Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES Our effective tax rate decreased to 13.2 percent for the 2019 first quarter from 21.1 percent for the 2018 first quarter, primarily due to the prior year tax expense incurred for uncertain tax positions relating to legacy-Starwood operations, the prior year state income tax expense due to a change in our position regarding the future remittance of accumulated earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries, prior year tax on dispositions, and increased earnings in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. The decrease was partially offset by the 2018 release of tax reserves due to the completion of certain examinations. We paid cash for income taxes, net of refunds, of $64 million in the 2019 first quarter and $88 million in the 2018 first quarter.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rate decreased to 13.2 percent for the 2019 first quarter from 21.1 percent for the 2018 first quarter, primarily due to the prior year tax expense incurred for uncertain tax positions relating to legacy-Starwood operations, the prior year state income tax expense due to a change in our position regarding the future remittance of accumulated earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries, prior year tax on dispositions, and increased earnings in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. The decrease was partially offset by the 2018 release of tax reserves due to the completion of certain examinations.

We paid cash for income taxes, net of refunds, of $64 million in the 2019 first quarter and $88 million in the 2018 first quarter.