TAXES ON INCOME

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

TAXES ON INCOME

TAXES ON INCOME

For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the effective income tax rate was 22.9% and 18.1%, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized a $6 million income tax benefit due to the release of a valuation allowance associated with net operating loss carryforwards. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized a $13 million income tax benefit due to the release of tax reserves associated with the expiration of the statue of limitations for certain income tax returns. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 benefited from $3 million and $4 million, respectively, of excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation arrangements.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the effective income tax rate was 23.4% and 18.8%, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized a $10 million income tax benefit due to the release of valuation allowances associated with net operating loss carryforwards. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized a $15 million income tax benefit associated with a change in a tax return accounting method that enabled the Company to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses on its 2017 tax return at the federal corporate statutory tax rate in effect during 2017, and a $13 million income tax benefit due to the release of tax reserves associated with the expiration of the statue of limitations for certain income tax returns. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 benefited from $11 million and $17 million, respectively, of excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation arrangements.