approximately $ 32 million of federal tax payments were deferred and paid in 2009 as a result of the allied acquisition . the following table summarizes the activity in our gross unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended december 31: .

Table:
 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
balance at beginning of year | $ 242.2 | $ 611.9 | $ 23.2
additions due to the allied acquisition | - | 13.3 | 582.9
additions based on tax positions related to current year | 2.8 | 3.9 | 10.6
reductions for tax positions related to the current year | - | - | -5.1 ( 5.1 )
additions for tax positions of prior years | 7.5 | 5.6 | 2.0
reductions for tax positions of prior years | -7.4 ( 7.4 ) | -24.1 ( 24.1 ) | -1.3 ( 1.3 )
reductions for tax positions resulting from lapse of statute of limitations | -10.4 ( 10.4 ) | -0.5 ( 0.5 ) | -0.4 ( 0.4 )
settlements | -11.9 ( 11.9 ) | -367.9 ( 367.9 ) | -
balance at end of year | $ 222.8 | $ 242.2 | $ 611.9
new accounting guidance for business combinations became effective for our 2009 financial statements .
this new guidance changed the treatment of acquired uncertain tax liabilities .
under previous guidance , changes in acquired uncertain tax liabilities were recognized through goodwill .
under the new guidance , subsequent changes in acquired unrecognized tax liabilities are recognized through the income tax provision .
as of december 31 , 2010 , $ 206.5 million of the $ 222.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions taken by allied prior to the 2008 acquisition .
included in the balance at december 31 , 2010 and 2009 are approximately $ 209.1 million and $ 217.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits ( net of the federal benefit on state issues ) that , if recognized , would affect the effective income tax rate in future periods .
during 2010 , the irs concluded its examination of our 2005 and 2007 tax years .
the conclusion of this examination reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 1.9 million .
we also resolved various state matters during 2010 that , in the aggregate , reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 10.0 million .
during 2009 , we settled our outstanding tax dispute related to allied 2019s risk management companies ( see 2013 risk management companies ) with both the department of justice ( doj ) and the internal revenue service ( irs ) .
this settlement reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 299.6 million .
during 2009 , we also settled with the irs , through an accounting method change , our outstanding tax dispute related to intercompany insurance premiums paid to allied 2019s captive insurance company .
this settlement reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 62.6 million .
in addition to these federal matters , we also resolved various state matters that , in the aggregate , reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits during 2009 by approximately $ 5.8 million .
we recognize interest and penalties as incurred within the provision for income taxes in our consolidated statements of income .
related to the unrecognized tax benefits previously noted , we accrued interest of $ 19.2 million during 2010 and , in total as of december 31 , 2010 , have recognized a liability for penalties of $ 1.2 million and interest of $ 99.9 million .
during 2009 , we accrued interest of $ 24.5 million and , in total at december 31 , 2009 , had recognized a liability for penalties of $ 1.5 million and interest of $ 92.3 million .
during 2008 , we accrued penalties of $ 0.2 million and interest of $ 5.2 million and , in total at december 31 , 2008 , had recognized a liability for penalties of $ 88.1 million and interest of $ 180.0 million .
republic services , inc .
notes to consolidated financial statements , continued .

Question: what was the percent of the decline in the gross unrecognized tax benefits from 2009 to 2010
Answer: -8%
Calculation: subtract(222.8, 242.2), divide(#0, 242.2)