v3.26.1
Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
May 31, 2026
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
Income before income taxes consists of the following components for the fiscal years ended May 31:
(In thousands)202620252024
U.S. operations$2,336,940 $2,117,251 $1,860,859 
Foreign operations168,394 146,951 112,776 
$2,505,334 $2,264,202 $1,973,635 
Income tax expense consists of the following components for the fiscal years ended May 31:
(In thousands)202620252024
Current:  
Federal$334,423 $352,652 $327,616 
State and local81,235 96,808 79,583 
Foreign30,118 10,580 25,344 
445,776 460,040 432,543 
Deferred59,590 (8,119)(30,500)
$505,366 $451,921 $402,043 

Reconciliation of income tax expense using the statutory rate and actual income tax expense is as follows for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2026:
(In thousands)
Income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate$526,120 21.0%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit (1)
63,394 2.5%
Foreign tax effects(4,835)(0.2)%
Effect of cross-border tax laws(3,219)(0.1)%
Tax credits(13,325)(0.5)%
Nontaxable or nondeductible items:
Stock-based compensation(52,953)(2.1)%
Other nontaxable and nondeductible items, net(15,857)(0.6)%
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits5,719 0.2%
Other322 0.0%
$505,366 20.2%
(1)State taxes in California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in the state and local income tax category.

Reconciliation of income tax expense using the statutory rate and actual income tax expense is as follows for the fiscal years ended May 31:
(In thousands)20252024
Income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate$475,482 $414,463 
Permanent differences (1)
(75,966)(67,310)
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit64,052 49,560 
Other(11,647)5,330 
$451,921 $402,043 
(1)    Primarily consists of the excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation.
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2026, income taxes paid, net of any refunds, were $402.1 million, which included federal tax payments of $304.8 million (inclusive of cash payments of $183.7 million to acquire transferable tax credits, which were applied to our federal tax obligation), state and local tax payments of $78.4 million and foreign tax payments of $18.9 million.

The components of deferred income taxes included on the consolidated balance sheets are as follows at May 31:
(In thousands)20262025
Deferred tax assets:  
Allowance for credit losses$20,720 $17,352 
Inventory reserves16,727 17,734 
Insurance reserves44,792 45,029 
Stock-based compensation75,023 66,260 
Net operating loss and foreign related carry-forwards2,428 1,630 
Operating lease liabilities69,972 58,219 
Deferred compensation and other132,104 132,210 
361,766 338,434 
Valuation allowance(2,391)(1,556)
359,375 336,878 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Uniform and other rental items in service306,612 274,781 
Property and equipment197,787 163,247 
Intangibles and other amortizable assets179,915 173,362 
Treasury locks36,686 37,014 
Capitalized contract costs101,190 95,069 
Operating lease right-of-use assets69,972 58,219 
State taxes and other5,132 6,926 
897,294 808,618 
Net deferred tax liability$537,919 $471,740 
Although realization is not assured, management has evaluated its deferred tax assets to determine whether a valuation allowance is required or should be adjusted. This evaluation considers, among other items, the nature, frequency and amount of recent losses, reversal periods of taxable temporary differences, duration of statutory periods and tax planning strategies. As a result of this analysis, management believes it is more likely than not that the recorded deferred tax assets will be realized.

As of May 31, 2026 and 2025, there was $52.8 million and $47.8 million, net of federal benefit, respectively, in total unrecognized tax benefits, which, if recognized, would favorably impact Cintas' effective tax rate. Cintas recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income, which is consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods. The total amount accrued for interest and penalties as of May 31, 2026 and 2025, was $6.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively. Cintas records this tax liability in long-term accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the gross unrecognized tax benefits (exclusive of interest and penalties) is as follows:
(In thousands) 
Balance at June 1, 2024$41,746 
Additions for tax positions of the current year14,001 
Additions for tax positions of prior years3,791 
Statute expirations(1,530)
Balance at May 31, 202558,008 
Additions for tax positions of the current year14,428 
Settlements(4,180)
Statute expirations(5,536)
Balance at May 31, 2026$62,720 
The majority of Cintas' operations are in North America. Cintas is required to file U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns in a majority of the domestic states and also in certain Canadian provinces. At times, Cintas is subject to audits in these jurisdictions. The audits, by nature, are sometimes complex and can require several years to resolve. The final resolution of any such tax audit could result in either a reduction in Cintas' accruals or an increase in its income tax expense, either of which could have an impact on the consolidated results of operation in any given period.

All U.S. federal income tax returns are closed to audit through fiscal 2022. Cintas is currently in various audits in certain foreign jurisdictions and certain domestic states. The years under foreign and domestic state audits cover fiscal years back to 2020. Based on the status and resolution of the various audits and other potential regulatory developments, it is expected that the balance of unrecognized tax benefits will not materially change for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027.

Foreign Withholding Tax
The Company asserts that all foreign earnings will be indefinitely reinvested, with the exception of certain foreign investments in which earnings and cash generation are in excess of local needs. With the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the U.S., dividends of earnings from non-U.S. operations are generally no longer subject to U.S. income tax. Cintas continues to analyze the estimated impact of the non-U.S. income and withholding tax liabilities based on the source of these earnings, as well as the expected means through which those earnings may be taxed; however, the unrecorded tax is not material to the consolidated financial statements.