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Income Tax
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax
Income Tax
Our effective tax rates for the second quarter of 2015 and 2014 were approximately 20% and 11%, respectively. For the first half of 2015 and 2014, our effective tax rates were approximately 19% and 8%, respectively. Our effective tax rates were significantly lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to lower effective income tax rates applicable to our foreign businesses, driven by lower statutory income tax rates and tax planning impacts on statutory taxable income, as well as the impact of discrete items further discussed below. The effective tax rate for the second quarter and first half of 2015 increased versus 2014, primarily due to lower pretax income in 2015 and a lower net discrete tax impact recognized in 2015. Our total net discrete tax expense was $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2015, versus a $12.2 million net discrete tax benefit recognized in the second quarter of 2014. The net discrete tax benefit recognized in 2014 was primarily due to the finalization of our previous bilateral advanced pricing agreement ("BAPA") between the U.S. and Canada tax authorities in the second quarter of 2014. The implementation of the BAPA and reversal of the related unrecognized tax benefits resulted in a net discrete income tax benefit of approximately $21 million in the second quarter of 2014. This was partially reduced by an immaterial out of period adjustment recorded in the second quarter of 2014 of $8.7 million related to our deferred tax liabilities. This out of period adjustment primarily relates to immaterial errors for the fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Our tax rate is volatile and may move up or down with changes in, among other things, the amount and source of income or loss, our ability to utilize foreign tax credits, changes in tax laws and the movement of liabilities established for uncertain tax positions as statutes of limitations expire or positions are otherwise effectively settled. There are proposed or pending tax law changes in various jurisdictions that, if enacted, may have an impact on our effective tax rate.
In March 2015, we formally submitted a renewal application of our BAPA between the U.S. and Canada tax authorities. The BAPA submission covers both historical and future tax years and is subject to approval by both taxing authorities. The prior year impacts of the submission were recognized as a discrete item in the first quarter of 2015, and the related tax implications for the current year have been incorporated into our projected full year effective tax rate.