estimated ESOP (income) expense was $0 and ($152), respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 the Company’s estimated ESOP expense was $0 and $1,668, respectively.
As of January 1, 2023, the Company amended the plan reducing the distribution period from five years to three years.
At various times following death, disability, retirement, termination of employment or the exercise of diversification rights, an ESOP participant is entitled to receive their ESOP account balance in accordance with various distribution methods as permitted under the policies adopted by the ESOP.
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the ESOP shares consisted of 4,062,583 and 5,684,879 in allocated shares, respectively.
Note 7. Retirement plans
The Mayville Engineering Company Inc. 401(k) Plan (the 401(k) Plan) covers substantially all employees meeting certain eligibility requirements. The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan and is intended for eligible employees to defer tax-free contributions to save for retirement. Employees may contribute up to 50% of their eligible compensation to the 401(k) Plan, subject to the limits of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
As of January 1, 2023, the Company implemented an employer match program to the 401(k) Plan. The Company now provides a 50% match for employee contributions, up to 6%. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company’s employer match expense was $933 and $2,577, respectively. Additionally, the 401(k) Plan provides for employer discretionary profit-sharing contributions and the Board of Directors may authorize discretionary profit-sharing contributions (which are usually approved at the end of each calendar year). For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s estimated discretionary profit-sharing expense (credit) was $0 and ($123), respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s estimated discretionary profit-sharing expense was $0 and $1,351, respectively.
Note 8. Income taxes
On a quarterly basis, the Company estimates its effective tax rate for the full fiscal year and records a quarterly income tax provision based on the anticipated rate. As the year progresses, the Company will refine its estimate based on facts and circumstances by each tax jurisdiction.
Income tax expense was $554 and $1,471, and the effective tax rate (ETR) was 27.94% and 20.76% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Our ETR is different from the expected tax rate due to state taxes, non-deductible items, research and development credits and benefit from excess tax deductions related to share based compensation items.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, income tax expense was estimated at $1,490 and $4,464 the ETR was 18.43% and 21.45%, respectively.
Uncertain Tax Positions
Based on the Company’s evaluation, it has been concluded that there is one tax position related to the research and development tax credit requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements as of September 30, 2023. The Company does not anticipate that there will be a material change in the balance of the unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. Any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded in income tax expense. No amounts have been recorded as tax expense for interest and penalties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, as the amount for the utilized portion for the research and development credit on the Wisconsin return is considered to be immaterial. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, a total of $652 and $384, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, impact the Company’s ETR.
The Company files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in various state and local jurisdictions. Federal tax returns for tax years beginning January 1, 2019, and state tax returns beginning January 1, 2018, are open for examination.