v3.25.1
Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The components of income tax expense were as follows: 
 Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
 202520242023
Current
U.S. Federal$280 $229 $355 
State and local90 117 87 
Foreign5 3 9 
Total current375 349 451 
Deferred
U.S. Federal(73)(94)(300)
State and local(18)(6)(50)
Foreign— (1)(4)
Total deferred(91)(101)(354)
Total$284 $248 $97 
A reconciliation of the provision for income tax to the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income from continuing operations before income taxes for each of the three years ended March 31 is as follows: 
 Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
 202520242023
Income tax expense computed at U.S. federal statutory rate$256 $179 $77 
Increases (reductions) resulting from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax55 85 33 
Foreign income taxes, net of federal tax— (8)5 
Non-deductible expenses, including non-deductible penalties7 5 35 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation(6)(10)(5)
Research and development and other federal credits(40)(31)(33)
Executive compensation -162(m)7 6 4 
Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII)(13)(14)(16)
Changes in uncertain tax positions (including indirect effects)27 38 (6)
Other(9)(2)3 
Income tax expense from operations$284 $248 $97 
Tax Receivables and Payables
The Company has both income tax receivables and income tax payable on its consolidated balance sheet as follows:
 March 31,
 20252024
Current income tax receivable
$76 $47 
Long term income tax receivable
$152 $152 
Current income tax payable
$10 $11 
Current income tax receivable represents previously made estimated payments that will be applied to the Company’s future U.S. federal and state tax returns. This amount is classified as prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Current income tax payable represents current liabilities associated with the Company’s current tax returns that the Company intends to file in fiscal 2026. This amount is classified as other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
The long-term income tax receivable represents the amended U.S. federal return refund claims for research and development tax credits and the carryback claim for the fiscal 2021 net operating loss which is classified as other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company is currently under federal audit by the IRS for fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2019-2021 and the receipt of our U.S federal return refund claims is contingent upon the completion of the ongoing IRS audit.
Deferred Taxes
The significant components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
 March 31,
 20252024
Deferred income tax assets:
Accrued expenses$66 $103 
Deferred compensation59 54 
Stock-based compensation12 11 
Postretirement benefits47 35 
Net operating loss and other carryforwards9 10 
Research and development expenditures and indirect effects335 248 
State tax credits1 — 
Operating lease liabilities62 64 
Other12 10 
Total gross deferred income tax assets603 535 
Less: Valuation allowance(9)(8)
Total net deferred income tax assets594 527 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Unbilled receivables(89)(132)
Intangible assets(100)(93)
Property and equipment(25)(26)
Operating lease right-of-use assets(46)(45)
Other(2)(4)
Total deferred income tax liabilities(262)(300)
Net deferred income tax asset$332 $227 
Deferred tax balances arise from temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities and their tax basis and are stated at the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In determining if the Company's deferred tax assets are realizable, management considers all positive and negative evidence, including the history of generating financial reporting earnings, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, as well as any tax planning strategies.
As of March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had available federal, state, and foreign net operating loss (“NOL carryforwards”) of $10 million and $9 million, respectively, that may be applied against future taxable income. The federal net operating loss of $1 million is attributable to an acquisition and will begin to expire in fiscal 2037. The state net operating loss of $4 million is primarily attributable to losses in jurisdictions in which the Company does not file a consolidated return. The foreign net operating loss of $5 million is primarily attributable to operations in jurisdictions where the Company has not historically been profitable. The Company recorded a partial valuation allowance against those federal, state and foreign net operating losses it believes will expire prior to utilization.
Uncertain Tax Positions
The Company maintains reserves for uncertain tax positions related to unrecognized income tax benefits. These reserves involve considerable judgment and estimation and are evaluated by management based on the best information available including changes in tax laws and other information. As of March 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, the Company has recorded $142 million, $115 million, and $552 million, respectively, of reserves for uncertain tax positions which include potential tax benefits of $125 million, $104 million, and $91 million, respectively, that, when recognized, impact the effective tax rate. As of March 31, 2025 and 2024, $3 million and $1 million, respectively, of the reserve is reflected as a reduction to deferred taxes and the remaining balance is recorded as a component of other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of potential tax benefits for the periods presented is as follows: 
 March 31,
 202520242023
Beginning of year$104 $548 $79 
Increases in prior year position4 41 — 
Increases in current year position17 13 470 
Decreases in prior year position— (474)(1)
Settlements with taxing authorities— (24)— 
Lapse of statute of limitations— — — 
End of year$125 $104 $548 
The Company recognized accrued interest and penalties of $7 million, $7 million and $3 million for fiscal 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, related to the reserves for uncertain tax positions in the income tax provision. The total reserve for uncertain tax positions includes accrued penalties and interest of approximately $20 million, $13 million and $6 million at March 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions. As of March 31, 2025, the Company's tax years ended March 31, 2016 and forward are open and subject to examination by the federal tax authorities. The Company is currently under federal audit by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2019-2021. The other jurisdictions currently open or under examination are not considered to be material.
It is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome or the timing of resolution for uncertain tax positions. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could significantly change within the next twelve months. However, an estimate of the range of reasonably possible outcomes cannot be made. Items that may cause changes to unrecognized tax benefits include the amount of research and development tax credits available in the United States and various state jurisdictions. These changes could result from the completion of the ongoing IRS examination, the expiration of the statutes of limitations, additional regulatory guidance or other unforeseen circumstances.
During fiscal 2023, 2024, and 2025, the Company recognized an increase in reserves for uncertain tax positions related to an increase in research and development tax credits available. In addition, during fiscal 2023, the Company recognized an increase in reserves for uncertain tax positions related to the required capitalization of research and development expenditures, which was reversed in fiscal 2024 as a result of additional guidance provided by the IRS. Furthermore, during fiscal 2024, the Company received an unfavorable ruling from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals related to contested tax assessments from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (“DC OTR”) for fiscal years 2013 through 2015.