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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

The Company's provision for income taxes is based upon an estimated annual tax rate for the year applied to federal, state and foreign income. On a quarterly basis, the annual effective tax rate is adjusted, as appropriate, based upon changed facts and circumstances, if any, as compared to those forecasted at the beginning of the fiscal year and each interim period thereafter.

At September 30, 2015, the Company's effective tax rate for the first nine months was 30.0%. This rate includes tax benefits of $4.1 million related to restructuring expense as discussed in the Other Expense, net footnote to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, $4.1 million primarily related to foreign tax incentives and $3.9 million related to tax settlements, partially offset by $5.8 million of tax expense related to a global realignment plan.

At September 30, 2014, the Company's effective tax rate for the first nine months was 29.4%, which includes tax benefits of $11.9 million and $0.9 million related to restructuring expense and the pension plan settlement loss, respectively, discussed in the Other Expense, net footnote to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The annual effective tax rates differ from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to foreign rates which differ from those in the U.S., the realization of certain business tax credits, including foreign tax credits, and favorable permanent differences between book and tax treatment for certain items, including equity in affiliates' earnings.