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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes

Note 14. Income Taxes

 

We estimate the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year and use that rate to provide for income taxes in interim reporting periods. We also recognize the tax impact of certain discrete (unusual or infrequently occurring) items, including changes in judgment about valuation allowances and effects of changes in tax laws or rates, in the interim period in which they occur.

 

We reported income tax expense of $37 and $31 for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The income tax rate varies from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to valuation allowances in several countries, nondeductible expenses, different statutory tax rates outside the U.S. and withholding taxes related to repatriations of international earnings to the U.S.

 

We record interest income or expense, as well as penalties, related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense or benefit. Net interest expense for the periods presented herein is not significant.

  

We provide for U.S. federal income and non-U.S. withholding taxes on earnings of our non-U.S. operations that are not considered to be permanently reinvested. We analyze and adjust the estimated tax impact of the income and non-U.S. withholding liabilities based on the amount and source of these earnings. We recognized expense of $2 and $1 for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 related to future income taxes and non-U.S. withholding taxes on repatriations from operations that are not permanently reinvested.

 

We have generally not recognized tax benefits on losses generated in several entities, including the U.S., where the recent history of operating losses does not allow us to satisfy the “more likely than not” criterion for the recognition of deferred tax assets. Consequently, there is no income tax expense or benefit recognized on the pre-tax income or losses in these jurisdictions as valuation allowances are adjusted to offset the associated tax effect. We believe that it is reasonably possible that valuation allowances of $33 will be released in the next twelve months.