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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

NOTE 7: INCOME TAXES

Each interim period is considered an integral part of the annual period and, accordingly, we measure our tax expense using an estimated annual effective tax rate. An enterprise is required, at the end of each interim reporting period, to make its best estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full fiscal year and use that rate to provide for income taxes on a current year-to-date basis, as adjusted for discrete taxable events that occur during the interim period.

Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 was 24.4% and 26.2%, respectively. Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 was 29.3% and 28.0%, respectively. For both the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2016, the effective tax rate is less than the federal statutory rate primarily due to earnings in jurisdictions outside the United States, where our effective tax rate is lower, which was partially offset by state income taxes, non-deductible stock compensation and accruals on uncertain tax positions. The change in the effective tax rate for 2016 compared to the 2015 rate was primarily due to a change in jurisdictional earnings.

Our policy is to recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and income tax liabilities as part of our income tax expense. As of June 30, 2016, accrued interest is $5 million, net of federal benefit, and no penalties have been accrued. We do not anticipate any material releases in the next twelve months.

By virtue of previously filed consolidated income tax returns filed with Expedia, we are currently under an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the 2009 and 2010 tax years, and have various ongoing state income tax audits. We are separately under examination by the IRS for the 2012 and 2013 tax years and have an employment tax audit with the IRS for the 2013 and 2014 tax years. These audits include questioning of the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. These examinations may lead to proposed adjustments to our taxes.  We are no longer subject to tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2007.  As of June 30, 2016, no material assessments have resulted.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we received notification of a draft proposed adjustment from the IRS for the 2009 and 2010 tax years and we anticipate receiving additional notices of proposed adjustments for the same years.  These proposed adjustments are related to transfer pricing with our foreign subsidiaries, and would result in an increase to U.S. taxable income and federal tax expense for 2009 and 2010, subject to interest.  Our policy is to review and update tax reserves as facts and circumstances change. Based on our interpretation of the regulations and available case law, we believe the position we have taken with regard to transfer pricing with our foreign subsidiaries is sustainable.  We intend to defend our position through IRS administrative and, if necessary, judicial remedies.  As of June 30, 2016, no additional adjustments have been proposed.

In July 2015, the United States Tax Court (the “Court”) issued an opinion favorable to Altera Corporation (“Altera”) with respect to Altera’s litigation with the IRS. This opinion was submitted as a final decision under Tax Court Rule 155 during December 2015. The litigation relates to the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in an inter-company cost-sharing arrangement with Altera’s foreign subsidiary. In its opinion, the Court accepted Altera’s position of excluding stock based compensation from its inter-company cost-sharing arrangement. The IRS appealed the Court decision on February 19, 2016. At this time, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has not withdrawn the requirement from its regulations to include stock-based compensation in intercompany cost-sharing arrangements. The Company recorded a tax benefit of $13 million in its consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and an additional $1 million and $2 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The Company will continue to monitor this matter and related potential impacts to its consolidated financial statements.