INCOME TAXES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	12. INCOME TAXES The Company’s tax rate was 20.8% and 22.8% for the second quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 16.9% and 22.4% for the first six months of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2019 compared to the second quarter and first six months 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 net tax expense related to discrete tax items of $1.0 million and net benefits of $26.7 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. Share-based compensation excess tax benefit contributed $13.1 million and $31.8 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. The Company also recognized expense of $6.2 million and $1.1 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively, due to issuance of technical guidance during the respective quarters related to the one-time transition tax imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). Additionally, the Company recognized expense of $10.2 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter related to the calculation of foreign tax credits. The remaining discrete benefit was primarily related to changes in tax rates and changes in estimates in non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $12.1 million and $12.0 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively. The Company recorded discrete tax expense of $18.2 million and $29.5 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively, for the one-time transition tax due to issuance of technical guidance during the respective quarters. Discrete tax items include excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation of $6.0 million and $12.8 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively. The remaining discrete tax benefits related to changes in the Company’s state tax profile and changes in reserves in non-U.S. jurisdictions were recorded in the second quarter and first six months of 2018.

INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

12. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s tax rate was 20.8% and 22.8% for the second quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 16.9% and 22.4% for the first six months of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change in the Company’s tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2019 compared to the second quarter and first six months 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 net tax expense related to discrete tax items of $1.0 million and net benefits of $26.7 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. Share-based compensation excess tax benefit contributed $13.1 million and $31.8 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. The Company also recognized expense of $6.2 million and $1.1 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively, due to issuance of technical guidance during the respective quarters related to the one-time transition tax imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). Additionally, the Company recognized expense of $10.2 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 due to issuance of technical guidance during the quarter related to the calculation of foreign tax credits. The remaining discrete benefit was primarily related to changes in tax rates and changes in estimates in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

The Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $12.1 million and $12.0 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively. The Company recorded discrete tax expense of $18.2 million and $29.5 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively, for the one-time transition tax due to issuance of technical guidance during the respective quarters. Discrete tax items include excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation of $6.0 million and $12.8 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively. The remaining discrete tax benefits related to changes in the Company’s state tax profile and changes in reserves in non-U.S. jurisdictions were recorded in the second quarter and first six months of 2018.