Income Taxes

The Company's income tax benefit (provision) attributable to income from continuing operations consisted of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:



		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	(in millions)
Current tax provision		$	—	$	(12	)
Deferred tax benefit (provision)		37		(39		)
Income tax benefit (provision)		$	37	$	(51	)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company's effective tax rate, excluding income attributable to noncontrolling interests, was 33 percent, as compared to an effective rate of 26 percent for the same period in 2014. The Company's effective tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent primarily due to state income tax apportionments, nondeductible expenses and, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, the recognition of a $21 million tax benefit resulting from the resolution during the first quarter of 2014 of a tax uncertainty related to net operating loss carryovers and alternative minimum tax credits obtained from the 2012 acquisition of Premier Silica. The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2015.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service has closed examinations of the 2012 and prior tax years and, with few exceptions, the Company believes that it is no longer subject to examinations by state and foreign tax authorities for years before 2009. As of March 31, 2015, no adjustments had been proposed in any jurisdiction that would have a significant effect on the Company's liquidity, future results of operations or financial position.