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INCOME TAXES:
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
INCOME TAXES:  
INCOME TAXES:

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES:

 

The income tax provision and the effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2012 and 2011 were as follows ($ in millions):

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Income tax provision

 

$

318.8

 

$

238.1

 

Effective income tax rate

 

33.9

%

33.1

%

 

These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States.  The increase in the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2012 is primarily due to the effect of the new Peruvian special mining tax (please see below).

 

For United States federal income tax reporting the operating results of SCC are included in the Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”) U.S. federal income tax return.  In accordance with paragraph 30-27 of ASC 740-10-30, current and deferred taxes are allocated to members of the AMC group as if each were a separate taxpayer.  SCC provides current and deferred income taxes as if it was a separate filer.

 

Special Mining Tax:

 

In September 2011, the Peruvian government enacted a new tax for the mining industry.  This tax is based on operating income and its rate ranges from 2% to 8.4%. It begins at 2% for the first 10% of operating income and for each additional 5% of operating income is increased by 0.4% until 85% of operating income is reached.  The Company has accrued $11.9 million for the special mining tax as part of the income tax provision for the first quarter 2012.

 

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes:

 

The Company files tax returns in Peru and Mexico and files a tax return in the United States as a member of the AMC consolidated group.  These tax returns are examined by the tax authorities of those countries.  It is reasonably possible that during the next 12 months there could be an increase of approximately $30 to $50 million in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits due to expected activity from tax examinations and audits by the tax authorities.