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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Note 13. Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was 21.3% and (37.9)% compared with (49.6)% and 65.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. Our effective income tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, changes in pretax income in countries with varying statutory tax rates, changes in valuation allowances, changes in tax credits and incentives, and changes in unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions.
We continually assess the realizability of our worldwide deferred tax asset and valuation allowance positions, and when the need arises, we establish or release valuation allowances accordingly.
Compared with the three months ended September 30, 2019, the change in the effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to a discrete tax benefit due to the release of the uncertain tax position upon the settlement of tax litigation in Italy offset by a valuation allowance for certain jurisdictions outside the U.S., as compared to a U.S. federal tax benefit from a return to provision reconciliation, partially offset by the establishment of a valuation allowance for a portion of the U.S. federal and state net operating losses during the three months ended September 30, 2019. We established valuation allowances as it is more likely than not that we will be unable to realize the related historical deferred tax assets.
Compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the change in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to a $42.4 million realized discrete tax benefit related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) and the discrete tax benefit due to the release of the uncertain tax position upon the settlement of tax litigation in Italy offset by the establishment of a $74.5 million valuation allowance for the U.K. and
other jurisdictions outside the U.S., as compared to a release of uncertain tax positions and a U.S. federal tax benefit from a return to provision reconciliation, partly offset by the establishment of a valuation allowance for a portion of the U.S. federal and state net operating losses and attributes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
We operate in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world, and our tax returns are periodically audited or subjected to review by tax authorities. As a result, there is an uncertainty in income taxes recognized in our financial statements. Tax benefits totaling $4.0 million and $12.9 million were unrecognized as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. It is reasonably possible that, within the next twelve months, due to the settlement of uncertain tax positions with various tax authorities and the expiration of statutes of limitations, unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to approximately $0.7 million.
We monitor income tax developments in countries where we conduct business. On March 27, 2020, the U.S. enacted the CARES Act which provided for a 5-year loss carryback for losses incurred in 2018-2020. We recorded a discrete tax benefit of $42.4 million to account for the effect of the CARES Act during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Further regulations and notices as well as state legislative changes addressing conformity to the CARES Act are still pending.