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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
6. INCOME TAXES

Income tax provisions for interim (quarterly) periods are based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate calculated separately from the effect of significant, infrequent or unusual items. Income tax expense was zero for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to income tax expense of $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily driven by lower income before taxes in the three months ended September 30, 2020, partially offset by a decrease in discrete tax benefits. In the three months ended September 30, 2019, the discrete tax benefits were primarily the release of a $25 million valuation allowance related to certain non-US deferred tax assets. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, the discrete benefits were primarily a decrease in the balance of the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits as a result of lapses of statutes of limitations.

Income tax benefit was $33 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to income tax expense of $28 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily driven by an increase in discrete tax benefits as well as lower income before taxes in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the discrete benefits were primarily a release of a $25 million valuation allowance related to certain non-US deferred tax assets. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the discrete tax benefits primarily resulted from a $48 million benefit recorded for the release of a valuation allowance against U.S. foreign tax credits and the re-establishment of expected foreign tax credit offsets to unrecognized tax benefits as well as a decrease in the balance of the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits as a result of lapses in statutes of limitations.

Additionally, in connection with preparing the financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company identified and recorded income tax benefits of $2 million related to an error in the calculation of the permanent differences on executive stock compensation and $3 million for the write-off of income tax payables incorrectly recorded in
prior periods. The Company determined the impact of these errors was not material to the annual or interim financial statements of previous periods and the effect of correcting these errors was not material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and is not expected to be material to the 2020 annual financial statements.

The Company engages in continuous discussions and negotiations with taxing authorities regarding tax matters, and the Company has determined that over the next 12 months it expects to resolve certain tax matters related to U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. As a result, as of September 30, 2020, we estimate that it is reasonably possible that gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by $25 million to $32 million in the next 12 months.