INCOME TAXES

The following table summarizes the Company’s effective tax rate:



	Three-Month Period Ended
	March 29, 2019		March 30, 2018
Effective tax rate	53.7	%	20.5	%

The effective tax rate for 2019 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% principally due to the impact of net discrete tax charges of $242 million ($0.34 per diluted share) related primarily to changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax positions and audit settlements, net of the release of valuation allowances associated with certain foreign tax credits, tax benefits resulting from a change in tax law, and excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation. These discrete tax charges increased the reported tax rate by 34.0%. These provisions were partially offset by benefits from the impact of earnings outside the United States which generally are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. federal rate.

The Company’s effective tax rate for 2018 was slightly lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% due principally to the impact of the Company’s earnings outside the United States which generally are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. federal rate. The 2018 effective tax rate includes the benefit of a lower U.S. corporate income tax rate of 21.0% from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”), partially offset by a new minimum tax on certain non-U.S. earnings. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended March 30, 2018 also includes tax benefits for release of reserves upon the expiration of statutes of limitation and excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation which were offset by changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax provisions and other matters.

In the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019, the IRS has proposed significant adjustments to the Company’s taxable income for the years 2012 through 2015 with respect to the deferral of tax on certain premium income related to the Company’s self-insurance programs. The proposed adjustments would increase the Company’s taxable income over the 2012-2015 period by approximately $2.7 billion. Management believes the positions the Company has taken in its U.S. tax returns are in accordance with the relevant tax laws, intends to vigorously defend these positions and is currently considering all of its alternatives. Due to the enactment of the TCJA in 2017 and the resulting reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate for years after 2017, the Company revalued its deferred tax liabilities related to the temporary differences associated with this deferred premium income from 35.0% to 21.0%. If the Company is not successful in defending these assessments, the taxes owed to the IRS may be computed under the previous 35.0% statutory tax rate and the Company may be required to revalue the related deferred tax liabilities from 21.0% to 35.0%, which in addition to any interest due on the amounts assessed, would require a charge to future earnings. The ultimate resolution of this matter is uncertain, could take many years and could result in a material adverse impact to the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, including its cash flows and effective tax rate.

Tax authorities in Denmark have raised significant issues related to interest accrued by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. On December 10, 2013, the Company received assessments from the Danish tax authority (“SKAT”) totaling approximately DKK 1.7 billion including interest through March 29, 2019 (approximately $253 million based on the exchange rate as of March 29, 2019), imposing withholding tax relating to interest accrued in Denmark on borrowings from certain of the Company’s subsidiaries for the years 2004-2009. The Company appealed these assessments to the National Tax Tribunal in 2014, which appeal has been pending awaiting the outcome of other cases brought to the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”). The Company is currently in discussions with SKAT and anticipates receiving an assessment for similar withholding tax matters for the years 2010-2012 totaling approximately DKK 994 million including interest through March 29, 2019 (approximately $149 million based on the exchange rate as of March 29, 2019). In February 2019, the CJEU decided several other cases related to Danish withholding tax on dividends and interest. In these cases, the CJEU ruled that the exemption of interest payments from withholding taxes provided in the applicable European Union (“EU”) directive should be denied where taxpayers use the directive for abusive or fraudulent purposes, and that it is up to the national courts to make this determination. Management believes the positions the Company has taken in Denmark are in accordance with the relevant tax laws and is vigorously defending its positions. The Company intends on pursuing this matter through the Danish High Court should the appeal to the Tax Tribunal be unsuccessful. The Company will continue to monitor decisions of both the Danish courts and the CJEU and evaluate the impact of these court rulings on the Company’s tax positions in Denmark. The ultimate resolution of this matter is uncertain, could take many years, and could result in a material adverse impact to the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, including its effective tax rate.