Income Taxes | Income Taxes For financial reporting purposes, income before taxes includes the following components (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Domestic $ (7,897 ) $ (3,552 ) $ (5,285 ) Foreign 41,886 24,115 14,892 $ 33,989 $ 20,563 $ 9,607 The expense (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Current: Federal $ 189 $ (425 ) $ (18 ) State and local 162 89 30 Foreign 8,982 4,615 2,886 9,333 4,279 2,898 Deferred: Federal 197 (257 ) (1,176 ) State and local (35 ) (1 ) (9 ) Foreign 849 2,148 1,486 1,011 1,890 301 Total income tax expense $ 10,344 $ 6,169 $ 3,199 A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax provision is as follows (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Tax at statutory rate $ 7,138 $ 7,197 $ 3,362 State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit 89 93 (15 ) Effect of foreign operations 611 (1,137 ) (1,418 ) Change in valuation allowance 498 (397 ) 1,266 Change in unrecognized tax benefits, net 258 105 (899 ) Impairment of goodwill 525 — — Specialty tax credits (295 ) (139 ) (78 ) Statutory rate changes 272 (470 ) (180 ) Effect of foreign exchange 321 (1,292 ) 88 Prior period deferred tax adjustments — — 817 2017 Tax Act: Effects of U.S. tax reform (135 ) 11,311 — Change in valuation allowance 945 (9,093 ) — Other 117 (9 ) 256 Total income tax expense $ 10,344 $ 6,169 $ 3,199 On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Act") was enacted. The 2017 Tax Act significantly changed U.S. tax law by, among other things, lowering the corporate tax rate, implementing a modified territorial tax system, and imposing a one-time transition tax on post 1986 undistributed foreign earnings as of December 31, 2017. The 2017 Tax Act permanently reduces the U.S. tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21%, effective January 1, 2018. Under U.S. GAAP, changes in tax rates and tax law are accounted for in the period of enactment and deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to recover or be settled. Also on December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued SAB 118 which provides for a measurement period of one year from the enactment date to finalize the accounting for effects of the 2017 Tax Act. Consistent with that guidance, the Company had provisionally determined the tax cost of the one-time transition tax under the 2017 Tax Act to be approximately $2.2 million . This amount included the tax benefit from the net operating loss of approximately $3.9 million . As a result of the implementation of a modified territorial tax system, the Company reassessed its assertion with respect to certain subsidiaries that the earnings of those subsidiaries are indefinitely reinvested and in 2017 recorded a deferred tax liability of $1.8 million withholding tax associated with a planned cash distribution of approximately $25.5 million of previously unremitted earnings. The deferred tax liability of $1.8 million was included in the provisional tax of $2.2 million for 2017. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining planned cash distribution amount is approximately $17.5 million with a remaining deferred tax liability of approximately $1.6 million . In accordance with SAB 118, the financial reporting impact of the 2017 Tax Act was completed in the fourth quarter of 2018 resulting in a net $0.8 million increase in tax expense caused by a decrease in the transition tax and an increase in the valuation allowance. The 2017 Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in the future years or provide for tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred. The Company has elected to recognize tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred. For the year-ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized approximately $15.6 million of GILTI income. The U.S. tax on the GILTI income was fully offset by foreign tax credits associated with GILTI and U.S. operating losses exclusive of GILTI. Any excess foreign tax credits associated with GILTI are lost and cannot be carried forward to future years. The Company would have generated a net operating loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes but for the effects of the GILTI provision. The state tax treatment of GILTI is still evolving as not all states have provided guidance on how they will treat GILTI income. Our current treatment of GILTI may change as additional guidance is provided. Deferred income taxes represent the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands) : December 31, 2018 2017 Deferred tax assets: Pension and other postretirement costs $ 3,600 $ 4,295 Inventories 2,103 1,800 Net operating/capital loss carryforwards 9,536 9,523 Tax credit carryforwards 748 — Deferred compensation 2,009 2,142 Other accruals and reserves 3,547 3,192 Book over tax depreciation 12 — Total gross deferred tax assets 21,555 20,952 Less: valuation allowance (14,455 ) (12,434 ) 7,100 8,518 Deferred tax liabilities: Tax over book depreciation — (125 ) Investment in subsidiary (1,983 ) (2,214 ) Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill (884 ) (713 ) Total gross deferred tax liabilities (2,867 ) (3,052 ) Net deferred tax assets $ 4,233 $ 5,466 In 2015, the Company established a valuation allowance with respect to substantially all of its U.S. deferred tax assets due to uncertainty regarding the realization of these assets. Throughout 2017 and 2018, the Company reassessed its ability to realize its U.S. and other deferred tax assets by considering both positive and negative evidence regarding realization. The most significant negative evidence is continuing cumulative operating losses in the U.S. The impact of the acquisitions of Stress-Tek and Pacific was also considered in determining the realization of the U.S. deferred tax assets. The Pacific acquisition resulted in the establishment of deferred tax liabilities which allowed the Company to adjust its previously established valuation allowance by $1.6 million . Other aspects, such as operating results, additional interest expense and additional tax deductions related to the Stress-Tek acquisition, were also considered. The Company also considered positive evidence such as tax planning strategies and the projected benefits of our restructuring efforts. However, there was insufficient positive evidence to overcome the negative evidence. Overall, the cumulative losses and the acquisition impacts still indicate that realization of our U.S. deferred tax assets remains uncertain such that the Company cannot conclude that it is "more likely than not" that the deferred tax assets will be recoverable. We will continue to monitor the realization of U.S. deferred tax assets and reduce the valuation allowance if, and when, sufficient positive evidence of realization exists. At December 31, 2018 and 2017 , the valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets was approximately $12.3 million and $10.1 million , respectively. The net change in valuation allowance was approximately $2.2 million . The valuation allowance related to state taxes was $1.0 million and $2.1 million expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Of the total $2.1 million expense, $1.0 million related to the 2017 Tax Act. The Company also has valuation allowances of $2.2 million and $2.3 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, with respect to certain foreign net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards. The valuation allowance related to Israel capital losses was reduced during 2016 as a result of the sale of the Karmiel facility because the sale triggered a capital gain. Significant valuation allowances are as follows (in thousands) : December 31, Jurisdiction 2018 2017 U.S. federal $ 4,240 $ 3,040 U.S. state (net of U.S. federal tax benefit) 8,057 7,092 Israel - capital losses 1,457 1,622 The following table summarizes significant net operating losses and credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2018 (in thousands): December 31, Jurisdiction 2018 Expiring U.S. foreign tax credit 748 2024-2028 U.S state net operating losses 85,137 2022-2038 Israel net operating losses 3,202 No expiration Undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $143.0 million at December 31, 2018 compared to $112.1 million at December 31, 2017 . As a result of the 2017 Tax Act, in 2017 the Company had provided for a deferred tax liability of approximately $1.8 million of withholding tax associated with a planned cash distribution of approximately $25.5 million . As of December 31, 2018, other than the planned cash distribution of $17.5 million , substantially all of the remaining undistributed earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and accordingly no provision has been made with respect to these earnings for incremental foreign income taxes, state income taxes or foreign withholding taxes. If those earnings were distributed to the U.S., the Company could be subject to incremental foreign income taxes, state income taxes, and withholding taxes. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability is not practicable because of the uncertainty regarding the timing of any such distribution and the impact on existing valuation allowances. In addition to the $1.8 million , additional withholding taxes of approximately $17.6 million are estimated to be payable upon remittance of the remaining previously unremitted earnings as of December 31, 2018 . Net income taxes paid were $7.3 million , $4.1 million , and $3.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes imposed by the U.S., various states, and the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. Each jurisdiction establishes rules that set forth the years which are subject to examination by its tax authorities. While the Company believes the tax positions taken on its tax returns for each jurisdiction are supportable, they may still be challenged by the jurisdiction's tax authorities. In anticipation of such challenges, the Company has established reserves for tax-related uncertainties. These liabilities are based on the Company’s best estimate of the potential tax exposures in each respective jurisdiction. It may take a number of years for a final tax liability in a jurisdiction to be determined, particularly in the event of an audit. If an uncertain matter is determined favorably, there could be a reduction in the Company’s tax expense. An unfavorable determination could increase tax expense and could require a cash payment, including interest and penalties. The following table summarizes changes in the Company's gross liabilities, excluding interest and penalties, associated with unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands) : December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Balance at beginning of year $ 823 $ 772 $ 1,506 Addition based on tax positions related to current year 189 163 63 Addition based on tax positions related to prior years 182 — 66 Reduction based on tax positions related to prior years (98 ) (12 ) — Addition related to acquired company — — 297 Currency translation adjustments (28 ) 14 16 Reduction for settled tax examinations — — (906 ) Reduction for lapses of statute of limitations (156 ) (114 ) (270 ) Balance before indemnification receivable 912 823 772 Receivable from Vishay Intertechnology for indemnification — (12 ) (57 ) Balance at end of year $ 912 $ 811 $ 715 The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, the Company accrued total penalties and interest of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2018 , none of which was included in the indemnification receivable. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , the Company accrued total penalties and interest of $0.1 million and $0.3 million , respectively. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 is $0.9 million , $0.8 million , and $0.7 million , respectively, of tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that an increase in unrecognized tax benefits related to foreign exposures of between $0.1 million and $0.2 million may be necessary in 2019. As of December 31, 2018 , the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that it will reverse up to $0.2 million of its current unrecognized tax benefits within the calendar year due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions. In addition, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that it may pay up to $0.2 million to tax authorities to settle current unrecognized tax benefits within the next year. None of the unrecognized tax benefits the Company expects to reverse in 2019 due to statute lapses are covered by the Tax Matters Agreement. The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as income tax returns in various state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. The Company files federal, state, and local income tax returns on a combined, unitary, or stand-alone basis. The statute of limitations in those jurisdictions generally ranges from 3 to 4 years . Additionally, the Company's foreign subsidiaries file income tax returns in the countries in which they have operations and the statutes of limitations in those jurisdictions generally range from 3 to 10 years . During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company concluded a tax examination in Germany for one of its subsidiaries, covering the years 2015 and 2016. The conclusion of the tax examination resulted in no significant change in tax. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company concluded a tax examination in Japan for one of its subsidiaries, covering the years 2014 through 2016. The conclusion of the tax examination resulted in no significant change in tax. During 2016, the Company concluded a tax examination in Israel for the years 2012-2014. The Company is subject to ongoing income tax audits, administrative appeals and judicial proceedings in India spanning a number of years. |