Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

3. INCOME TAXES

Rayonier is a real estate investment trust ("REIT"). In general, only the taxable REIT subsidiaries, whose businesses include the Company's non-REIT qualified activities, are subject to corporate income taxes. However, the Company is subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on built-in gains (the excess of fair market value over tax basis for property held upon REIT election at January 1, 2004) on taxable sales of such property during calendar years 2004 through 2013 (for 2011 the tax rate is zero). Accordingly, the provision for corporate income taxes relates principally to current and deferred taxes on taxable REIT subsidiaries' income and certain property sales.

The Company's effective tax rate is below the 35 percent U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to tax benefits associated with being a REIT. The effective tax rates for the quarter and year-to-date were 15.4 percent and 18.7 percent compared to 13.4 percent and 12.4 percent in 2010, respectively, reflecting higher 2011 earnings from the taxable REIT subsidiaries, in particular Performance Fibers.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") allowed two credits for taxpayers that produced and used an alternative fuel in the operation of their business through December 31, 2009. In the second quarter of 2011, management approved an exchange of approximately 30 million gallons of alternative fuel ("black liquor") previously claimed for the alternative fuel mixture credit ("AFMC") for the cellulosic biofuel producer credit ("CBPC"). This resulted in a second quarter 2011 net tax benefit of $4.1 million. For additional information, see Note 3 - Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit ("AFMC") and Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit ("CBPC") in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Subsequent Events

In July 2011, the Company received a final examination report from the IRS regarding its Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. ("TRS") 2009 tax return. As a result, Rayonier will reverse the uncertain tax liability recorded in 2009 relating to the taxability of the AFMC and recognize a $16 million tax benefit in the third quarter of 2011. For additional information, see Note 8 - Income Taxes in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.