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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

NOTE 13 – Commitments and Contingencies

In January 2019, the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary received a favorable decision from the Federal Court of Appeals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, related to certain indirect taxes collected in prior years. The Company finalized its calculation of the amount of the credits and interest due from the favorable decision, concluding that the Company could be entitled to approximately $66 million of credits spanning a period from 2005 to 2018. The Department of Federal Revenue of Brazil, however, issued an Internal Ruling in which it charged that the Company is entitled to only $22 million of the calculated indirect tax credits and interest for the period from 2005 to 2014. The Brazil National Treasury filed a motion for clarification with the Brazilian Supreme Court, asking the Court, among other things, to modify the lower court’s decision to approve the Internal Ruling, which could impact the decision in favor of the Company. To account for the judgment, the Company recorded a $22 million pre-tax benefit in the Consolidated Income Statement in Other income, in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies for the year ended December 31, 2019.  

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company received another favorable court judgment that clarified the calculation of the Company’s benefit, allowing the Company to claim the gross treatment within the indirect tax claim calculation and a larger indirect tax claim against the government. As a result of the decision, the Company recorded an additional $35 million pre-tax benefit in the Consolidated Income Statement in Other income for the year ended December 31, 2020, related to the open period of 2005 to 2014. The total benefit recorded represents the Company’s current estimate of the credits and interest due from the favorable decisions in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. The Company is awaiting final court ruling for the period of 2015 to 2018, that would allow the Company to record an additional $9 million in pre-tax benefits.

The Company expects to use the indirect tax credits of $57 million (from the period of 2005 to 2014) to offset its Brazilian federal tax payments beginning in 2021. The $57 million of future tax credits are recorded in Other assets and Prepaid expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and result in deferred income taxes of $18 million. The income taxes will be paid as and when the tax credits are utilized. The Company continues to monitor the pending decisions within the Brazilian courts that may result in changes to the calculations and receipt of the benefits.

Additionally, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a pre-tax benefit of $1 million related to the reversal of a tax decision on a government subsidy on which the Company had previously paid taxes. The Company also recorded a $3 million tax provision benefit related to this decision.

The Company is currently subject to claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business, including labor matters, certain environmental proceedings, and other commercial claims.  The Company also routinely receives inquiries from regulators and other government authorities relating to various aspects of its business, including with respect to compliance with laws and regulations relating to the environment, and at any given time, the Company has matters at various stages of resolution with the applicable governmental authorities. The outcomes of these matters are not within the Company’s complete control and may not be known for prolonged periods of time. The Company does not believe that the results of currently known legal proceedings and inquires will be material to it. There can be no assurance, however, that such claims, suits or investigations or those arising in the future, whether taken individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.