Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

The Company determines its effective tax rate each quarter based upon its estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company records the tax impact of certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, including changes in judgment about valuation allowances and effects of changes in tax laws or rates, in the interim period in which they occur. In addition, jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year where no tax benefit can be recognized are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate.

Income tax expense (benefit), loss before income taxes and the corresponding effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021			2020
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	936		$	(14,117)
Loss before income taxes		(33,777)			(126,556)
Effective tax rate		(3)		%	11		%

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 varied from prior periods primarily due to the geographic mix of pre-tax losses, the inability to record a tax benefit for pre-tax losses in certain foreign jurisdictions and U.S. states, and due to a benefit in the three months ended March 31, 2020 for net operating losses carried back up to five years at tax rates in effect during those periods under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), rather than carried forward at current federal tax rates of 21%. The incremental loss in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was driven by impairment charges on held for sale entities for which no tax benefit was recognized. Additionally, a discrete expense of $13,309 for the initial recognition of valuation allowances against net deferred tax assets in certain foreign jurisdictions was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 varied from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to the inability to record a tax benefit for pre-tax losses in certain foreign jurisdictions and U.S. states, tax credits, the impact of income taxes on foreign earnings taxed at rates varying from the U.S. statutory rate, and other permanent items. Additionally, the income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 varied from the U.S. statutory rate as a result of benefits from net operating loss carry backs under the CARES Act. Further, the Company’s current and future provision for income taxes is impacted by the initial recognition of and changes in valuation allowances in certain countries. The Company intends to maintain these valuation allowances until it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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