INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES The reported effective tax rate decreased to 23.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 29.2% for the same period ended September 30, 2016, resulting in a decrease to the Provision for Income Taxes of approximately $6 million. The reported effective tax rate decreased to 22.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 28.8% for the same period ended September 30, 2016, resulting in a decrease to the Provision for Income Taxes of approximately $15 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in the tax rate reflects a benefit of 4.5% recognized upon a foreign tax settlement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in the tax rate reflects a 4.0% benefit from the new accounting standard for employee share-based compensation payments, which the Company adopted in 2017, a 1.6% benefit in connection with our repatriation activities, which was primarily related to tax benefits associated with the forward contracts discussed in Note 8 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and a 1.4% benefit from the foreign tax settlement previously mentioned. The Company had approximately $3.6 and $6.4 million recorded for income tax uncertainties as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The change is primarily attributable to a $2.2 million reduction related to a foreign tax settlement, along with other settlements and currency fluctuations. The uncertain amounts, if recognized, that would impact the effective tax rate are $3.6 and $6.4 million, respectively. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that the liability for uncertain tax positions will decrease by no more than $1.9 million in the next twelve months from the resolution of various uncertain positions as a result of the completion of tax audits, litigation and the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions.

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES

The reported effective tax rate decreased to 23.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 29.2% for the same period ended September 30, 2016, resulting in a decrease to the Provision for Income Taxes of approximately $6 million. The reported effective tax rate decreased to 22.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 28.8% for the same period ended September 30, 2016, resulting in a decrease to the Provision for Income Taxes of approximately $15 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in the tax rate reflects a benefit of 4.5% recognized upon a foreign tax settlement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the decrease in the tax rate reflects a 4.0% benefit from the new accounting standard for employee share-based compensation payments, which the Company adopted in 2017, a 1.6% benefit in connection with our repatriation activities, which was primarily related to tax benefits associated with the forward contracts discussed in Note 8 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and a 1.4% benefit from the foreign tax settlement previously mentioned.

The Company had approximately $3.6 and $6.4 million recorded for income tax uncertainties as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The change is primarily attributable to a $2.2 million reduction related to a foreign tax settlement, along with other settlements and currency fluctuations. The uncertain amounts, if recognized, that would impact the effective tax rate are $3.6 and $6.4 million, respectively. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that the liability for uncertain tax positions will decrease by no more than $1.9 million in the next twelve months from the resolution of various uncertain positions as a result of the completion of tax audits, litigation and the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions.