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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

Note 22—Income Taxes

 

Our effective tax rate from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2013 was 47 percent compared with 49 percent for the first quarter of 2012. The decrease was primarily due to a smaller proportion of income in higher tax jurisdictions in 2013. Additionally, the tax rate for the first quarter of 2013 reflected a favorable tax resolution associated with the sale of certain western Canada properties which occurred in a prior year, and the tax rate for the first quarter of 2012 reflected a benefit from asset dispositions in 2012.

 

The effective tax rate in excess of the domestic federal statutory rate of 35 percent was primarily due to foreign taxes.

 

During the first quarter of 2013, unrecognized tax benefits decreased $235 million to $637 million at March 31, 2013, mainly due to the favorable tax resolution noted above. Included in this balance is $411 million which, if recognized, would impact our effective tax rate.