Uncertain tax contingencies have recently attracted the attention of standard setters, academics, and the taxing authorities. When firms take uncertain tax positions on their tax return, there is some chance that they will be required to pay taxes related to these positions in the future, once the taxing authorities audit their corporate tax returns. To accrue an expense for these possible future tax payments on the income statement in the year of the activity, firms establish liabilities on the balance sheet, known as tax contingencies, which estimate the taxes (in addition to those reported on the tax return) that might have to be paid in the future.