in july 2006 , the fasb issued fin 48 which clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements . fin 48 also provides guidance on derecognition , measurement , classification , interest and penalties , accounting in interim periods and transition , and required expanded disclosure with respect to the uncertainty in income taxes . we adopted the provisions of fin 48 effective january 1 , 2007 . a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended december 31 is as follows ( in millions ) : .

Table:
 | 2008 | 2007
balance at beginning of year | $ 23.2 | $ 56.4
additions due to acquisition of allied | 582.9 | 2014
additions based on tax positions related to current year | 10.6 | 16.3
reductions for tax positions related to the current year | -5.1 ( 5.1 ) | -17.2 ( 17.2 )
additions for tax positions of prior years | 2.0 | 2.0
reductions for tax positions of prior years | -1.3 ( 1.3 ) | -12.3 ( 12.3 )
reductions for tax positions resulting from lapse of statute of limitations | -.4 ( .4 ) | -.4 ( .4 )
settlements | 2014 | -21.6 ( 21.6 )
balance at end of year | $ 611.9 | $ 23.2
included in the balance at december 31 , 2008 and 2007 are approximately $ 461.0 million and $ 7.7 million , respectively , 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 .
sfas 141 ( r ) is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after december 15 , 2008 .
sfas 141 ( r ) significantly changes the treatment of acquired uncertain tax liabilities .
under sfas 141 , changes in acquired uncertain tax liabilities were recognized through goodwill .
under sfas 141 ( r ) , changes in acquired unrecognized tax liabilities are recognized through the income tax provision .
as of december 31 , 2008 , $ 582.9 million of the $ 611.9 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions allied had taken prior to the merger .
of the $ 582.9 million of acquired unrecognized benefits , $ 449.6 million , if recognized in the income tax provision , would affect our effective tax rate .
we recognize interest and penalties as incurred within the provision for income taxes in the consolidated statements of income .
related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above , we accrued penalties of $ .2 million and interest of $ 5.2 million during 2008 , and , in total as of december 31 , 2008 , have recognized a liability for penalties of $ 88.1 million and interest of $ 180.0 million .
during 2007 , we accrued interest of $ .9 million and , in total as of december 31 , 2007 , had recognized a liability for penalties and interest of $ 5.5 million .
gross unrecognized tax benefits that we expect to settle in the following twelve months are in the range of $ 10.0 million to $ 20.0 million .
it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will increase or decrease in the next twelve months .
we and our subsidiaries are subject to income tax in the u.s .
and puerto rico , as well as income tax in multiple state jurisdictions .
we have acquired allied 2019s open tax periods as part of the acquisition .
allied is currently under examination or administrative review by various state and federal taxing authorities for certain tax years , including federal income tax audits for calendar years 2000 through 2006 .
we are also engaged in tax litigation related to our risk management companies which are subsidiaries of allied .
these matters are further discussed below .
we are subject to various federal , foreign , state and local tax rules and regulations .
our compliance with such rules and regulations is periodically audited by tax authorities .
these authorities may challenge the republic services , inc .
and subsidiaries notes to consolidated financial statements %%transmsg*** transmitting job : p14076 pcn : 123000000 ***%%pcmsg|121 |00050|yes|no|03/01/2009 18:23|0|0|page is valid , no graphics -- color : d| .

Question: in 2008 what was the change in the gross unrecognized tax benefits in millions
Answer: 588.7
Calculation: subtract(611.9, 23.2)