Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were benefit of 3.4% and 26.8%, respectively, and benefit of 10.5% and 20.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21.0% and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were impacted by a variety of factors, primarily resulting from the geographic mix of where the income was earned, as well as certain taxable income inclusion items in the U.S. based on foreign earnings. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 these items increased the tax rate more than the prior period due to the lower forecasted pretax book income. In periods where forecasted pretax income is low, the proportional impact of these items on the effective tax rate may be significant.

The three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were impacted by certain discrete items. Income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2024 included discrete benefits of $44 million associated with non-cash impairment charges, offset by $3 million of additional income tax expense. The nine months ended September 30, 2024 also included certain discrete items including a benefit of $64 million associated with a reduction in liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, as a result of the tax authorities’ examination of its U.S. tax returns for the years 2011 to 2015, as further described hereafter, and its Brazil tax returns for the years 2015 to 2017, offset by $7 million of additional tax related to withholding taxes associated with certain previously taxed earnings that are no longer indefinitely reinvested, $8 million of interest expense associated with uncertain tax liabilities and $3 million of additional income tax expense.

The three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 were also impacted by certain discrete items. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023 included discrete tax benefits of $71 million due to the release of a deferred tax liability related to a U.S. legal entity reorganization, $10 million due to the filing of tax returns in various jurisdictions, $16 million associated with impairment charges and $18 million due to the settlement of the U.K. pension plan. The nine months ended September 30, 2023 also included certain discrete items totaling $10 million of additional income tax expense.

On May 14, 2024, the Company received a Statutory Notice of Deficiency (“Notice”) from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the tax years 2011 to 2015. The Company agreed to certain adjustments raised by the IRS through the Notice. Accordingly, the Company has concluded that various income tax positions taken by the Company have been effectively settled, with the exception of the matter the Company intends to dispute as further described hereafter. The Company will pay the IRS approximately $22 million for additional income taxes and interest. As a result, the Company has reduced its liability for unrecognized tax benefits for this amount, recorded in other noncurrent liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, with a corresponding increase to its current income tax liability.

On July 19, 2024, the Company filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court disputing the proposed assessment of $80 million in additional taxes plus $34 million in penalties plus the additional interest calculated upon final settlement related to the transfer pricing of services performed by certain of the Company’s foreign affiliates for the tax years 2011 to 2015. The Company believes that adequate amounts have been reserved for any adjustments that may ultimately result. If the IRS prevails in the assessment of additional tax, interest and penalties in excess of the Company’s current reserves, such outcome could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position and results.

The Company files numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for 2017 to 2020, as well as certain state and non-U.S. income tax returns for various years, are under examination. The statute of limitations for the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns has expired for years prior to 2011 and for 2016. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to other income tax examinations for years before 2016.