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16. INCOME TAXES

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes. We evaluate deferred tax assets to determine whether it is more likely than not that they will be realized. Valuation allowances are reviewed on an individual tax jurisdiction basis to analyze whether there is sufficient positive or negative evidence to support a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax assets. These conclusions require significant judgment. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, we consider the cyclicality of our businesses and cumulative income or losses during the applicable period. Cumulative losses incurred over the applicable period limits our ability to consider other subjective evidence such as our projections for the future. Changes in expected future income in applicable jurisdictions could affect the realization of deferred tax assets in those jurisdictions. During the three months ended MarchÌý31, 2014 and 2013, on a discrete basis, we released a valuation allowance of $4Ìýmillion and $1Ìýmillion, respectively, on certain net deferred tax assets in Luxembourg as a result of significant changes in estimated future taxable income resulting from increased intercompany debt and, therefore, increased interest income in Luxembourg.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring the three months ended MarchÌý31, 2014 and 2013, for unrecognized tax benefits that impact tax expenses, we recorded a net increase in unrecognized tax benefits with a corresponding income tax expense of $3Ìýmillion and $1Ìýmillion, respectively. Additional decreases in unrecognized tax benefits were offset by cash settlements or increases in net deferred tax assets and, therefore, did not affect income tax expense.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe recorded income tax (expense) benefit of $(37) million and $18Ìýmillion for the three months ended MarchÌý31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our tax expense is significantly affected by the mix of income and losses in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, as impacted by the presence of valuation allowances in certain tax jurisdictions. Notably, we continue to earn a significant portion of our pre-tax income in the United States with an approximate 35% federal and state blended effective tax rate.

17. INCOME TAXES

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýThe following is a summary of U.S. and non-U.S. provisions for current and deferred income taxes (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýThe following schedule reconciles the differences between the U.S. federal income taxes at the U.S. statutory rate to our provision (benefit) for income taxes (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýIncluded in the non-U.S. deferred tax expense is a $22Ìýmillion income tax benefit for losses from continuing operations for certain jurisdictions with valuation allowances to the extent that income was recorded in other comprehensive income in that same jurisdiction. This benefit in 2013 was largely attributable to Switzerland where changes in pension related items resulted in income in other comprehensive income (loss) and where we have a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset. An offsetting income tax expense was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýIncluded in the $14Ìýmillion unrealized exchange gains and losses reconciliation item above is $10Ìýmillion which occurred in Luxembourg where an offsetting valuation allowance was released.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe operate in over 40 non-U.S. tax jurisdictions with no specific country earning a predominant amount of our off-shore earnings. While the vast majority of these countries have income tax rates that are lower than the U.S. statutory rate, the operating losses we incur in some of our non-U.S. jurisdictions results in a tax benefit for losses lower than the U.S. statutory rate and therefore mitigates or reverses the amount of tax rate benefit we would otherwise realize from these tax rate differentials. For the year ended DecemberÌý31, 2013, this amount was an additional tax expense of $10Ìýmillion, reflected in the reconciliation above.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2013, we repatriated a significant amount of earnings to the U.S. from our Netherlands holding company, which included bringing onshore certain U.S. foreign tax credits. The foreign tax credits brought onshore significantly exceeded the amount needed to fully offset the cash tax impact of the dividend. After a net $9Ìýmillion benefit for the utilization of foreign tax credits in 2013, a full valuation allowance was placed on the remaining foreign tax credits as it is currently more likely than not that the credits will expire unused due to a shortage of foreign source income for income tax purposes. These credits represent a potential future cash benefit to the Company and we intend to expend resources and explore changes to future business operations all of which could enable us to utilize the foreign tax credits and release the valuation allowance. This is a complex area of tax law subject to very specific factors and our ability to utilize these credits will likely have a significant impact on future income tax expense.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2012, we were granted a tax holiday for the period from JanuaryÌý1, 2012 through DecemberÌý31, 2016 with respect to certain income from Pigments products manufactured in Malaysia. We are required to make certain investments in order to enjoy the benefits of the tax holiday and we intend to make these investments.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýThe components of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes were as follows (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýComponents of deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe have NOLs of $3,189Ìýmillion in various non-U.S. jurisdictions. While the majority of the non-U.S. NOLs have no expiration date, $923Ìýmillion have a limited life (of which $860Ìýmillion are subject to a valuation allowance) and $15Ìýmillion are scheduled to expire in 2014 (all of which are subject to a valuation allowance). We had $15Ìýmillion of NOLs expire unused in 2013 (all of which were subject to a valuation allowance).

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýIncluded in the $3,189Ìýmillion of non-U.S. NOLs is $758Ìýmillion attributable to our Luxembourg entities. As of DecemberÌý31, 2013, there is a valuation allowance of $180Ìýmillion against these net tax-effected NOLs of $220Ìýmillion. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the benefits of these losses, we have reduced the related deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýValuation allowances are reviewed each period on a tax jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis to analyze whether there is sufficient positive or negative evidence to support a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax assets. These conclusions require significant judgment. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, we consider the cyclicality of businesses and cumulative income or losses during the applicable period. Cumulative losses incurred over the period limits our ability to consider other subjective evidence such as our projections for the future. Our judgments regarding valuation allowances are also influenced by the costs and risks associated with any tax planning idea.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2013, we released valuations allowances of $16Ìýmillion on a portion of our net deferred assets primarily in Luxembourg as a result of significant changes in estimated future taxable income resulting from increased intercompany debt and, therefore, increased interest income in Luxembourg.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2012, we released valuation allowances of $24Ìýmillion on a portion of our net deferred tax assets in China, in certain U.S. states and in Luxembourg, and we established valuation allowances of $23Ìýmillion on certain net deferred tax assets in the U.S., India and Indonesia. Primarily as a result of a cumulative history of operating profits, we released the above noted valuation allowances in China and certain U.S. state tax jurisdictions. Additionally, a partial valuation allowance release was recognized in Luxembourg for $12Ìýmillion as a result of significant changes in estimated future taxable income resulting from increased intercompany debt and, therefore, increased interest income in Luxembourg.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2012, we amended certain prior year U.S. federal income tax filings and claimed $31Ìýmillion of additional U.S. foreign tax credits. Due to uncertainty regarding our ability to actually utilize these credits before they expire in 2015, we established a partial valuation allowance of $21Ìýmillion against the incremental deferred tax asset.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2011, we released valuation allowances of $27Ìýmillion on certain net deferred tax assets in France and Spain (as a result of recent profitability in our Pigments business), Singapore (as a result of a cumulative history of operating profits), Australia (as a result of discontinuing the unprofitable portion of the business operations in that country) and Luxembourg (as a result of significant changes in estimated future taxable income).

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýUncertainties regarding expected future income in certain jurisdictions could affect the realization of deferred tax assets in those jurisdictions and result in additional valuation allowances in future periods.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýThe following is a summary of changes in the valuation allowance (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýThe following is a reconciliation of our unrecognized tax benefits (dollars in millions):

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýAs of DecemberÌý31, 2013 and 2012, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits which, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $78Ìýmillion and $37Ìýmillion, respectively.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýIn accordance with our accounting policy, we continue to recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe conduct business globally and, as a result, we file income tax returns in U.S. federal, various U.S. state and various non-U.S. jurisdictions. The following table summarizes the tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions:

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCertain of our U.S. and non-U.S. income tax returns are currently under various stages of audit by applicable tax authorities and the amounts ultimately agreed upon in resolution of the issues raised may differ materially from the amounts accrued.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWe estimate that it is reasonably possible that certain of our non-U.S. unrecognized tax benefits could change within 12Ìýmonths of the reporting date with a resulting decrease in the unrecognized tax benefits within a reasonably possible range of $3Ìýmillion to $41Ìýmillion. For the 12-month period from the reporting date, we would expect that a substantial portion of the decrease in our unrecognized tax benefits would result in a corresponding benefit to our income tax expense.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDuring 2012, we concluded and settled tax examinations in the U.S. (both federal and various states) and various non-U.S. jurisdictions including, but not limited to, China, France and Italy. During 2012, we concluded and effectively settled tax examinations in the U.S. (both federal and various states) and various non-U.S. jurisdictions including, but not limited to, Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan. During 2011, we concluded and settled tax examinations in the U.S. (both federal and various states) and various non-U.S. jurisdictions including, but not limited to, Australia, China, France and Germany.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýFor non-U.S. entities that were not treated as branches for U.S. tax purposes, we do not provide for income taxes on the undistributed earnings of these subsidiaries as earnings are reinvested and, in the opinion of management, will continue to be reinvested indefinitely. As discussed, we made a distribution of a portion of our earnings in 2013 when the amount of foreign tax credits associated with the distribution was greater than the amount of tax otherwise due. The undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are deemed to be permanently invested were approximately $194Ìýmillion at DecemberÌý31, 2013. It is not practicable to determine the unrecognized deferred tax liability on those earnings. We have material inter-company debt obligations owed by our non-U.S. subsidiaries to the U.S. We do not intend to repatriate earnings to the U.S. via dividend based on estimates of future domestic cash generation and our ability to return cash to the U.S. through payments of inter-company debt owned by our non-U.S. subsidiaries to the U.S. To the extent that cash is required in the U.S., rather than repatriate earnings to the U.S. via dividend, we expect to utilize our inter-company debt. If any earnings were repatriated via dividend, we would need to accrue and pay taxes on the distributions.