Income taxes



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2016			2015
Continuing operations
Provision for income taxes (in millions)	$	9.4		15.5
Effective tax rate	105.6		%	184.5	%

2016 Compared to U.S. Statutory Rate

The effective income tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2016 was greater than the 35% U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the significant costs related to the winding down of operations in the Republic of Ireland, for which no tax benefit can be recorded, and the nondeductible expenses resulting from the currency devaluation in Venezuela in the first quarter.

Excluding those items, our effective tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2016 is 54%. The rate is higher than 35% primarily due to the seasonality of book losses for which no tax benefit can be recorded, nondeductible expenses in Mexico, taxes on undistributed earnings and the characterization of a French business tax as an income tax, partially offset by the geographical mix of earnings.

2015 Compared to U.S. Statutory Rate

The effective income tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2015 was higher than the 35% U.S. statutory tax rate, primarily due to the significant nondeductible expenses resulting from the currency devaluation in Venezuela in the first quarter.

Excluding the Venezuela nondeductible expenses and the associated tax implications, our effective tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2015 was 54%. The rate was higher than 35% primarily due to higher tax expense resulting from cross border payments, nondeductible expenses in Mexico and the characterization of a French business tax as an income tax, partially offset by lower taxes resulting from the geographical mix of earnings.