Note 14—Income taxes:

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2017			2018			2017			2018
	(In millions)
Expected tax expense, at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35% in 2017 and 21% in 2018	$	21.9		$	8.8		$	36.6		$	31.2
Incremental net tax on earnings and losses of non-U.S., U.S. and non-tax group companies		37.1			4.9			48.3			9.0
Non-U.S. tax rates		(2.3	)		7.9			(4.7	)		14.9
Valuation allowance		(157.6	)		1.7			(162.6	)		2.0
Adjustment to the reserve for uncertain tax positions, net		.6			.3			1.1			1.9
Canada – Germany APA		—			—			—			(1.4	)
Nondeductible expenses		.3			.3			.7			.7
Domestic production activities deduction		(1.5	)		—			(2.1	)		—
U.S. state income taxes and other, net		.7			(1.9	)		.6			(.1	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(100.8	)	$	22.0		$	(82.2	)	$	58.2

Comprehensive provision for income taxes (benefit) allocable to:
Income from continuing operations	$	(100.8	)	$	22.0		$	(82.2	)	$	58.2
Discontinued operations		(66.4	)		(.4	)		(67.2	)		19.8
Retained earnings – change in accounting principle		—			—			—			1.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation		16.3			(3.3	)		18.1			(1.9	)
Pension plans		2.2			1.5			3.1			3.0
OPEB plans		(.1	)		(.1	)		(.2	)		(.2	)
Marketable securities		(.4	)		—			(.5	)		—
Interest rate swap		(.3	)		—			.1			—
Total	$	(149.5	)	$	19.7		$	(128.8	)	$	80.0

The amount shown in the above table of our income tax rate reconciliation for non-U.S. tax rates represents the result determined by multiplying the pre-tax earnings or losses of each of our non-U.S. subsidiaries by the difference between the applicable statutory income tax rate for each non-U.S. jurisdiction and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% in 2017 and 21% in 2018. The amount shown on such table for incremental net tax (benefit) on earnings and losses on non-U.S. and non-tax group companies includes, as applicable, (i) deferred income taxes (or deferred income tax benefits) associated with the current-year change in the aggregate amount of undistributed earnings of our Chemicals Segment’s Canadian subsidiary and, beginning in 2018, the post-1986 undistributed earnings of our Chemicals Segment’s European subsidiaries (such post-1986 undistributed earnings were subject to a permanent reinvestment plan until December 31, 2017), (ii) current U.S. income taxes (or current income tax benefit), including U.S. personal holding company tax, as applicable, attributable to current-year income (losses) of one of Kronos’ non-U.S. subsidiaries, which subsidiary is treated as a dual resident for U.S. income tax purposes, to the extent the current-year income (losses) of such subsidiary is subject to U.S. income tax under the U.S. dual-resident provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) deferred income taxes associated with our direct investment in Kronos and (v) current and deferred income taxes associated with distributions and earnings from our investment in LandWell and BMI.

Our Chemicals Segment has substantial net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards in Germany (the equivalent of $652 million for German corporate purposes and $.5 million for German trade tax purposes at December 31, 2017) and in Belgium (the equivalent of $50 million for Belgian corporate tax purposes at December 31, 2017), all of which have an indefinite carryforward period. As a result, we have net deferred income tax assets with respect to these two jurisdictions, primarily related to these NOL carryforwards. The German corporate tax is similar to the U.S. federal income tax, and the German trade tax is similar to the U.S. state income tax. As discussed in the 2017 Annual Report, commencing June 30, 2015, we concluded that we were required to recognize a non-cash deferred income tax asset valuation allowance under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria with respect to our Chemicals Segment’s German and Belgian net deferred income tax assets at such date. During the first six months of 2017, Kronos recognized an aggregate non-cash deferred income tax benefit of $12.7 million as a result of a net decrease in such deferred income tax asset valuation allowance, due to utilizing a portion of both the German and Belgian NOL during the period, including $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2017. As also discussed in the 2017 Annual Report, at June 30, 2017, we concluded we had sufficient positive evidence under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria to support reversal of the entire valuation allowance related to our Chemicals Segment’s German and Belgian operations. In accordance with the ASC 740-270 guidance regarding accounting for income taxes at interim dates, the amount of the valuation allowance reversed at June 30, 2017 ($149.9 million, of which $141.9 million related to Germany and $8.0 million related to Belgium) relates to our change in judgment at that date regarding the realizability of the related deferred income tax asset as it relates to future years (i.e., 2018 and after). A change in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets as it relates to the current year is considered in determining the estimated annual effective tax rate for the year and is recognized throughout the year, including interim periods subsequent to the date of the change in judgment. Accordingly, our income tax benefit in calendar 2017 includes an aggregate non-cash deferred income tax benefit of $186.7 million related to the reversal of the German and Belgian valuation allowance, comprised of $12.7 million recognized in the first half of 2017 (noted above) related to the utilization of a portion of both the German and Belgian NOLs during such period, $149.9 million related to the portion of the valuation allowance reversed as of June 30, 2017 and $24.1 million recognized in the second half of 2017 related to the utilization of a portion of both the German and Belgian NOLs during such period. Our deferred income tax asset valuation allowance increased $13.7 million in 2017 as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, which increase was recognized as part of other comprehensive income (loss).

As discussed in the 2017 Annual Report, on December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Act was enacted into law. This new tax legislation, among other changes, (i) reduced the U.S. Federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018; (ii) implemented a territorial tax system and imposed a one-time repatriation tax (“Transition Tax”) on the deemed repatriation of the post-1986 undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries accumulated up through December 31, 2017, regardless of whether such earnings are repatriated; (iii) eliminated U.S. tax on future non-U.S. earnings (subject to certain exceptions); (iv) eliminated the domestic production activities deduction beginning in 2018; (v) eliminated the net operating loss carryback and provides for an indefinite carryforward period subject to an 80% annual usage limitation; (vi) allows for the expensing of certain capital expenditures; (vii) imposed a tax on global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”) beginning in 2018; (viii) imposed a base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”) beginning in 2018; and (ix) amended the rules limiting the deduction for business interest expense beginning in 2018. Following the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 to provide guidance on the accounting and reporting impacts of the 2017 Tax Act. SAB 118 states that companies should account for changes related to the 2017 Tax Act in the period of enactment if all information is available and the accounting can be completed. In situations where companies do not have enough information to complete the accounting in the period of enactment, a company must either 1) record an estimated provisional amount if the impact of the change can be reasonably estimated; or 2) continue to apply the accounting guidance that was in effect immediately prior to the 2017 Tax Act if the impact of the change cannot be reasonably estimated. If estimated provisional amounts are recorded, SAB 118 provides a measurement period of no longer than one year during which companies should adjust those amounts as additional information becomes available in the reporting period within the measurement period in which such adjustment is determined.

Under GAAP, we are required to revalue our net deferred tax liability associated with our U.S. net deductible temporary differences in the period in which the new tax legislation is enacted based on deferred tax balances as of the enactment date, to reflect the effect of such reduction in the corporate income tax rate. Our temporary differences as of December 31, 2017 were not materially different from our temporary differences as of the enactment date, accordingly revaluation of our net taxable temporary differences was based on our net deferred tax as of December 31, 2017. Such revaluation resulted in a provisional non-cash deferred income tax benefit of $77.1 million recognized as of December 31, 2017 in continuing operations, reducing our net deferred income tax liability. The amounts recorded as of December 31, 2017 as a result of the 2017 Tax Act represent estimates based on information currently available. We have not made any additional measurement-period adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded for this item during the first six months of 2018 because we are still waiting on additional guidance that may impact the income tax effects of the new legislation recognized at December 31, 2017. We will complete our accounting for this item within the prescribed measurement period ending December 22, 2018, pursuant to the guidance under SAB 118, and if we determine an adjustment to the provisional amount recognized at December 31, 2017 is required, we will recognize such adjustment in the reporting period within the SAB 118 measurement period in which such adjustment is determined.

Prior to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act, the undistributed earnings of our European subsidiaries were deemed to be permanently reinvested (we had not made a similar determination with respect to the undistributed earnings of our Canadian subsidiary). Pursuant to the Transition Tax provisions imposing a one-time repatriation tax on post-1986 undistributed earnings, we recognized a provisional current income tax expense of $76.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The amounts recorded as of December 31, 2017 as a result of the 2017 Tax Act represent estimates based on information currently available. We elected to pay such tax over an eight year period beginning in 2018, including approximately $6.1 million which was paid in April 2018 (for the 2017 tax year) and $3.1 million which was paid in June 2018 (for the 2018 tax year). Of the remaining $67.0 million, $64.0 million is recorded as a noncurrent payable to affiliate (income taxes payable to Contran) classified as a noncurrent liability in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, and $3.0 million is included with our current payable to affiliate (income taxes payable to Contran) classified as a current liability. Such remaining amounts will be paid in quarterly increments over the remainder of the eight year period. We have not made any measurement-period adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded for this item during the first six months of 2018 because no new information became available during the period that required an adjustment. We are continuing to gather information and await further guidance, primarily from the state jurisdictions in which we operate, and given the complexities of these new rules and the long time period over which information about our subsidiaries is needed, further guidance is necessary in order to determine the amount of the Transition Tax, which may impact the amount of the Transition Tax recognized in the fourth quarter of 2017. We will complete our accounting for this item within the prescribed measurement period ending December 22, 2018, pursuant to the guidance under SAB 118, and if we determine an adjustment to the provisional amount recognized at December 31, 2017 is required, we will recognize such adjustment in the reporting period within the SAB 118 measurement period in which such adjustment is determined.

Prior to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act the undistributed earnings of our European subsidiaries were deemed to be permanently reinvested (we had not made a similar determination with respect to the undistributed earnings of our Canadian subsidiary). As a result of the implementation of a territorial tax system under the 2017 Tax Act, effective January 1, 2018, and the Transition Tax which in effect taxes the post-1986 undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries accumulated up through December 31, 2017, we determined effective December 31, 2017 that all of the post-1986 undistributed earnings of our European subsidiaries are not permanently reinvested. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of 2017 we recognized an aggregate provisional non-cash deferred income tax expense of $5.3 million based on our reasonable estimates of the U.S. state and non-U.S. income tax and withholding tax liability attributable to all of such previously-considered permanently reinvested undistributed earnings through December 31, 2017. The amounts recorded as of December 31, 2017 as a result of the 2017 Tax Act represent estimates based on information currently available. We have not made any measurement-period adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017 for this item during the first six months of 2018. However, we recorded a provisional non-cash deferred income tax expense of $2.3 million for the estimated U.S. state and non-U.S. income tax and withholding tax liability attributable to the 2018 undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in the first six months of 2018, including withholding taxes related to the undistributed earnings of our Canadian subsidiary. We are continuing our review of certain other provisions under the 2017 Tax Act and waiting on further guidance primarily from the state jurisdictions in which we operate that may impact our determination of the aggregate temporary differences attributable to our investments in our non-U.S. subsidiaries. We will complete our accounting for this item within the prescribed measurement period ending December 22, 2018, pursuant to the guidance under SAB 118, and if we determine an adjustment to the provisional amount recognized at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018 are required, we will recognize such adjustment in the reporting period within the SAB 118 measurement period in which such adjustment is determined.

Under U.S. GAAP, as it relates to the new GILTI tax rules, we are allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2) factoring such amounts into the measurement of our deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). Our selection of an accounting policy related to the GILTI tax provisions will depend, in part, on analyzing our global income to determine whether we expect to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI and, if so, what the impact is expected to be. While our future global operations depend on a number of different factors, we do expect to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI. As such, we performed an analysis of GILTI’s impact on our provision and determined the impact is not material. Because the impact is not material to our tax provision, we have not recorded any adjustments related to potential GILTI tax in our financial statements in the first six months of 2018. Further, we have not made a policy decision regarding whether to record deferred taxes on GILTI or record GILTI tax as a current-period expense when incurred. We will complete our policy election for this item within the prescribed measurement period ending December 22, 2018, pursuant to the guidance under SAB 118 and if we determine such policy election impacts our provision, we will recognize an adjustment in the reporting period within the SAB 118 measurement period in which such adjustment is determined. Similarly, we have evaluated the tax impact of BEAT on our tax provision in the first six months of 2018 and determined that the tax law has no material impact on our tax provision as we have historically not entered into international payments between related parties that are unrelated to cost of goods sold.

The 2017 Tax Act amended the rules limiting the deduction for business interest expense beginning in 2018. The limitation applies to all taxpayers and our annual deduction for business interest expense is limited to the sum of our business interest income and 30% of our adjusted taxable income as defined under the 2017 Tax Act. Any business interest expense not allowed as a deduction as a result of the limitation may be carryforward indefinitely and is treated as interest paid in the carryforward year subject to the respective year’s limitation. We have determined that our interest expense for 2018 is limited under these provisions, in part because of the loss we recognized on the sale of WCS for income tax purposes. We have concluded that we are required to recognize a non-cash deferred income tax asset valuation allowance under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria with respect to a portion of our deferred tax asset attributable to the nondeductible amount of business interest expense carryforward. Consequently, our provision for income taxes in the first six months of 2018 includes a non-cash deferred income tax expense of $7.1 million for the amount of such deferred income tax asset that we have determined does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria. In accordance with the ASC 740 guidance regarding intra-period allocation of income taxes, $5.1 million of such non-cash deferred income tax expense is classified as part of the income taxes associated with the pre-tax gain we recognized for financial reporting purposes on the sale of WCS which is classified as part of discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3, and the remaining $2.0 million is classified as part of our provision for income taxes attributable to continuing operations. Our estimate of the amount of such non-cash deferred income tax asset valuation allowance we are required to recognize, and the allocation of such valuation allowance between continuing and discontinued operations under the intra-period guidance of ASC 740, can change during the year due to, among other things, changes in our estimate of the amount of business interest expense, business interest income and adjusted taxable income for the current year.

We recognize deferred income taxes with respect to the excess of the financial reporting carrying amount over the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos common stock because the exemption under GAAP to avoid such recognition of deferred income taxes is not available to us. At December 31, 2017, we had recognized a deferred income tax liability with respect to our direct investment in Kronos of $157.6 million. There is a maximum amount (or cap) of such deferred income taxes we are required to recognize with respect to our direct investment in Kronos. The maximum amount of such deferred income tax liability we would be required to have recognized (the cap) is $173.0 million. During the first six months of 2018, we recognized a non-cash deferred income tax expense with respect to our direct investment in Kronos of $7.5 million for the increase in the deferred income taxes required to be recognized with respect to the excess of the financial reporting carrying amount over the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos common stock, to the extent such increase related to our equity in Kronos’ net income during such period. We recognized a similar non-cash deferred income tax expense of $39.5 million in the first six months of 2017. A portion of the net change with respect to the excess of the financial reporting carrying amount over the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos common stock during such periods related to our equity in Kronos’ other comprehensive income (loss) items, and the amounts shown in the table above for income tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss) items includes amounts related to our equity in Kronos’ other comprehensive income (loss) items. Due to uncertainties and complexities of the new legislation, we are still evaluating the impact of the one-time deemed repatriation of the post-1986 undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries up through December 31, 2017 as it relates to the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos. Our deferred income tax liability with respect to our direct investment in Kronos and the deferred income taxes recognized at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018 represents our reasonable estimate and, in accordance with the guidance in SAB 118, such amounts are provisional and subject to adjustment as we obtain additional information and complete our analysis of the impact of the new legislation as it relates to the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos. We made no adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017 as it relates to the income tax basis of our direct investment in Kronos at such date in the first six months of 2018. We will complete our accounting for these items within the prescribed measurement period ending December 22, 2018, pursuant to the guidance under SAB 118 and if such estimates change, we will recognize an adjustment in the reporting period within the measurement period in which such adjustment is determined.

None of our U.S. and non-U.S. tax returns are currently under examination. As a result of prior audits in certain jurisdictions, which are now settled, in 2008 Kronos filed Advance Pricing Agreement Requests with the tax authorities in the U.S., Canada and Germany. These requests have been under review with the respective tax authorities since 2008 and prior to 2016, it was uncertain whether an agreement would be reached between the tax authorities and whether Kronos would agree to execute and finalize such agreements. During the third quarter of 2017, Kronos’ Canadian subsidiary executed and finalized an Advance Pricing Agreement with the Competent Authority for Canada (the “Canada-Germany APA”) effective for tax years 2005 - 2017. During the first quarter of 2018, Kronos’ German subsidiary executed and finalized the related Advance Pricing Agreement with the Competent Authority for Germany (the “Germany-Canada APA”) effective for tax years 2005 - 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, we recognized a net $1.4 million non-cash income tax benefit related to an APA tax settlement payment between Kronos’ German and Canadian subsidiaries.

We believe we have adequate accruals for additional taxes and related interest expense which could ultimately result from tax examinations. We believe the ultimate disposition of tax examinations should not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. We currently estimate that our unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $1.8 million during the next twelve months primarily due to certain adjustments to our prior year returns and the expiration of certain statutes of limitations.