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Income and Mining Taxes
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME AND MINING TAXES
INCOME AND MINING TAXES
The following table summarizes the components of Income and mining tax (expense) benefit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 by significant jurisdiction:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015

2014
 
2015
 
2014
In thousands
Income (loss) before tax
Tax (expense) benefit
 
Income (loss) before tax
Tax (expense) benefit
 
Income (loss) before tax
Tax (expense) benefit
 
Income (loss) before tax
Tax (expense) benefit
United States
$
(16,168
)
$
(1,080
)

$
(14,954
)
$
739

 
$
(46,640
)
$
1,123

 
$
(75,168
)
$
447

Argentina
(731
)
(2
)

(935
)
1,539

 
(2,083
)
(3
)
 
(3,828
)
5,622

Mexico
(1,412
)
11,951


(283
)
17,003

 
(16,666
)
11,234

 
(28,999
)
20,831

Bolivia
(4,483
)
(1,029
)

3,199

(2,969
)
 
(8,081
)
(2,240
)
 
11,848

(7,937
)
Other jurisdictions
315

(1,580
)
 
(144
)
271

 
834

(1,663
)
 
651

(313
)

$
(22,479
)
$
8,260

 
$
(13,117
)
$
16,583

 
$
(72,636
)
$
8,451

 
$
(95,496
)
$
18,650



The Company’s effective tax rate is impacted by recurring items, such as foreign exchange rates on deferred tax balances, the full valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets relating to losses in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, mining tax expense and uncertain tax position accruals. In addition, the Company's consolidated effective income tax rate is a function of the combined effective tax rates and foreign exchange rates in the jurisdictions in which it operates. Variations in the jurisdictional mix of income and loss and foreign exchange rates result in significant fluctuations in our consolidated effective tax rate.

A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized. Each quarter, the Company analyzes its deferred tax assets and, if it is determined that the Company will not realize all or a portion of its deferred tax assets, it will record or increase a valuation allowance. Conversely, if it is determined that the Company will ultimately be able to realize all or a portion of the related benefits for which a valuation allowance has been provided, all or a portion of the related valuation allowance will be reduced. There are a number of risk factors that could impact the Company’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets. For additional information, see Part II, Item 1A of this Report.
    
The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examination by tax authorities for years before 2012 and is no longer subject to examination by certain foreign jurisdictions by tax authorities for years before 2005. As a result of statutes of limitation that will begin to expire within the next 12 months in various jurisdictions and possible settlements of audit-related issues with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions with respect to which none of the issues are individually significant, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of its net unrecognized income tax benefits will decrease between $0.8 million and $1.1 million in the next 12 months.

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $17.4 million and $16.1 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, respectively. If recognized, these unrecognized tax benefits would positively impact the Company’s effective income tax rate. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize potential interest and/or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of its income tax expense. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the amount of accrued income-tax-related interest and penalties was $9.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively.