XML 26 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1
Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
We estimate our annual effective tax rate for continuing operations in recording our quarterly income tax provision (or benefit) for the various jurisdictions in which we operate. The tax effects of statutory rate changes, significant unusual or infrequent items, and certain changes in the assessment of the realizability of deferred tax assets are excluded from the determination of our estimated annual effective tax rate as such items are recognized as discrete items in the quarter in which they occur.
For the Current Quarter, our estimated annual effective tax rate remains nominal as a result of having a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset. Taking into account our projected operating results for the subsequent 2018 quarter, we project remaining in a net deferred tax asset position as of December 31, 2018. Based on all available positive and negative evidence, including estimates of future taxable income, we believe it is more-likely-than-not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized. A significant piece of objectively verifiable negative evidence evaluated is the cumulative loss incurred over the rolling three-year period ending September 30, 2018. Such evidence limits our ability to consider various forms of subjective positive evidence, such as our projections for future growth and earnings. A valuation allowance was recorded against substantially all of our net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2017 and against all of our net deferred tax asset as of September 30, 2018.
We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income and capital taxes in various state jurisdictions in which we operate. We recorded a $1 million income tax expense in the Current Quarter and an $8 million income tax benefit in the Current Period. The $1 million expense in the Current Quarter was a result of discrete items related to additional state income tax expense for the settlement of a state income tax audit and the filing of amended state income tax returns. The $8 million benefit in the Current Period was a result of discrete items consisting of a $13 million reduction to the liability for state unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations which was partially offset by eliminating a deferred tax asset for alternative minimum tax carryforwards in the amount of $3 million and recording additional state income tax expense of $2 million relating primarily to the settlement of a state income tax audit and the filing of amended state income tax returns. A further reduction to the liability for state unrecognized tax benefits was also recorded against interest expense in the amount of $4 million.
On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Act, which substantially revised numerous areas of U.S. federal income tax law, including reducing the tax rate for corporations from a maximum rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21% and eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT). The various estimates included in determining our tax provision as of December 31, 2017 remain provisional through the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and may be adjusted through subsequent events such as the filing of the 2017 consolidated federal income tax return and the issuance of additional guidance such as new Treasury Regulations. Moreover, we are still in the process of evaluating the full impact of the Tax Act both at the federal and state level.