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INCOME TAXES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 27, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES

NOTE 6. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate for the second quarter and first half of 2020 differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the impact of goodwill impairment, state taxes, excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards and certain nondeductible items, adjustments to certain tax benefits 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 several primary factors including the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards and 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 2020 and 2019, 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. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rates are 8% for the second quarter and 4% for the first half of 2020, and 23% for the second quarter and 24% for the first half of 2019. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could impact the effective tax rate in future quarters.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) and allows unutilized AMT credits to be refunded. For tax years 2018 through 2020, taxpayers could receive 50% of their uncredited balances as a cash refund with any remaining amounts refunded in full in 2021. As of year end 2019, the Company determined it was more-likely-than-not that $22 million of its AMT credits would be refunded and was expected to be received in the third quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted. The CARES Act allows for the Company to refund 100% of its remaining AMT credits in 2020. The Company filed for the remaining $22 million in the second quarter of 2020 for a total refund of $44 million. The Company received the entire $44 million in the third quarter of 2020. The Company continues to evaluate the other provisions of the CARES Act to determine if they would have any material impact.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company net settled its Timber notes receivable and Non-recourse debt. The Company has previously recorded a deferred tax liability related to the taxes deferred from the original transaction. The deferred liability was realized in the first quarter of 2020. It is anticipated that certain capital loss carryforwards, available tax credits and net operating losses will offset the resulting gain and no material cash income taxes will be due upon the realization.

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 prior to 2017 and 2013, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examination, and with few exceptions, is no longer subject to U.S. state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2013. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for 2017 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2012 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions.

It is anticipated that $4 million of 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.