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INCOME TAXES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
INCOME TAXES  
INCOME TAXES

 

13. INCOME TAXES

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was negative 33.4 percent, compared to our effective income tax rate of 42.1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The effective income tax rates were determined using the estimated annual effective tax rate after considering discrete income tax items for each respective period. The negative effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was primarily due to losses generated within a tax jurisdiction for which an income tax benefit was not recognized, as well as the tax expense associated with the relative mix of earnings in the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The benefit resulting from the application of the effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was higher than the United States statutory federal income tax rate, primarily due to the $3.6 million favorable impact of changes in uncertain tax positions.