Income Taxes



	Six Months Ended June 30
	2016		2015
Effective tax rate on pre-tax income from continuing operations	36.2	%	24.3	%

In June 2016, the Company recorded a $128 million net tax charge associated with the funding of the asbestos settlement trust ("Trust") described in Note 15, "Commitments and Contingent Liabilities." The Company provided taxes on certain of its foreign subsidiaries earnings to fund the Trust using cash from various jurisdictions. Also in conjunction with the funding of the Trust, PPG recorded certain one-time book tax benefits associated with the contribution of PPG's interest in Pittsburgh Corning's European subsidiary to the Trust and a change in measurement of certain deferred tax liabilities.

The effective tax rate for 2015 is lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to earnings in foreign jurisdictions which are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate, the U.S. tax benefit on foreign dividends paid and the impact of certain U.S. tax incentives. The 2016 rate includes similar benefits; however, they are more than offset by the asbestos settlement net tax charge.

The Company files federal, state and local income tax returns in numerous domestic and foreign jurisdictions. In most tax jurisdictions, returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities for a number of years after the returns have been filed. The Company is no longer subject to examinations by tax authorities in any major tax jurisdiction for years before 2006. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns filed for years through 2011. The IRS is currently conducting its examination of the Company's U.S. federal income tax return for 2012 and 2013.