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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 23.5% and 24.8%, respectively, and the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 23.9% and 32.7%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 includes a $4 million and $3 million charge, respectively, from the write-off of deferred tax assets associated with the expiration of out-of-the-money vested stock options and the vesting of restricted stock. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 also includes a $6 million and $20 million benefit, respectively, from the resolution of certain tax examinations. Additionally, the effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 include a $15 million benefit from the resolution of certain tax examinations and a $5 million charge from the establishment of a valuation allowance on tax attribute carryovers.
As is the case with other large corporations, our tax returns are examined each year by tax authorities in the U.S. and other global taxing jurisdictions in which we have operations. As a result, it is reasonably possible that the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits will decrease in the next 12 months, and we expect this change could be up to 15% of our unrecognized tax benefits.
The IRS examinations of our consolidated U.S. income tax returns for tax years prior to 2012 are closed to audit; however, various post-2006 U.S. state and local tax returns are still subject to examination. In Canada, the examination of our tax filings prior to 2012 are closed to audit, except for the pending application of legal principles to specific issues arising in earlier years. Other significant jurisdictions include France, which is closed to audit through the end of 2012, Germany, which is closed to audit through the end of 2011 and the UK, which, except for an item under appeal, is closed to audit through the end of 2011. We have other less significant tax filings currently subject to examination.