INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	13. INCOME TAXES The income tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter, the estimate of the annual effective tax rate is updated, and if the estimated effective tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made. There is a potential for volatility of the effective tax rate due to several factors, including changes in the mix of the pre-tax income and the jurisdictions to which it relates, changes in tax laws, settlements with taxing authorities and foreign currency fluctuations. The effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes was 27.5% and 26.2% in the first quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate is net of a discrete tax benefit of (1.8%) and (2.3%), rate for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 respectively, related primarily to the recognition of excess tax benefits for share-based payment awards. The effective rate before discrete items varies from the statutory rate primarily due to differences in state taxes, the impact of international tax provisions in the US, the difference in foreign tax rates and the mix of foreign and domestic income. The increase in the effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes from first quarter 2018 to 2019 is a result of limited deductibility of Executive Compensation and Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, both of which are on-going provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017. Refer to Note 19 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements for discussion of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

13. INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter, the estimate of the annual effective tax rate is updated, and if the estimated effective tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made. There is a potential for volatility of the effective tax rate due to several factors, including changes in the mix of the pre-tax income and the jurisdictions to which it relates, changes in tax laws, settlements with taxing authorities and foreign currency fluctuations.

The effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes was 27.5% and 26.2% in the first quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate is net of a discrete tax benefit of (1.8%) and (2.3%), rate for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 respectively, related primarily to the recognition of excess tax benefits for share-based payment awards.

The effective rate before discrete items varies from the statutory rate primarily due to differences in state taxes, the impact of international tax provisions in the US, the difference in foreign tax rates and the mix of foreign and domestic income. The increase in the effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes from first quarter 2018 to 2019 is a result of limited deductibility of Executive Compensation and Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, both of which are on-going provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017.

Refer to Note 19 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements for discussion of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.