INCOME TAXES (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

We record our interim tax provision based upon our estimated annual effective tax rate ("ETR") and account for tax effects of discrete events in the period in which they occur. We review the ETR on a quarterly basis as projections are revised and laws are enacted. The ETRs were (50)% and 48%for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively. The decrease in the ETR was primarily attributable to the gain from the sale of ownership interests in China, which was tax effected discretely as it was deemed unusual and infrequent. In addition, the changes in the mix of earnings and the change from forecasted pre-tax income in 2015 to forecasted pre-tax loss in 2016 also contributed to the ETR change.