Provision for Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Provision for Income Taxes

Income Taxes

In the third quarter 2015, the company recorded a tax provision on continuing operations of $96, including $4 of tax benefit associated with the company’s policy of hedging the foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its operations and gains or losses on foreign currency contracts. The company recorded pre-tax exchange losses in the third quarter 2015, including the re-measurement of the net monetary asset positions as well as the impacts of hedging, of $36. The third quarter 2015 tax provision also included a $17 tax benefit associated with a foreign tax court decision.

Year to date 2015, the company recorded a tax provision on continuing operations of $886, including $176 of tax expense primarily associated withthe company’s policy of hedging the foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its operations and gains or losses on foreign currency contracts. The company recorded pre-tax exchange gains year-to-date 2015, including the re-measurement of the net monetary asset positions as well as the impacts of hedging, of $54.

In the third quarter 2014, the company recorded a tax provision on continuing operations of $303, including $258 of tax expense, primarily associated with the company's policy of hedging the foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its operations and gains or losses on foreign currency contracts. The company recorded pre-tax exchange gains in the third quarter 2014, including the re-measurement of the net monetary asset positions as well as the impacts of hedging, of $250.

Year to date 2014, the company recorded a tax provision on continuing operations of $921, including $233 of tax expense, primarily associated with the company's policy of hedging the foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its operations and gain or losses on foreign currency contracts. The company recorded pre-tax exchange gains year-to-date 2014, including the re-measurement of the net monetary asset positions as well as the impacts of hedging, of $44.

Each year the company files hundreds of tax returns in the various national, state and local income taxing jurisdictions in which it operates. These tax returns are subject to examination and possible challenge by the tax authorities. Positions challenged by the tax authorities may be settled or appealed by the company. As a result, there is an uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the company’s financial statements in accordance with accounting for income taxes and accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. It is reasonably possible that net reductions to the company’s global unrecognized tax benefits could be in the range of $225 to $250 within the next twelve months with the majority due to the settlement of uncertain tax positions with various tax authorities.