Income Taxes

Caesars’ provision for income taxes during the interim reporting periods has historically been calculated by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full year to “ordinary” income or loss (pre-tax income or loss excluding unusual or infrequently occurring discrete items) for the reporting period. We have utilized a discrete effective tax rate method, as allowed by ASC 740-270 “Income Taxes, Interim Reporting”, to calculate taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. We determined that as small changes in estimated “ordinary” income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate, the historical method would not provide a reliable estimate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Income Tax Allocation

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in millions)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Income tax benefit/(provision) applicable to:
Income/(loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes	$	187		$	170		$	(1	)	$	480
Discontinued operations	$	—		$	(2	)	—			11
Effective tax rate benefit	19.8		%	15.4		%	—		%	22.9		%

We classify reserves for tax uncertainties within accrued expenses and deferred credits and other in our consolidated condensed balance sheets, separate from any related income tax payable or deferred income taxes. Reserve amounts relate to any potential income tax liabilities resulting from uncertain tax positions and potential interest or penalties associated with those liabilities.

Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing deferred tax assets. We have provided a valuation allowance on certain federal and state deferred tax assets that were not deemed realizable based upon estimates of future taxable income.

The effective tax rate benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2015 differed from the expected federal tax benefit of 35% primarily due to an increase in the federal valuation allowance against 2015 losses from continuing operations. The effective rate benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2014 differed from the expected federal tax benefit of 35% primarily due to an increase in the federal valuation allowance against 2014 losses from continuing operations and nondeductible goodwill impairments. The effective tax rate expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 differed from the expected federal tax expense of 35% primarily due to the nontaxable portion of the gain on deconsolidation of CEOC. The effective rate benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 differed from the expected federal tax benefit of 35% primarily due to an increase in the federal valuation allowance against 2014 losses from continuing operations and nondeductible goodwill impairments partially offset by a tax benefit from the reversal of uncertain federal and state tax positions.

We file income tax returns, including returns for our subsidiaries, with federal, state, and foreign jurisdictions. We are under regular and recurring audit by the Internal Revenue Service on open tax positions, and it is possible that the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits could change during the next 12 months.