Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	8. Income Taxes The Company performs a quarterly review of the annual effective tax rate and makes changes if necessary based on new information or events. The estimated annual effective tax rate is forecasted quarterly using actual historical information and forward-looking estimates. The estimated annual effective tax rate may fluctuate due to changes in forecasted annual operating income; changes in the forecasted mix of earnings by country; changes to the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (such changes would be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur); changes to actual or forecasted permanent book to tax differences (non-deductible expenses); impacts from future tax settlements with state, federal or foreign tax authorities (such changes would be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur); or impacts from tax law changes. To the extent such changes impact deferred tax assets/liabilities, these changes would generally be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur. Additionally, the annual effective tax rate differs from the statutory U.S. Federal tax rate of 35% primarily because of valuation allowances in some jurisdictions and varying non-U.S. tax rates. In the U.S., the Company has experienced cumulative losses in previous years and has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. The Company’s U.S. operations are in a three-year cumulative income position, but this is not solely determinative of the need for a valuation allowance. The Company considered this factor and all other available positive and negative evidence and concluded that it is still more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets in the U.S. will not be realized, and accordingly continued to record a valuation allowance. The evidence considered included the magnitude of the current three-year cumulative income compared to historical losses, expected impact of tax planning strategies, interest rates, and the overall business environment. The Company continues to evaluate its cumulative income position and income trend as well as its future projections of sustained profitability and whether this profitability trend constitutes sufficient positive evidence to support a reversal of the valuation allowance (in full or in part). The amount of the valuation allowance recorded in the U.S. as of December 31, 2013 was $837 million.

8. Income Taxes

The Company performs a quarterly review of the annual effective tax rate and makes changes if necessary based on new information or events. The estimated annual effective tax rate is forecasted quarterly using actual historical information and forward-looking estimates. The estimated annual effective tax rate may fluctuate due to changes in forecasted annual operating income; changes in the forecasted mix of earnings by country; changes to the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (such changes would be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur); changes to actual or forecasted permanent book to tax differences (non-deductible expenses); impacts from future tax settlements with state, federal or foreign tax authorities (such changes would be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur); or impacts from tax law changes. To the extent such changes impact deferred tax assets/liabilities, these changes would generally be recorded discretely in the quarter in which they occur. Additionally, the annual effective tax rate differs from the statutory U.S. Federal tax rate of 35% primarily because of valuation allowances in some jurisdictions and varying non-U.S. tax rates.

In the U.S., the Company has experienced cumulative losses in previous years and has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. The Company’s U.S. operations are in a three-year cumulative income position, but this is not solely determinative of the need for a valuation allowance. The Company considered this factor and all other available positive and negative evidence and concluded that it is still more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets in the U.S. will not be realized, and accordingly continued to record a valuation allowance. The evidence considered included the magnitude of the current three-year cumulative income compared to historical losses, expected impact of tax planning strategies, interest rates, and the overall business environment. The Company continues to evaluate its cumulative income position and income trend as well as its future projections of sustained profitability and whether this profitability trend constitutes sufficient positive evidence to support a reversal of the valuation allowance (in full or in part). The amount of the valuation allowance recorded in the U.S. as of December 31, 2013 was $837 million.