Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	4. Income Taxes Our effective income tax rate was 22.7% and 17.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in our effective income tax rate when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was primarily driven by (i) a decrease in excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation; (ii) lower federal tax credits and (iii) favorable adjustments to accruals and related deferred taxes recorded in 2020. These items are discussed further below. We evaluate our effective income tax rate at each interim period and adjust it as facts and circumstances warrant. Equity-Based Compensation — During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a reduction in our income tax expense of $9 million and $21 million, respectively, for excess tax benefits related to the vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation awards. Investments Qualifying for Federal Tax Credits — We have significant financial interests in entities established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. We support the operations of these entities in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits they generate. The low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that we expect to realize through 2030 under Section 42 or Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code. We also held a residual financial interest in an entity that owned a refined coal facility that qualified for federal tax credits under Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code through 2019. The entity sold the majority of its assets in the first quarter of 2020, which resulted in a $7 million non-cash impairment of our investment at that time. We account for our investments in these entities using the equity method of accounting, recognizing our share of each entity’s results of operations and other reductions in the value of our investments in equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized $9 million and $26 million (including the $7 million impairment of the refined coal facility noted above) of net losses, respectively. The related reduction in our income tax expense, which is primarily due to federal tax credits realized from the investments, was $16 million and $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized interest expense of $2 million and $3 million, respectively, associated with our investments in low-income housing properties. See Note 13 for additional information related to these unconsolidated variable interest entities. Adjustments to Accruals and Related Deferred Taxes — During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recognized a reduction in our income tax expense of $6 million for adjustments to accruals and related deferred taxes.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

4. Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 22.7% and 17.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The increase in our effective income tax rate when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was primarily driven by (i) a decrease in excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation; (ii) lower federal tax credits and (iii) favorable adjustments to accruals and related deferred taxes recorded in 2020. These items are discussed further below. We evaluate our effective income tax rate at each interim period and adjust it as facts and circumstances warrant.

Equity-Based Compensation — During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a reduction in our income tax expense of $9 million and $21 million, respectively, for excess tax benefits related to the vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation awards.

Investments Qualifying for Federal Tax Credits — We have significant financial interests in entities established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. We support the operations of these entities in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits they generate. The low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that we expect to realize through 2030 under Section 42 or Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code.

We also held a residual financial interest in an entity that owned a refined coal facility that qualified for federal tax credits under Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code through 2019. The entity sold the majority of its assets in the first quarter of 2020, which resulted in a $7 million non-cash impairment of our investment at that time.

We account for our investments in these entities using the equity method of accounting, recognizing our share of each entity’s results of operations and other reductions in the value of our investments in equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized $9 million and $26 million (including the $7 million impairment of the refined coal facility noted above) of net losses, respectively. The related reduction in our income tax expense, which is primarily due to federal tax credits realized from the investments, was $16 million and $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized interest expense of $2 million and $3 million, respectively, associated with our investments in low-income housing properties. See Note 13 for additional information related to these unconsolidated variable interest entities.

Adjustments to Accruals and Related Deferred Taxes — During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recognized a reduction in our income tax expense of $6 million for adjustments to accruals and related deferred taxes.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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