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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES
As a REIT, we generally are not subject to federal corporate level income taxes on REIT taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. We are required to pay corporate income taxes on earnings of our wholly-owned TRSs, which includes our Wood Products segment and portions of our Timberlands and Real Estate & ENR segments' earnings.

The quarterly provision for income taxes is based on the current estimate of the annual effective tax rate. Our 2017 estimated annual effective tax rate for our TRSs is approximately 34 percent, which is lower than the U.S. domestic statutory federal tax rate primarily due to lower foreign tax rates applicable to foreign earnings.

ONGOING IRS MATTER

In connection with the merger with Plum Creek, we acquired equity interests in Southern Diversified Timber, LLC, a timberland joint venture (Timberland Venture) with an affiliate of Campbell Global LLC (TCG Member). On August 31, 2016, the Timberland Venture redeemed TCG Member's interest and became a fully consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser. 

We received a Notice of Final Partnership Administrative Adjustment (FPAA), dated July 20, 2016, from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in regard to Plum Creek’s 2008 U.S. federal income tax treatment of the transaction forming the Timberland Venture. The IRS is asserting that the transfer of the timberlands to the Timberland Venture was a taxable transaction to Plum Creek at the time of the transfer rather than a nontaxable capital contribution. We have filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court and will vigorously contest this adjustment.

In the event that we are unsuccessful in this tax litigation, we could be required to recognize and distribute gain to shareholders of approximately $600 million and pay built-in gains tax of approximately $100 million. We would also be required to pay interest on both of those amounts, which would be substantial. As much as 80 percent of any such gain distribution could be made with our common stock, and shareholders would be subject to tax on the distribution at the applicable capital gains tax rate. Alternatively, we could elect to retain the gain and pay corporate-level tax to minimize interest costs to the company.

Although the outcome of this process cannot be predicted with certainty, we are confident in our position based on U.S. tax law and believe we will be successful in defending it. Accordingly, no reserve has been recorded related to this matter.