v3.25.4
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

Note 6—Income Taxes

The components of income before income taxes and the provision for income taxes are as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 

 

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

 

Income before income taxes:

United States

$

996.2

$

462.0

$

521.9

Foreign

 

4,604.5

 

2,549.9

 

1,932.9

$

5,600.7

$

3,011.9

$

2,454.8

Current tax provision (benefit):

United States - Federal

$

179.4

$

22.8

$

45.8

United States - State, net

32.4

(3.8)

9.3

Foreign

 

1,149.2

 

634.1

 

513.0

1,361.0

653.1

568.1

Deferred tax provision (benefit):

United States - Federal

(152.3)

(53.9)

(4.6)

United States - State, net

(12.8)

(2.3)

(5.4)

Foreign

 

99.5

 

(26.6)

(48.8)

 

(65.6)

 

(82.8)

 

(58.8)

Total provision for income taxes

$

1,295.4

$

570.3

$

509.3

The United States federal government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) in December 2017. As a result, in 2017, the Company recorded a transition tax (“Transition Tax”) related to the deemed repatriation of the accumulated unremitted earnings and profits of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Company paid the balance of the Transition Tax, net of applicable tax credits and deductions, in the second quarter of 2025, as permitted under the Tax Act.

Cash paid during the year for income taxes, net of refunds, are as follows:

Year Ended

Payments, net of refunds:

December 31, 2025

United States, federal

$

134.3

United States, state and local

30.6

China

579.5

Canada

84.0

Other foreign jurisdictions

255.7

Cash paid for income taxes, net

$

1,084.1

At December 31, 2025, the Company had $323.9 of foreign tax loss carryforwards, $157.0 of U.S. state tax loss carryforwards and $70.2 of U.S. federal tax loss carryforwards, of which $47.6, $157.0 and $28.4, respectively, will expire at various dates through 2045 and the balance can be carried forward indefinitely.  At December 31, 2025, the Company had $20.0 of U.S. state tax credit carryforwards and $17.3 of U.S. federal tax credit carryforwards, of which $12.7 and $17.3, respectively, will expire at various dates through 2045 and the balance can be carried forward indefinitely.

A valuation allowance of $87.6 and $73.6 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, has been recorded which relates primarily to the U.S. state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and U.S. federal and state tax credit carryforwards. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by $14.0 in 2025, which was primarily driven by U.S. federal and foreign net operating loss carryforwards. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by $27.0 in 2024, which was primarily driven by U.S. state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and U.S. federal tax credit carryforwards.

Differences between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s 2025 effective income tax rate presented prospectively in accordance with ASU 2023-09 are analyzed below:

Year Ended
December 31, 2025

Amount

Percent

  ​

U.S. statutory federal tax rate

$

1,176.1

21.0

%

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

17.6

0.3

Foreign tax effects

China

Federal statutory tax rate difference

4.0

0.1

Effect of cross-border tax laws

 

151.6

2.7

Other

 

(43.7)

(0.8)

Other foreign jurisdictions

70.1

1.3

Effect of changes in tax laws or rates enacted in current period

Effect of cross-border tax laws

45.5

0.8

Tax credits

(19.3)

(0.3)

Changes in valuation allowances

Nontaxable or nondeductible items

Equity compensation

(205.9)

(3.7)

Other nontaxable or nondeductible items

13.2

0.2

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits

96.9

1.7

Other, net

(10.7)

(0.2)

Effective tax rate

$

1,295.4

23.1

%

(1)    State taxes in Illinois and California accounted for greater than 50% of the tax effect in this category.

Differences between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for periods prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09 are analyzed below:

Year Ended December 31, 

2024

  ​

2023

 

U.S. statutory federal tax rate

21.0

%

21.0

%

State and local taxes, net

0.6

0.6

Foreign earnings and dividends taxed at different rates

1.9

2.2

U.S. tax on foreign income

(0.1)

Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation

(4.7)

(3.4)

Other, net

0.2

0.3

Effective tax rate

18.9

%

20.7

%

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, stock option exercise activity had the impact of decreasing our Provision for income taxes by $246.6, $142.6 and $82.4, respectively, and decreasing our effective tax rate by the basis points in the table above. Total acquisition-related expenses, as discussed in further detail in Note 11 herein, had the aggregate impact of increasing our effective tax rate by approximately 20 basis points, 30 basis points and 20 basis points for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2025, a discrete tax item of $100.0 related to a charge recorded for notices received by certain subsidiaries in China from relevant tax authorities challenging certain of the Company’s tax positions taken over up to an eight-year period had the effect of increasing our effective tax rate by approximately 180 basis points. For the year ended December 31, 2024, a

discrete tax benefit of $18.6, related to the settlement of tax audits and associated lapses of statutes of limitation, along with a difference in a non-U.S. tax filing position, had the effect of decreasing our effective tax rate by approximately 60 basis points, and, for the year ended December 31, 2023, the gain associated with the bargain purchase acquisition that closed in the second quarter of 2023, as discussed in Note 11 herein, had the effect of decreasing our effective tax rate by approximately 10 basis points.

The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following:

December 31, 

  ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​

2024

Deferred tax assets relating to:

Accrued liabilities and reserves

$

204.4

$

115.7

Operating lease liabilities

121.5

86.2

Operating loss, interest, and tax credit carryforwards

 

143.9

 

114.8

Pensions

 

6.9

 

10.2

Inventories

 

138.4

 

112.0

Deferred revenue

63.8

Employee benefits

 

56.4

 

49.5

Total deferred tax assets

735.3

488.4

Valuation allowances

(87.6)

(73.6)

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances

647.7

414.8

Deferred tax liabilities relating to:

Goodwill

343.1

307.2

Depreciation and amortization

 

168.3

 

144.1

Operating lease right-of-use assets

121.5

86.2

Unremitted foreign earnings

266.1

 

125.3

Total deferred tax liabilities

899.0

662.8

Net deferred tax liability

$

251.3

$

248.0

Classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities, as reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Other long-term assets

$

181.6

$

128.7

Deferred income taxes

 

432.9

 

376.7

Net deferred tax liability, long-term

$

251.3

$

248.0

A tabular reconciliation of the gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties at the beginning and end of the year for 2025, 2024 and 2023 is shown below.

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

 

Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1

$

176.8

$

174.2

$

164.1

Gross increases for tax positions in prior periods

 

84.4

 

15.2

 

3.8

Gross increases for tax positions in current period

 

27.0

 

21.1

 

8.4

Settlements

 

 

(6.1)

 

(1.0)

Lapse of statutes of limitations

 

(8.6)

 

(27.6)

 

(1.1)

Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31

$

279.6

$

176.8

$

174.2

The Company includes estimated interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the provision for income taxes included a net (benefit) expense of $(3.8), ($4.2) and $5.8, respectively, in estimated interest and penalties. As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the liability for unrecognized tax benefits included $36.9, $37.7 and $41.8, respectively, for tax-related interest and penalties.

The Company operates in the U.S. and numerous foreign taxable jurisdictions, and at any point in time has numerous audits underway at various stages of completion. With few exceptions, the Company is subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years 2017 and after. The Company is generally not able to precisely estimate the ultimate settlement amounts or timing until the close of an audit. The Company evaluates its tax positions and establishes liabilities for uncertain tax positions that may be challenged by tax authorities and may not be fully sustained, despite the Company’s belief that the underlying tax positions are fully supportable. As of December 31, 2025 and

2024, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, which if recognized would impact the effective tax rate, was approximately $311.7 and $209.7, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, including the progress of tax audits and the closing of statutes of limitations. Based on information currently available, management anticipates that over the next 12-month period, audit activity could be completed and statutes of limitations may close relating to existing unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $108.9.

In addition, in 2025, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries based in China received notices from relevant tax authorities challenging certain of the Company’s tax positions taken over up to an eight-year period. Although the Company believes its tax positions are appropriate and is currently discussing the matter with the relevant tax authorities, the Company has recorded a charge of $100.0 in the fourth quarter of 2025. The $100.0 charge represents the Company’s current best estimate of the costs that may be incurred to resolve this matter; however, the range of potential costs is estimated to be $100.0 to approximately $300.0. The Company is unable to estimate the timing for resolution of this matter.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”), a tax and spending package that introduced several tax-related provisions, including a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases, was enacted into law. Companies were required to reassess their valuation allowances for certain affected deferred tax assets in the period of enactment but did not need to remeasure deferred tax balances for the related tax accounting implications of the CAMT. The IRA provisions, which became effective for Amphenol beginning on January 1, 2023, did not have a material impact on the Company during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. While the full impact of these provisions in the future depends on several factors, including interpretive regulatory guidance, which has not yet been released, the Company does not currently believe that the provisions of the IRA, including several other non-tax related provisions, will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows.

H.R. 1

On July 4, 2025, the United States federal government enacted the tax and spending bill H.R. 1. This legislation contains changes to previously enacted provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and provides for extensions of certain expiring tax provisions included in the Tax Act. Certain corporate tax provisions in H.R. 1 were enacted with retroactive effect to January 1, 2025. H.R. 1 did not have a material impact on our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company continues to evaluate the corporate tax provisions contained within H.R. 1, and the future impact of H.R. 1 depends on several factors, including interpretive regulatory guidance, which has not yet been released.