Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	Note 6 – Income Taxes Our estimated annual tax rate for 2018 before discrete items is expected to be 26%. This is higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% primarily due to due earnings taxed in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. and the impact of foreign earnings being taxable in the U.S., partially offset by income in foreign jurisdictions taxed at lower rates. Our ultimate tax rate will depend on the mix of earnings in various jurisdictions. At December 31, 2017, we had deferred tax assets of $20,864 resulting from foreign and state NOL carryforwards of $120,457 and other foreign deductible carryforwards of $31,161. At December 31, 2017, we had a valuation allowance of $12,805 against deferred tax assets related to certain carryforwards. Income taxes paid during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $3,810. Certain of our non-U.S. operations have incurred net operating losses (NOLs), which may become deductible to the extent these operations become profitable. For each of our operations, we evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits related to NOLs will be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider evidence such as tax planning strategies, historical operating results, forecasted taxable income, and recent financial performance. In the year that certain non-U.S. operations record a loss, we do not recognize a corresponding tax benefit, thus increasing our effective tax rate. Upon determining that it is more likely than not that the NOLs will be realized, we reduce the tax valuation allowances related to these NOLs, which results in a reduction to our income tax expense and our effective tax rate in the period. U.S. tax reform (“the Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. Among other things, the Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred. We have reasonably estimated the effects of the Act and recorded provisional amounts in the fourth quarter of 2017 for the transition tax and to remeasure our U.S. federal deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%, and for the one-time transition tax. The U.S. Government and state tax authorities are expected to continue to issue guidance regarding the Act, which may result in adjustments to our provisional estimates. For the first quarter of 2018, we have not recorded any measurement period adjustments to the provisional estimates recorded at the end of 2017. The final determination of the remeasurement of our net deferred tax assets and the transition tax will be completed as additional information becomes available, but no later than one year from the enactment date. Any subsequent adjustments to the provisional amounts will be recorded to current or deferred tax expense in the quarter of 2018 when the analysis is complete.

Note 6 – Income Taxes

Our estimated annual tax rate for 2018 before discrete items is expected to be 26%. This is higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% primarily due to due earnings taxed in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. and the impact of foreign earnings being taxable in the U.S., partially offset by income in foreign jurisdictions taxed at lower rates. Our ultimate tax rate will depend on the mix of earnings in various jurisdictions.

At December 31, 2017, we had deferred tax assets of $20,864 resulting from foreign and state NOL carryforwards of $120,457 and other foreign deductible carryforwards of $31,161. At December 31, 2017, we had a valuation allowance of $12,805 against deferred tax assets related to certain carryforwards. Income taxes paid during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $3,810.

Certain of our non-U.S. operations have incurred net operating losses (NOLs), which may become deductible to the extent these operations become profitable. For each of our operations, we evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits related to NOLs will be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider evidence such as tax planning strategies, historical operating results, forecasted taxable income, and recent financial performance. In the year that certain non-U.S. operations record a loss, we do not recognize a corresponding tax benefit, thus increasing our effective tax rate. Upon determining that it is more likely than not that the NOLs will be realized, we reduce the tax valuation allowances related to these NOLs, which results in a reduction to our income tax expense and our effective tax rate in the period.

U.S. tax reform (“the Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. Among other things, the Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred. We have reasonably estimated the effects of the Act and recorded provisional amounts in the fourth quarter of 2017 for the transition tax and to remeasure our U.S. federal deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%, and for the one-time transition tax. The U.S. Government and state tax authorities are expected to continue to issue guidance regarding the Act, which may result in adjustments to our provisional estimates.

For the first quarter of 2018, we have not recorded any measurement period adjustments to the provisional estimates recorded at the end of 2017. The final determination of the remeasurement of our net deferred tax assets and the transition tax will be completed as additional information becomes available, but no later than one year from the enactment date. Any subsequent adjustments to the provisional amounts will be recorded to current or deferred tax expense in the quarter of 2018 when the analysis is complete.