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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

NOTE 12. INCOME TAXES

At the end of each interim period, the Company estimates the annual effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary quarterly earnings. The tax expense or benefit related to significant, unusual or extraordinary items that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effect and are individually computed are recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effects of changes in enacted tax laws or rates or tax status are recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs.

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate, primarily due to non-taxable book gains, which had a greater impact on the Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter due to the Company’s low pre-tax book loss.

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to a tax benefit of approximately $106 million related to the release of previously established valuation allowances related to certain U.S. federal net operating losses and state deferred tax assets. This benefit was recognized in conjunction with management’s plan to dispose of the Company’s digital education business as the Company expects to generate sufficient U.S. taxable income to utilize these deferred tax assets prior to expiration. In addition, the Company recognized a tax benefit of approximately $151 million upon reclassification of the Digital Education segment to discontinued operations in Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Statement of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

 

The Company’s tax returns are subject to on-going review and examination by various tax authorities. Tax authorities may not agree with the treatment of items reported in the Company’s tax returns, and therefore the outcome of tax reviews and examinations can be unpredictable. The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of uncertain tax matters and believes such liabilities represent a reasonable provision for taxes ultimately expected to be paid, however, these liabilities may need to be adjusted as new information becomes known and as tax examinations continue to progress.

The Company paid gross income taxes of $34 million and $19 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and received income tax refunds of nil and $1 million, respectively.