Medpace Holdings, Inc.MEDP
Medpace Holdings, Inc. Income Taxes Disclosure
INCOME TAXES
The Company files income tax returns for U.S. federal and various U.S. states, as well as various foreign jurisdictions. The liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are carried in Other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets because the payment of cash is not anticipated within one year of the balance sheet date.
The components of income before income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 506,902 | $ | 454,452 | $ | 312,870 | |||||||||||
| Foreign jurisdictions | 35,475 | 21,470 | 22,812 | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 542,377 | $ | 475,922 | $ | 335,682 | |||||||||||
Income tax provision consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Current | Deferred | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Federal | $ | (2,810) | $ | 73,509 | $ | 70,699 | |||||||||||
| U.S. state and local | 5,100 | 8,536 | 13,636 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign jurisdictions | 8,047 | (1,128) | 6,919 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 10,337 | $ | 80,917 | $ | 91,254 | ||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Federal | $ | 80,490 | $ | (19,837) | $ | 60,653 | |||||||||||
| U.S. state and local | 11,791 | (5,707) | 6,084 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign jurisdictions | 5,877 | (1,078) | 4,799 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 98,158 | $ | (26,622) | $ | 71,536 | ||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Federal | $ | 64,381 | $ | (24,117) | $ | 40,264 | |||||||||||
| U.S. state and local | 8,848 | (1,869) | 6,979 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign jurisdictions | 4,622 | 1,007 | 5,629 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 77,851 | $ | (24,979) | $ | 52,872 | ||||||||||||
The difference between the statutory rate for and the effective income tax rate was as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense calculated at the federal statutory rate | $ | 113,899 | 21.0 | % | $ | 99,944 | 21.0 | % | $ | 70,493 | 21.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State and local taxes, net of federal benefit (a) | 3,734 | 0.7 | 4,769 | 1.0 | 2,610 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Tax Effects: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other foreign jurisdictions | (638) | (0.1) | (175) | (0.1) | 815 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of Cross-Border Tax Laws: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign-derived intangible income | (2,175) | (0.4) | (10,931) | (2.3) | (9,358) | (2.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 5,540 | 1.0 | 447 | 0.1 | (835) | (0.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tax Credits: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other tax credits | (935) | (0.2) | (1,144) | (0.2) | (1,340) | (0.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in Valuation Allowance | (332) | (0.1) | (1,156) | (0.2) | 1,489 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nontaxable or Nondeductible Items: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payment awards | (40,852) | (7.5) | (22,197) | (4.7) | (14,692) | (4.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,688 | 0.7 | (46) | — | (1,094) | (0.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits | 9,676 | 1.8 | 1,611 | 0.3 | 4,784 | 1.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Adjustments | (351) | (0.1) | 414 | 0.1 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 91,254 | 16.8 | % | $ | 71,536 | 15.0 | % | $ | 52,872 | 15.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) State taxes in California and local taxes in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio made up the majority (greater than 50 percent) of the tax effect in this category.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s accounting position is that unremitted foreign earnings are indefinitely reinvested. Therefore, the Company has not recorded deferred foreign withholding taxes on the unremitted foreign earnings and it is not practicable to determine the amount of the additional taxes that would result if these earnings were repatriated. The undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries was approximately $90.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025.
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was enacted in the U.S. The OBBBA includes significant provisions, such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, modifications to the international tax framework and the restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions. Where relevant, the Company has reflected any material items that were enacted in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Components of the Company’s net deferred tax asset (liability) included in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | $ | 30,474 | $ | 31,898 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 900 | 1,222 | |||||||||
| Net operating loss carryforwards | 36,577 | 51 | |||||||||
| Tax credit carryforwards | 5,172 | — | |||||||||
| Advanced billings | 15,009 | 127,115 | |||||||||
| Other | 460 | 2,002 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance | (1,847) | (1,607) | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 86,745 | 160,681 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (66,131) | (59,016) | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | (1,700) | (1,462) | |||||||||
| Other | (1,046) | (1,646) | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | (68,877) | (62,124) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax asset (liability) | $ | 17,868 | $ | 98,557 | |||||||
The Company has federal, state, and foreign operating loss carryforwards for which a deferred tax asset of $36.6 million has been established as of December 31, 2025. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance against certain operating loss carryforward deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2025 based upon its assessment that it is more likely than not that this deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of this tax benefit is dependent upon the generation of sufficient operating income in the respective tax jurisdictions. The federal and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $31.4 million have indefinite carryforward periods. The net operating loss expiration periods for the state and local jurisdictions of $5.2 million varies by jurisdiction. The state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2035 for certain jurisdictions if not utilized.
Annual activity related to the Company’s valuation allowance is as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Beginning Balance | $ | 1,607 | $ | 1,826 | $ | 430 | |||||||||||
| Additions charged to expense | 572 | 938 | 1,582 | ||||||||||||||
| Reductions from utilization, reassessments and expirations | (332) | (1,157) | (186) | ||||||||||||||
| Ending Balance | $ | 1,847 | $ | 1,607 | $ | 1,826 | |||||||||||
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Beginning Balance | $ | 25,527 | $ | 20,380 | $ | 15,947 | |||||||||||
| Increases in tax positions for prior years | 3,459 | 435 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Decreases in tax positions for prior years | (44) | (189) | (97) | ||||||||||||||
| Increases in tax positions for current year | 996 | 6,822 | 5,382 | ||||||||||||||
| Lapse in statute of limitations | (1,413) | (1,921) | (852) | ||||||||||||||
| Ending Balance | $ | 28,525 | $ | 25,527 | $ | 20,380 | |||||||||||
Interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized as components of Income tax provision in the consolidated statements of operations. There was no material change to tax-related interest and penalties during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, the Company has a liability for interest and penalties of $8.3 million and $6.7 million that is associated with related tax liabilities of $22.7 million and $20.3 million for uncertain tax positions.
The Company operates in various foreign, state and local jurisdictions. The number of tax years for which the statute of limitations remains open for foreign, state and local jurisdictions varies by jurisdiction and is approximately four years (2021 through 2025). For federal tax purposes, the Company’s open tax years are 2022 through 2025.
Components of the Company's cash paid for taxes included in the consolidated statement of cash flows consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | 30,444 | $ | 72,405 | $ | 68,256 | |||||||||||
| State | 2,138 | 5,293 | 4,327 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | 7,137 | 5,869 | 3,770 | ||||||||||||||
| Total cash paid for taxes | $ | 39,719 | $ | 83,567 | $ | 76,353 | |||||||||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 10, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 11, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 13, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 14, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 15, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 16, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 25, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 26, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 27, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 28, 2017 | |
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.