INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	12. INCOME TAXES The Company’s tax rate was 24.6% and 25.5% for the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 21.7% and 24.7% for the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by global tax planning strategies and geographic mix. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the first nine months of 2017 compared to first nine months of 2016 was primarily driven by the tax rate impact of discrete tax items with lesser impacts from global tax planning strategies and geographic mix. The Company recognized net expenses related to discrete tax items of $8.3 million and net tax benefits related to discrete tax items of $24.2 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The third quarter net expense was driven primarily by recognizing adjustments from filing the Company’s 2016 U.S. federal income tax return and international adjustments due to changes in estimates, partially offset by the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statute of limitations in state tax matters. Net benefits for the first nine months of 2017 was also impacted by the recognition of $29.2 million of share-based compensation excess tax benefits related to employee share-based payments (resulting from the adoption of a new accounting standard as discussed in Note 1). The Company recognized net expenses related to discrete tax items of $4.5 million and $3.6 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, respectively. Third quarter net expense was driven primarily by recognizing adjustments from filing the Company’s 2015 U.S. federal income tax return, partially offset by settlement of international tax matters and remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from the application of an updated tax rate in an international jurisdiction. Net expense related to discrete tax items for the first nine months of 2016 was also impacted by adjustments to deferred tax asset and liability positions and the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statute of limitations in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

12. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s tax rate was 24.6% and 25.5% for the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 21.7% and 24.7% for the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by global tax planning strategies and geographic mix. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the first nine months of 2017 compared to first nine months of 2016 was primarily driven by the tax rate impact of discrete tax items with lesser impacts from global tax planning strategies and geographic mix.

The Company recognized net expenses related to discrete tax items of $8.3 million and net tax benefits related to discrete tax items of $24.2 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The third quarter net expense was driven primarily by recognizing adjustments from filing the Company’s 2016 U.S. federal income tax return and international adjustments due to changes in estimates, partially offset by the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statute of limitations in state tax matters. Net benefits for the first nine months of 2017 was also impacted by the recognition of $29.2 million of share-based compensation excess tax benefits related to employee share-based payments (resulting from the adoption of a new accounting standard as discussed in Note 1).

The Company recognized net expenses related to discrete tax items of $4.5 million and $3.6 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, respectively. Third quarter net expense was driven primarily by recognizing adjustments from filing the Company’s 2015 U.S. federal income tax return, partially offset by settlement of international tax matters and remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from the application of an updated tax rate in an international jurisdiction. Net expense related to discrete tax items for the first nine months of 2016 was also impacted by adjustments to deferred tax asset and liability positions and the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statute of limitations in non-U.S. jurisdictions.