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INCOME TAX
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAX

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the 2017 U.S. Tax Act, which resulted in numerous changes, including a reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and the transition of the U.S. federal tax system to a territorial regime. As of September 30, 2018, we have not completed our accounting for the effects of the 2017 U.S. Tax Act; however, we made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances and the one-time transition tax as of December 31, 2017 pursuant to guidance provided in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which in March 2018 was codified by the FASB in ASU 2018-05 Income Taxes (Topic 740). We have continued to analyze our foreign tax pools and resulting foreign tax credits and, during the three months ended September 30, 2018, reduced our estimated transition tax liability by $23.3 million. We are continuing to gather additional information to complete our accounting for these items and expect to complete our accounting within the prescribed measurement period.

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was a benefit of 3.4%. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was 11.7%. Our effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were 10.4% and 14.4%, respectively. Our 2017 effective income tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to income generated in international jurisdictions with lower tax rates. Our 2018 effective income tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to changes in estimates of prior year liabilities, including the aforementioned $23.3 million adjustment to the one-time transition tax liability recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

We conduct business globally and file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities around the world, including, without limitation, the United States and the United Kingdom. We are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years ended on or before May 31, 2008, U.S. federal income tax examinations for fiscal years prior to 2014 and U.K. federal income tax examinations for years ended on or before May 31, 2014.