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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
For interim tax reporting we estimate our annual effective tax rate and apply it to our year to date ordinary income. Jurisdictions where no tax benefit can be recognized due to a valuation allowance are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact of including these jurisdictions on the quarterly effective rate calculation could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter due to the mix and timing of actual earnings versus annual projections. The tax effects of certain items, including changes in judgment about valuation allowances and effects of changes in tax laws or rates, are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate calculation and recognized in the interim period in which they occur.
We reported income tax expense of $27 million and income tax benefit of $8 million in the three month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The tax expense recorded in the second quarter of 2018 included a net tax benefit of $5 million relating to acquisition charges and $2 million of tax expense for changes in the toll tax as discussed below. The tax benefit recorded in the second quarter of 2017 included a net tax benefit of $50 million relating to an antitrust settlement accrual.
We reported income tax expense of $52 million and $25 million in the six month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The tax expense recorded in the first six months of 2018 included tax benefits of $7 million relating to acquisition charges and $2 million of tax expense for changes in the toll tax as discussed below. The tax expense recorded in the first six months of 2017 included a net tax benefit of $49 million primarily relating to an antitrust settlement accrual.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") was enacted into U.S. law, which, among other provisions, lowered the corporate income tax rate effective January 1, 2018 from 35% to 21%, and implemented significant changes with respect to U.S. tax treatment of earnings originating from outside the U.S. Many of the provisions of TCJA are subject to regulatory interpretation and U.S. state conforming enactment. The IRS issued Notice 2018-26 on April 2, 2018, which provided additional guidance to assist taxpayers in computing the toll tax. Based on the new guidance, a $2 million discrete charge was recorded in income tax expense for the second quarter of 2018. We will continue to refine our estimates throughout the measurement period provided for in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, or until our accounting is complete.
Our losses in various foreign taxing jurisdictions represented sufficient negative evidence to require us to maintain a full valuation allowance against certain of our net deferred tax assets. We evaluate our deferred income taxes quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and amount of recent losses, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and tax planning strategies. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. If recent operational improvements continue in certain of our foreign subsidiaries, we believe it is reasonably possible that sufficient positive evidence may be available to release all, or a portion, of its valuation allowance in the next twelve months.  This may result in a one-time tax benefit of up to $54 million, primarily related to Spain.
We believe it is reasonably possible that up to $7 million in unrecognized tax benefits related to the expiration of foreign statute of limitations and the conclusion of income tax examinations may be recognized within the next twelve months.