Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We determined our quarterly tax provision using the year-to-date effective tax rate because small changes in estimated ordinary annual income result in significant changes in our estimated annual effective tax rate. The year-to-date effective tax rate treats the year-to-date period as if it was the annual period and determines the income tax expense or benefit on that basis.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized tax expense of $28 million and $66 million, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $61 million and $206 million, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 where we recognized tax expense of $8 million and $64 million, respectively, on a loss before income taxes of $159 million and $1.6 billion, respectively. Our income tax provisions are primarily driven by income in certain jurisdictions, deemed profit countries and withholding taxes on intercompany and third-party transactions that do not directly correlate to ordinary income or loss and other adjustments. Impairments and other charges recognized do not result in significant tax benefit as a result of our inability to forecast realization of the tax benefit of such losses.

We routinely undergo tax examination in various jurisdictions. We cannot predict the timing or outcome regarding resolution of these tax examinations or if they will have a material impact on our financial statements. As of September 30, 2021, we anticipate that it is reasonably possible that our uncertain tax positions of $241 million may decrease by up to $13 million in the next twelve months due to expiration of statutes of limitations, settlements and/or conclusions of tax examinations.