INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES The Company’s effective rate for the first quarter of 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017 in the United States due to the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards, the impact of state taxes and certain nondeductible items and the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company’s effective tax rates in prior periods have varied considerably as a result of two primary factors, 1) the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, and 2) the derecognition of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets that were not more-likely-than-not realizable in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. During 2018 and 2017, the mix of income and losses across jurisdictions, although still applicable, has become less of a factor in influencing the Company’s effective tax rates due to the dispositions of the international businesses and improved operating results. In addition, during 2017 a large portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets that previously were not realizable, became realizable, thereby, causing significant reductions in previously established valuation allowances. These factors have resulted in the Company’s effective tax rates being 40% for the first quarter of 2018 and 39% for the first quarter of 2017. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could impact the effective tax rate in future quarters. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a significant portion of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. The Company determined that its U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reduced by approximately $40 million in 2017, with approximately $37 million in the third quarter of 2017 as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company continues to have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes, which relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. The Company will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods. Changes in pretax income projections could impact this evaluation in future periods. The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2016 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination and with few exceptions, is no longer subject to U.S. state and local tax examinations for years before 2009. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for 2016 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions. It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective rate for the first quarter of 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017 in the United States due to the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards, the impact of state taxes and certain nondeductible items and the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company’s effective tax rates in prior periods have varied considerably as a result of two primary factors, 1) the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, and 2) the derecognition of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets that were not more-likely-than-not realizable in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. During 2018 and 2017, the mix of income and losses across jurisdictions, although still applicable, has become less of a factor in influencing the Company’s effective tax rates due to the dispositions of the international businesses and improved operating results. In addition, during 2017 a large portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets that previously were not realizable, became realizable, thereby, causing significant reductions in previously established valuation allowances. These factors have resulted in the Company’s effective tax rates being 40% for the first quarter of 2018 and 39% for the first quarter of 2017. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could impact the effective tax rate in future quarters.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a significant portion of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. The Company determined that its U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reduced by approximately $40 million in 2017, with approximately $37 million in the third quarter of 2017 as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Company continues to have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes, which relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. The Company will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods. Changes in pretax income projections could impact this evaluation in future periods.

The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2016 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination and with few exceptions, is no longer subject to U.S. state and local tax examinations for years before 2009. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for 2016 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions.

It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.