INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2016
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES The effective tax rates for the third quarter and year-to-date 2016 continued to be primarily impacted by the Company’s U.S. federal and state valuation allowance. Year-to-date, the Company has experienced a lower than expected effective rate due to the utilization of certain deferred tax assets during the year whose benefits were limited in prior periods due to the valuation allowance. In the third quarter, the Company recognized a discrete non-cash income tax benefit for the reversal of the majority of the remaining U.S. federal and state valuation allowance. The effective tax rate in the third quarter was also impacted by other nondeductible expenses and the deductibility of certain formerly non-deductible expenses. Due to the Company’s valuation allowances and related reversals, interim income tax reporting is likely to result in significant variability of the effective tax rate throughout the remainder of the year. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could also impact the effective tax rate each quarter. As of the third quarter of 2016, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a substantial portion of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. The Company determined that approximately $400 million of its U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reversed in 2016, with approximately $240 million in the third quarter as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit in the third quarter and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate. After the 2016 reversal, the Company will have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes. The remaining valuation allowances relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. The Company will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods. The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2015 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2013 and 2006, respectively. The U.S. federal income tax return for 2015 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions. It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.

NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rates for the third quarter and year-to-date 2016 continued to be primarily impacted by the Company’s U.S. federal and state valuation allowance. Year-to-date, the Company has experienced a lower than expected effective rate due to the utilization of certain deferred tax assets during the year whose benefits were limited in prior periods due to the valuation allowance. In the third quarter, the Company recognized a discrete non-cash income tax benefit for the reversal of the majority of the remaining U.S. federal and state valuation allowance. The effective tax rate in the third quarter was also impacted by other nondeductible expenses and the deductibility of certain formerly non-deductible expenses. Due to the Company’s valuation allowances and related reversals, interim income tax reporting is likely to result in significant variability of the effective tax rate throughout the remainder of the year. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could also impact the effective tax rate each quarter.

As of the third quarter of 2016, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a substantial portion of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. The Company determined that approximately $400 million of its U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reversed in 2016, with approximately $240 million in the third quarter as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit in the third quarter and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate.

After the 2016 reversal, the Company will have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes. The remaining valuation allowances relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. The Company will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods.

The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2015 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2013 and 2006, respectively. The U.S. federal income tax return for 2015 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions.

It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.