XML 64 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3
Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

(11) Income Taxes

 

Our effective income tax rates were 26.9% and 23.7% during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 22.2% and 23.3% during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively.  The increase in the effective tax rate during the three-month period ended September 30, 2019, as compared to the comparable quarter of 2018, was primarily due to $6 million of tax expense related to non-deductible DOJ Reserve offset by $2 million of tax benefit attributable to employee share-based payments during the third quarter of 2019.  The net decrease in the effective tax rate during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019, compared with the same period in 2018, was primarily due to an $11 million tax benefit attributable to employee share-based payments, a $4 million tax benefit related to the effects of a change in state tax law enacted during 2019 offset by $6 million of tax expense due to non-deductible DOJ Reserve during the third quarter of 2019 as compared to $1 million of tax benefit attributable to employee share-based payments during the first nine months of 2018.

 

The global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions from the TCJA-17 require the inclusion of the earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries in excess of an acceptable rate of return on certain assets of the respective subsidiaries in our U.S. tax return for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.  An accounting policy election was made during 2018 to treat taxes related to GILTI as a period cost when the tax is incurred. We recorded a GILTI tax provision of less than $1 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

As of January 1, 2019, our unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $2 million. The amount, if recognized, that would favorably affect the effective tax rate is approximately $1 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, changes to the estimated liabilities for uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest) relating to tax positions taken during prior and current periods did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

We recognize accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the tax provision. As of September 30, 2019, we have less than $1 million of accrued interest and penalties. The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for 2016 and subsequent years. Foreign and U.S. state and local jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging from 3 to 4 years. The statute of limitations on certain jurisdictions could expire within the next twelve months.  It is reasonably possible that the amount of uncertain tax benefits will change during the next 12 months, however, it is anticipated that any such change, if it were to occur, would not have a material impact on our results of operations.

 

We operate in multiple jurisdictions with varying tax laws. We are subject to audits by any of these taxing authorities. Our tax returns have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) through the year ended December 31, 2006. We believe that adequate accruals have been provided for federal, foreign and state taxes.