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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date earnings or loss. The income tax provision or benefit related to unusual or infrequent items, if applicable, that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effects are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates, tax status, judgment on the realizability of a beginning-of-the-year deferred tax asset in future years or income tax contingencies is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs.
The computation of the annual expected effective income tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected pre-tax income (or loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income (and/or loss) earned and taxed in respective jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of the realizability of deferred tax assets generated in the current year. Jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year or a year-to-date loss for which no tax benefit or expense can be recognized due to a valuation allowance are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact of such an exclusion could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter, based upon the composition and timing of actual earnings compared to annual projections. The estimates used to compute the provision or benefit for income taxes may change as new events occur, additional information is obtained or our tax environment changes. To the extent that the expected annual effective income tax rate changes, the effect of the change on prior interim periods is included in the income tax provision in the period in which the change in estimate occurs.
The Company's income tax expense and effective tax rate from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in millions)
Income tax expense
$
80

 
$
56

 
$
141

 
$
125

Effective tax rate
18
%
 
13
%
 
17
%
 
15
%

The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was impacted by unfavorable geographic income mix in 2015 as compared to 2014, primarily due to changes in the underlying operations of the business. The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was also impacted by the tax expense (benefit) associated with unusual or infrequent items for the respective interim period as illustrated in the following table:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Tax credits
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
(2
)
Withholding taxes
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Other change in tax reserves (1)
3

 
(3
)
 
4

 
(6
)
Other adjustments (2)
1

 
(4
)
 
1

 
(5
)
Income tax expense (benefit) associated with unusual or infrequent items
$
3

 
$
(10
)
 
$
4

 
$
(14
)

(1)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, the tax expense and benefit, respectively, primarily relate to adjustments in tax reserves which were individually insignificant.
(2)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, the tax expense and benefit, respectively, primarily relate to items which were individually insignificant.
Delphi Automotive PLC is a U.K. resident taxpayer and, we believe, not a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and as such is not subject to U.S. tax, and generally not subject to U.K. tax on remitted foreign earnings.
Cash paid or withheld for income taxes was $172 million and $152 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 respectively, including amounts attributable to discontinued operations.
Tax Return Filing Determinations and Elections
Delphi Automotive LLP, which acquired certain assets in a bankruptcy court approved transaction (the "Bankruptcy Plan") on October 6, 2009 (the "Acquisition Date"), was established on August 19, 2009 as a limited liability partnership incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. At the time of its formation, Delphi Automotive LLP elected to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. On June 24, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued us a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (the "NOPA") asserting that it believes Section 7874(b) of the Internal Revenue Code applies to Delphi Automotive LLP and that it should be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, retroactive to the Acquisition Date. If Delphi Automotive LLP is treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company expects that, although Delphi Automotive PLC is incorporated under the laws of Jersey and a tax resident in the U.K., it would also be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Delphi Automotive LLP filed U.S. federal partnership tax returns for 2009, 2010, and 2011. The IRS’s NOPA asserts that Section 7874(b) applies to Delphi Automotive LLP’s acquisition of certain assets pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan, and consequently, Delphi Automotive LLP should be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Notwithstanding the issuance of the NOPA, we continue to believe, after consultation with counsel, that neither Delphi Automotive LLP nor Delphi Automotive PLC should be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to vigorously contest the conclusions reached in the NOPA through the IRS’s administrative appeals process, and, if we are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution with the IRS, through litigation. Accordingly, we will continue to prepare and file our financial statements on the basis that neither Delphi Automotive LLP nor Delphi Automotive PLC is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have not recorded any adjustments with respect to this matter, nor have we recorded any adjustments in connection with receiving the NOPA. However, while we believe that we should prevail, no assurance can be given that we will be able to reach a satisfactory resolution with the IRS or that, if we were to litigate, a court will agree with our position. Further, the ultimate resolution of this issue could take significant time and resources.
If these entities are treated as domestic corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its worldwide taxable income, including distributions, as well as deemed income inclusions from some of its non-U.S. subsidiaries. This could have a material adverse impact on our income tax liability in the future. However, the Company may also benefit from deducting certain expenses that are currently not deducted in the U.S. As a U.S. company, any dividends we pay to non-U.S. shareholders could also be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a rate of 30% (unless reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty), and it is possible that tax may be withheld on such dividends in certain circumstances even before a final determination has been made with respect to the Company's U.S. income tax status. In addition, we could be liable for the failure by Delphi Automotive LLP to withhold U.S. federal income taxes on distributions to its non-U.S. members for periods beginning on or after the Acquisition Date. If we are unsuccessful in contesting the IRS’s assertion, we expect any unfavorable final outcome to adversely impact our tax position, most significantly in future periods, by increasing our annual effective tax rate to approximately 20% to 22%. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, our effective tax rate was 17%. Although the outcome currently remains uncertain, the Company continues to maintain its position that neither Delphi Automotive LLP nor Delphi Automotive PLC should be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. tax purposes. Accordingly, no adjustment for this matter has been recorded as of June 30, 2015.