INCOME TAXES

Variations in the relative proportions of jurisdictional income result in fluctuations to FCX’s consolidated effective income tax rate. FCX’s consolidated effective income tax rate was 47 percent for the first nine months of 2017 and (2) percent for first nine months of 2016. Geographic sources of FCX’s (provision for) benefit from income taxes follow (in millions):



	Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
	September 30,							September 30,
	2017				2016			2017				2016
U.S. operations^a	$	2			$	331		$	24			$	293
International operations	(389		)	^b	(217		)	(771		)	^b	(372		)
Total	$	(387	)		$	114		$	(747	)		$	(79	)

Includes net tax (charges) credits of $(10) million for third-quarter 2017 and $21 million for the first nine months of 2017 associated with alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards. The third quarter and first nine months of 2016 include net tax credits of $332 million and $290 million, respectively, associated with alternative minimum tax credits, changes to valuation allowances and net operating loss carryback claims.

Includes net charges of $2 million associated with the Cerro Verde mining royalties dispute, consisting of tax charges of $127 million for disputed royalties and other related mining taxes for the period October 2011 through the year 2013 (when royalties were determined based on operating income), mostly offset by a tax benefit of $125 million associated with disputed royalties and other related mining taxes for the period December 2006 through the year 2013.

As a result of the unfavorable Peruvian Supreme Court ruling on the Cerro Verde royalty dispute, FCX recorded pre-tax charges of $357 million to income from continuing operations and $2 million of net tax expense for the first nine months of 2017. FCX’s consolidated effective income tax rate was 39 percent for the first nine months of 2017 excluding these charges.

As a result of the impairment to U.S. oil and gas properties, FCX recorded tax charges of $1.6 billion for the first nine months of 2016 to establish a valuation allowance primarily against U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets that will not generate a future benefit. FCX’s consolidated effective income tax rate was 32 percent for the first nine months of 2016 excluding these tax charges.