INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	12. INCOME TAXES The Company’s tax rate was 11.4% and 21.8% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018 was driven primarily by the impact of discrete tax items, special (gains) and charges, tax planning and the geographic mix of income. The Company recognized total net benefit related to discrete tax items of $27.7 million in the first quarter of 2019. Share-based compensation excess tax benefit contributed $18.7 million. The Company also recognized a $5.1 million benefit due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter related to the one-time transition tax imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). The remaining discrete benefit was primarily related to changes in tax rates in non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2018. The Company recorded discrete tax expense of $11.3 million for the one-time transition tax due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter. Discrete tax items include excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation of $6.8 million and other discrete tax benefits of $4.6 million related to changes in the Company’s state tax profile and changes in reserves in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

12. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s tax rate was 11.4% and 21.8% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018 was driven primarily by the impact of discrete tax items, special (gains) and charges, tax planning and the geographic mix of income.

The Company recognized total net benefit related to discrete tax items of $27.7 million in the first quarter of 2019. Share-based compensation excess tax benefit contributed $18.7 million. The Company also recognized a $5.1 million benefit due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter related to the one-time transition tax imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). The remaining discrete benefit was primarily related to changes in tax rates in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

The Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2018. The Company recorded discrete tax expense of $11.3 million for the one-time transition tax due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter. Discrete tax items include excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation of $6.8 million and other discrete tax benefits of $4.6 million related to changes in the Company’s state tax profile and changes in reserves in non-U.S. jurisdictions.