v3.26.1
Income Taxes
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rates were as follows:
 Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
 2026202520262025
Effective income tax rate26.4 %23.4 %25.2 %23.9 %
The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was positively impacted by $34 million of discrete benefits in Q1 2026, driven by the agreed terms of an anticipated conclusion of an advance pricing agreement.
We are involved in two separate ongoing disputes with the ITD in connection with previously disclosed share repurchase transactions undertaken by CTS India in 2013 and 2016 to repurchase shares from its shareholders (non-Indian Cognizant entities) valued at $523 million and $2.8 billion, respectively.
The 2016 transaction was undertaken pursuant to a plan approved by the High Court in Chennai, India, and resulted in the payment of $135 million in Indian income taxes - an amount we believe includes all the applicable taxes owed for this transaction under Indian law. In March 2018, the ITD asserted that it is owed an additional 33 billion Indian rupees ($349 million at the June 30, 2026 exchange rate) on the 2016 transaction. We deposited 5 billion Indian rupees, representing 15% of the disputed tax amount related to the 2016 transaction, with the ITD. Additionally, certain time deposits of CTS India were placed under lien in favor of the ITD, representing the remainder of the disputed tax amount.
In April 2020, we received a formal assessment from the ITD on the 2016 transaction, which is consistent with the ITD's previous assertions. Our appeal was ruled on unfavorably by the CITA in March 2022 and by the ITAT in September 2023. We filed an appeal against the order of the ITAT with the High Court. On January 8, 2024, the SCI ruled that, in order to proceed with the appeal, we must deposit 30 billion Indian rupees, representing the time deposits of CTS India under lien, on the condition that, if CTS India prevails at the High Court, the amount deposited will be returned to CTS India, along with interest accrued, within four weeks of the judgment. We made the required deposit in January 2024 and the case is pending before the High Court.
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the deposit with the ITD was $365 million and $384 million, respectively, presented in "Other noncurrent assets."
The dispute in relation to the 2013 share repurchase transaction is also in litigation. At this time, the ITD has not made specific demands with regards to the 2013 transaction.
 We continue to believe we have paid all applicable taxes owed on both the 2016 and the 2013 transactions and we continue to defend our positions with respect to both matters. Accordingly, we have not recorded any reserves for these matters as of June 30, 2026.