Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

NOTE G – INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rate from continuing operations is presented below:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Effective tax rate from continuing operations	(4.9)	%	52.3	%

The change in our reported tax rates for the first quarter of 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, relates primarily to a shift in geographical mix of earnings to lower-tax jurisdictions, and the impact of certain receipts and charges that are taxed at different rates than our effective tax rate. These receipts and charges include acquisition/divestiture-related net gains, as well as certain discrete tax items primarily related to changes to unrecognized tax benefits, and foreign return-to-provision adjustments, foreign audit settlements and expenses associated with recent acquisitions.

As of March 31, 2021, we had $274 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $189 million, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2020, we had $261 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $183 million, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. The change in our gross unrecognized tax benefit is primarily related to positions on new entities we acquired with recent acquisitions and restructuring activities.

It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months we will resolve multiple issues with foreign, federal and state taxing authorities, resulting in a reduction in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits of up to $29 million.

Economic stimulus legislation has been enacted in many countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted on March 27, 2020, provided an estimated $2.2 trillion in COVID-19 pandemic-related relief, and included tax relief and government loans, subsidies and other relief for entities in affected industries. While we have not applied for government loans, we have taken advantage of the benefits offered in multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. provision allowing taxpayers to defer payment of the employer portion of certain payroll taxes incurred in 2020. This allowed us to preserve cash generated from operations to service our debt obligations and other near-term commitments, and is expected to be paid in full by the end of 2022 as permitted by the legislation.