 

70

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. federal

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11

)

State and local

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

Total deferred income taxes

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13

)

Provision for income taxes

 

$

 

84

 

 

$

 

74

 

 

$

 

57

 

 

Significant components of our deferred tax balances are as follows:

 

 

 

As of
December 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Long-term deferred tax assets (liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

$

 

(106

)

 

$

 

(115

)

Unearned revenue

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

 

38

 

Property and equipment

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

 

9

 

Deferred customer acquisition costs

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

 

(3

)

Other assets

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

(5

)

Accrued salaries and wages

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

7

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

2

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

6

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

6

 

Deferred interest expense

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

5

 

Tax credits and loss carryforwards

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

(2

)

Net long-term deferred tax liabilities

 

$

 

(53

)

 

$

 

(49

)

 

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “Bill”) was enacted into U.S. law. Certain provisions are applicable to the Company beginning in 2025, while other provisions will be implemented in future periods. As a result of the Bill, we recognized an increase in our net deferred tax liability and a decrease to our income tax payable resulting from the restoration of full expensing of U.S. research and experimentation expenditures and reinstating the 100% bonus depreciation for eligible assets. We do not expect any current or ongoing material impact to our effective tax rate as a result of the Bill.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 27, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Mar 1, 2023
2021Feb 25, 2022
2020Feb 23, 2021
2019Feb 28, 2020
2018Feb 28, 2019

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.