Income Taxes

The Company's income tax benefit (provision) attributable to income from continuing operations consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
	(in millions)
Current tax benefit (provision)	$	(48	)	$	14		$	(49	)	$	(4	)
Deferred tax provision	(307		)	(250		)	(146		)	(315		)
Income tax provision	$	(355	)	$	(236	)	$	(195	)	$	(319	)

For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company's effective tax rate, excluding income attributable to noncontrolling interests, was 35 percent, as compared to effective rates of 36 percent and 34 percent for the same respective periods in 2014. During 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 nine months ended September 30, 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 sand mine acquisition. The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 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 2013 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 September 30, 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.