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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the TCJA was enacted, which, among other things, lowered the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% and established a modified territorial system requiring a mandatory deemed repatriation tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Beginning in 2018, the TCJA also requires a minimum tax on certain earnings generated by foreign subsidiaries while providing for tax-free repatriation of such earnings through a 100% dividends-received deduction. The Company’s effective income tax rate in 2017 included a provisional charge of $275, recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017, related to the TCJA using information and estimates available as of February 15, 2018, the date on which the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Given the significant complexity of the TCJA, recent and anticipated further guidance from the U.S. Treasury about implementing the TCJA and the potential for additional guidance from the SEC or the FASB related to the TCJA or additional information becoming available, the Company’s provisional charge may be adjusted during 2018 and is expected to be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018. The aforementioned guidance and additional information regarding the TCJA may also impact the Company’s 2018 effective income tax rate, exclusive of any adjustment to the provisional charge.

As a result of the early adoption of ASU 2018-02, the Company reclassified $163 of stranded tax effects in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the TCJA to Retained earnings in the current period. See Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Updated Accounting Policies for additional information.

The Company has taken a tax position in a foreign jurisdiction since 2002 that has been challenged by the local tax authorities. In May 2015, the Company became aware of several rulings by the Supreme Court in this foreign jurisdiction disallowing certain tax deductions, which had the effect of reversing prior decisions. The Company had taken deductions in prior years similar to those disallowed by such court and, as a result, as required, reassessed its tax position and increased its unrecognized tax benefits in 2015.

In 2016, the Supreme Court in the foreign jurisdiction decided the matter in the Company’s favor for the years 2002 through 2005. Also in 2016, the Administrative Court in the foreign jurisdiction decided the matter in the Company’s favor for the years 2008 through 2011 by acknowledging the Supreme Court’s ruling for the years 2002 through 2005, which eliminated the possibility of future appeals. As a result, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $30, including interest, in 2016. 

In March 2018, the lower courts ruled in the Company’s favor for the years 2006, 2007 and 2012 through 2014. Although the lower courts ruled in the Company’s favor, it is possible that the rulings will be appealed to the Supreme Court. If such appeals are resolved in the Company’s favor, the Company will record additional tax benefits of approximately $15 at current exchange rates.